News

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a challenge to New York State’s Affordable Broadband Act.

By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

A challenge to New York’s Affordable Broadband Act will not be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The court declined to take up the challenge yesterday, according to an order list released Monday on the U.S. Supreme Court’s website.

The case was brought by petitioners and the New York New York State Telecommunications Association. It had argued that the state’s Affordable Broadband Act conflicted with federal law.

As the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle reported previously, a temporary injunction had been granted to stop the state from enforcing the law. An appeals court later ruled against that decision, the newspaper reported.

Following the news, a joint statement was released to the media from ACA Connects, CTIA, the New York State Telecommunications Association, the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association, USTelecom, and the NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association. 

The statement, released Monday, said the decision “leaves in place harmful rate regulations that will undermine the effective delivery of broadband services.”

Additionally, the statement argued the decision will discourage investment in broadband networks, most impacting unserved and underserved areas.

The NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association represents about 850 independent telecommunications companies, according to a summary of the organization.

“We will continue to advocate for policies that support and sustain broadband access and protect the competitive marketplace that benefits all Americans,” the statement read.

New York’s Affordable Broadband Act caps prices for qualifying consumers at $20 per month for high-speed internet, the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle reported.

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