New York Assembly Republicans Advocate for Local Control in Broadband Expansion Funding
New York Assembly Republicans are pushing for legislation that would grant counties and regional consortiums greater control over broadband expansion initiatives. Despite billions of dollars already allocated to improve high-speed internet access, significant gaps in service persist across the state, particularly in rural areas. The proposed legislation, known as the Regional Broadband Expansion and Access Program Act, aims to empower local officials, who Republicans argue are better equipped than state authorities to identify specific neighborhoods lacking reliable internet. Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano, a co-sponsor of the bill, emphasized that the goal is to ensure reliable service reaches all New Yorkers. The state's ConnectALL program is currently moving forward with approximately $644 million in federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment funding, with projects estimated to take up to four years to complete. Additionally, a $542 million public-private effort was announced earlier this year to se... 
