What's happening
This bill requires phone companies to notify customers about differences between copper and fiber optic telephone lines before switching their service.
Why it matters
Ensures customers are fully informed about key differences between copper and fiber optic phone lines. , including how each type performs during power outages and whether battery back-up options are available—crucial for those who rely on landlines for emergencies.
Mandates at least 45 days advance notice before switching a customer's service. (unless in emergencies or at the customer's request), giving individuals time to understand and prepare for any changes that could affect their connectivity or safety.
Requires clear explanation of regulatory oversight and provides direct contact information. for the state commission, empowering consumers to ask questions or file complaints if they have concerns about the change or its impact.
Gives the Public Service Commission authority to standardize, review, and update the required notification. , helping ensure that information provided to customers remains accurate, clear, and responsive to evolving technologies and consumer needs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Notify Fiber Phone Customers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 14
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- Amended 4029b
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.528
- Print number 4029a
- Amend and recommit to energy and telecommunications
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
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.
Require Fiber Phone Change Notice
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Amy Paulin
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4029--B Cal. No. 528
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 25, 2019
Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Energy and Telecommunications -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first and second report, amended on second report, ordered to a third reading, and to be reprinted as amended, retaining its place in 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 telephone 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, includ-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09213-09-9
S. 4029--B 2
ing 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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring certain notices to be provided to customers receiving tele- phone service through fiber optic-based telephone lines
Purpose
To authorize the PSC to require telephone corporations to provide notice to customers in the event of a switch from copper to fiber optic-based telephone lines.
Summary of provisions
Section one adds a new section 104 to the public service law. Pursuant to this section, 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 tele- phone lines and fiber optic-based telephone lines prior to when such telephone corporation initiates a change to a customer's telephone service from copper-based telephone lines to fiber optic-based telephone lines. Except (i) in cases of 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 to 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 telephone lines and fiber optic-based telephone lines; the differences between the effect a power outage would have on the tele- phone service provided by copper-based and fiber optic-based telephone lines, including the availability of battery back-up options; an expla- nation 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 commis- sion.
Read the full memo (756 words)
This section further provides that the commission shall have the power to prescribe the form and content of the notice established pursuant to this section. In addition, 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 notice to customers.
Section two provides the effective date.
Justification
In efforts to provide more efficient service to customers, telecommuni- cation corporations have begun switching from copper-based telephone lines to fiber optic-based lines. Some of the benefits to using fiber optic lines over copper lines include the fact that they are less expen- sive to install; they do not break down as easily and are also less susceptible to damage from environmental factors such as temperature and electromagnetic fluctuations; and they offer enhanced performance capa- bilities, for instance faster speeds and lower rates of signal loss.
However, the use of fiber optic lines does present certain consider- ations. One significant issue is a customer's inability to use their telephone in the event of a power outage. During an outage, a phone connected to a copper wire line will continue to work. However, a phone connected to a fiber optic line will only work during an outage if a customer has a back-up battery. The phone would continue to work until the battery runs out of power. This situation is especially problematic for low income individuals who might not have access to a back-up battery nor even the resources to purchase one, the elderly, and also for those who rely on their landline at home for work purposes, such as doctors who use their phone to connect with patients when they are out of the office.
This legislation adds a new section to the Public Service Law to author- ize the Public Service Commission to require all telephone corporations providing local exchange services to provide notice to customers prior to a customer's service being switched from copper-based telephone lines to fiber optic-based telephone lines. The notice shall include a description of the differences between copper-based lines and fiber optic-based lines; the differences between the effect a power outage would have on the telephone service provided by copper-based and fiber optic-based lines; an explanation of whether the service will continue to be regulated by the commission; and contact information for customers who want additional information or wish to make a complaint to the commission.
This legislation will support greater transparency and will provide customers with the resources to understand the changes and potential disruptions to their service when their telephone lines are switched from copper to fiber optic-based lines.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth 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.