Requires the commissioner of transportation to install and maintain fiber optic utility along all highways and thruways in the state for access to fiber optic and broadband services.
This bill clarifies that smartphones and mobile devices are legally defined as "computers" under New York's penal code. It adds a specific definition for "smart phone or mobile device" requiring features like portability, wireless operation, local storage, and built-in power. The change ensures existing laws against unauthorized computer access or data theft automatically apply to smartphones, affecting how such cases are prosecuted. It does not create new penalties but updates legal terminology to cover modern devices.
Directs the public service commission to establish quality of service standards, minimum performance levels, customer-specific credits, and reporting requirements that shall apply to each internet service provider.
Enacts the "credit for rural broadband act"; provides for a refundable tax credit for costs paid for new construction of new broadband networks to residences and small businesses located in rural, unserved areas.
Relates to attachments to utility poles for broadband service; provides that for a broadband internet provider that does not provide regulated telephone service, a pole owner shall not require such broadband internet provider to obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity as a condition to making attachments to utility poles solely owned or jointly-owned by the pole owner.
Provides regulatory control of Internet service providers by the public service commission; requires Internet neutrality; relates to the placement of equipment on utility poles.
Requires highway projects that receive state funding to include the installation of broadband conduits suitable for fiber optic cables or wireless facilities that support broadband services; provides for access to such conduits on a competitively neutral and nondiscriminatory basis, for a charge not to exceed a cost-based rate.
Establishes a commission to study and report on the potential implementation of legislation, rules and regulations for an open internet for New Yorkers.
Relates to certain economic development programs; requires reporting on the use of fiber-optic technology in certain economic development grant programs; adds access to high-speed broadband internet service as consideration in certain competitive grant projects.
Requires that internet providers who provide service in a municipality provide basic internet service to each residential dwelling or residential dwelling unit in that municipality at no cost.
