Bill > S03109

This bill establishes the "Broadband Deployment Assistance Act", which aims to accelerate broadband infrastructure deployment by streamlining permit processing for municipalities. The legislation requires local governments to process up to 30 substantially similar broadband permit applications simultaneously and on an expedited basis within a presumptively reasonable timeframe (60 days for attaching facilities to existing structures, 90 days for new structures). Key provisions include requiring municipalities to notify applicants within 10 days if an application is incomplete, specifying exactly what information is missing, and automatically approving all permits in a batch if not processed within the designated time period. The bill defines several technical terms like "facility" (which includes cable, wireless equipment, and communication infrastructure) and "batch broadband permit processing". Municipalities are required to work in good faith with applicants to resolve resource limitations that might slow permit processing, and permits will be valid for one year after issuance. The legislation is designed to help bridge the digital divide by making it easier and faster to deploy broadband infrastructure, particularly in areas with limited high-speed internet access. Notably, the bill does not apply to cities with a population of one million or more.

Government Affairs, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3109