Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara has introduced a new bill aimed at providing financial relief to consumers during internet service outages. The "Internet Service Outage Consumer Protection Act" mandates that internet service providers (ISPs) issue prorated bill credits to consumers for any service outages lasting more than one hour.

“In today’s digital age, reliable internet service is not just a convenience, but a necessity,” said Assemblyman Santabarbara. “When service is disrupted, it can have serious consequences for individuals, families, and businesses. This bill ensures that consumers are fairly compensated for the time they are without the service they rely on.”

Key Provisions of the Bill:

• Prorated Bill Credits: ISPs must provide automatic prorated bill credits for any internet service outage lasting more than one hour, calculated based on the consumer's monthly service rate.
• Automatic Application: Credits will be applied automatically to the consumer's next billing cycle, without the need for the consumer to take any action.
• Notification Requirement: Providers must notify consumers of the outage and the applied credit within 24 hours of service restoration.
• Record Keeping: ISPs must maintain records of all outages and corresponding bill credits for a minimum of three years, available for review by the Public Service Commission.
• Consumer Rights Notification: Consumers will be informed of their right to receive prorated credits at the time-of-service agreement and on each monthly billing statement.

“With this legislation, we are holding ISPs accountable and ensuring they deliver the reliable service that consumers pay for,” added Santabarbara. “It’s a simple matter of fairness and transparency.”

The introduction of this bill comes in response to increasing complaints from consumers about frequent and prolonged internet service outages without adequate compensation from service providers. Assemblyman Santabarbara emphasized that this legislation is part of a broader effort to enhance consumer protections and improve service standards across New York State.

“Utilities must bill in a timely and transparent manner,” Santabarbara concluded. “This bill will ensure that internet service providers meet that standard, providing peace of mind to all New Yorkers who depend on their internet service every day.”