LeadingAge National Releases Broadband in Affordable Housing Guide for Providers

The LeadingAge National Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST) has released a “how-to” guide to help providers navigate the process of expanding broadband connectivity in their affordable senior housing properties. Combined with efforts at the state and federal levels, the Broadband in Affordable Housing white paper is a steppingstone to achieving one of LeadingAge’s 2021 Technology and Telehealth Policy Priorities: equitable internet connectivity for all aging services providers and older adults – including affordable housing.

LeadingAge National previously submitted comments to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to guide deployment of more than $46 billion in federal broadband infrastructure funds, making key recommendations to ensure equity and emphasis of affordable housing serving older adults as the federal government works to develop overarching rules for state broadband offices to follow in distributing the funds locally. It is expected that federal rule-setting and review of state spending plans will occur in mid-May.

Here in New York, Governor Kathy Hochul has proposed the appropriation of more than $400 million in State and federal funding and up to $800 million from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to support broadband infrastructure and access expansion efforts through the new “ConnectALL” initiative; however, the State’s plan for deploying these funds remains unclear.

LeadingAge NY will submit formal comments to the State echoing LeadingAge National's recommendations to prioritize low-income seniors and other vulnerable populations living in affordable housing as downstream beneficiaries of broadband expansion efforts and will continue to advocate with its State partners to maximize the positive impact of this investment on quality of life for older New Yorkers.

Contact: Annalyse Komoroske Denio, akomoroskedenio@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8866