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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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New Yorkers Don’t Want to Be Left in Internet Fast-Lane Dust

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Monday, August 4, 2014   

NEW YORK – It's a proposal pending before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that would create fast lines on the Internet and new data indicates New Yorkers have plenty at stake in the ongoing debate.

Ninety-six percent of New York adults use the Internet, according to Chaunda Ball, associate state director for communications with AARP New York.

She says the FCC fast-lane plan could leave plenty of New Yorkers in the dust when it comes to doing the things they most often end up doing online.

"We found 63 percent of New York adults watch videos on video-sharing sites,” she explains. “That could be slowed down by this whole idea of eliminating net neutrality."

The FCC is allowing comments on the proposal through Sept. 10.

AARP says consumers would be better protected if the agency would reclassify broadband as a telecommunications service.

Ball says it is not just fun on the Internet that needs protecting. She says the current system of net neutrality is a big factor that allows New Yorkers to age in place, rather than in expensive nursing homes.

"There's a lot of innovation happening in the medical field where people who have certain diseases can be monitored from their home,” she points out. “We believe that net neutrality needs to remain in place to continue to allow this things to happen."

The bottom line, Ball says, is creating those fast lanes could slow down New Yorkers at some of the things they most like to do when they are using the Internet.

"Things like sharing pictures, downloading music files,” she explains. “We found that 67 percent of New York adults engage on social media sites – and 45 percent download music files."

Ball adds almost half of New Yorkers spend up to three hours online per day.



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