Gov Hochul Signs Legislation Aimed at Bridging New York's Digital Divide

New York Gov Kathy Hochul (D-NY) signed into law State Senate Bill S7028, which aims to help bridge the digital divide in rural areas in the state. The bill, pushed by State Sen Michelle Hinchey (D-NY) and Assembly-member Carrie Woerner (D-NY), will make it "easier and more affordable for broadband providers to install internet service on utility poles by mandating the fair distribution of installation costs between service providers and utility corporations and streamlining the contract process for broadband expansion projects" according to a release by Sen Hinchey. “[The legislation] clarifies that pole owners currently collecting a fee from ratepayers for utility pole replacements cannot shift the cost burden to broadband service providers and, instead, must divide the expenditure in a fair and equitable manner,” said the release. “In addition to reducing costs, the measure simplifies pole contracting for providers and municipalities by placing all utility poles in a given city, town, or village under one contract, thereby creating a more efficient system for providers to expand broadband service. Regulations previously required broadband providers to obtain contracts for each utility pole they intended to use.”