Donovan pushing statewide ‘broadband for all’

It’s the data, stupid.

The city would pave the way for broadband internet in every household and revamp its approach to the use of data, under a new proposal from mayoral candidate Shaun Donovan.

Pointing to lack of competition as a key reason why nearly one in three city households lack internet access, Donovan said he’d work to increase choices for consumers.

On the regulatory front, he’d work to get the state to pass “Universal Broadband for All” legislation.

The city also would provide grants to small, community-level organizations to provide broadband to areas ignored by telecom monopolies — most of the city currently gets the internet from Spectrum or Verizon, though they’re perennially criticized for prohibitively high costs. Donovan didn’t put a price tag on his idea about grants.

With virtual learning here to stay, according to Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza and other experts, Donovan also said he’d support education about the internet at sites like libraries.

Since he took office, Mayor de Blasio has made big promises about expanding internet access, though the number of New Yorkers cut off from the web remains high — 29% of households lacked internet access as of 2017, according to city Comptroller Scott Stringer.