AT&T Is Stopping Its 5G Internet Air Service in NY Because of New Broadband Law

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A new broadband law is going into effect this week in New York state requiring internet provider to offer low-income residents access to monthly broadband rates of $15 for 25Mbps or $20 for 200Mbps. As a response, AT&T has decided that it no longer plans to offer its 5G home internet in the Empire State and will begin notifying users about the decision on Wednesday. 

“While we are committed to providing reliable and affordable internet service to customers across the country, New York’s broadband law imposes harmful rate regulations that make it uneconomical for AT&T to invest in and expand our broadband infrastructure in the state,” the company said in a statement provided to CNET. 

“As a result, effective Jan. 15, 2025, we will no longer be able to offer AT&T Internet Air, our fixed-wireless internet service, to New York customers.”

AT&T says that it will let existing users to keep the service for 45 more days and will not charge them for that time so that they can “find other options for broadband.” The telecom giant says it will continue to operate its wireless service in the state and that no changes are happening on that front. 

“We will work closely with our customers throughout this transition. AT&T’s nationwide wireless service will not change in New York,” the company says, adding that it “will continue to support policies that promote capital investment, innovation and a competitive market.”  

AT&T does not offer its other home internet services, like fiber or DSL, in New York state and has only offered home broadband over its wireless airwaves.  

The new broadband law comes into effect after the federal Affordable Connectivity Program ran out of funds last year. That service provided eligible users a discount of up to $30 a month towards internet service (and those on tribal lands a discount of up to $75). The ACP affected 23 million households. 

New York first passed its broadband law back in 2021, with an appeals court allowing it to move forward last April after legal challenges looked to thwart it. The US Supreme Court decided in December that it wouldn’t hear challenges to the new law. 




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