Establishes office in EDA to assist in provision and expansion of broadband Internet service in State to address inequities in accessing broadband service.

S 2213 establishes a Broadband Assistance Office within New Jersey’s Economic Development Authority (EDA) to address inequitable broadband access. The office will review and approve projects deploying high-speed wired internet (fiber optic or similar) to rural areas and disadvantaged households, while providing financing for these initiatives. It sets specific speed goals: 25 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload by 2025, and 100 Mbps/100 Mbps by 2029. The bill directly affects low-income residents, rural communities, and small businesses lacking reliable internet access, aiming to reduce the digital divide exposed during the pandemic. The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 9, 2024, and referred to the Economic Growth Committee.