NY A09398

The Transportation Department commissioner must enter into agreements with fiber optic utilities to install, modify, relocate, repair, operate, and maintain fiber optic facilities along all state thruways and highways maintained by the New York State Thruway Authority and Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Any highway or thruway project receiving state funding must include installation of conduits suitable for fiber optic cables or wireless facilities that support broadband services.

The Public Service Commission, in consultation with the Department of Transportation and relevant authorities, must ensure broadband service providers have access to installed conduits and fiber optic cables on a competitively neutral, nondiscriminatory basis at cost-based rates.

The Highway Law is amended to authorize the commissioner to enter into agreements and contracts to ensure all state thruways and highways have fiber optic cable installed under the terms and conditions deemed appropriate.

The act takes effect 30 days after becoming law, with regulatory authority to implement the requirements immediately upon enactment.