Dive Brief:

• A construction industry association has come out against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to expand the state’s broadband service by half a billion dollars, saying the money would be better spent on building new roads and bridges.

• Associated General Contractors of New York CEO Mike Elmendorf told Capital New York on Tuesday that Cuomo’s plan for the state to match service providers' investments in high-speed Internet networks is “surprising.”

• “We’re not against investing in broadband, but the idea that it is somehow more important than roads and bridges is not reality,” Elmendorf said.

Dive Insight:

Elmendorf pointed to the need for state money to replace “neglected” and outdated infrastructure that is in bad shape after an especially cold and snowy winter.

“We can’t tweet grandma to the hospital yet,” Elmendorf told the news organization. “They have not yet invented the flying cars from Back to the Future II. You still need roads and bridges.”