S6056

The New York State Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would prioritize fiber optic broadband infrastructure in state economic development programs. Senate Print 6056, sponsored by Sen. Ryan, amends the Economic Development Law and the Urban Development Corporation Act to make end-to-end fiber optic broadband a factor in state spending decisions for the Urban and Community Development program and Restore New York Communities initiatives. The bill passed on a roll call vote of 58-0. Sen. Ryan argued the measure is essential to ensure high-quality internet reaches underserved rural and urban communities that have suffered from disinvestment. He noted that reliable broadband has become critical for work, school, and telemedicine, particularly since the pandemic demonstrated how essential connectivity is to modern life. The bill aligns New York State standards with federal broadband grant programs, which already prioritize fiber optic projects as the state-of-the-art delivery method for broadband service.