Senator Pam Helming attends a public hearing in Albany that was hosted by the New York State Legislative Commission on Rural Resources and the New York State Standing Committee on Local Governments.  Senator Helming is the Ranker of the Legislative Commission on Rural Resources as well as the Ranker of the Senate Standing Committee on Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business.

The hearing included testimony from the Empire State Development’s Office of Innovation and Broadband, the Department of Public Service, the Attorney General’s office, local elected officials, as well as state residents and representatives from several school groups and broadband committee groups.

“As the State Senator for a vastly rural area, the ranker of the Legislative Commission on Rural Resources and the Committee on Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business, I have heard countless complaints about our state’s broadband resources.  Without meaningful access to broadband, our farms struggle, access to online education and healthcare is limited and our small businesses are unable to compete.  While I am encouraged by today’s conversation, I know we must do more.  I will continue the fight as a voice for Upstate New York to get more broadband access to our rural areas,” Senator Helming said.