March 18, 2026 Albany

Virtual Public Statement Hearings Set Regarding Broadband Availability

ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) will hold two virtual public statement hearings on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, to receive public comments concerning the availability, reliability, and affordability of residential and commercial broadband internet access services in the State of New York.

Public Service Law §224-c, enacted on April 16, 2021, directs the Commission to study, on an annual basis, the availability, reliability, and cost of high-speed broadband service in the state to ensure that all New Yorkers have the necessary affordable access going forward. Public Service Law §224-c also requires the Commission to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the Assembly. The Commission is in the process of preparing its fifth annual report.

Two virtual public statement hearings will be held to obtain public comment on these topics. Public comment, and especially the personal experience of commenters, should address topics including, but not limited to:

• Locations where broadband internet service with at least 25 Megabits per second (Mbps) downstream and 1 Mbps upstream is not available, and what barriers are in place that limit its availability;
• Locations where the offered download speed(s) of internet service are greater than 25 Mbps but less than 100 Mbps downstream;
• Locations where there is only one broadband internet service provider; and
• Locations where broadband internet service is too costly for consumers or businesses, and the size of the cost barriers. Public comment is requested from individuals; internet service providers; labor organizations; public safety organizations; and healthcare, educational, agricultural, and other businesses and organizations.

Each public statement hearing will be preceded by a brief informational session at which Department of Public Service (Department) staff will outline the Department’s information gathering process.

All New York State residents, whether or not they make statements at the hearings, are strongly encouraged to participate in the Department’s data gathering project by completing a broadband speed test and survey available at https://mapmybroadband.dps.ny.gov. This survey may be completed online at home, on cell phones, or at local libraries with internet access. New York State residents unable to take the survey online due to lack of connectivity should contact the Department’s toll-free hotline at 1-855-NYBBMAP (1-855-692-2627) to request that a paper version of the survey be sent to their homes with a return envelope and pre-paid postage.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that two public statement hearings will be held virtually before the assigned Administrative Law Judge as follows:

| DATE: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2026
TIME:  1:00 P.M.

Electronic Access: https://meetny-gov.webex.com
Event Number:  2821 851 8704
Password:  Mar25-1pm

Phone-Only Access:  1-929-251-9612 (toll free)
Access Code:  2821 851 8704
Password:  62725017 |
| DATE: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2026
TIME:  6:00 P.M.

Electronic Access: https://meetny-gov.webex.com
Event Number:  2824 022 8676
Password:  Mar25-6pm

Phone-Only Access:  1-929-251-9612
Access Code:  2824 022 8676
Password:  62725067 |
Those wishing to comment on any aspect of this proceeding will have the opportunity to make a statement on the record at the virtual public statement hearings. Any person wishing to provide a public statement must pre-register by 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

To register and provide a statement electronically:

This option is for participants who would like to provide a statement and who will log in to the hearing electronically. Participants must pre-register by the date and time indicated above by visiting the Department of Public Service website at https://dps.ny.gov/calendar, clicking on the “View DPS Calendar Listings” button under the “Calendars” section, scrolling to and clicking on “Public Statement Hearing for Broadband Study and Mapping” for the particular hearing time, clicking the “Register” button, and then providing all requested information. After registration is complete, registrants will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to join the hearing.

When logging in to participate in the virtual hearing on the appropriate date and time, participants will be asked to “select audio system.” It is recommended that participants opt to have the system “call me” or “call using computer.” The “call me” option will require that participants enter their phone numbers.

To register and provide a statement by phone:

This option is for participants who are not able to log in to the virtual public statement hearing electronically. Call-in participants wishing to make a statement at a virtual public statement hearing must register to do so by the date and time indicated above by calling 1-800-342-3330, following the prompt to the appropriate hearing, and then providing the following information: first name and last name, address, and phone number.

On the day and time of the virtual public statement hearing, call-in registrants must dial 1-929-251-9612 and enter the access code and phone-in password listed above. All participants will be muted upon entry into the virtual public statement hearing. Each participant who has pre-registered will be called upon when it is time to speak. Each public statement hearing will continue until everyone who has registered to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements to submit comments into the record have been made. Reasonable time limits may be set for each speaker as necessary to afford all attendees an opportunity to be heard. It is recommended that lengthy comments be submitted in writing and summarized for oral presentation. A verbatim transcript of each public statement hearing will be made for inclusion in the record of this proceeding.

To listen to the hearings without making a statement:

Any interested person may listen to the hearings by calling 1-929-251-9612 and entering the appropriate access code and phone-in password listed above.

Persons with disabilities requiring reasonable accommodations should call the Department of Public Service’s Human Resources Management Office at 1-518-473-9463 as soon as possible. TDD users may request a sign language interpreter by placing a call through the New York Relay Service at 711. Individuals with difficulty understanding or reading English are encouraged to call the Department at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services.

Other Ways to Comment:

For those who cannot attend or prefer not to speak at the public statement hearings, there are several other ways to provide your comments. Comments should refer to “Case 22-M-0313.” Comments are requested by April 10, 2026.

Internet or Mail: Go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on “File Search” (located under the heading “Commission Files”), enter “22-M-0313” in the box labelled “Search by Case Number,” and then click on “Post Comments” located at the top right of the page.

Alternatively, comments may be mailed to the Hon. Michelle L. Phillips, Secretary, New York State Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350; however, electronic filing is strongly encouraged. Written comments submitted to the Secretary will be posted on the Department’s website and may be viewed by searching the case number, as described above, and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab.

Toll-Free Opinion Line: Individuals may submit comments by calling the Commission’s Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is set up to take in-State calls 24-hours a day. These calls are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary is provided to the Commission.

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26029 / 22-M-0313

Contact Kim Mashke

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