NY Pub Serv L § 211 (2021)
2021 New York Laws PBS - Public Service Article 11 - Provisions Relating to Cable Television Companies 211 - Statement of Policy.

§ 211. Statement  of  policy. While cable television serves in part as   an extension of interstate broadcasting, its operations  involve  public   rights-of-way,  municipal  franchising, and vital business and community   service, and, therefore, are of state  concern;  while  said  operations   must  be  subject  to  state oversight, they also must be protected from   undue restraint and regulation  so  as  to  assure  cable  systems  with   optimum  technology  and maximum penetration in this state as rapidly as   economically and technically  feasible;  municipalities  and  the  state   would  benefit  from  valuable  educational  and public services through   cable television systems; the public and the  business  community  would   benefit  if  served  by  cable  channels sufficient to meet the needs of   producers and distributors of program and  other  communication  content   services; many municipalities lack the necessary resources and expertise   to  plan  for  and  secure these benefits and to protect subscribers and   other parties to the public  interest  in  franchise  negotiations;  the   cable  television  industry is in a period of rapid growth and corporate   consolidation and should proceed in accord with regional  and  statewide   service  objectives;  and the cable television industry, notwithstanding   its  unique  attributes,  is  part   of   an   increasingly   integrated   communications  industry,  the  soundness  of  which is essential to the   state's economic growth and general welfare.There is, therefore, a need for a  state  agency  to  determine  state   communications policy; to ensure that cable television companies provide   adequate,  economical  and  efficient  service to their subscribers, the   municipalities within which they are franchised and other parties to the   public interest; to  oversee  the  development  of  a  cable  television   industry  responsive  to  community  and public interest, consonant with   federal regulations and statutes; and to oversee the development of  the   communications  industry  as  a  whole and to encourage the endeavors of   public  and  private  institutions,  municipalities,  associations   and   organizations in developing programming for the public interest.The  public  service  commission  is the agency best suited to oversee   development of the cable television industry in this state in accordance   with a statewide service plan and consistent with  state  communications   policy generally; to review the suitability of practices for franchising   cable  television  companies  to  protect  the  public  interest; to set   standards for cable  television  systems  and  franchise  practices;  to   assure   channel   availability   for  municipal  services,  educational   television, program diversity, local expression and  other  program  and   communications  content  services;  to  provide  consultant  services to   community organizations and municipalities and  franchise  negotiations;   and, to stimulate the development of diverse instructional, educational,   community  interest  and  public  affairs  programming  with full access   thereto by cable  television  companies,  educational  broadcasters  and   public  and  private  institutions  operating  closed circuit television   systems and instructional television fixed services.