Do you qualify for NY's Affordable Broadband Act? What to know
The Affordable Broadband Act, or ABA, requires anyone looking to provide broadband service, or internet service providers, in New York to offer high speed broadband service to low-income customers at either $15 per month of service of at least 25 megabits per second or $20 per month for high-speed service of at least 200 megabits per second.
Certain price increases may be allowed every few years and internet service providers that serve 20,000 households or less may be exempted. So far, over 60 New York providers have requested exemptions.
Here's how to know if you qualify for ABA and what internet service providers are currently offering in New York.
You could qualify for ABA plans if you participate in any of these programs, according to the state:
Free or reduced-priced lunch through the National School Lunch Program
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Medicaid
Senior citizen rent increase exemption
Disability rent increase exemption
Affordability benefit from a utility
What to know: AT&T drops broadband service in NY as Affordable Broadband Act goes into effect
While there are two options New York internet service providers could provide through the ABA, the $20 option is not mandatory, according to the state's Department of Public Service. Here's what some providers are offering:
Speed of offering: 50 Mbps
Price of offering (per month): $14.99
More information: optimumadvantageinternet.com/
Speed of offering: 50 Mbps
Price of offering (per month): $15
More information: spectrum.com/
Speed of offering: 25 Mbps download speed plus 3 Mbps upload speed
Price of offering (per month): $15 with a $100 installation fee
More information: greenlightnetworks.com/affordable-broadband-act/
Speed of offering: 75 Mbps
Price of offering (per month): $14.95
More information: xfinity.com/learn/internet-service/internet-essentials/apply
Hochul's State of the State: Proposed regulations aim to better protect NY consumers from overdraft fees
AT&T has stopped offering its fixed-wireless internet service statewide as of Jan. 15 because of the state's Affordable Broadband Act, according to the company, and since New York is outside of AT&T's wireline service footprint, there are no other home internet options available throughout the state.
If you're an AT&T Internet Air service customer, which offers wireless home internet for $60 per month or $47 per month when bundled with an unlimited wireless plan, you will be able to keep the service for up to 45 days at no charge, the company says, and you'll receive a recovery kit with instructions on how to return your equipment. Business customers can keep any device they've bought at no charge.
Emily Barnes reports on consumer-related issues for the USA TODAY Network's New York Connect Team, focusing on scam and recall-related topics. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: NY Affordable Broadband Act: How you qualify for reduced prices
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