What's happening
This bill requires a state study on the feasibility and costs of establishing a municipal broadband program in New York.
Why it matters
Potential to Identify Cost Barriers and Funding Sources. By requiring a detailed analysis of both the costs and available state and federal resources, the study could clarify whether municipal broadband is financially viable for New York communities, and what funding gaps might exist.
Expert-Driven Assessment. Consulting experts in internet speeds, telecommunications, and broadband infrastructure ensures the study’s findings will be grounded in technical reality, helping policymakers avoid costly mistakes or technological pitfalls.
Impact on Digital Equity and Local Control. The study will explore what expertise municipalities would need, which can influence whether smaller or rural communities could realistically manage and benefit from their own broadband networks—potentially affecting digital access and local autonomy.
Public Accountability and Transparency. By mandating that the report is shared with top state officials and posted publicly online, the bill ensures that New Yorkers can access the findings and hold decision-makers accountable for next steps on broadband policy.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Study Municipal Internet Feasibility
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Vetoed memo.190
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.98
- Substituted for A2037A
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1173
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Print number 6041a
Show 3 earlier actions
- Amend (t) and recommit to finance
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Study Municipal Broadband Feasibility
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Aileen Gunther
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6041--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 16, 2019
Introduced by Sens. MAY, METZGER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Energy and Telecommunications -- reported favorably from said committee and committed to the Committee on Finance -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT directing the department of public service to study the feasibility of a municipal broadband program within the state
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The department of public service shall, in consultation with the urban development corporation and any other relevant state entity, undertake a study and evaluation of the feasibility of a municipal broadband program within the state. Such study and evaluation shall include, but not be limited to: the estimated costs of a municipal broadband program, the current state and federal resources available to municipalities to undertake such a program, and the relevant expertise necessary for a municipality to administer such a program.
§ 2. The department of public service shall evaluate such data with the assistance of experts in:
a. internet speeds;
b. telecommunications; and
c. broadband infrastructure.
§ 3. No later than one year after the effective date of this act, the department of public service shall submit to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly a report on the feasibility of a municipal broadband program within the state. Such report shall also be posted on the department of public service's website.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01696-03-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act directing the department of public service to study the feasibility of a municipal broadband program within the state
Purpose
To establish a statewide study on the feasibility of the municipal broadband programs
Summary of provisions
Section 1: directs the department of public service, in consultation with the urban development corporation and other relevant state enti- ties, to study and evaluate the feasibility of a municipal broadband program.
Section 2: requires the department of public service to evaluate such data with the assistance of experts internet speeds, telecommunications, and broadband infrastructure.
Section 3: requires that by one year after the effective date of the act, the department of public service must submit to the governor and the legislature a report on the feasibility of a municipal broadband program, also to be posted on the department of public service's website.
Section 4: sets the effective date.
Justification
New York State has doled out millions of dollars to privately owned internet service providers in return for promises to expand their high- speed networks; however, many communities across the United States are finding that municipal broadband programs serve the public better.
Access to high-speed internet is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity. There are areas of our state where it is simply unprofitable for private ISPs to expand their networks. Instead of giving taxpayer dollars to corporations that only seek to profit off our state's residents, we should be putting that money back into our communities.
This bill would require the Public Service Commission to study the feasibility of a municipal broadband program in New York State.
Legislative history
2019-2020: A2037 - referred to Corporations. 2017-2018: A 11302 - referred to Corporations.
Fiscal implications
To be determined
Effective date
Immediately
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.