Senate Bill S863

                                BILL NUMBER:S863

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the general business law, in relation to providing telephone
equipment with voice dialing functions
to certain persons with
disabilities

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would update provisions of the Public Service Law to reflect
technological advances in adaptive telecommunications equipment.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Amends the General Business Law by adding a new section
399-zz-1. Defines voice dialing telephone equipment, consumer,
purchaser, and seller. Any manufacturer or residential voice dialing
telephone equipment shall offer for sale such equipment to consumers,
as defined in this section, at an amount not to exceed the actual
cost of manufacturing the equipment

Section 2. Every telephone corporation, as defined by section 2 of the
Public Service Law, and every cable television company, as defined in
section 212 of Public Service Law and any other provider of telephone
service that provides telephone service to customers in New York
state shall provide notice to its customers that voice dialing
              

telephone equipment is available from manufactures at cost

Section 3. Effective Date

EXISTING LAW:
The current law is based on decades-old and outdated technology, only
certain services for the hearing impaired (TTY, statewide relay
service) are considered to be needed to enable people with
disabilities to access telecommunications.

JUSTIFICATION:
The provisions of the PSL addressing adaptive telecommunications
equipment have not remained current with technological advances. This
became apparent in 2005, when local telephone service providers
discontinued voice dialing equipment that is relied upon by people
with visual impairments without any formal review process.

Since the 1970's, there have been numerous advances in adaptive
equipment technology. People with disabilities can benefit from
amplified phones, screen readers - even phones that can be dialed by
puffing through a straw. This bill will make it easier for people
with disabilities to stay connected at home and work and will bring
the PSL's treatment of adaptive technology into the 21st century.
Except for voice dialing, the legislation does not specify particular
technologies,
but allows the PSC to periodically update the list of necessary
adaptive technologies by adopting regulations.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:


2012: S.298 - Referred to Consumer Protection/A.2226 - Referred to
Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
2011: S.298 - Reported and
Committed to Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business/A.2226
- Referred to Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
2009-10: S.3096B - Amend and Recommit to Energy and
Telecommunications/A.8110A Amend and Recommit to Corporations,
Authorities and Commissions
2007-08: S.759 - Referred to Energy and
Telecommunications/A.2105 Referred to Corporations, Authorities and
Commissions
2005-06: S.6418 - Referred to Energy and
Telecommunications/A.8029 - Referred to Corporations, Authorities and
Commissions

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect 180 Days after it shall have become law.