Relates to certain economic development programs; requires reporting on the use of fiber-optic technology in certain economic development grant programs; adds access to high-speed broadband internet service as consideration in certain competitive grant projects.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7333
SPONSOR: Bronson TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the economic development law and the New York state
urban development corporation act, in relation to certain economic
development programs
PURPOSE::
To assist NYS economic development and community revitalization by
including high-speed broadband internet service as a consideration in
certain economic development programs.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS::
Section 1 amends section 100-a of the economic development law in
relation to reporting on the use of fiber technology in certain economic
development grant programs.
Section 2 amends the New York state urban development corporation act to
add access to high-speed broadband Internet service as a consideration
in competitive grant projects under the Urban and Community Development
Program.
Section 3 amends the New York state urban development corporation act to
add access to high-speed broadband internet service as a consideration
in grant projects under the Restore New York Communities Initiative
Section 4 is the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
The Urban & Community Development Program and the Restore New York
Communities Initiative are two important programs aimed at revitalizing
our local neighborhoods and communities. Whenever possible, additional
steps should be taken to support the goals of these programs. One such
measure that can have a meaningful impact in distressed areas is access
to high-speed broadband internet.
It is now undisputed that access to reliable, high-speed broadband is
essential to full participation in modern life in the United States.
Further, many studies indicate that high-speed broadband is integral to
improving economic development activity, expanding employment opportu-
nities, increasing property values, and generally improving the quality
of life for citizens. Areas in need of revitalization and renewal, such
as those eligible for the above-referenced programs, should not be left
out of the benefits that can be gained.through high-speed broadband
internet.
By adding fiber-to-the-home high-speed broadband as a factor to consider
in awarding grants under these two economic development programs, local
neighborhoods will be better equipped for revitalization and community
residents will enjoy more opportunities and a better quality of life.
Federal broadband grant programs already recognize end-to-end fiber-op-
tic architecture as "priority" projects because of the benefits and
advantages fiber provides. New York State should do likewise with the
Urban & Community Development Program and the Restore New York Communi-
ties Initiative.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS::
None to the state.
EFFECTIVE DATE::
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7333
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 17, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BRONSON -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Economic Development
AN ACT to amend the economic development law and the New York state
urban development corporation act, in relation to certain economic
development programs
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 100-a of the economic development law, as added by
2 section 1 of part UUU of chapter 59 of the laws of 2017, is amended to
3 read as follows:
4 § 100-a. Comprehensive economic development reporting. The department
5 shall prepare an annual comprehensive economic development report, no
6 later than December thirty-first of each year, listing economic develop-
7 ment assistance provided by the New York state urban development corpo-
8 ration and the department, including but not limited to tax expendi-
9 tures, marketing and advertising, grants, awards and loans. Such
10 comprehensive report shall include aggregate totals for each economic
11 development program administered by the New York state urban development
12 corporation and the department, including but not limited to program
13 progress, program participation rates, economic impact, regional
14 distribution, industry trends, and any other information deemed neces-
15 sary by the commissioner. Such comprehensive report may also include a
16 summary of the extent to which community revitalization grant programs
17 incorporated the use of end-to-end fiber-optic architecture for the
18 provision of high-speed broadband internet service. The department shall
19 prominently post the comprehensive economic development report on its
20 website no later than January first of each year.
21 § 2. Subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of subdivision 5 of section
22 16-d of section 1 of chapter 174 of the laws of 1968, constituting the
23 New York state urban development corporation act, as added by chapter
24 169 of the laws of 1994, is amended to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10495-01-3
A. 7333 2
1 (i) the potential impact the proposed project would have on economic
2 development and employment opportunities in the community and the
3 region, including the extent to which the proposed project will use
4 end-to-end fiber-optic architecture to deliver high-speed broadband
5 internet service in the project area; and
6 § 3. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 6 of section 16-n of section 1 of
7 chapter 174 of the laws of 1968, constituting the New York state urban
8 development corporation act, as added by section 2 of part C-2 of chap-
9 ter 109 of the laws of 2006, is amended to read as follows:
10 (c) Priority shall also be given to properties in economically
11 distressed communities which are defined as cities and other communities
12 determined by the commissioner of the department of economic development
13 on the basis of criteria indicative of economic distress, including
14 poverty rates, numbers of persons receiving public assistance, unemploy-
15 ment rates, rate of employment decline, population loss, rate of per
16 capita income change, decline in economic activity and private invest-
17 ment, and such other indicators as the commissioner deems appropriate to
18 be in need of economic assistance. For properties that contain residen-
19 tial apartment units or affordable housing units, priority shall also be
20 given to properties for which the municipality commits to using end-to-
21 end fiber-optic architecture to deliver high-speed broadband internet
22 service to such properties.
23 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
