Обзор ISPs must offer cheaper internet to low income households after trying to prevent it

[Обзор]

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

• New York’s law that requires ISPs to offer cheap internet plans to low-income households goes into effect on January 15.
• To comply, New York-based ISPs will have to start offering $15 or $20 per month service plans to people with low income.
• These ISPs can file for an exemption if they serve 20,000 households or less.

After a lengthy court battle with broadband industry lobbyists, New York will soon start enforcing a law that passed in 2021. The state law requires ISPs, like Verizon, to offer $15 or $20 per month internet service plans to low-income households.

Although ISPs got an initial win by blocking the Affordable Broadband Act (ABA) in June 2021, this ruling was reversed in April 2024 after the case went to the US appeals court. Last month, the Supreme Court decided not to hear the broadband industry’s challenge, which means the appeals court ruling is the final word on the issue. ISPs will now have to comply with the ABA, which will start being enforced on January 15.