N.Y’s Broadband & Telehealth Actions

On July 30, the Governor of New York announced that an investment of more than $9 million will be made to help expand broadband access and to increase broadband use among older adults in the North Country region within the state. More than six million New Yorkers, or 30 percent don’t use broadband at home due to issues such as affordability, lack of knowledge, or perception of need.

The investment in broadband is a result of a public/private partnership between New York State, Slic Network Solutions, Inc. and Older Adults Technology Services. Funding was also made available from the $6 million broadband award to the North Country Regional Economic Development Council.

In other actions, the New York legislature in July passed a bill promoting broadband expansion sponsored by New York Senator Catharine Young, Chair of the Legislative Commission on Rural Resources. The bill speeds up the process that certain broadband providers, called Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILEC) have to go through to access federal loans designated for broadband expansion.

ILECs are regulated by the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC). When ILECs were first established, they were designated as telephone and telegraph companies. Broadband was not listed as a service because broadband technology did not exist at the time these companies were established.

Currently, there are millions of dollars in Federal loans available for use in projects that expand broadband availability in rural areas, including programs through the USDA, Unfortunately, ILECs have difficulty accessing these funds due to restrictions in existing law.

Under current law, the PSC must approve loans before they are accepted by ILECs. Because the PSC does not regulate broadband, there has been a conflict with the requirement that the PSC approve these federal loans.

To resolve the issue, the bill clarifies that the federal broadband funds are not subject to the required PSC review. The bill does however, require ILECs to give notice to the PSC that they have received federal loan funds for broadband expansion.

The bill is supported by the NY State Telecommunications Association. As Robert Puckett, President of the Association reports, “This bill removes duplicative regulatory hurdles for telecommunication companies who are currently required to seek state approval for federal loans for broadband expansion. It will streamline the process and help telecommunications providers carry out the continuing expansion of broadband services in rural parts of the state.

Another bill involving telehealth also sponsored by State Senator Young, enables patients throughout the state to use telehealth and telemedicine technologies for services that would otherwise only be covered if delivered in person.

By expanding options for telehealth and telemedicine services, this bill will enable patients to seek care that they need much closer to home and so they can have greater access to a wide range of healthcare providers and services.