Enacts the "NYS net neutrality protection act"; relates to state contracts being only with internet service providers compliant with net neutrality; prohibits the purchase of internet services from a non-net neutral source of internet services; requires certain disclosures by internet providers.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7126
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 20, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BICHOTTE HERMELYN, COLTON, HYNDMAN, LAVINE, HEVE-
SI, SIMON, BRONSON, PEOPLES-STOKES, HUNTER -- read once and referred
to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public service law and the state finance law, in
relation to state contracts being only with internet service providers
compliant with net neutrality
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
2 the "NYS Net Neutrality Protection Act".
3 § 2. Subdivision 1 of section 5 of the public service law is amended
4 by adding a new paragraph j to read as follows:
5 j. To every broadband internet line which lies wholly within the state
6 and that part within the state of New York of every broadband internet
7 line which lies partly within and partly without the state and to the
8 persons or corporations owning, leasing or operating any such broadband
9 internet line.
10 § 3. Section 5 of the public service law is amended by adding a new
11 subdivision 7 to read as follows:
12 7. The commission shall require any person engaged in the provision of
13 broadband internet access service in New York state to report to the
14 commission, and publicly disclose annually, accurate information regard-
15 ing the network management practices, performance, and commercial terms
16 of its broadband internet access services sufficient for consumers to
17 make informed choices regarding use of such services and for content,
18 application, service, and device providers to develop, market, and main-
19 tain internet offerings.
20 § 4. Subdivision 1 of section 165 of the state finance law is amended
21 by adding three new paragraphs f, g and h to read as follows:
22 f. A "net neutral source of internet services" shall mean an internet
23 service provider who adheres to the principles of net neutrality.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10619-01-5
A. 7126 2
1 g. A "non-net neutral source of internet services" shall mean an
2 internet service provider who violates any of the principles of net
3 neutrality.
4 h. "The principles of net neutrality" shall mean the rules and regu-
5 lations under the open internet report and order on remand, declaratory
6 ruling, and order by the federal communications commission released
7 March twelfth, two thousand fifteen, GN Docket No. 14-28.
8 § 5. Section 165 of the state finance law is amended by adding a new
9 subdivision 10 to read as follows:
10 10. Prohibition on purchase of internet services from a non-net
11 neutral source of internet services.
12 a. (i) With respect to contracts described in subparagraphs (ii) and
13 (iii) of this paragraph, and in accordance with such subparagraphs, the
14 state and any governmental agency or political subdivision or public
15 benefit corporation or municipality of the state shall not contract for
16 the supply of internet services with any contractor who does not agree
17 to stipulate to the following, if there is another contractor who will
18 contract to supply internet services of comparable quality at a compara-
19 ble price or cost, the contractor and any individual or legal entity in
20 which the contractor holds a ten percent or greater ownership interest
21 and any individual or legal entity that holds a ten percent or greater
22 ownership interest in the contractor shall make lawful steps in good
23 faith to conduct any business operations as a net neutral source of
24 internet services.
25 (ii) In the case of contracts let by a competitive process, whenever
26 the responsive and responsible offerer having the lowest price or best
27 value offer has not agreed to stipulate to the conditions set forth in
28 this subdivision and another responsive and responsible offerer who has
29 agreed to stipulate to such conditions has submitted an offer shall
30 determine that the contract be awarded to the lowest price or best value
31 offer for internet services from a net neutral source of internet
32 services.
33 (iii) In the case of contracts let by other than a competitive process
34 internet services involving an expenditure of an amount greater than the
35 discretionary buying threshold as specified in section one hundred
36 sixty-three of this article, the contracting entity shall not award to a
37 proposed contractor who has not agreed to stipulate to the conditions
38 set forth in this subdivision unless the entity seeking to use the
39 internet services determines that the internet services are necessary
40 for the entity to perform its functions and there is no other responsi-
41 ble contractor who will supply internet services of comparable quality
42 at a comparable price. Such determinations shall be made in writing and
43 shall be public documents.
44 b. Upon receiving information that a contractor who has made the stip-
45 ulation required by this subdivision is in violation thereof, the
46 contracting entity shall review such information and offer the contrac-
47 tor an opportunity to respond. If the contracting entity finds that a
48 violation has occurred, it shall take such action as may be appropriate
49 and provided for by law, rule or contract, including, but not limited
50 to, imposing sanctions, seeking compliance, recovering damages or
51 declaring the contractor in default.
52 c. As used in this subdivision, the term "contract" shall not include
53 contracts with governmental and non-profit organizations, contracts
54 awarded pursuant to emergency procurement procedures or contracts,
55 resolutions, indentures, declarations of trust or other instruments
56 authorizing or relating to the authorization, issuance, award, sale or
A. 7126 3
1 purchase of bonds, certificates of indebtedness, notes or other fiscal
2 obligations, provided that the policies of this subdivision shall be
3 considered when selecting a contractor to provide financial or legal
4 advice, and when selecting managing underwriters in connection with such
5 activities.
6 d. The provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to contracts for
7 which the state or other contracting entity receives funds administered
8 by the United States, except to the extent congress has directed to not
9 withhold funds from states and localities that choose to implement
10 selective purchasing policies based on an agreement to comply with the
11 principles of net neutrality, or to the extent that such funds are not
12 otherwise withheld by congress.
13 § 6. This act shall take effect immediately.
