Area Code Online
Remember 2018?
California looked at tech companies harvesting data and said "Enough." The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) changed everything. Suddenly, every website had to respect user privacy. Not just in California—everywhere. One state. Global impact. New York's turn.
Why States Move Faster Than Feds
While Congress debates, states act. California passed CCPA for privacy rights. Illinois enacted BIPA for biometric protection. New York created the SHIELD Act for data security. States are the laboratories of digital democracy. And New York's lab is ready for its next experiment.
The New York Public Service Commission already regulates every ISP in the state. Broadband deployment, telecom standards, consumer protection—all under PSC authority. Adding Area Code Online to their mandate? That's a Tuesday afternoon agenda item.
How It Might Actually Work
Step 1: PSC passes a rule requiring ISPs to offer Area Code Online tagging for NY users. Step 2: Verizon, Spectrum, and Optimum comply because PSC controls their operating licenses. Step 3: Platforms see NY users arriving with ACO tags and start displaying them. Step 4: Other states watch NY's success and copy the homework.
Simple. Legal. Effective. New York doesn't need to convince Congress, the FCC, or Silicon Valley. Just one commission vote.
Why New York Is the Perfect Test Case
Diverse geography from Manhattan to Montauk means we've got every type of community represented. Major platforms have NY offices, making negotiation easier. We've already passed groundbreaking cyber laws like SHIELD. The PSC has existing authority over ISPs. If ACO works in New York, it works everywhere.
The rollout roadmap spans twelve months. Months 1-3: PSC develops technical standards. Months 4-6: ISPs implement infrastructure. Months 7-9: Soft launch with volunteer platforms. Months 10-12: Full deployment across all major services. One year from decision to implementation.
What Success Looks Like
Local forums actually local again. School boards prioritizing parent voices over outside agitators. Town halls with real constituents providing real input. Democracy functional at the community level. Not revolutionary—just functional.
Who opposes "knowing if someone's actually from here"? Troll farms, astro-turfers, outside agitators trying to manipulate local discussions. Good. Real users want this transparency. Platforms need this credibility. Communities deserve this protection.
New York's Digital Destiny
We invented the electric grid with Edison in Manhattan. We standardized the telephone with Bell in NYC. We revolutionized finance on Wall Street. Now we fix the internet's missing piece: authentic place-based community.
Other states are watching. Massachusetts is tech-forward and might follow quickly. Washington hosts major platforms and understands the technical feasibility. Texas likes state sovereignty and could implement independently. First mover advantage goes to whoever acts first.
"The PSC meets monthly. The commissioners are appointed. The authority exists. All it takes is one proposal: 'Require ISPs to implement Area Code Online for New York users.'"
California protected privacy. Illinois protected biometrics. New York will protect community. The infrastructure exists. The legal framework exists. The technical solution exists. What we need is the political will to say that place-based democracy online is worth one commission vote and twelve months of implementation.
