NY State Senate Bill 2021-S8904A

Senate Bill S8904A

2021-2022 Legislative Session

Provides a period of probable usefulness for broadband and related telecommunications infrastructure

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Local Government Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
May 24, 2022	print number 8904a
May 24, 2022	amend (t) and recommit to local government
Apr 27, 2022	referred to local government

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

2021-S8904 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A9907
Current Committee:: Senate Local Government
Law Section:: Local Finance Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §11.00, Loc Fin L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S289, A1260

2021-S8904 - Summary

Provides a 10 year period of probable usefulness for broadband and related telecommunications infrastructure.

2021-S8904 - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8904

SPONSOR: MAY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to authorizing
municipalities to issue and sell bonds to fund broadband and related
telecommunications infrastructure

 
PURPOSE:

This bill affirmatively establishes the right of counties, cities,
towns, and villages in New York State to issue and sell bonds to provide
funds for broadband services and related telecommunications infrastruc-
ture.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: amends the general municipal law to authorize and empower
municipal corporations to issue and sell bonds or other municipal obli-
gations for the purpose of providing funds for broadband services and
related telecommunications infrastructure.

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 practical 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 York-
ers, many of whom are priced out of equitable access.

Municipal broadband networks 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. These models can deliver fast, effective and affordable
intemet access to communities.  Unlike some states, New York law does
not prohibit municipalities from establishing such services. This bill
will allow communities the flexibility to finance a municipal broadband
model, if the governing bodies and residents decide it is in their best
interests.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

2021-S8904 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8904
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              April 27, 2022
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MAY  --  read  twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government
 
 AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in  relation  to  authorizing
   municipalities  to  issue and sell bonds to fund broadband and related
   telecommunications infrastructure
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The opening paragraph of section 99-y of the general munic-
 ipal law is designated subdivision 1 and a new subdivision 2 is added to
 read as follows:
   2.  ANY  MUNICIPAL  CORPORATION  THAT HAS ESTABLISHED, CONSTRUCTED AND
 MAINTAINED BROADBAND AND RELATED TELECOMMUNICATIONS  INFRASTRUCTURE,  OR
 CONTRACTED FOR SUCH SERVICES PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION
 MAY,  FOR  THE  PURPOSE  OF PROVIDING FUNDS FOR SUCH SERVICES, ISSUE AND
 SELL BONDS OR OTHER MUNICIPAL  OBLIGATIONS  AS  PROVIDED  IN  THE  LOCAL
 FINANCE  LAW AND OTHER APPLICABLE LAW AND STATUTES. PRINCIPAL AND INTER-
 EST PAYMENTS ON SUCH BONDS OR OTHER MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS MAY BE MADE IN
 WHOLE OR IN PART FROM ANY PROCEEDS FROM SUCH BROADBAND SERVICES.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
 
 
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04718-14-2

2021-S8904A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A9907
Current Committee:: Senate Local Government
Law Section:: Local Finance Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §11.00, Loc Fin L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S289, A1260

2021-S8904A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Provides a 10 year period of probable usefulness for broadband and related telecommunications infrastructure.

2021-S8904A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8904A

SPONSOR: MAY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the local finance law, in relation to providing a period
of probable usefulness for broadband and related telecommunications
infrastructure

 
PURPOSE:

This bill affirmatively establishes the bonding authority of counties,
cities, towns, and villages in New York State to issue and sell bonds to
provide funds for the acquisition, construction, or replacement of
broadband and related telecommunications infrastructure.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: adds a new section to local finance law to authorize munici-
pal bonding for the acquisition, construction, or replacement of broad-
band and related telecommunications infrastructure for a ten-year period
of probable usefulness (PPU).

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. 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 allow communities the flexibility to finance a municipal broadband
model, if the governing bodies and residents decide it is in their best
interests.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

2021-S8904A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  8904--A
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              April 27, 2022
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MAY  --  read  twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed  to  the  Committee  on  Local  Government  --
   committee  discharged,  bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
   recommitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the local finance law, in relation to providing a period
   of probable usefulness for broadband  and  related  telecommunications
   infrastructure
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Paragraph a of section 11.00 of the local  finance  law  is
 amended by adding a new subdivision 109 to read as follows:
   109.  FOR  ACQUISITION,  CONSTRUCTION, OR REPLACEMENT OF BROADBAND AND
 RELATED TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  NINETY-
 NINE-Y OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW, TEN YEARS.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04718-16-2

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