The $1 billion New New York Broadband Plan would place the state four times ahead of the planned Federal Communications Commission minimal broadband download speed description of 25Mbps.

The governor declared on Friday that $500 million would be invested by the state to support the private sector to update broadband and roll out broadband to underserved and unserved regions.

The objective is going to be for the private sector to match the government investment, resulting in a complete $1 billion in financing for broadband upgrades.
The demand will be for broadband suppliers to provide at least 100Mbps download speeds, or, in certain small instances, 25Mbps download speeds for the remote and underserved regions.

“Access to high speed net is crucial to ensuring that all New Yorkers can reach their full potential in the current technology-driven world,” Cuomo said in a statement.

“We are starting the biggest state broadband investment in the country to be able to make that goal a reality. It is really a bold undertaking which will enhance the lives of New Yorkers in every corner of the state, and I’m proud to make it a priority of our government’s second-term plan.”

According to an 2011 study performed by the state (PDF), about 67 percent of New Yorkers are connected to a broadband service. Approximately 59 percent of all homes using a broadband connection in New York connect by means of a cable connection, 8.1 percent connect on fibre, and 22.2 percent via DSL.

The government will soon be appearing to ensure it is simpler for the telecommunications firms to roll out broadband, including applying a “excavation once” policy which will enable pits and ducts to be made prepared for multiple services simultaneously. The state may also be looking at using its present 500 miles of fibre.

The co-investment strategy is not dissimilar to that in New Zealand, where several private telecommunications firms is rolling out the national broadband network with financial support from the New Zealand government.

In Australia, the government-owned business NBN Co is rolling out a combination of fibre to the house, fibre to the node, fibre to the cellar, fixed wireless, cable, and satellite services to provide at least 25Mbps by 2020.