Bill > A04273

This bill establishes the "Broadband Deployment Assistance Act" to streamline and expedite the process for obtaining permits for broadband infrastructure projects. The legislation requires municipalities to process up to 30 substantially similar broadband permit applications simultaneously and within a presumptively reasonable timeframe (60 days for attaching facilities to existing structures, 90 days for new structures). Key provisions include mandating that municipalities notify applicants within 10 days if an application is incomplete, automatically approving permits if not processed within the specified timeframe, and allowing applicants to submit consolidated applications. The bill aims to accelerate broadband infrastructure deployment by reducing bureaucratic delays, which can impede communities' access to high-speed internet for critical services like telehealth, emergency response, education, and remote work. Municipalities are required to work in good faith with applicants to resolve processing limitations, and permits will be valid for one year. Notably, the bill does not apply to cities with a population of one million or greater, and it provides a detailed framework for defining terms like "batch broadband permit processing" and "substantially similar broadband permit applications" to ensure clear implementation.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A4273