What's happening
This bill requires internet service providers in New York to charge emergency service organizations the same rates as residential customers.
Why it matters
Emergency services (police, fire, ambulance, and volunteer departments) often rely on internet connectivity for critical communications and operations. By mandating residential rates, the bill directly reduces their operational costs, potentially freeing up more resources for emergency response and public safety.
Internet service providers typically charge higher "business" rates for organizations, which can be a significant financial burden for public and volunteer emergency services, especially in smaller or rural communities. The bill addresses this disparity, aiming to make essential technology more affordable for these groups.
Lower internet costs for emergency service organizations may enable smaller or volunteer agencies to adopt better digital tools (such as cloud-based dispatch systems or real-time data sharing) that were previously cost-prohibitive, thereby improving their effectiveness and community services.
By legislating equal treatment in rate-setting, this bill sets a precedent for how essential public services should be supported by private infrastructure providers, potentially influencing future debates on digital access and public sector technology costs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Lower Internet Rates for Responders
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to consumer protection
- Referred to rules
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6943
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
November 13, 2017
Introduced by Sen. MARCHIONE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring internet service providers to charge a residential rate to emergency service organizations
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new article 40 to read as follows:
ARTICLE 40
INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS Section 900. Definitions.
901. Rates for emergency service organizations.
§ 900. Definitions. For the purpose of this article: 1. "Internet service provider" means 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 through equipment that is located in this state.
2. "Emergency service organization" means any police department, fire department or ambulance service of a political subdivision of this state, or a voluntary fire or ambulance company.
§ 901. Rates for emergency service organizations. No internet service provider shall charge any emergency service organization an amount which is more than the rate charged to residential customers of such internet service provider. When such internet service provider charges different rates for business customers and residential customers, emergency service providers shall be charged the residential rate.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13749-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring internet service providers to charge a residential rate to emergency service organizations
Summary of provisions
Section 1 creates Article 40 of the general business law, which sets forth that rates charged to emergency service organizations for internet services not exceed residential customer rates, and establishes the relevant definitions for "internet service provider" and "emergency service organization"
Section 2 sets the effective date.
Justification
In the era of the tax cap, municipalities and local governments have grown more aware of how every cent of taxpayer money is spent. In the case of emergency services, including volunteer companies, it has become apparent that a considerable amount of taxpayer money is being spent providing cable services more specifically, internet access - to the various organizations that keep our communities safe.
For emergency service organizations, access to the internet is vital, as dispatching and other functions are performed using the internet. Despite not using a commercial quantity of internet services, these organizations are still charged business rates, putting a considerable burden on the local governments and the taxpayers. This bill would alle- viate that burden by stipulating that internet service providers charge emergency service organizations at the residential rate, which is gener- ally cheaper, rather than by business rates. Implementing such a change would ensure that our State's municipalities can continue to provide vital services without an unnecessarily high cost of doing so.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None to the state.
Effective date
On the thirtieth day after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.