NY State Senate Bill 2019-S9057

Senate Bill S9057

2019-2020 Legislative Session

Relates to requiring free internet service in households with students who live at or below the poverty level

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Oct 19, 2020	referred to rules

co-Sponsors

2019-S9057 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Rules
Law Section:: Public Service Law
Laws Affected:: Amd Art 11 Art Head, add §224-c, Pub Serv L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2021-2022: S4017
2023-2024: S5548

2019-S9057 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires free internet service in households with students who live at or below the poverty level; directs broadband companies to install and/or upgrade broadband services in educational facilities.

2019-S9057 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S9057

SPONSOR: COMRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring free
internet service in households with students who live at or below the
poverty level

 
PURPOSE:

This bill will ensure that every student has reliable internet access.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one amends the article heading of article 11 of the public
service law.

Section two adds a new section 224-c to require broadband service compa-
nies provide free internet to any household where any elementary or
secondary student resides and where the income of such household is at

or below the poverty level, as per local poverty indicators.  Further-
more, without charge, broadband service companies will have to identify
and install, refurbish, or strengthen broadband system/network in all
educational buildings including, but not limited to schools, libraries,
daycare centers, and community centers.

Section three establishes that the act shall take effect on the one
hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.

 
EXISTING LAW: N/A.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Many students lack internet access to study remotely from home. In New
York City, 1.5 Million residents lack broadband connection, and the
local comptroller's office found that 44% of residents in poverty lacked
broadband access. Effort must be made to provide interne access to
students without means and to do so without imposing any further finan-
cial difficulty.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

N/A.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
One hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
 
PURPOSE:

2019-S9057 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9057
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             October 19, 2020
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
 
 AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation  to  requiring  free
   internet  service in households with students who live at or below the
   poverty level
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.    The article heading of article 11 of the public service
 law, as added by chapter 83 of the laws of 1995, is amended to  read  as
 follows:
             PROVISIONS RELATING TO CABLE TELEVISION COMPANIES
                      AND INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS
   §  2. The public service law is amended by adding  a new section 224-c
 to read as follows:
   § 224-C. INTERNET SERVICE TO STUDENTS. 1. FOR  THE  PURPOSES  OF  THIS
 SECTION  THE  TERM  "BROADBAND  SERVICE" SHALL MEAN A MASS-MARKET RETAIL
 SERVICE THAT PROVIDES THE CAPABILITY TO TRANSMIT  DATA  TO  AND  RECEIVE
 DATA  FROM  ALL  OR  SUBSTANTIALLY ALL INTERNET ENDPOINTS, INCLUDING ANY
 CAPABILITIES THAT ARE INCIDENTAL TO AND  ENABLE  THE  OPERATION  OF  THE
 COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE, BUT SHALL NOT INCLUDE DIAL-UP SERVICE.
   2.  ANY  COMPANY  THAT  PROVIDES  BROADBAND SERVICE SHALL PROVIDE FREE
 INTERNET SERVICE TO ANY HOUSEHOLD IN WHICH AN  ELEMENTARY  OR  SECONDARY
 STUDENT  RESIDES  WHERE  THE INCOME OF SUCH HOUSEHOLD IS AT OR BELOW THE
 POVERTY LEVEL AS ESTABLISHED BY LOCAL INDICATORS.
   3. ALL COMPANIES WHICH PROVIDE BROADBAND SERVICES IN THIS STATE SHALL,
 FOR FREE WITH NO COST OR CHARGE, IDENTIFY AND  INSTALL,  REFURBISH,  AND
 STRENGTHEN  BROADBAND  SYSTEM/NETWORK  CONNECTIONS  IN  ALL  EDUCATIONAL
 BUILDINGS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED  TO,  SCHOOLS,  LIBRARIES,  DAYCARE
 CENTERS, AND COMMUNITY CENTERS.
   § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
 it  shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
 ment, and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for  the  imple-
 mentation  of  this  act on its effective date are authorized to be made
 and completed on or before such effective date.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD17490-02-0

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Senate Bill S9057

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Sponsored By

Leroy Comrie