NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6740
SPONSOR: Rosenthal L TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public housing law, in relation to broadband access
in the New York state low-income housing tax credit program
PURPOSE:
To enhance development of low-income housing with access to high-speed
broadband internet service.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends subdivision 1 of § 25 of the Public Housing Law to
include commitments to provide access to high-speed broadband internet
service in the project scoring criteria for the state low-income housing
tax credit program.
Section 2: Effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
The New York State Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (SLIHC) Program is
aimed at enhancing the availability of suitable affordable housing units
that are fully adapted, move-in ready, and improve quality of life and
opportunities for neighborhood residents.
Although high-speed broadband service is now essential to full partic-
ipation in modern life, the current SLIHC rules do not include any
requirements relating to the availability of broadband service at
project locations. Many studies indicate that high-speed broadband is
integral to improving economic development activity, expanding employ-
ment opportunities, increasing property values, and generally improving
the quality of life for citizens. New York's affordable housing units
should not be left out of the benefits that come with access to high-
speed fiber broadband internet service.
Certain federal broadband grant programs already recognize fiber-optic
architecture as a priority in the provision of broadband service because
of the benefits and advantages of fiber technology. By adding fiber-op-
tic broadband technology as a factor to consider in awarding grants
under the SLIHC program, residents in affordable housing developments
will be better positioned to take advantage of employment and educa-
tional opportunities, as well as enjoy a better quality of life.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill.
FISCAL IMPACT ON THE STATE:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6740
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 8, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Housing
AN ACT to amend the public housing law, in relation to broadband access
in the New York state low-income housing tax credit program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 25 of the public housing law, as
2 added by section 1 of part CC of chapter 63 of the laws of 2000, is
3 amended to read as follows:
4 1. The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary
5 to administer the provisions of this act. To the extent that such rules
6 and regulations establish project scoring and ranking criteria, such
7 scoring and ranking criteria shall include the commitment to use end-to-
8 end fiber-optic architecture for the delivery of broadband service as a
9 preference in the evaluation of project applications.
10 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10310-01-3
