CWA Applauds Senator Chris Ryan and Assemblymember Nily Rozic’s Bill to Protect Consumers and Ensure High-Quality Access to Broadband

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2026
Contact: Mia McDonald, Deputy Legislative Director | [email protected]

CWA Applauds Senator Chris Ryan and Assemblymember Nily Rozic’s Bill to Protect Consumers and Ensure High-Quality Access to Broadband

Albany, N.Y. – The Communications Workers of America (CWA), District 1 commends State Senator Chris Ryan (D - Syracuse) and Assemblymember Nily Rozic (D - Queens) on the introduction of S9271/A10360, which will authorize and direct the Public Service Commission to exercise oversight of broadband. While the state has made significant investments in ensuring the expansion and adoption of broadband across the State, many New Yorkers remain inadequately served. 

“CWA District 1 is committed to achieving universal access to high-speed, high-quality broadband while ensuring good jobs in the telecommunications industry,” said Dennis G. Trainor, CWA District 1 Vice President. “For years, we have fought for and won accurate mapping of broadband availability, public funding to go towards future-proof fiber technology, and high road labor standards in the industry. Regulation of broadband is a critical next step towards achieving universal broadband in New York State.”

Historically, New York State had strong oversight over copper phone lines – when communication was limited to the Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS), the state required providers to comply with service quality and consumer protection standards, similar to other utilities. However, with the replacement of POTS with broadband​/VoIP technology and years of industry deregulation, the State now has limited authority. Broadband providers face little public accountability for service quality, outdated infrastructure, or failure to respond appropriately to natural disasters. Without oversight, consumers currently have little recourse during outages and when providers fail to deliver promised services. 

“In 2026, no New Yorker can nor should be without access to reliable broadband service,” said State Senator Chris Ryan. “This legislation will authorize the Public Service Commission to regulate broadband as a utility and ensure transparency in the industry and accountability to consumers. With state oversight, our networks will be resilient and offer quality service to all.” 

The legislation will explicitly authorize and direct the Public Service Commission to exercise oversight of broadband in areas of resiliency and reliability, public safety in the event of natural disasters, data collection and transparency of pricing and outages, and consumer protection. This legislation will require the Public Service Commission to establish minimum service quality benchmarks for service outages, repair standards, and customer service.

“New Yorkers deserve accountability and connectivity when it comes to broadband,” said Assemblymember Nily Rozic. “This legislation is critical in ensuring that the PSC can regulate this infrastructure and deliver for consumers across New York.”

New York is expected to significantly invest in broadband construction over the next few years thanks to federal Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding, which will be used for the deployment of broadband to unserved and underserved locations statewide. Before that construction begins, this oversight is critical to ensure New Yorkers will have safe, reliable, and affordable broadband service. 

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CWA District 1 represents 145,000 workers across New York, New Jersey, New England, and eastern Canada, including 65,000 in New York State. CWA members work in telecommunications, healthcare, higher education, manufacturing, broadcast and cable television, commercial printing and newspapers, state, local, and county government.