Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara renewed his support for strengthening broadband access across upstate New York after a report from the state Comptroller’s office detailed the gaps in internet coverage and highlighted the need for infrastructure development to continue New York’s progress on this issue.

“It’s an absolute necessity to bring affordable and high-speed broadband access across all of upstate New York, especially in light of the comptroller’s report,” Santabarbara said. “The report details how our society’s channels of communication have evolved and our technology infrastructure must transform alongside it to meet emerging needs. In the wake of a pandemic that forced millions of Americans into virtual working and learning, it’s clear that high-speed internet access can no longer be treated as a luxury. We must accelerate the universal availability of high-speed connections in every part of the state, including often-overlooked rural areas.”

The comptroller report also showed that in some predominantly rural counties, deployment of high-speed connection has severely dwindled and the share of the population without broadband is as high as 23 percent.Santabarbara is chair of the Commission on Rural Resources and has consistently recognized the importance of internet access in rural areas, helping pass numerous pieces of legislation to address this issue.