Bill > S02177

This bill, known as the "Broadband Investment Tax Stabilization (BITS) Act", aims to clarify and modify the real property tax law regarding telecommunications equipment. Specifically, the bill seeks to ensure that all equipment used for transmitting and switching electromagnetic voice, video, and data signals between different entities is no longer considered real property subject to real property taxation. The legislation is designed to correct what the legislature views as a misinterpretation by the court of appeals regarding previous laws. The bill explicitly excludes certain types of telecommunications equipment owned by entities other than telephone companies from real property tax, with a particular focus on equipment used for commercial mobile radio service or mobile internet access service. This includes items like fiber optic cables, towers, permanently affixed steel rooftop structures, and walk-in shelters related to signal transmission. The bill will take effect immediately and apply to all assessments that have not yet become final, regardless of whether a taxpayer has filed a complaint about an assessment. The goal appears to be providing tax relief and clarity for telecommunications infrastructure investments.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S2177