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History
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
- Print number 5919b
- Amend and recommit to energy and telecommunications
- Print number 5619a
- Amend and recommit to energy and telecommunications
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public service law, in relation to service quality standards, credits, reports and penalties
Summary of provisions
In 2005, the Public Service Commission (PSC) eliminated mandatory penalties for violating quality standards for the telephone provider, Verizon Communications, which provides service to most of the State. In 2004, Verizon had been charged over $50 million for failing to meet the PSC service quality standards.
This bill proposes to restore good telephone service quality by directing the PSC to return to mandatory penalties large enough to financially incentivize Verizon to properly maintain its network and re-imposes the measurement system that was in force on January 1, 2010.
Section 1 amends the public service law by adding 92-h requiring the PSC to establish quality of service standards; measures affecting out-of-service reinstatement; minimum performance levels and penalties based on performance history; penalties for non-compliance and failing to meet performance targets; and customer graduated credits or rebates; and the reinstatement of monitoring and measurements of service quality pursuant to those in force on January 1, 2010.
Justification
Consumers need reliable telephone service for reasons beyond convenience, economic activity and civic engagement, the service is essential to health and safety issues.
Subsequent to the elimination of mandatory penalties in 2005 customers and consumer advocates have reported deterioration in service quality. By the 3rd. quarter of 2010, Verizon was clearing just 1.2% of it out-of-service customer complaints within 24 hours as compared to the 80% PSC standard. The service quality declined rapidly for four straight quarters. Among other changes PSC permitted Verizon to eliminate over 90% of its customers from service quality reporting Given this reduction in the volume of reports, Verizon was able to claim a clearance of 84.9% of out of service trouble spots within 24 hours.
Legislative history
New bill
Effective date
Immediately
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.