What's happening
This bill requires cable, internet, and telephone companies in New York to automatically refund customers for outages lasting twelve hours or more.
Why it matters
Puts financial pressure on service providers to improve reliability. By mandating automatic refunds for outages lasting twelve hours or more, companies may have stronger incentives to invest in infrastructure and respond to issues more quickly.
Reduces burden on consumers to pursue compensation. Customers no longer have to notice, document, or request credits for long outages; refunds will be automatic, saving time and frustration, especially for those who may not have been aware they were entitled to compensation.
Covers a broad range of essential services. The law applies to cable TV, internet, and telephone providers, reflecting how critical these utilities are for work, education, safety, and daily life, particularly during emergencies or for vulnerable populations.
Establishes a consistent standard across providers. By requiring the same automatic refund policy from all major communication service companies, the bill aims to ensure fairness and transparency for consumers statewide.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Automatic Refunds for Outages
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2989
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 23, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring cable television companies, internet service providers and telephone corporations to automatically refund customers when their systems are out of service or experiencing an outage, or when a customer's equipment is not operating correctly
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public service law is amended by adding a new section 224-c to read as follows:
§ 224-c. Cable refunds. Every cable television company, as defined in section two hundred twelve of this article that provides cable service to customers in New York shall automatically credit its customers billing statement whenever a cable television system is out of service or is experiencing an outage or when the customer's cable box is not operating correctly, for a period of twelve hours or longer.
§ 2. The article heading of article 11 of the public service law, as added by chapter 83 of the laws of 1995, is amended to read as follows:
PROVISIONS RELATING TO CABLE TELEVISION
AND INTERNET COMPANIES § 3. Section 212 of the public service law is amended by adding a new subdivision 15 to read as follows:
15. "Internet service provider" shall mean any person, business or organization qualified to do business in this state that provides individuals, corporations, or other entities with the ability to connect to the internet.
§ 4. The public service law is amended by adding a new section 224-d to read as follows:
§ 224-d. Internet refunds. Every internet service provider, as defined in section two hundred twelve of this article that provides internet
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07433-01-7
A. 2989 2
service to customers in New York shall automatically credit its customers billing statement whenever the internet service is out of service or is experiencing an outage, for a period of twelve hours or longer.
§ 5. The public service law is amended by adding a new section 92-h to read as follows:
§ 92-h. Telephone refunds. Every telephone corporation, as defined in subdivision seventeen of section two of this chapter, that provides telephone service to customers in New York shall automatically credit its customers billing statement whenever the telephone service is out of service or is experiencing an outage, for a period of twelve hours or longer.
§ 6. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.