Despite N.Y.’s new law, the fight for affordable broadband rages on

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Operators in New York state now have to abide by a new law requiring them to offer a broadband option for $15 per month, whether they like it or not (and many of them don’t). However, the war for broadband access rages on, and the state’s decision doesn’t make matters any less complicated. Originally passed in 2021, the New York law states internet service providers must offer low-income households a 25 Mbps internet plan for no more than $15 per month (or $20/month if it’s a 200-meg plan). Price increases are capped at 2 percent per year, and state officials will periodically review whether they should raise the minimum required speeds. New York’s Affordable Broadband Act provides a glimmer of hope for certain residents after the federal government pulled the plug on the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Other states may take a page out of New York’s book, said New Street Research policy analyst Blair Levin. But whether state efforts can help revive the ACP is tough to say, especially with the fate of the Universal Service Fund (USF) still up in the air.

 


Despite N.Y.’s new law, the fight for affordable broadband rages on