Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo launched #Broadband4All,
a campaign to rally support for his
New NY Broadband Program proposal, which
he said will ensure that every New Yorker has
access to high-speed Internet service by the
end of 2018.
As part of the campaign, Cuomo unveiled
a new website, ny.gov/BroadbandForAll,
which provides New Yorkers with information
about the issue and encourages them
to become involved. Additionally, members
of the governor’s administration will visit
communities across the state to present the
proposal in regions with some of the greatest
broadband needs.
According to the governor’s office, Saratoga,
Schenectady, Warren and Washington counties
are among those where more than half
of the population did not have access to
broadband at 25 Mbps as of July 2014.
“Having powerful Internet access has
become a necessity in today’s world, but in
communities across the state – both rural
and urban – there is a broadband gap that
is leaving New Yorkers behind,” Cuomo said.
“This is a problem that impacts everything
from businesses to hospitals and schools, and
we need to make a bold investment to change
that and ensure every New Yorker has fast,
reliable Internet access.
“By implementing this proposal we can
lay the foundation for a stronger and more
competitive New York years into the future,
so let’s start making broadband for all a reality
this year.”
“Connecting all New Yorkers to broadband
is the single most important step that we
can take to ensure New York’s future,” said
Rachel Haot, deputy secretary for technology.
The New NY Broadband Program will help
us fulfill the greatest infrastructure need of
our age.”
Broadband refers to wide bandwidth data
transmission, and this technology enables the
fastest, most reliable Internet access service available today. One of the most transformative
innovations of the current era, investing
in broadband infrastructure is on par with
technological breakthroughs such as running
water, electricity and the interstate highway
system.
Officials said broadband is overwhelmingly
important to a myriad of tasks in the 21st
century, from banking to schoolwork to telemedicine
and business operations – yet too
many households and organizations across
the state lack sufficient access.
According to state officials, 55,000 businesses
and more than 5.4 million New Yorkers–
more than 25 percent of the State’s
population –lack broadband access, defined
by the Federal Communications Commission
as 25 megabits per second (Mbps).
More than 2,000 of New York’s public
schools report speeds lower than the recommended
minimum capacity of 100 Mbps.
Nearly 500 public schools have no broadband
service at all.
Nationwide, the amount of annual ecommerce
sales from web-only merchants
ballooned from approximately $9.72 billion
in 2003 to nearly $106 billion in 2013, the
governor’s office said.
To accomplish universal broadband access
by the end of 2018, Cuomo will invest $500
million, utilizing capital funds from bank
settlements to incentivize the private sector
to expand high-speed broadband access in
underserved and unserved areas. Cuomo said
broadband providers and communities will
utilize this funding to deliver service in a
given area, and must adhere to the following
qualifications:
Broadband providers will contribute, on average,
at least 50 percent of the capital needed,
which will push the size of the program above
$1 billion. The state’s investment will serve to
stimulate competition in the broadband market
where none or little exists; improving affordability
and quality of service.