Relates to requiring covered entities to publicly report on franchise fees, consumer complaints and denials of requests for service; defines covered entities; provides that the department of public service shall investigate allegations against covered entities upon the written request of 25 customers, the chief executive officer of the municipality or the county legislature of the county served.
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4121
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 31, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SOLAGES -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring covered
entities to publicly report on franchise fees, consumer complaints and
denials of requests for service
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The public service law is amended by adding a new section
28 to read as follows:
§ 28. PUBLICATION OF REPORTS. 1. AS USED IN THIS SECTION, THE
FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
(A) "COVERED ENTITIES" MEANS A TELEPHONE CORPORATION WITH MORE THAN
TEN THOUSAND CUSTOMERS THAT HAS PROVIDED LINE-POWERED VOICE SERVICE AT
ANY POINT ON OR AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-ONE; AND
(B) "LINE-POWERED VOICE SERVICE" MEANS RESIDENTIAL VOICE SERVICE THAT
IS PROVIDED USING COPPER-BASED FACILITIES THAT ARE LINE POWERED.
2. WITHIN NINETY DAYS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, THE
DEPARTMENT SHALL DIRECT ALL COVERED ENTITIES, TO REPORT PUBLICLY ON ITS
WEBSITE OR WEBSITES ALL FRANCHISE FEES PAID TO THE MUNICIPALITY OR MUNI-
CIPALITIES SERVED, ALL CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, AND ANY DENIALS OF REQUESTS
FOR SERVICE FROM RESIDENTS OF SUCH MUNICIPALITIES DURING THE TERM OF THE
CURRENT FRANCHISE. COVERED ENTITIES SHALL REPORT SUCH INFORMATION WITH-
OUT UNREASONABLY EXPOSING CONSUMERS' PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION
IN A MANNER THAT VIOLATES PUBLIC SERVICE LAW, DEPARTMENT PRACTICE, OR
FEDERAL LAW. SUCH REPORTS SHALL BE UPDATED QUARTERLY.
3. UPON A WRITTEN REQUEST FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE COVERED ENTI-
TY'S COMPLIANCE WITH ITS FRANCHISE TERMS AND APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDER-
AL LAW, SIGNED BY (A) TWENTY-FIVE OR MORE CUSTOMERS, OR (B) THE CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE MUNICIPALITY, OR (C) THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF
THE COUNTY WITHIN WHICH THE SYSTEM IS LOCATED, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL
CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION INTO SUCH ALLEGATIONS CONTAINED IN A COMPLAINT
LETTER.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
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