Issue Position: Investing in Broadband, Research and Technology

Issue Position

Another way can improve our strategy for success is to ensure that our businesses, schools, libraries and homes have the technology infrastructure to compete and participate in the global marketplace, and I have worked hard to ensure that New York is wired with broadband connections to do just that. Broadband access is key infrastructure powering our "Information Age" economy, like canals and railroads in the 19th century or the interstate highways and rural electrification in the 20 th century. Unfortunately, the 25 percent of our nation's population who live outside of urban areas are being increasingly left out. We should be working to complete broadband access throughout New York and across our entire country and I'll continue to support policies which do just that.

In my first term I secured Senate passage of tax incentives for telecommunications companies to deploy broadband networks in our rural and Upstate areas. This technology will allow small businesses in places like Canton and Corning to compete for customers around the globe.

Moreover I have introduced legislation to invest in new and innovative broadband delivery technologies and to provide grants and low cost loans to cutting edge telecommunications companies to help build up a broadband infrastructure in underserved areas in our urban centers and rural communities.

I am privileged that I represent a State that is home to some of the most pioneering research in burgeoning fields like bio-informatics, nanotechnology, and alternative energy. I will continue to support efforts to cultivate New York's intellectual capital and to invest in these fields that have tremendous potential to contribute to economic and job growth.

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