BILL NUMBER: S7229

SPONSOR: MAY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to Internet
access and communications for municipalities

 
PURPOSE:

This bill affirmatively establishes the right of counties, cities,
towns, and villages in New York State to establish municipal broadband
services by establishing their own service or by contracting with a
corporation to do so.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: adds a new section 99-x to the general municipal law to
authorize and empower county, cities, towns, and villages to establish
or contract for broadband and related telecommunications infrastructure
if their governing bodies determine that this will make internet access
              

and related services available when other providers will not.

Section 2: effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Access to high-speed internet is no longer a luxury. High-speed internet
enables New Yorkers to learn, work, and play with greater flexibility
than ever -- as long as they have access to reliable service. Many New
Yorkers live without practicable access to affordable and quality
service. This is true in many rural parts of the state, where service is
often spotty or non-existent. This is also true for many low income New
Yorkers, many of whom are priced out of equitable access.

Municipal broadband network offer a possible solution for some communi-
ties. According to the Benton Institute for Broadband and Society,
"Local communities... have collaborated with private broadband providers
to increase the choices available to their residents. Well-known strate-
gies in cities such as Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Wilson, North Caroli-
na employ municipally-owned facilities to provide state-of-the-art
broadband." (1) These models can deliver fast, effective and affordable
internet access to communities. Unlike some states, New York law does
not prohibit municipalities from establishing such services. This bill
will take a step farther and allow communities the flexibility to pursue
a municipal broadband model, if the governing bodies and resident decide
it is in their best interests.


 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.
(1) https://www.benton.org/sites/default/files/BBA_full_F5_10.30.pdf