Provides that municipal broadband service companies are authorized to provide broadband service to tenants in multi-family housing

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

• Democratic1

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Rachel May says this is needed

Municipal broadband refers to high-speed internet services that are owned, operated, or provided by local governments or municipalities. Many rural areas have faced challenges with inadequate internet access, resulting in residents dealing with slow, unreliable of nonexistent internet connections. In response, municipalities can initiate a munici- pal broadband service to provide internet access to residents and busi- nesses and other institutions within their jurisdiction. Across the country, there are nearly 450 active municipal broadband networks. One of the most challenging aspects of broadband deployment in rural areas has been negotiations with landlords to install new service. A major hurdle is gaining access to properties for serving renters. Incum- bent cable companies such as Spectrum and Charter enjoy certain protections under NY State law (Public Service Law Section 228), which exempts them from needing a landlord's permission to install services for tenants. Municipal ISPs, who do not have television/cable offerings, are not able to take advantage of these same protections. While FCC regulations prohibit property owners from enforcing a single service provider on tenants, they do not mandate access to ISPs that are not also cable TV providers, leaving renters with limited choices. There are many benefits of municipal broadband services. Municipal broadband may address the issue of limited internet access, especially in rural and low-income areas where private 1SPs have been reluctant to invest. There is also the potential for more competitive pricing, higher quality services, and increased customer satisfaction as compared to traditional ISPs. Expanded internet access through municipal broadband can have benefits beyond providing internet access, such as fostering economic development, improving access to education and healthcare, and bridging the digital divide. This bill would allow, if requested by a renter, a municipal broadband service to enter the premises of the renter to install broadband facilities without having to obtain the landlord's permission, just as cable television installers can already do under existing law

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.