Establishes the affordable housing broadband assistance grant program within the division of broadband access to support no-cost and/or discounted subscriptions for households receiving federal, state, or local housing assistance or residing in housing units designated for low-income and/or vulnerable populations.
Summary
A07939 would create an affordable housing broadband assistance grant program within the New York State Urban Development Corporation Act, administered by the division of broadband access. The program is intended to help households receiving federal, state, or local housing assistance, as well as residents of housing units serving low-income or vulnerable populations, obtain no-cost or discounted broadband service.
Under the bill, eligible grant recipients would include local governments, municipal housing authorities, and for-profit or nonprofit owners or operators of low-income housing. Those recipients could use grant funds to contract with internet service providers to deliver broadband to residential end-users at no cost or reduced cost. The bill caps support at up to $30 per month per housing unit for up to four years and directs the division to set criteria for selecting providers and administering the program.
Impact
The bill would amend section 16-gg of the New York State Urban Development Corporation Act by adding a new broadband assistance grant program focused on affordable housing. It would create a new state grant mechanism to subsidize broadband subscriptions in qualifying housing, affecting the division of broadband access, housing authorities, local governments, and affordable housing owners/operators. The bill also sets service expectations, including a baseline of at least 100 Mbps download speed using fixed wireline broadband, and requires providers to have experience with low-income adoption programs and the capacity to meet service and customer support obligations.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee transcript or vote history, so there is no documented floor or committee debate to indicate support or opposition. Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears to be framed as a pro-affordability, pro-digital-access initiative aimed at closing the broadband gap for low-income and vulnerable residents. The absence of recorded votes or discussion means sentiment can only be inferred from the bill’s purpose rather than measured from legislative action.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential issues that could arise from the bill’s structure include the cost of the subsidy, the administrative burden on grant recipients and the division, the requirement to use fixed wireline service, and whether the 100 Mbps baseline and provider qualifications may limit participation or increase implementation costs. Any disagreement would likely center on funding, feasibility, and whether the program should prioritize affordability, speed, or provider flexibility.
Same As
Establishes the affordable housing broadband assistance grant program within the division of broadband access to support no-cost and/or discounted subscriptions for households receiving federal, state, or local housing assistance or residing in housing units designated for low-income and/or vulnerable populations.