(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – Governor Andrew Cuomo has yet to sign the Broadband Data Collection Bill that was overwhelmingly passed by New York State Assembly and in the Senate five months ago, which has now prompted Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1122 to put out a call to action for Union Members across Western New York to send a loud and clear message to Cuomo: Sign the Bill.

A posting appeared on the Social Networks late last week (pictured above) that called for Unions and their Members to Make The Call For Broadband. 

With just a few weeks left for the Governor to sign it into law, the CWA wants Cuomo to get the message - loud and clear: Every New Yorker needs affordable broadband access and the first step is getting an accurate picture of who does or doesn’t have it now.

“The Internet ‘is not a luxury.’  ‘It is deemed a utility,’” CWA President John Mudie told WNYLaborToday.com.  “We put this out to our Members and Unions and their Members across Western New York ‘because we’re seeing school kids sitting out in hot spots to get service, which is ridiculous.’  ‘We’ve gotten to the point where it needs to be mandated, like electricity - because people just can’t live without it.’”

New York Assembly Bill A667C and the Senate version - S8805, were passed with overwhelming support of the Legislature in July. 

It called on the Public Service Commission (PSC) to conduct a study, starting 30 days after its presumed signing by the Governor, of broadband access and quality across the state. 

For many who have supported and pushed it forward, it is unclear why Cuomo hasn’t signed it. 

If Cuomo doesn’t sign the Bill, then it’s back to square one and Mudie doesn’t want to see that happen.

“We’re ‘not hearing anything’ (in regards to why the Governor won’t sign it),” said Mudie, whose Local 1122 represents nearly 1,400 Members across Western New York.  “We ‘definitely need it.’”

All New Yorkers need a choice of reliable and affordable high-speed Internet and telephone service, but many communities - particularly the Hudson Valley, in Upstate New York, Brookhaven and Eastern Suffolk - are subject to a broadband/fiber optic monopoly. 

This legislation would require more granular and accurate data collection to identify specific areas of New York State that are unserved or underserved by broadband, as well as customers that face prohibitive costs.

The FCC’s 477 data on which New York State relies is said to be insufficiently granular.

The FCC’s current Form 477 data collection process requires broadband providers to report deployment at the census block level.

However, the FCC’s methodology considers an entire census block served if at least one household has access to broadband.

This flawed methodology can dramatically overstate broadband deployment, particularly in rural areas where homes and buildings are spread further apart within census blocks, the Bill’s supporters argue.

As such, the Bill would require the PSC to study: The availability of high-speed internet on a more granular level (“location" versus census block); The reliability of that high-speed internet access (latency); The technology used (fiber, hybrid, coax, satellite, etc.); Actual uploads and download speeds; Affordability of service; and the Number of residences and number of commercial locations with access to the internet.

The PSC will also be asked to identify instances where local franchise agreements have not been complied with and to evaluate the efficacy of competition in fulfilling the goals of universal - high speed, affordable and high-quality broadband.

Lastly, the legislation will require public hearings with input from the public and other stakeholders, including - but not limited to, internet service providers, telecommunications concerns, Labor Organizations, public safety organizations, health care, education, agricultural, as well as others.

For More Information On This Labor News Story, Go To: https://district1.cwa-union.org/broadband-data-collection-mapping And www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/governor-still-hasnt-signed-broadband-study-bill/71-191af3aa-284d-4d21-ae92-929e3aecfed8