Stec pushes for broadband language in the budget

Senator Dan Stec is pushing for a broadband access bill that Governor Andrew Cuomo  vetoed in January to be included in this year’s budget, which is due by April 1.

Stec has signed onto a letter requesting that the Comprehensive Broadband Connectivity Act (S8805/A6679C), which was approved last year with overwhelming support in the Senate and Assembly, be adopted as part of a new state budget.

“The need to work and learn and sign up for vaccines from home during the pandemic has further highlighted just how severe a disadvantage not having high-speed broadband access is for New Yorkers throughout the state,” said Stec.

“Governor Cuomo’s veto of legislation that would help fix this problem was a major disappointment.  Despite an assurance from the governor’s spokesperson that this would be addressed in the budget, there was nothing included in the executive’s recently announced 30-day budget amendments.” 

Stec is one of 25 senators who signed onto the letter written by Western New York Senator Sean Ryan to Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.  The lawmakers note the importance of compiling accurate data detailing the availability and reliability of high-speed broadband.

The letter in part reads: “Including this legislation in the budget would require the Public Service Commission to collect more granular statewide data related to technology access, speed, reliability and affordability.  Armed with this data, the State would be better positioned to progress towards its goal of universal access to broadband.”

Stec was a cosponsor of the comprehensive broadband act last year and recently spoke with the Senator Kevin Parker, the chair of the Senate’s Energy and Telecommunications Committee, who also supported the measure.

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