Establishes a moratorium on telephone corporations on the replacement of landline telephone service with a wireless system

15 Co-sponsors

• Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.
• Tony Avella
• Phil Boyle
• David Carlucci
• Martin Malavé Dilan
• Patrick M. Gallivan
• Terry Gipson
• William J. Larkin Jr.
• George Latimer
• Jack M. Martins
• Kevin S. Parker
• José Peralta
• Gustavo Rivera
• Diane J. Savino
• Toby Ann Stavisky

BILL NUMBER:S5630B

Title of bill

An act in relation to establishing a moratorium on telephone corporations on the replacement of landline telephone service with a wireless system; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

Purpose or general idea of bill

To establish a moratorium until June 1, 2015 on any actions taken by a telephone corporation to replace land-line service with a wireless system in this State in order to allow the Public Service Commission ("PSC") sufficient time to review a report to be submitted by Verizon, Inc., and to issue its findings and conclusions on the report and on other related questions to the Governor and the State Legislature.

Summary of specific provisions

Section one of the bill would impose a moratorium on actions taken by telephone corporations to replace land-line telephones with wireless systems until June 1, 2015. The PSC would be required to issue, by April 1, 2015, a report to the Governor and the Legislature on its findings and conclusions to a report mandated by the PSC requiring Verizon to describe its actions and experience of replacing landline telephones with a wireless alternative on Fire Island. The bill would require the PSC to respond in the report to other questions related to the replacement of landline with wireless service.

Section two provides that the previsions of this act shall not apply to any action taken by a telephone corporation pursuant to an order issued by the public service commission on May 16, 2013 relating to the western part of Fire Island, New York.

Section three provides that the bill does not prevent (1) a telephone corporation from replacing, a landline system with a wireless one for any customer who knowingly agrees to such replacement or (2) the PSC from approving the provision of wireless service in an emergency.

Section four provides that the act shall take effect immediately, and be deemed repealed on June 1, 2015.

Justification

On May 18, 2013, the PSC issued an order allowing Verizon to replace copper-wire landlines with a wireless system to restore telephone service on Fire Island in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The PSC, however, suspended Verizon's application to expand this replacement beyond Fire Island until Verizon submits a report to the PSC on November 1, 2013, responding to a series of questions raised by the PSC in the order.

In light of the many concerns and questions over the benefit to customers of replacing landlines with a wireless alternative, this bill would require the PSC to issue a report by April 1, 2014, to the Governor and the State Legislature on its findings and conclusions to the Verizon report, and to the additional questions related to the replacement of landlines.

It is the statutory duty and responsibility of the PSC to investigate and approve any actions taken by telephone corporations that impact the quality and adequacy of service. This bill will require PSC to investigate and report on the many complex issues raised by Verizon's plans to replace landlines with wireless.

Prior legislative history

New bill

Fiscal implications

None

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.