New York Appoints Members To Broadband Development and Deployment Council
Broadband Development and Deployment Council Will Work to Establish Accessible and Affordable Broadband for all New Yorkers.
Governor David A. Paterson today announced that he has appointed 13 individuals to serve on the New York State Broadband Development and Deployment Council.
The appointees reflect a variety of backgrounds, including private industry and municipal and State government, each a proven leader and expert in broadband technology and strategy.
The Council’s primary goal is to provide strategic direction to ensure all New Yorkers have access to high-speed Internet networks and are able to participate fully in today’s digital age.
“An affordable and accessible high-speed broadband network is essential if New York is to become a leader in the new economy,” Governor Paterson said. “We cannot afford to leave any part of the State without a modern, high-speed connection to the web. I thank the members of the Council for sharing this vision and for volunteering their time and expertise to ensure all New Yorkers have access to this modern day utility.”
New York State Chief Information Officer and Director of the Office for Technology Dr. Melodie Mayberry-Stewart said: “I am pleased that Governor Paterson has formalized the New York State Broadband Development and Deployment Council. I sincerely look forward to working with such distinguished leaders who will bring their passion to improve New York State’s global competitiveness. We need their innovative ideas to close the digital divide in our State and ensure New Yorkers have access to affordable broadband services in under-served and underserved urban and rural communities.”
Executive Director of the New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR) Edward Reinfurt said: “In order to advance the state’s efforts in expanding our new economy, we have to ensure that every innovative thinker throughout the state has a reliable high speed broadband connection. This is an essential step in giving entrepreneurs and businesses an opportunity to collaborate and create new market opportunities for job growth in New York State.”
Director of the Office of Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure Coordination William Pelgrin, said: “I look forward to being part of the Broadband Development and Deployment Council and contributing to this vital effort of moving New York State forward in the 21st Century. By working collaboratively with experts from the public and private sectors, we will be successful in implementing Governor Paterson’s goals of stimulating economic development and ensuring all New Yorkers can become full participants in the information age.”
Executive Director of the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) Stephen J. Acquario said: “Access to reliable high-speed Internet represents a lifeline to New York State’s communities. It enables businesses and individuals to tap into the knowledge and information that drive the economy, our government and society. It is an honor to bring the local government perspective to the Council’s ongoing efforts to deploy broadband access to all communities in New York State.”
Ex-Officio Members of the Broadband Council are:
- Dr. Melodie Mayberry-Stewart, New York State Chief Information Officer (Chair);
- Garry A. Brown, Chairman of the NYS Public Service Commission;
- Stanley Gee, Acting Commissioner of the Department of Transportation;
- Robert Megna, Director of the Division of the Budget;
- Dennis M. Mullen, Chairman and CEO Designate of Empire State Development Corp.;
- William Pelgrin, Director of the Office of Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure Coordination; and
- Edward Reinfurt, Executive Director of the New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation.
Appointed Members of the Council are:
- Stephen Acquario, Executive Director of the NYS Association of Counties;
- Michael J. Borges, Executive Director of the New York Library Association;
- Edward Hemminger, Chief Information Officer for Ontario County, NY; President of the NYS Local Government Information Technology Directors Association; and
- Thomas Dunleavy, Public Service Commission (retired).
Two additional appointed positions will be recommended by the Senate and Assembly.
The Governor established the State Broadband Development and Deployment Council in June by Executive Order No. 22. The Council is tasked with developing strategies to increase broadband infrastructure, expanding digital literacy and adoption rates, improving access to online government services, fostering economic development and leveraging federal stimulus funds and public private partnerships to meet the State’s broadband goals. The executive order also encourages public private partnerships, economic development and the creation of world-class, high-capacity and high-speed broadband networks.
Four technical committees will support the work of the Council. They will focus on the following areas: Digital Literacy & Adoption, which will address affordability, computer ownership and adoption, digital literacy and training and consumer education; E-Government Expansion, which will improve and increase access to government services offered online and promote the development of open, simple and secure online applications with measurable outcomes; Economic Development & Infrastructure, which will focus on building stronger economies, promoting the economic growth of New York State by increasing business activity, identifying and implementing public/private partnerships and determining strategies to create and maintain a skilled and professional workforce; and Planning & Policy, which will focus on recommending and advocating for broadband policies at the state and federal levels to close gaps and advance adoption.
The Broadband Development and Deployment Council will also help coordinate federally funded broadband projects. The federal government has acknowledged the need for states to develop high speed Internet access to support economic development and educational opportunities and included a $7.2 billion appropriation for those activities in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
For more information regarding Executive Order No. 22, please visit
http://www.ny.gov/governor/executive_orders/exeorders/eo_22.html.For more information regarding the New York State Broadband Strategy visit http://www.cio.ny.gov/assets/documents/Final_Broadband_Strategy_June2009.pdf.
For information regarding New York State’s Broadband stimulus activities, please visit
http://www.nysbroadband.ny.gov.For more information regarding the federal broadband grant programs, please visit http://broadbandusa.sc.egov.usda.gov.
Topics: affordable broadband, broadband, Broadband Development and Deployment Council, broadband technology, digital age, Governance, high speed internet, internet access, modern day utility, new economy, New York, New York State, online, state government, technology, U.S., United States
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