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Who cares
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Sponsors
7 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Requires certain cable television consumer notices to include a clear statement with regard to certain programming
In Senate Committee · Energy And Telecommunications · Sponsor Jeffrey D. Klein
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:A9895
Title of bill
An act to amend the public service law, in relation to cable television consumer protection rate and programming notices
Purpose or general idea of bill
To clarify that a cable operator must include in its rate and programming notices information regarding subscribers' ability to purchase per channel or per program services without having to buy any service tier beyond the basic tier.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one of the bill specifies that a cable operator must include in its rate and programming notices infor- mation regarding subscribers' ability to purchase per channel or per program services without having to buy any service tier beyond the basic tier.
Justification
The federal Cable Television Consumer Protection Act and Competition Act of 1992 prohibits a cable operator from requiring the subscription to any tier other than the basic service tier as a condi- tion of access to video programming on a per channel or per program basis. 47 U.S.c. § 543(b) (8) (A). The 1992 Act also delayed the effect of this prohibition for ten years. 47 U.S.c. § 543(b) (8) (B). Thus, by operation of law, the prohibition became effective in 2002.
New York State law requires cable operators to give consumers notices of rate, programming, service and equipment information. Public Service Law § 224-a(4). Under current law, these notices should include information that subscribers can buy per channel and per program services without having to buy any service tier beyond the basic tier. The Assembly Committee on Oversight, Analysis and Investigation conducted a survey of New York cable operators' rates and programming in 2003. In the course of conducting the survey, Committee staff reviewed rate and programming notices from all the major cable operators in New York. Many operators' notices did not include the required notice that subscribers can buy per channel and per program services without having to buy any service tier beyond the basic tier. ("Time to Change the Channel: Cable Television Prices in New York State", p.10 (2003). The instant bill will clarify that this particular information is included in the descriptions and notices required by this subdivision.
Prior legislative history
2004 - A11177 - Referred to Corporations, Authorities and Commissions 2006 - S4626 - Referred to Energy & Telecom- munications 2008 - S2293 - Referred to Energy & Telecommunications
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective dale
Thirty days after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.