Bill Text: NJ A3619 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Requires cable television, telecommunications, and utility service providers request alternate mode of communication from customers; requires that providers contact customers in event of service interruptions and emergencies.*
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2014-01-13 - Passed by the Assembly (73-3-4) [A3619 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-A3619-Amended.html
ASSEMBLY, No. 3619
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
215th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED DECEMBER 17, 2012
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOSEPH CRYAN
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Requires cable television, telecommunications, and public utility service providers request alternate modes of communication from customers; requires that providers contact customers in event of service interruptions and emergencies.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee on November 18, 2013, with amendments.
An Act concerning cable television, telecommunications, and public utility service and supplementing Title 48 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Within 90 days of the enactment of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), and every calendar year thereafter, each public utility shall submit a request in written form to each customer to obtain alternate modes of communication not associated with the customer's account, at which the public utility may communicate with the customer in the case of a service interruption or emergency, which modes of communication shall include: (1) an alternative telephone number, such as a wireless telephone number or landline telephone number1[,];1 (2) an email address1[,];1 and (3) other reasonable mode of communication the customer may provide.
b. In the event of a service interruption or emergency, a public utility shall contact each customer via the telephone number and email address associated with the customer's account, and all other modes of communication provided by the customer pursuant to subsection a. of this section.
c. For the purposes of this section:
"Emergency" means (1) any 1[time] circumstance in which a1 public utility 1[service is interrupted or is in immediate danger of being interrupted by the elements,] experiences a service interruption, or is in immediate danger of experiencing a service interruption, caused by a person or natural disaster, which includes, but is not limited to, fire, flood, earthquake, or storm;1 or (2) the declaration of a state of emergency or disaster by the 1[State] Governor1 or by the 1[federal government] President of the United States1.
"Public utility" means 1[that term] a public utility1 as defined 1[in] pursuant to1 R.S.48:2-13 1[providing] that provides1 gas, electric, or water service 1[and is regulated under the jurisdiction of the Board of Public Utilities]1.
"Service interruption" means 1[the cessation] an extended disruption1 of gas, water, or electric service to 1[one] 20 percent1 or more 1of the public utility's1 customers 1in which the public utility deems the restoration of service may take 12 or more hours to complete1.
2. a. Within 90 days of the enactment of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), and every calendar year thereafter, each telecommunications service provider shall, consistent with federal law, submit a request in written form to each customer to obtain alternate modes of communication not associated with the customer's account, at which the telecommunications service provider may communicate with the customer in the case of a service interruption or emergency, which modes of communication shall include: (1) an alternative telephone number, such as a wireless telephone number or landline telephone number1[,];1 (2) an email address1[,];1 and (3) other reasonable mode of communication the customer may provide.
b. In the event of a service interruption or emergency, a telecommunications service provider shall contact each customer via the telephone number and email address associated with the customer's account, and all other modes of communication provided by the customer pursuant to subsection a. of this section.
c. For the purposes of this section:
"Emergency" means (1) any 1[time] circumstance in which a1 telecommunications 1[service is interrupted or is in immediate danger of being interrupted by the elements,] service provider experiences a service interruption, or is in immediate danger of experiencing a service interruption, caused by a person or natural disaster, which includes, but is not limited to, fire, flood, earthquake, or storm;1 or (2) the declaration of a state of emergency or disaster by the 1[State] Governor1 or by the 1[federal government] President of the United States1.
"Service interruption" means 1[the cessation] an extended disruption1 of telecommunications service to 1[one] 20 percent1 or more 1of the telecommunications service provider's1 customers 1in which the telecommunications service provider deems the restoration of service may take 12 or more hours to complete1.
"Telecommunications service" means any telecommunications service which is subject to regulation by the Board of Public Utilities pursuant to Title 48 of the Revised Statutes.
3. a. Within 90 days of the enactment of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), and every calendar year thereafter, each cable television company shall, consistent with federal law, submit a request in written form to each customer to obtain alternate modes of communication not associated with the customer's account, at which the company may communicate with the customer in the case of a service interruption or emergency, which modes of communication shall include: (1) an alternative telephone number, such as a wireless telephone number or landline telephone number1[,];1 (2) an email address1[,];1 and (3) other reasonable mode of communication the customer may provide.
b. In the event of a service interruption or emergency, a cable television company shall contact each customer via the telephone number and email address associated with the customer's account, and all other modes of communication provided by the customer pursuant to subsection a. of this section.
c. For the purposes of this section:
1"Cable television company" means a cable television company as defined pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1972, c.186 (C.48:5A-3).1
"Emergency" means (1) any 1[time] circumstance in which a1 cable television 1[service is interrupted or is in immediate danger of being interrupted by the elements,] company experiences a service interruption, or is in immediate danger of experiencing a service interruption, caused by a person or natural disaster, which includes, but is not limited to, fire, flood, earthquake, or storm;1 or (2) the declaration of a state of emergency or disaster by the 1[State] Governor1 or by the 1[federal government] President of the United States1.
"Service interruption" means 1[the cessation] an extended disruption1 of cable television service to 1[one] 20 percent1 or more 1of the cable television company's1 customers 1within a municipality where the cable television company has a franchise in which the cable television company deems the restoration of service may take 12 or more hours to complete1.
4. This act shall take effect 60 days following enactment.
