Assemblyman Chris Tague (R, C, I, Ref-Schoharie) is calling on the NYS Assembly Majority Leader  and his Majority colleagues in the NYS Legislature to repeal the controversial broadband tax that has hindered the ability for New Yorkers living in rural areas to access broadband internet services. Assemblyman Tague, along with many state legislators representing rural areas, has long been pushing for a tax repeal, in addition to the state’s consolidated highway law that allows the state Department of Transportation to charge hefty fees for broadband projects.

Recently, Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes’ office was asked about her stance on the topic. The response to questioning resulted in the office responding, “The majority leader is for making sure rural areas get broadband.”

With Assembly majority leadership potentially on board with reform efforts to provided rural New Yorkers with broadband internet, supporters like Assemblyman Tague are taking this opportunity to support cooperation between NYS legislators on both sides of the aisle to take action in repealing the broadband tax.

“Repealing the broadband tax that has been so detrimental to the development of broadband services in rural and upstate New York has been an issue I have supported from the very beginning,” said Tague. “Access to broadband is most importantly a safety issue. The ability to call 911 or for help during an emergency is dependent on broadband connection and areas where broadband infrastructure isn’t developed can be subject to the loss of precious reaction time during emergencies. Especially in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, expanding broadband can and will save lives and provide first responders with a better chance to get to the scene of an emergency in time to help. More people than ever are also relying on internet access to work and attend school. It is absolutely essential that we do everything we can to make sure they have the resources they need to do so. That starts with repealing the burdensome broadband tax that has sabotaged broadband infrastructure development in the areas that need it the most. I am glad to see that the Assembly majority leader has come out in support of providing broadband to rural New Yorkers, and I am calling on her and all of my colleagues in both the NYS Senate and Assembly to come together and put an end to this counterproductive policy.”