New York Settlement Expands T-Mobile’s Affordable Broadband Access

New York announced a settlement with T-Mobile USA, Inc. requiring changes to its home internet plans for eligible residents under the state’s Affordable Broadband Act (ABA). The agreement followed an investigation by the New York State Office of the Attorney General, which found that T-Mobile’s offering did not meet ABA requirements. The state says the provider will remove data limits that reduced customers’ internet speeds, extend the plans to additional areas, and make eligible plans easier to locate and purchase online. The announcement was made by Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James on November 9, 2026, in Albany.

The ABA requires home internet providers to offer qualifying households broadband at one of two price-and-speed points: $15 per month for at least 25 Mbps, or $20 per month for at least 200 Mbps. It also requires providers to make reasonable efforts to promote and advertise the availability of the affordable plans. The investigation found that T-Mobile slowed customers’ service after they used 50 gigabytes of data and made affordable plans difficult to discover in online searches. The settlement therefore addresses both the service terms consumers receive and the visibility and reach of the plans.

For contractors and providers, the settlement is an indicator of New York’s priorities in affordable home internet: practical availability, transparent marketing, and service that remains usable under the plan’s stated terms. It is not itself a procurement notice. The state identifies ConnectALL initiatives as potential avenues for broadband and digital-inclusion work, including a $100 million Affordable Housing Connectivity Program and a $50 million Digital Equity Program. The first supports broadband infrastructure for low-income households in public or affordable housing; the second supports digital-literacy education and access to devices. The source describes these as funding programs, not open solicitations, and provides no application deadline, procurement contact, or submission schedule.

The public statements frame broadband access as essential to work, education, emergency services, and staying connected with family and community. Attorney General James said, “Mi oficina está comprometida a garantizar que la Ley de Banda Ancha Asequible (Affordable Broadband Act, o ABA) cumpla su objetivo: asegurar que a los neoyorquinos que lo necesitan no se les niegue el acceso a internet en el hogar a un precio asequible.” Governor Hochul likewise emphasized accountability and access to the tools needed to participate in society, democracy, and the economy. For market participants, those policy themes suggest that future state-funded work may value deployment in underserved housing, enrollment and outreach, affordability, and measurable digital inclusion. Companies should monitor official program notices and distinguish prospective funding pathways from a competed contract opportunity.

• T-Mobile USA, Inc. must remove data caps that caused speed reductions on its qualifying ABA home internet plans.
• T-Mobile must offer the plans wherever it provides home internet service in New York and make them easier for eligible customers to discover and enroll in.
• The ABA price points are $15 per month for at least 25 Mbps or $20 per month for at least 200 Mbps for qualifying households.
• The state investigation found that T-Mobile slowed service after 50 GB of data use and made its affordable plans difficult to find online.
• The $100 million Affordable Housing Connectivity Program supports broadband infrastructure for low-income households in public or affordable housing.
• The $50 million Digital Equity Program supports digital-literacy education and access to devices.
• ConnectALL initiatives are identified as potential avenues for broadband and digital-inclusion work, not as currently open solicitations in this announcement.
• No procurement notice, application deadline, submission timetable, or procurement contact is provided; interested organizations should verify details through official state program channels.