What's happening
This bill requires internet service providers to charge voluntary fire and ambulance companies residential rates, but provide business-level service.
Why it matters
Reduces Costs for Volunteer Emergency Services. By mandating residential rates for internet service, the bill directly lowers operating costs for volunteer fire and ambulance companies, allowing them to dedicate more resources to emergency response rather than overhead expenses.
Ensures High-Quality Connectivity. Although these organizations will pay less, they are guaranteed the same level of internet service (speed, reliability, and support) typically reserved for business customers, which is often necessary for emergency dispatch, real-time communication, and accessing critical information.
Levels the Playing Field for Rural and Small Organizations. Many volunteer emergency services operate in rural areas where budgets are tight and internet costs can be prohibitively high; this bill helps ensure equitable access to essential digital infrastructure regardless of location or financial status.
Potential Impact on ISP Pricing Structures. The bill may prompt internet service providers to reconsider how they classify and price service tiers, potentially influencing broader pricing strategies or leading to calls for similar treatment for other types of nonprofits.
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Who cares
Volunteer fire companies
The bill would cap their internet charges at their provider’s residential rate while requiring business-level service.
Volunteer ambulance companies
They would qualify for residential internet rates without losing the level of service provided to business customers.
Internet service providers
They would have to apply residential rates to qualifying emergency service organizations while providing business-level service, beginning 30 days after the bill becomes law.
Headline styles
Lower Internet Costs for EMS
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to internet and technology
- Referred to internet and technology
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1152
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sen. OBERACKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Internet and Technology
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring internet service providers to charge a residential rate to certain 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 42-A to read as follows:
ARTICLE 42-A
INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS Section 1200. Definitions.
1201. Rates for emergency service organizations.
§ 1200. 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 voluntary fire or ambulance company.
§ 1201. 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 organizations shall be charged the residential rate. Notwithstanding the charging of a residential rate, service provided to emergency service organizations shall be provided at the level of service provided by such internet service provider to business customers.
§ 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.
LBD03517-01-5
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 certain emer- gency 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", which includes volunteer fire and ambulances for the purpose of this bill. The bill also includes language that clarifies that internet service providers must still provide business service levels of internet at the lower price point.
Section 2 sets the effective date.
Justification
It has become apparent that a considerable amount of taxpayer money is being spent providing cable services, and 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 stilt 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 volunteer fire and ambulance companies at the residential rate, which is generally cheaper, rather than by business rates.
Legislative history
S5115 of 2023-24
S2088A of 2021-22
S2820 of 2019-20
S6943 of 2017-18
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.