What's happening
This bill requires a security report on New York's telecommunications assets and mandates background checks for employees accessing critical telecom infrastructure.
Why it matters
Mandates a comprehensive review of telecom security. By requiring a formal investigation and report on the security of all telecommunications corporations’ facilities, equipment, and procedures, the bill seeks to identify vulnerabilities and recommend improvements—potentially influencing future regulation and industry standards.
Expands government oversight and coordination. The law brings the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, together with state police, into a direct oversight and investigative role over private telecommunications infrastructure, marking a notable increase in state involvement in critical infrastructure protection.
Standardizes employee background checks in telecom. By making background checks for employees with access to sensitive hardware and software mandatory and state-administered, the bill aims to reduce insider threats, but could also impact workforce hiring processes and privacy concerns for telecom workers.
Potential implications for public safety and service reliability. Enhanced security requirements could help prevent cyberattacks or physical sabotage, protecting essential communications during emergencies—but they may also lead to increased operational costs for telecom providers, possibly affecting consumer prices or service models.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Secure Telecom Service Centers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3672
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 25, 2017
Introduced by Sens. PARKER, LARKIN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs
AN ACT to amend the executive law and the general business law, in relation to telecommunications service security
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 719 to read as follows:
§ 719. Security report of telecommunications assets. The New York state division of homeland security and emergency services, in cooperation with the division of state police, shall perform an investigation and, on or before April first, two thousand eighteen, shall issue a report to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly, on telecommunication security in New York state. Such investigation and report shall examine the facilities and operations of all corporations which offer or provide telecommunications services, and shall examine and report on the safety and security of all facilities, equipment and procedures of such corporations and make recommendations with respect to the improvement of the security thereof.
§ 2. The general business law is amended by adding a new article 37-B to read as follows:
ARTICLE 37-B
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE SECURITY Section 807. Security at telecommunications centers.
§ 807. Security at telecommunications centers. No corporation which offers or provides telecommunications services shall permit access to any hardware or software, or any portion of a facility owned or operated by such corporation, where such hardware or software is maintained, where such hardware or software provides switching, transforming,
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07416-01-7
S. 3672 2
computer or other technological services in the delivery of its telecommunication services, except by employees of the corporation who have satisfied the requirements of a security background check, as designed and administered by the New York state division of homeland security and emergency services and the division of state police.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law and the general business law, in relation to telecommunications service security
Purpose of the bill
This bill would improve telecommunication security by restricting access to telecommunication hardware and software to authorized employees, and require the performance of a security audit of New York's Telecommunication centers.
Summary of specific provisions
Specifically, this bill would:
1. Amend the executive law to require the New York State Office of Homeland Security, in cooperation with the Division of the State Police, to perform an investigation and, on or before April 1, 2010, and shall issue a report to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, and the speaker of the state assembly, on telecommunication security in New York State. Such investigation and report shall examine the facilities and operations of all corporations which offer or provide telecommunications services, and shall examine and report on the safety and security of all facilities, equipment and procedures of such corporations and make recommendations with respect to the improvement of the security thereof; and
2. Amend the general business law to provide that no corporation which offers or provides telecommunications services shall permit access to any hardware or software, or any portion of a facility owned or operated by such corporation, where such hardware or software is maintained, where such hardware or software provides switching, transforming, computer or other technological services in the delivery of its telecommunication services, except by employees of the corporation who have satisfied the requirements of a security background check, as designed and administered by the New York State Office of Homeland Security and the Division of the State Police.
Justification
One of the proven targets of modern day terrorists and criminals is communication centers. These centers provide an invaluable service to our modem life, public safety and economy. The openness of our society has left them especially vulnerable to attack, with exponential consequences. This legislation would take two major steps to improve security of our state's telecommunications: (i) by restricting access to the hardware and software of such facilities to only authorized employees who have passed a background check examination; and, (ii) by requiring the state office of homeland security, in cooperation with the division of the state police, to perform an investigation and issue a report on how to improve telecommunication security throughout New York State.
These measures seek to help both deter attacks from occurring, and minimize their severity if they do occur at these important infrastructure installations. In so doing, it will make our state, its citizens and communities, safer and more secure.
Prior legislative history
2015-16: S.3888 - Referred to Veteran, Homeland Security & Military Affairs 2013-14: S.3122 - Referred to Veteran, Homeland Security & Military Affairs
2011-12: S.3249 - Referred to Veteran, Homeland Security & Military Affairs 2009-10: S.4698/A.10462 - Referred to Veterans; Died in Gov. Ops. 2007-08: S.3586/A.8301 - Died in Rules; Died in Gov. Ops.
Budget implications
None.
Effective date
This act would take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.