Assemblymember Barrett urges FCC to reconsider funding rule and reject Charter/Spectrum’s effort to reduce broadband funding in New York State
Assemblymember’s letters ask FCC to reject Charter’s effort to reduce competition; Opposes FCC rule blocking federal funding from areas served by state broadband program
Assemblymember Didi Barrett (Columbia, Dutchess counties) has submitted two letters to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as part of the FCC’s public comment process for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. The RDOF is a $20.4 billion FCC program intended to expand broadband in unserved areas. One letter asks the FCC to expand eligibility for Phase I of the RDOF to more of New York State. The second letter expresses opposition to a petition filed by Charter Communications asking the FCC to exclude some unserved areas in New York State from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF).
“Charter’s petition is a blatant attempt to reduce competition and leave consumers with no choice but to wait around for Charter to finish a job that should already be complete,” said Assemblymember Barrett. “In Upstate New York, tens of thousands of residents and businesses are still waiting for internet service because of Charter’s years-long effort to renege on their obligations to New York State and the people who live in rural communities. We must continue to call Charter out until every household and business is served as planned under their agreement with New York State.”
If the FCC approves Charter’s request, all of Charter’s service area under the Time Warner/Charter merger agreement would become ineligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Charter is seeking to block the FCC funds in order to reduce competition within their service area. Blocking these unserved New Yorkers from accessing this funding would slow the implementation of broadband in Columbia County and other rural communities across the state. Charter has repeatedly failed to meet the terms of the merger agreement through a series of missed deadlines, misleading information, and hostile communication since the agreement was first approved in 2016, making RDOF necessary to ensure universal broadband coverage.
In addition to opposing the Charter merger, Assemblymember Barrett’s submitted comments also challenged the FCC’s decision to block RDOF resources from census blocks which have received funding from other state or federal broadband programs. Since 2015 New York State has invested $500 million through the New NY Broadband Program, but due to the FCC’s rule, no area that has received these state funds will be eligible for the RDOF. Assemblymember Barrett’s comments ask the FCC to reconsider this policy, and instead adopt a policy that works in partnership with state government efforts, rather than against them.
“New York State has been proactive in expanding broadband access across our diverse state. While our state was working hard to achieve universal service, even in our most rural areas, the federal government lagged behind,” Assemblymember Barrett said. “And now the FCC’s new program punishes New York simply because we were out in front. I ask the FCC to recognize the serious need for broadband across New York State and partner with us to finally bring our farmers, families and rural communities 21st century technology.”
The public is encouraged to submit reply comments opposing Charter’s petition until Tuesday, April 28, 2020. Comments should be submitted by using the FCC’s online comment portal at the following link: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings.
