Internet companies who provide service to customers in New York state will soon have to offer a broadband package to qualified low-income households at a cost of no more than $15 a month.
The requirement is part of a new law signed this week by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo that requires all broadband Internet service providers (ISPs) to provide at least one low-cost option with decent speeds.
Under the law, ISPs operating in New York state are required to offer a basic Internet package with download speeds of at least 25 megabits per second (Mb/s) at a cost of no more than $15 a month. That speed is the bare minimum to qualify under the federal government’s current definition of “broadband” service.
The package would be offered to around 7 million households who qualify for certain government-backed subsidies, including free or reduce lunch for school children, supplemental nutrition benefits known as SNAP or other federal and state programs.
“High-speed internet is essential to our everyday lives, and as we continue to reopen our state and adjust to new norms that have been shaped by the pandemic, we need to make sure every household has access to affordable internet,” Cuomo said in a statement.
The law does not require ISPs to offer the cheaper package to those who would not normally qualify for low-income programs. The average cost of Internet service in New York is about $50 a month, the governor’s office said.
