NY State Senate Bill 2013-S1341

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Energy And Telecommunications Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 08, 2014	referred to energy and telecommunications
Jan 09, 2013	referred to energy and telecommunications

2013-S1341 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Energy And Telecommunications
Law Section:: Public Service Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§2, 5 & 90, Pub Serv L
Versions Introduced in 2011-2012 Legislative Session:: S5769

2013-S1341 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Eliminates state regulation of voice over internet protocol service in order to facilitate competition and ensure consumers receive the maximum benefit of competition.

2013-S1341 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                BILL NUMBER:S1341

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the public service law, in relation to eliminating state
regulation of VoIP service in order to facilitate competition and ensure
consumers receive the maximum benefit of competition

PURPOSE:
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a technology
application that uses a broadband Internet connection to transmit
voice telecommunications over the Internet. The rates, terms and
conditions of VoIP service, which has been offered in New York State
since the early 2000's, are not regulated.

JUSTIFICATION:
VoIP service converts voice
communications into digital
packets that travel over the Internet. When a VolP call is placed to
a traditional telephone number, the digital packet is converted to a
traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) signal before it
reaches its destination. VoIP allows a call to be made directly from
a computer, a special VoIP phone, or a landline phone connected to an
adaptor.

VoIP brings increased efficiency, reliability and functionality to

voice communications. The Internet's use of computer processing
allows for decreased use of transmission facilities, and automatic
rerouting around malfunctioning routers or damaged lines without
relying on a separate telephone signaling network. Since the cost of
computer processing is decreasing and the demand for communications
bandwidth is increasing, IP networks offers a more economical and
robust means for providing communication connections than the
traditional networks.

This legislation is especially important for consumers living in rural
upstate New York who have yet to enjoy the benefits of broadband and
voice competition. Adopting the legislation could help rural
consumers to benefit from voice competition, rural telecommunications
companies to extend broadband more affordably, remote businesses to
transform the way they do business, rural communities to connect to a
new world of remote job opportunities, and rural economies to become
an engine for higher paying information age jobs. Rather than
outsourcing jobs oversees, some progressive companies are now using
VoIP to "home-source" jobs to rural communities.

This legislation will enable a consistent and predictable policy
framework and thus foster VoIP innovation to grown in New York.

SUMMARY OF THE BILL:
This bill updates the Public Service Law to
encourage the deployment of new technologies. The legislation does
not affect the assessment of E-911 fees, telecommunications relay
service fees, or federal or state Universal Service Fund fees on VoIP
service. Payment of intercarrier compensation that applies to a VoIP
carrier's use of the public switched telephone network is also


preserved. Finally, New York State consumer protections still apply
(e.g., unfair or deceptive trade practices, payment and/or billing -
request paper bill and/or pay by mail).

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
S5769/A8459 of 2011-12; Referred to Corporations, Authorities &
Commissions

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
No fiscal costs to the state or localities. The state as a whole
should see increased economic activity and investment when the right
business model is developed to lure broadband investment in the state.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2013-S1341 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  1341

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                               (PREFILED)

                             January 9, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen. MAZIARZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on  Energy  and  Telecommuni-
  cations

AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to eliminating state
  regulation  of  VoIP  service  in  order to facilitate competition and
  ensure consumers receive the maximum benefit of competition

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1. Section 2 of the public service law is amended by adding a
new subdivision 28 to read as follows:
  28. THE TERM "VOICE-OVER-INTERNET PROTOCOL SERVICE" OR "VOIP  SERVICE"
WHEN  USED  IN  THIS  CHAPTER,  SHALL MEAN ANY SERVICE THAT: (A) ENABLES
REAL-TIME TWO-WAY VOICE COMMUNICATIONS THAT ORIGINATE FROM OR  TERMINATE
TO  THE  USER'S LOCATION USING INTERNET PROTOCOL OR ANY SUCCESSOR PROTO-
COL; (B) USES A BROADBAND CONNECTION FROM THE USER'S LOCATION;  AND  (C)
PERMITS  USERS  GENERALLY  TO RECEIVE CALLS THAT ORIGINATE ON THE PUBLIC
SWITCHED TELEPHONE NETWORK AND TO TERMINATE CALLS TO THE PUBLIC SWITCHED
TELEPHONE NETWORK.
  S 2. Paragraph d of subdivision 1 of section 5 of the  public  service
law,  as  amended by chapter 155 of the laws of 1970, is amended to read
as follows:
  d. To every telephone line which lies wholly within the state and that
part within the state of New York of every  telephone  line  which  lies
partly  within and partly without the state and to the persons or corpo-
rations owning, leasing or operating any such telephone line.   NOTWITH-
STANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, NEITHER THE COMMIS-
SION,  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  PUBLIC  SERVICE, NOR ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT OR
AGENCY OF THIS STATE, OR ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION THEREOF,  SHALL  HAVE
AUTHORITY  TO  REGULATE  THE  ENTRY,  RATES OR OTHER TERMS OF SERVICE OF
VOICE-OVER-INTERNET PROTOCOL SERVICE.  PROVIDED, HOWEVER,  THAT  NOTHING

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                           LBD02270-01-3

S. 1341                             2

IN  THIS  PARAGRAPH SHALL AFFECT THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OR ITS AGEN-
CIES TO ENFORCE SUCH REQUIREMENTS AS ARE  OTHERWISE  EXPRESSLY  PROVIDED
FOR  BY  FEDERAL  LAW,  INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CONNECTION TO 911
FACILITIES,  THE  COLLECTION  OF  ENHANCED  911 FEES, TELECOMMUNICATIONS
RELAY  SERVICE  FEES,  OR  FEDERAL  UNIVERSAL  SERVICE  FUND   FEES   ON
VOICE-OVER-INTERNET  PROTOCOL  SERVICES THAT MAY BE DETERMINED TO APPLY,
OR BE CONSTRUED TO (1) MODIFY  OR  AFFECT  THE  RIGHTS,  OBLIGATIONS  OR
AUTHORITY OF ANY ENTITY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE
COMMISSION,  TO  ACT PURSUANT TO, OR ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF 47 U.S.C.
251, 47 U.S.C. 252, ANY APPLICABLE TARIFF, OR ANY STATE LAW, RULE, REGU-
LATION OR ORDER RELATED TO WHOLESALE  RIGHTS,  DUTIES  AND  OBLIGATIONS,
INCLUDING THE RIGHTS, DUTIES, AND OBLIGATIONS OF LOCAL EXCHANGE CARRIERS
TO  INTERCONNECT  AND  EXCHANGE  VOICE TRAFFIC; (2) MODIFY OR AFFECT THE
AUTHORITY OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO IMPLEMENT, CARRY OUT,  AND
ENFORCE  SUCH  PROVISIONS, RIGHTS, DUTIES, OBLIGATIONS OR TARIFF THROUGH
ARBITRATION PROCEEDINGS OR OTHER AVAILABLE MECHANISMS AND PROCEDURES; OR
(3) AFFECT THE PAYMENT OF SWITCHED NETWORK ACCESS RATES OR OTHER  INTER-
CARRIER  COMPENSATION  RATES,  AS  APPLICABLE.   NOTHING HEREIN SHALL BE
CONSTRUED TO AFFECT THE APPLICATION OR ENFORCEMENT OF OTHER STATUTES  OR
REGULATIONS  THAT  APPLY  GENERALLY  TO  THE  CONDUCT OF BUSINESS IN THE
STATE, INCLUDING CONSUMER PROTECTION, OR UNFAIR OR DECEPTIVE TRADE PRAC-
TICES RULES OF GENERAL APPLICABILITY.
  S 3. Subdivision 1 of section 90 of the public service law, as amended
by chapter 414 of the laws of 1981, is amended to read as follows:
  1. [The] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN  PARAGRAPH  D  OF  SUBDIVISION  ONE  OF
SECTION FIVE OF THIS CHAPTER, THE provisions of this article shall apply
to communication by telegraph or telephone between one point and another
within  the  state  of  New  York and to every telegraph corporation and
telephone corporation.
  S 4. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S1341

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Energy And Telecommunications Committee

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2013-S1341 (ACTIVE) - Details

2013-S1341 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2013-S1341 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2013-S1341 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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Sponsored By

George D. Maziarz

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Energy And Telecommunications Committee

Actions

2013-S1341 (ACTIVE) - Details

2013-S1341 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2013-S1341 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2013-S1341 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments