What's happening
This bill requires the Public Service Commission to study and report on ways to increase broadband access in New York State.
Why it matters
Comprehensive assessment. The bill mandates a wide-ranging study, not just on current broadband speeds and capacity, but also on legal, regulatory, and economic barriers to improvement, providing a holistic understanding of the challenges to broadband expansion in New York.
Best practices and innovation focus. By requiring the Public Service Commission to review successful policies from other states and recommendations from the Federal Communications Commission, the bill encourages the adoption of proven, modern solutions tailored to New York’s needs.
Public-private partnership exploration. The study must evaluate the potential for collaborations between government and private businesses, which could lead to more efficient and widespread broadband deployment if such partnerships are found viable.
Transparency and accountability. The requirement for a public report within a set timeframe ensures government accountability and gives policymakers, stakeholders, and the public actionable data to guide future broadband initiatives.
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Who cares
Public Service Commission
The commission would have to begin a broadband access study within 30 days of the bill taking effect and issue a final report within 180 days.
Broadband providers
The study would examine regulatory and statutory barriers to faster service and whether relevant businesses would participate in public-private partnerships.
New York broadband users
The study would assess current broadband capacity and average internet speeds statewide and by region, along with approaches to improving service.
Governor and legislative leaders
They would receive the commission’s final report examining other states’ policies, public-private partnerships and federal broadband recommendations.
Headline styles
Study Broadband Access Options
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5004
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 3, 2017
Introduced by Sen. BAILEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Energy and Telecommunications
AN ACT to require the public service commission to undertake a study on various approaches to increasing broadband access within this state; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public service commission shall, within thirty days of the effective date of this act, undertake a study on various approaches to increasing broadband access within this state. The public service commission shall study and make determinations on issues including but not limited to: (i) current broadband capacity within this state, including average internet access speeds statewide and in various regions of the state; (ii) regulatory and statutory barriers to improving broadband speeds; (iii) comparative state policies that have aided the increase in broadband speeds in other states, and whether such measures would be similarly effective in this state; (iv) whether the use of public-private partnerships would aid in the goal of increasing broadband speeds, and whether relevant businesses would be open to such partnerships; and (v) best practices recommended within the National Broadband Plan issued by the Federal Communications Commission and whether the public service commission can readily adopt and put into place any such recommendations.
§ 2. The public service commission may conduct any hearings or take any written testimony as it deems necessary in order to aid such study, and shall take all other steps necessary to provide a thorough analysis of all issues related to the provisions listed in section one of this act.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08323-01-7
S. 5004 2
§ 3. The public service commission shall issue its final report no later than one hundred eighty days after the effective date of this act. The commission shall issue its final report to the governor, the speaker of the assembly, the temporary president of the senate, and the chair of the assembly committee on energy and the senate committee on energy and telecommunications, and post a copy of such report on its website.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire one year after the day on which this act shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to require the public service commission to undertake a study on various approaches to increasing broadband access within this state; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
Purpose
Relates to conducting a study on various approaches to increasing broadband access within this state.
Summary of provisions
Requires the public service commission, within 30 days of the effective date, to undertake a study on various ways in which New York can increase broadband access, including a study of current broadband access, policies adopted by other states to increase access, and the feasibility of such policies in New York. The final report shall be issues no more than 180 days after the effective date and this act shall be deemed expired and shall be repealed one year after the effective date.
Justification
Access to high speed internet is a critical issue in the 21st century. Accessing high speed internet gives individuals a leg up in educational and employment opportunities around the world. In general, the United States has lagged behind other industrial nations in the development of higher broadband speed, yet New Yorkers pay an average of $55 per month for broadband compared to $24 a month in London or $28 a month in Seoul.
Other states, such as Connecticut and Massachusetts, have focused closely on ways in which the state can leverage its resources to expand broadband access and increase broadband speeds, including the use of public-private partnerships in laying cable and reducing regulatory burdens. This legislation will require the Public Service Commission to issue a report on various state reforms across the country and shall lead to tangible recommendations for action New York can take to increase access and general broadband speeds throughout the state.
Fiscal implications
Some minor administrative costs to the Public Service Commission.
Legislative history/ senate
2015-16: S.6281 - Passed Assembly, Referred to Energy and Telecommunications
Effective date
Immediately and shall be deemed expired one year after the effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.