ALBANY – Senator Michelle Hinchey (D, Saugerties) and Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner (D, Round Lake) announced legislation addressing efficiency and cost barriers facing broadband service providers seeking to build out infrastructure in rural and underserved areas of the state.
One provision would streamline the contract process for these build-outs and a second would more fairly distribute installation costs between broadband service providers and utility pole owners (utility companies).
When broadband service providers seek to install internet service on a utility pole, they must obtain contracts to use space on each pole they intend to use. This bill amends the public service law to include all utility poles in a given city, town, or village under one contract, creating a more efficient system for broadband service providers to complete the installation process. This change would increase the likelihood that broadband providers will service more areas of the state and ensure that all homes within a municipality receive the same level of service.
The Hinchey/Woerner bill also updates cost distribution dynamics between utility pole owners and broadband service providers. Pole owners regularly delay the replacement of aging utility poles and will condition access to the pole on the broadband service provider agreeing to pay all costs associated with replacing it.
This legislation prohibits this practice by pole owners and makes it so that whoever is requesting space on a utility pole will only be liable for a small portion of the cost if a new pole needs to be installed.
