What's happening
This bill allows municipal cable franchise terms to be treated as requirements of the Public Service Commission upon request by the municipality.
Why it matters
Gives municipalities more leverage. By allowing municipal cable franchise terms to be treated as Public Service Commission (PSC) requirements, local governments can ensure their negotiated agreements with cable companies carry the same legal weight and enforcement power as state-level regulations.
Increases enforceability of local priorities. If a municipality requests it, the PSC must enforce franchise terms as if they were its own rules. This could make it easier for cities and towns to hold cable companies accountable for local service standards, customer protections, or public benefit obligations.
Potentially affects penalties for non-compliance. Cable companies that violate municipal franchise terms designated as PSC requirements could face the same fines and consequences as for violating other PSC orders—up to $1,000 per offense, per day—which may deter violations and improve service delivery.
Shifts regulatory dynamics. The bill could alter the traditional division between local and state oversight of cable companies, strengthening local influence in an area often dominated by state or federal regulation.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Cities Set Cable Terms
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4967
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 6, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. SIMOTAS, GALEF, MONTESANO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. AUBRY, GOODELL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to deeming municipal franchise terms requirements of the public service commission
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 227-a of the public service law, as added by chapter 83 of the laws of 1995, is amended to read as follows:
1. Every cable television company, and all officers, agents and employees of any cable television company shall obey, observe and comply with every order, direction or requirement made by the commission, under authority of this article, so long as the same shall be and remain in force. The terms of a franchise shall, upon the request of the municipality which has granted such franchise, be deemed requirements made by the commission under the authority of this article. Except as provided in subdivision two of this section, any cable television company which shall violate any provision of this article, or which fails, omits or neglects to obey, observe or comply with any order or any direction or requirement of the commission, shall forfeit to the people of the state of New York a sum to be set by the commission not to exceed one thousand dollars for each and every offense; every violation of any such order or direction or requirement, or of this article, shall be a separate and distinct offense, and, in case of a continuing violation, every day's continuance thereof shall be a separate and distinct offense.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04200-01-7
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.