S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3804--A
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 30, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ALVAREZ -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Real Property Taxation -- committee discharged, bill amended,
ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to establishing
the "broadband investment tax stabilization (BITS) act" regarding
telecommunications equipment owned by other than a telephone company
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
the "broadband investment tax stabilization (BITS) act".
§ 2. The legislature finds that it is necessary to correct a decision
of the court of appeals that erroneously overlooked or misconstrued
section 1 of chapter 71 of the laws of 1985, sections 2, 6, and 7 of
chapter 416 of the laws of 1987, and paragraph (i) of subdivision 12 of
section 102 of the real property tax law. This act is intended to clari-
fy that all equipment used for the transmission and switching of elec-
tromagnetic voice, video and data signals between different entities
separated by air, street or other public domain, and related equipment
necessary to the operation of such equipment or the modification of such
signals required by such equipment, regardless of location, no longer
constitutes real property subject to the real property tax law, even if
any items of such equipment would otherwise constitute a fixture taxable
under paragraph (b) of subdivision 12 of section 102 of the real proper-
ty tax law.
§ 3. Paragraph (i) of subdivision 12 of section 102 of the real prop-
erty tax law, as added by chapter 416 of the laws of 1987, is amended to
read as follows:
(i) When owned by other than a telephone company as such term is
defined in paragraph (d) [hereof] OF THIS SUBDIVISION, all lines, wires,
poles, supports and inclosures for electrical conductors upon, above and
underground used in connection with the transmission or switching of
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05077-02-5
A. 3804--A 2
electromagnetic voice, video and data signals between different entities
separated by air, street or other public domain, except that such prop-
erty shall not include: (A) station connections; (B) fire and surveil-
lance alarm system property; (C) such property used in the transmission
of news wire services; [and] (D) such property used in the transmission
of news or entertainment radio, television or cable television signals
for immediate, delayed or ultimate exhibition to the public, whether or
not a fee is charged therefor; AND (E) SUCH PROPERTY, OTHER THAN FIBER
OPTIC CABLES, TOWERS, PERMANENTLY AFFIXED STEEL ROOFTOP STRUCTURES AND
WALK-IN SHELTERS, USED IN, PROVIDING FOR, OR ASSOCIATED WITH, THE TRANS-
MISSION OR SWITCHING OF RADIO SIGNALS FOR THE PROVISION OF COMMERCIAL
MOBILE RADIO SERVICE OR MOBILE INTERNET ACCESS SERVICE.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to all
assessments that have not become final as of such date, whether or not a
taxpayer has filed a complaint with respect to an assessment under
section 524 of the real property tax law.