NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A9814
SPONSOR: Santabarbara TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public service law, in relation to information cable
television companies must provide to subscribers regarding availability
of required equipment at retail
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To notify cable customers of their options regarding certain equipment
required for cable subscriptions, including how such equipment, includ-
ing modems, can be purchased at retail.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends subdivision 4 of section 224-a to add a new paragraph
(d) that requires cable television companies to provide notice regarding
equipment, including modems, required for subscriptions.
Section 2: Effective Date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Cable providers charge customers for services that are dependent on the
use of leased equipment from the same service provider, such as a modem,
remote control and other device. While some consumers have the option of
purchasing their own modems, many may not be aware of other options and
some choose to lease as part of a service package.This bill would
require cable companies to provide information to subscribers that
details how or where such equipment can be purchased outright and what
retail equipment would be compatible with the cable syStem.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Senate 2020- S4519A, Referred to Energy and Telecommunications
2021-2022- S1840A, Advanced to Third Reading Assembly A1416C, Referred
to corporations, authorities and commissions
2020- A1416C, Ordered to Third Reading 2021-2022- A2499A, Passed Assem-
bly
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9814
IN ASSEMBLY
April 9, 2024
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to information cable
television companies must provide to subscribers regarding availabili-
ty of required equipment at retail
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 224-a of the public service law is
2 amended by adding a new paragraph (d) to read as follows:
3 (d) Each cable television company shall provide to each of its
4 subscribers at the time of the initial subscription a written
5 description of: (1) the equipment required for such subscription; (2)
6 information regarding how or where a subscriber may purchase such equip-
7 ment at retail; and (3) information regarding what retail equipment is
8 compatible with the cable television company system. For purposes of
9 this paragraph "equipment" shall include but not be limited to a modem
10 or electronic device that makes possible the transmission of data to or
11 from a computer via telephone or other communication lines.
12 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05825-01-3
