Senator Sean Ryan Announces Broadband Legislation Included In Final New York State Budget

SENATOR SEAN RYAN ANNOUNCES BROADBAND LEGISLATION INCLUDED IN FINAL NEW YORK STATE BUDGET

‘Comprehensive Broadband Connectivity Act’ Will Help Advance Universal High-Speed Internet With Detailed Broadband Mapping Of New York State - $1 Million Included To Conduct Mapping

ALBANY – Today, April 6, 2021, New York State Senator Sean Ryan announced that the FY 2021-2022 state budget includes language introduced by Senator Ryan as the Comprehensive Broadband Connectivity Act (S.4878-A), which requires the Public Service Commission to study the availability, reliability, and cost of high-speed internet services and to publish a detailed internet access map of the state. The budget also includes $1 million in funding to conduct the mapping.

Senator Ryan originally introduced the Comprehensive Broadband Connectivity Act in March 2019 as a member of the New York State Assembly. The bill passed in both houses in 2020 with nearly unanimous bipartisan support but was vetoed by Governor Andrew Cuomo at the end of the year.

The Federal Communications Commission’s current data collection process considers an entire census block to be adequately served if at least one household in that block has access to high-speed internet. By dramatically overstating the number of homes and businesses who have access, this discrepancy has disproportionately affected low- and moderate-income communities, rural areas, and communities of color. The mapping mandate is the critical next step in expanding access to high-quality, affordable broadband for all New Yorkers.

Senator Sean Ryan said, “The last year has highlighted the disparities in broadband access in our state and throughout our country. Internet access has been vital to workers, students, and people seeking medical care during the pandemic. As a result, those without access to reliable high-speed internet have been met with extra obstacles in their daily lives. Getting the Comprehensive Broadband Connectivity Act included in the state budget is a major step toward offering affordable, reliable high-speed internet to all