NYC city council wants to study broadband options

News.com reports that NYC is finally promoting broadband. The initiative comes not from the city administration but from the City Council: "[the] legislation that creates a special broadband commission to advise Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the city council on how the resources of city government can be used to help roll out broadband throughout the city."

"Broadband is a fundamental civil right and human right," Bill de Blasio, a city council member, said during the session on Wednesday. "This legislation will start us down this road."

Don't expect the kind of quick and decisive action seen in other cities:

"The reports from the committee may find that we are already well served by DSL and cable," she said. "But all we've ever known in New York until now has been Verizon and the cable companies, so I think it's important that we educate ourselves about what else is available."

The legislation requires that the committee hold two public hearings in every borough during its three years of existence. In addition, the committee will issue a report yearly with recommendations to the mayor and city council on how the government can accelerate the construction of broadband infrastructure throughout New York City.