Broadband, sometimes referred to as high-speed Internet, is a critical engine for communities to enhance social and economic well-being and a vital resource to educate our youth, create jobs, promote public safety, and deliver essential services such as healthcare. Universal broadband capabilities enable state and local governments to provide better and more cost efficient services. Yet, broadband in New York State and across the United States is not what it needs to be for residents and businesses to realize all the potential benefits. The United States is behind many countries in the adoption of broadband technology.

To close this gap, New York State is working to fulfill the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) requirements for New York’s portion of the national broadband map, at the same time gathering information to support important broadband policy work within New York State as laid out in the state's Broadband Strategic Roadmap. As part of this initiative, OCS has also launched the New York State Broadband Mapping website, where visitors can query the map by street address to discover the types of broadband services available at any New York State location, with accompanying provider contact information.