Rick Karlin in Capitol Confidential is reporting about a lawsuit filed in Columbia County Feb. 11 that claims New York is not responding so far to a Freedom of Information Law request about plans to expand broadband service across the state. “There is a crisis in New York State, caused by the systematic denial of information requests by state agencies in order to protect the Governor’s image," said Peter Henner, president of The Alliance for Environmental Renewal, which is now suing to get the information. "I want to show that it is possible for citizens, small community organizations, and media representatives to fight back; that you do not have to accept endless delays until after the information requested has lost any significance.” So far, the state Economic Development Corp. has not responded to the FOIL request about how it will spend $500 million in public tax dollars to improve broadband access across New York. So Henner's goup filed a lawsuit Feb. 11 against Empire State Development in New York State Supreme Court, in Columbia County, challenging the lack of public access to public records. Read the full story in Capitol Confidential, an Albany Times-Union blog.