Charter Communications Will Offer Low-Income Broadband Program for $15 Per Month
Governor Kathy Hochul on August 15th announced that the New York State Public Service Commission had reached a settlement agreement with Charter Communications, Inc., parent company of broadband provider Spectrum, which operates in 58 out of the 62 counties in New York State, requiring the communications company to provide discounted broadband service to low-income customers in the National Free School Lunch Program or receive Supplemental Security Income benefits.
“My administration has been steadfast in its commitment to expand internet service to all New Yorkers, and this settlement directly benefits thousands of low-income New York families,” Governor Hochul said. “Broadband is crucial to driving economic growth and opportunity for all of our citizens, and we will continue our efforts to provide broadband access across the state.”
Today, the PSC approved an enforcement settlement with Charter, the largest cable provider in the State. An earlier merger order had a number of enforceable public interest conditions, including a condition that Charter offer a low-income broadband program with download speeds of at least 30 Megabits per second (Mbps) for $14.99 per month. The DPS alleged Charter increased the price of its low-income broadband program to $24.99/month at a higher speed of 50 Mbps without Commission approval, in violation of the 2016 merger order. The company disputed the allegations.
The settlement will require Charter to re-establish the program at $15/month for 50 Mbps download speed for four years to New Yorkers in the National Free School Lunch Program or receiving SSI benefits. For years two through four of the program, Charter can’t raise the price by more than the rate of inflation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index beginning in second year of the program.
PSC Chair Rory M. Christian said, “Ongoing litigation has delayed implementation of the State’s Affordable Broadband Act, and the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) has expired. The only low-income broadband requirements that currently exist in New York are the low-income program conditions in the PSC’s orders approving certain mergers. By approving this settlement, the PSC will make affordable broadband available to eligible New Yorkers in Charter’s service territory while the litigation is resolved and/or federal funding for ACP is reinstated or federal broadband policy is clarified.”
Image by Mariakray from Pixabay
