What's happening
This bill requires telephone companies to notify customers about differences between copper and fiber optic lines before switching their service.
Why it matters
Empowers consumers to make informed decisions. By requiring detailed notice about differences between copper and fiber optic lines—including reliability during power outages and available battery backup—customers can better understand how the switch may affect essential services like 911 calls.
Strengthens regulatory oversight and consumer protections. The Public Service Commission must approve the content and form of all notices, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and that companies can't bypass or dilute the information provided to customers.
Guarantees advance warning and transparency. With at least 45 days’ notice (except in emergencies or at customer request), customers have time to ask questions, raise concerns, or make arrangements before their service changes, potentially reducing confusion or unintended service disruptions.
Creates an avenue for customer complaints and questions. The required inclusion of commission contact information in the notice makes it easier for customers to get more information or lodge complaints, increasing accountability for the telephone companies.
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Who cares
Local exchange telephone companies
They would have to provide commission-approved notices before switching customers from copper to fiber lines, generally at least 45 days in advance except for emergencies or customer-requested changes.
Customers being switched from copper to fiber telephone service
They would receive information on service differences, power-outage effects, battery backup options, continued commission regulation and how to seek information or file a complaint.
Public Service Commission
It would oversee notice requirements and review proposed notices, which would be deemed approved after 90 days unless the commission or its designee rejects them and requires specific changes.
Headline styles
Require Fiber Phone Change Notice
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
20 Co-sponsors
History
- Ordered to third reading cal.224
- Amended on third reading 5967b
- Advanced to third reading cal.203
- Reported
- Print number 5967a
- Amend and recommit to codes
- Reported referred to codes
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Notify Fiber Phone Customers
In Senate Committee · Energy And Telecommunications · Sponsor Leroy Comrie
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5967--B Cal. No. 203
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 20, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, BUCHWALD, DE LA ROSA, GALEF, JEAN-PIERRE, ABINANTI, DINOWITZ, ENGLEBRIGHT, EPSTEIN, HUNTER, GOTTFRIED, JAFFEE, PICHARDO, McDONOUGH, REILLY, COOK, STECK, RAIA -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. DeSTEFANO, MANKTELOW, MIKULIN,… Show allHide
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, BUCHWALD, DE LA ROSA, GALEF, JEAN-PIERRE, ABINANTI, DINOWITZ, ENGLEBRIGHT, EPSTEIN, HUNTER, GOTTFRIED, JAFFEE, PICHARDO, McDONOUGH, REILLY, COOK, STECK, RAIA -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. DeSTEFANO, MANKTELOW, MIKULIN, SIMON, THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions -- reported and referred to the Committee on Codes -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- reported from committee, advanced to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring certain notices to be provided to customers receiving telephone service through fiber optic-based telephone lines
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 104 to read as follows:
§ 104. Notice to customers on fiber optic-based telephone lines. 1. The commission shall require each telephone corporation that provides local exchange service to provide a notice containing information to customers on the differences between copper-based telephone lines and fiber optic-based telephone lines prior to when such telephone corporation initiates a change in such customer's telephone service from copper-based telephone lines to fiber optic-based telephone lines. Except (i) in cases of an emergency, including but not limited to restoration or repair of service, or (ii) upon the request of the customer, such notice shall be provided to the customer at least forty-five days before such telephone corporation initiates a change in such customer's telephone service from copper-based telephone lines to fiber optic-based telephone lines. Such notice shall include, but not be limited to the following: a description of the differences between copper-based tele-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09213-08-9
A. 5967--B 2
phone lines and fiber optic-based telephone lines; the differences between the effect a power outage would have on the telephone service provided by copper-based and fiber optic-based telephone lines, including the availability of battery back-up options; an explanation of whether the service will continue to be regulated by the commission; and a phone number and contact information for customers who seek additional information or wish to make a complaint to the commission.
2. The commission shall have the power to prescribe the form and content of the notice established pursuant to this section. The commission may from time to time prescribe, by order, changes in the notice thereof. The commission shall also have power to establish rules and regulations for such notice and may from time to time modify the same.
3. Every telephone corporation shall file with the commission the notice established pursuant to this section and obtain approval as to the form and content thereof prior to providing such notice to customers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such notice shall be deemed to be approved by the commission ninety days after such corporation applies to the commission for approval, unless the commission, or its designee, rejects the notice and requires specific changes within such ninety day period. Upon a material change to the form and content of an approved notice, a telephone corporation shall again file with the commission such notice and obtain approval pursuant to this section. The commission may establish what shall constitute a material change to the form and content of the notice that would necessitate commission approval.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
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.