ALBANY — The state’s head of economic development assured lawmakers Wednesday that the anticipated $1.6 billion investment in the governor’s budget to expand access to high-speed internet will be different
ALBANY — Lawmakers representing areas lacking access to high-speed internet are pushing for changes to state law that would clarify who is responsible for paying for portions of broadband expansion
The answer may be a little bit of both.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been quick to say the broadband access gap has been closed by his Broadband for All program, though many including state Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay disagree with Cuomo’s assessment. The governor is looking to boost broadband access by requiring private companies to provide a $15 rate so that low-income residents can have access to broadband internet.
There are pockets of Chautauqua County lagging behind in internet access according to a fall 2020 survey compiled by the state Education Department. The New York Civil Liberties Union recently filed a Freedom of Information Law request for the survey, which showed that more than 165,000 students in New York state (6%) lacked internet access. In Chautauqua County, 1,058 of the county’s 18,353 students (5.76%) had no access to internet. The same percentage of students had no access to a device to access the internet.
New York State Team
A new law requires internet service providers in New York state to provide high-speed internet plans to low-income households for $15 per month.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday signed the legislation mandating the affordable broadband packages be made available statewide. The Legislature approved it as part of the state budget last week.
New Yorkers qualifying for the internet access program include households who are currently eligible or receiving free or reduced-price lunch, supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits, Medicaid, the senior citizen or disability rent increase exemptions, or an affordability benefit from a utility. For America, broadband holds great power. It will be either the greater equalizer for society, or it will be the great divider, Cuomo said during a press briefing in Buffalo.