What's happening
This bill requires cable companies in New York to offer channels individually, not just in packages, with rates overseen by the Public Service Commission.
Why it matters
Empowers consumers with true channel choice. By allowing subscribers to pick and pay for only the channels they want, this bill offers greater control over cable viewing and spending, making it easier to avoid paying for unwanted content.
Prevents price gouging on individual channels. With Public Service Commission oversight, cable companies cannot inflate the price of single channels to discourage à la carte selection, potentially leading to fairer, more transparent pricing.
Enforces consumer rights through legal recourse. Subscribers denied the right to purchase individual channels can take cable companies to court, with guaranteed statutory damages and expedited compliance orders, strengthening accountability.
Signals a shift in cable market dynamics. The measure could put competitive pressure on cable providers to innovate and better tailor offerings, potentially influencing channel licensing negotiations and the broader TV industry.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Viewers Pick Channels
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Held for consideration in corporations, authorities and commissions
- 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
818
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. CROUCH, ABINANTI, FINCH, HAWLEY, McDONOUGH, McKEVITT, THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to providing customers the right to choose the stations that they wish to receive
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 225-a to read as follows:
§ 225-a. Cable subscribers right to access. 1. Every cable television company shall provide each subscriber the option to access cable channels on an individual basis. Any cable subscriber shall be provided the ability to determine each cable channel that is delivered to his or her house. A cable company may continue to offer a group of channels as a package deal with a package rate, provided that subscribers are not required to purchase channels as a package.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of section two hundred twenty-five of this article to the contrary, a cable television company may not charge a subscriber for any channel that the subscriber does not choose to purchase.
3. All rates charged by cable television companies to subscribers for individual channels shall be first submitted to the public service commission for approval. The public service commission shall ensure that a cable television company does not charge an inflated rate for an individual channel in an attempt to require subscribers to purchase package deals. The commission shall make a determination.
4. Any subscriber who is denied the ability to purchase individual channels by a cable television company may bring an action in his or her own name. Such person shall be entitled to his or her actual damages or five hundred dollars, whichever is greater. In addition to any monetary award, the court shall issue an order requiring the cable television
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04580-01-7
A. 818 2
company to comply with the provisions of this section within fifteen days. Failure to comply within the fifteen day period shall constitute a separate offense for which the subscriber may bring another cause of action pursuant to this subdivision.
5. For the purposes of this section, a "subscriber" shall mean any person who is currently receiving service from a cable television company, or who is seeking to receive service from a cable television company.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the public service commission may implement any rule or regulation necessary to determine the appropriate rate of charge for individual channels or the procedure for submitting such rates to the commission.
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.