What's happening
This bill allows the Public Service Commission, instead of the commissioner, to make rules for designating eligible phone service carriers for lifeline service.
Why it matters
Shifts rulemaking authority from a single commissioner to the entire Public Service Commission. , potentially making the process of designating eligible Lifeline phone service carriers more transparent and subject to broader oversight.
Could result in more consistent and comprehensive regulations. for which mobile and cellular carriers can offer discounted Lifeline service, since decisions would now reflect the collective judgment of the commission rather than an individual.
May affect consumer access to affordable phone service. by influencing which carriers are authorized to participate in the Lifeline program, which is critical for low-income residents relying on discounted communication services.
Signals a move toward increased regulatory accountability. , as decisions about vital communication services for vulnerable populations would be made by a deliberative body rather than a single official.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand Lifeline Phone Service
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.13
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading cal.342
- Substituted for A8986
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 55–5
- Ordered to third reading cal.15
- Referred to rules
- Referred to rules
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.
Easier Lifeline Phone Approvals
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Amy Paulin
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6936
IN SENATE
January 6, 2020
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to commercial mobile radio and cellular telephone service providers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph c of subdivision 6 of section 5 of the public service law, as amended by a chapter of the laws of 2019, amending the public service law relating to commercial mobile radio and cellular telephone service providers, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 5782-A and A. 7811-A, is amended to read as follows:
c. Notwithstanding paragraph a of this subdivision, the commission may designate any commercial mobile radio or cellular telephone service providers as an eligible telecommunications carrier for purposes of providing lifeline service, in addition to any commercial mobile radio or cellular telephone service providers designated as such pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 214(e) and 47 U.S.C. § 214(e)(2), without requiring any such provider to obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity pursuant to section ninety-nine of this chapter. The [commissioner] commission is authorized to promulgate all rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this paragraph.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2019, amending the public service law relating to commercial mobile radio and cellular telephone service providers, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 5782-A and A. 7811-A, takes effect.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11763-04-0
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 commercial mobile radio and cellular telephone service providers
Purpose
This is a chapter amendment that makes changes to provisions of L.2019, c.606.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: The chapter amendment corrects a typographical error, chang- ing the word "commissioner" to "commission."
Section 2: Effective date.
Justification
The chapter amendment was necessary to ensure consistent use of terms in the legislation.
Legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
N/A
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.