NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A4373
SPONSOR: Walczyk TITLE OF BILL:
An act to repeal subdivision 24-e of section 10 of the highway law and
section 7 of the transportation corporations law, relating to reducing
the cost of expanding broadband access
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To reduce the cost of expanding broadband throughout the State of New
York.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:,
Section 1: Repeals subdivision 24-e of section 10 of the Highway Law.
Section 2: Repeals section 7 of the Transportation Corporations Law.
Section 3: Provides an immediate effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
This legislation seeks to repeal parts of highway law and transportation
corporations law, the fiber optic tax. By doing this, the cost of
expanding broadband will be reduced. The Governor has pledged to bring
broadband to every area in the state. However, the cost of expanding
broadband is too high and hindering this expansion. New Yorkers in more
rural areas still do not have access to broadband capabilities. This is
an issue because more people work from home, schoolwork has been recent-
ly done predominately online and even some medical practices are done
online as well. Broadband should be deemed a fundamental right and as
such, should be fairly and affordably priced.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2020 REFERRED TO RULES
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
