Digital Inclusion

New York's $15 Broadband Law Takes Effect Wednesday

N.Y. to enforce law mandating $15 and $20 Internet plans for low-income residents.

Jericho Casper

Jan 14, 2025 — 2 min read

Photo of New York Public Service Commission Chair Rory Christian from LinkedIn

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2024 – Nearly four years after its passage sparked a heated legal battle with internet service providers, a New York law mandating affordable broadband access for low-income residents will finally take effect on Wednesday.

Originally enacted in April 2021, the state’s Affordable Broadband Act requires ISPs serving more than 20,000 households in New York to offer discounted broadband plans to low-income households.

The plans are specifically priced at $15 per month for 25 Megabits per second (Mbps) download speeds and $20 per month for 200 Mbps. These prices must include recurring taxes, equipment rental fees, and other usage fees, with annual price increases capped at 2%.

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Digital Inclusion affordability New York ABA New York Public Service Commission Rory Christian Letitia James Second Circuit Supreme Court FCC Jon Brodkin Ars Technica California Net Neutrality Barbara van Schewick Stanford Law School ACP Maine