Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo launched #Broadband4All,
\na campaign to rally support for his
\nNew NY Broadband Program proposal, which
\nhe said will ensure that every New Yorker has
\naccess to high-speed Internet service by the
\nend of 2018.<\/p>\n
As part of the campaign, Cuomo unveiled
\na new website, ny.gov\/BroadbandForAll,
\nwhich provides New Yorkers with information
\nabout the issue and encourages them
\nto become involved. Additionally, members
\nof the governor’s administration will visit
\ncommunities across the state to present the
\nproposal in regions with some of the greatest
\nbroadband needs.<\/p>\n
According to the governor’s office, Saratoga,
\nSchenectady, Warren and Washington counties
\nare among those where more than half
\nof the population did not have access to
\nbroadband at 25 Mbps as of July 2014.
\n“Having powerful Internet access has
\nbecome a necessity in today’s world, but in
\ncommunities across the state – both rural
\nand urban – there is a broadband gap that
\nis leaving New Yorkers behind,” Cuomo said.<\/p>\n
“This is a problem that impacts everything
\nfrom businesses to hospitals and schools, and
\nwe need to make a bold investment to change
\nthat and ensure every New Yorker has fast,
\nreliable Internet access.<\/p>\n
“By implementing this proposal we can
\nlay the foundation for a stronger and more
\ncompetitive New York years into the future,
\nso let’s start making broadband for all a reality
\nthis year.”<\/p>\n
“Connecting all New Yorkers to broadband
\nis the single most important step that we
\ncan take to ensure New York’s future,” said
\nRachel Haot, deputy secretary for technology.
\nThe New NY Broadband Program will help
\nus fulfill the greatest infrastructure need of
\nour age.”<\/p>\n
Broadband refers to wide bandwidth data
\ntransmission, and this technology enables the
\nfastest, most reliable Internet access service available today. One of the most transformative
\ninnovations of the current era, investing
\nin broadband infrastructure is on par with
\ntechnological breakthroughs such as running
\nwater, electricity and the interstate highway
\nsystem.<\/p>\n
Officials said broadband is overwhelmingly
\nimportant to a myriad of tasks in the 21st
\ncentury, from banking to schoolwork to telemedicine
\nand business operations – yet too
\nmany households and organizations across
\nthe state lack sufficient access.<\/p>\n
According to state officials, 55,000 businesses
\nand more than 5.4 million New Yorkers–
\nmore than 25 percent of the State’s
\npopulation –lack broadband access, defined
\nby the Federal Communications Commission
\nas 25 megabits per second (Mbps).<\/p>\n
More than 2,000 of New York’s public
\nschools report speeds lower than the recommended
\nminimum capacity of 100 Mbps.
\nNearly 500 public schools have no broadband
\nservice at all.<\/p>\n
Nationwide, the amount of annual ecommerce
\nsales from web-only merchants
\nballooned from approximately $9.72 billion
\nin 2003 to nearly $106 billion in 2013, the
\ngovernor’s office said.<\/p>\n
To accomplish universal broadband access
\nby the end of 2018, Cuomo will invest $500
\nmillion, utilizing capital funds from bank
\nsettlements to incentivize the private sector
\nto expand high-speed broadband access in
\nunderserved and unserved areas. Cuomo said
\nbroadband providers and communities will
\nutilize this funding to deliver service in a
\ngiven area, and must adhere to the following
\nqualifications:<\/p>\n
Broadband providers will contribute, on average,
\nat least 50 percent of the capital needed,
\nwhich will push the size of the program above
\n$1 billion. The state’s investment will serve to
\nstimulate competition in the broadband market
\nwhere none or little exists; improving affordability
\nand quality of service.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":88,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[66,118],"yoast_head":"\r\n