Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner says the city can't have a modern economy without access to high-speed Internet and strong phone service.
Miner has recently called for better broadband in Syracuse, and has signed a petition to the state's Public Service Commission asking for an investigation into broadband's rollout in the state.
"And what I have seen firsthand is a number of businesses who said they wanted to locate to Syracuse, or expand in Syracuse, but couldn't because of a lack of access to affordable broadband or telecommunications," Miner said.
She believes Syracuse's economy won't be able to modernize without better high-speed Internet service.
"And if the city of Syracuse doesn't have that access, then what you're going to see first is Onondaga County shrink, and then the entire central New York region," Miner said. "So this is a vitally important asset and service that we need."
The P.S.C. is already reviewing the state's telecommunications industry, but the petition says too many New Yorkers have been left with only spotty, expensive phone and Internet service.
