Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara recently announced that a study by the Public Service Commission (PSC) on broadband availability that was included in the 2021-22 state budget will begin on May 16 (Ch. 56 of 2021). The full extent of the PSC’s task is to identify barriers in delivering internet at a census block level, solve problems regarding underserved rural areas with available technology, identify providers’ noncompliance with franchise agreements and create an internet access map to show the places in New York State where insufficient access is causing a digital divide. A full report on the PSC’s findings will be due on May 16, 2022.

As Assembly Chair of the Commission on Rural Resources, Assemblyman Santabarbara had previously been a sponsor of a bill to study broadband availability last year that was passed but was ultimately vetoed by the governor (A.6679-C of 2020). “Sadly, the governor vetoed this legislation last year – a move that delayed this important step towards closing the gaps in broadband services especially in our rural communities. This study will now allow the state to finally begin fulfilling its promise to close the gaps in broadband coverage for rural New Yorkers and represents an important step in our recovery process,” Santabarbara said.

In his State of the State, the Governor claimed that 98% of residents in New York State had access to broadband. However, the fact is New York State broadband mapping follows the FCC’s practice to map service based on census blocks. A census block is considered served if there is broadband service to one or more locations within the block. This system is especially problematic in rural areas, which have large census blocks that are considered served even if a single neighborhood has broadband service – each census block contains between 240 and 1200 housing units and would be considered covered even if 1 out of 1200 houses is served by broadband.

“The COVID-19 crisis has made it clear just how debilitating a lack of quality broadband access is for the many rural communities here in upstate New York,” Santabarbara said. “Even before the pandemic forced our communities into virtual learning and remote working, rural New Yorkers struggled to access broadband services to connect with loved ones, search for jobs, complete schoolwork and access tele-health services. I’ve long fought for more accessible broadband for rural New Yorkers, and despite the Governor’s efforts to delay this important work, I’m happy to see definitive progress now being made on the issue.”