Public Service Commission John B. Howard Chair and Chief Executive Officer Diane X. Burman James S. Alesi Edwards Tracey A. David J Valesky John B. Maggiore Rory" M. Christian Commissioners  NEWYORK STATEOF OPPORTUNITY  of  Department Public! Service  RECEMED OCT =T2uz1 OFIRE OPTHE TOWN SLIERK MINDSORNY  Three Empire State Plaza, Albany. NY 12223-1350  www.dps.ny.gov  September 27,2021 Dear Elected Official:  The Comprehensive Broadband Connectivity Act, enacted in May of this year, amended the Public Service Law to add a new section 224-C. Among other things, the Act requires the Public Service Commission (PSC or the Commission) to study the availability, reliability, and cost of high-speed intemet and broadband services in New York state, and produce: and publish on its website, a detailed internet access map ofthe: state, indicating access to: internet service by location. Ins addition, thes Actrequires the Commission to submit a report ofits findings and recommendations 6rom thestudy to the governor; and Senate and Assembly leaders in May We write to your today to inform you of our activities in this important work project, and to The Department of] Public Service (the Department or DPS), the Commission's staff arm, has hired EÇC Technologies (ECC), a New York State based company with expertise in technology and communications consulting services, to gather the necessary data to develop the detailed intermet access map and to produce thé report of findings and recommendations related the availability. reliability, and cost of! high-speed internet and broadband services in New York state. ECCI will user data collected from internet service providers, data gathered from its own field activities, and data collected from consumers to form the basis for the broadband map and The Department and ECC will employ an online broadband service survey as the main element of the consumer data gathering effort. Consumers completing the survey will provide valuable information back toi DPS and ECC on the status ofbroadband services availability and use at their homes and businesses. The survey) is easy to follow: and takes less than 10 minutes to complete. Tbesurveywebpage also includes an optional broadband speed test, whereby consumers. can test their current broadband connection for upload and download speed. The weblink for the online survey can be! found at: www.empirestatebroatband.com,  2022, and update the report annually thereafter. request your helpi in the project'sis success.  report..    September 27, 2021  We are asking for your help in disseminating this weblink to your constituency via posting on your municipal website, directi emailsi to your constituencyy comments and notices at public meetings, and whatever other means you use for community outreach. We are confident that your assistance and promotion ofthis online survey will help generate significant consumer participation in your area. Accompanying this letter are flyers containing the weblink and ECC has field. staff traveling tO many areas of the: state, documenting their obscryations of communications infrastructure. ECC staff will have company identification credentials, including management contact information, on thetr person at all times, and shall provide such identification and/or contact information upon request or as needed to effectuate their field work activities. on! behalfof the Department, ECC) staff may provide a general explanation of their work on behalfofDPS, however, ECC staff are not authorized to disclose confidential on propriety information. ECCistaff are not authorized toi enter, private property, OF other iareas not clearly identified or deeméd to be public access or public rights-of-way, in the conduct of their In addition, the report of our findings and recommendations will include instances where local governments have notified the Commission of alleged non-compliance with franchise agreements that have a direct impact on internet access. Instances of alleged non-compliance of avideoj provider with the network build requirements contained in its franchise agreements (Le., buildout of primary servicé area or line éxtensions) should be filed with the Secretary, with a copy to Debra LaBelle, Director ofthe Office of Telecommunications at the Department. Questions or concerns about the online survey or ECC field activities can be directed to ECC company management, or to the undersigned Department representative. Thank you in advance foryour assistance in promoting the broadband online survey and the state's broadband mapping  scannable QR code to help facilitates your outreach efforts.  work for the Department.  project.  JRB6  Dbn-dbale Debra LaBelle Director, Office ofTelecommumications NYS Department ofl Public Service (518),486-2430 Dimlabeleadsaysox  Joseph Starks President, ECCTechnologies Inc.. (585)330-1591 nysdps-muncipal@ecclec.com  CC: Joe Starks  -2-    INTERNET ACCESS  An informative online survey put together by New York: State Department of Public Service and ECC Technologies. Take the survey to provide your Internet service experience, and help tell us where there is greater need for Internet service within New York State. The DPS wants to hear from  you! Follow the link below to find out more.  www.empirestatebroadband.com  NEWYORI Department  STATEOF OPPORTUNITY  of Public Service  ECC TECHNOLOGIES    NEWYORK Department  STATEOF OPPORTUNITY  of Public Service  ECC TECHNOLOGIES  Try Our Broadband Survey  The New' York State Department of Public Service has partnered with ECC Technologies to request consumers' help in better understanding your experience with broadband access in the state. Pleasé take the  brief survey below and let us bear from you.  www.empirestatebroadband.com