A state Council for Universal Broadband will distribute US$5 million in grants to research, design and provide broadband Internet that Spitzer said will lead to jobs and economic development. The plan is aimed at providing a tool to help the long stagnant economy in upstate counties.

"We welcome the governor's involvement," said Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, a Westchester Democrat who has sought accessible broadband service for years. "The key here is affordability in low-income neighborhoods that are already wired," Brodsky said. "The Assembly has a plan to do that, to deal with that problem. We'd love to sit down and negotiate with the governor, but I don't see anything in the governor's proposal about a legislative role."