Martucci Calls Out Metzger’s Empty Promise on Broadband

GOSHEN – Mike Martucci, candidate for the 42^nd State Senate District seat, today blasted his opponent, Senator Metzger, for her empty promise to bring broadband to her district and beyond.

“Today Senator Metzger is congratulating herself for passing yet another bill to study broadband access to underserved rural areas, claiming it as a victory, but the fact of the matter is that her rhetoric simply doesn’t match her actions,” Martucci said. “In reality, she’s delivered nothing. The last two bloated state budgets do not contain a single dime to expand broadband access, and in fact, in 2019 Senator Metzger and her liberal colleagues actually made it more expensive to install broadband by passing a tax on businesses that are trying to expand access.”

The bill passed by the Senator directs the Public Service Commission to study the availability, affordability, and reliability of high-speed internet and broadband access in New York State. However, the last two state budgets Senator Metzger voted for have included no funding for broadband services. In 2019, a new “fee” was included in the budget that has increased the cost of installing broadband and, according to media reports, is now responsible for killing new projects.

“People in the 42^nd Senate District and across the state don’t need another study to tell them they don’t have access to broadband services, they need action, Martucci said. “Senator Metzger claims her bill makes broadband more accessible, affordable, and reliable, when in reality it does none of those things. If she really cares about the issue, she’d provide funding necessary to build projects and remove the taxes that are stepping on the throat of the private sector. Instead of action, all we are left with is empty grandstanding. The people of the 42^nd district deserve better.”