Bill Text: NJ A3619 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
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-Introduced.html
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 introduced.
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 number, (2) an email address, 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 time public utility service is interrupted or is in immediate danger of being interrupted by the elements, or (2) the declaration of a state of emergency or disaster by the State or by the federal government.
"Public utility" means that term as defined in R.S.48:2-13 providing gas, electric, or water service and is regulated under the jurisdiction of the Board of Public Utilities.
"Service interruption" means the cessation of gas, water, or electric service to one or more customers.
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 number, (2) an email address, 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 time telecommunications service is interrupted or is in immediate danger of being interrupted by the elements, or (2) the declaration of a state of emergency or disaster by the State or by the federal government.
"Service interruption" means the cessation of telecommunications service to one or more customers.
"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 number, (2) an email address, 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:
"Emergency" means (1) any time cable television service is interrupted or is in immediate danger of being interrupted by the elements, or (2) the declaration of a state of emergency or disaster by the State or by the federal government.
"Service interruption" means the cessation of cable television service to one or more customers.
4. This act shall take effect 60 days following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires each electric, water, and gas public utility, telecommunications company, and cable television company, to annually submit a request in written form to each customer to obtain alternate modes of communication not associated with the customer's account, at which it may communicate with the customer in the case of a service interruption or emergency. "Emergency" is defined to mean: (1) any time the entity's service is interrupted or is in immediate danger of being interrupted by the elements, or (2) the declaration of a state of emergency or disaster by the State or by the federal government.
The bill requires that each public utility, telecommunications, and cable customer be contacted by the respective service provide via the telephone number and email address associated with the account, and the alternate mode of communication provided by the customer. The alternate modes of communication would include: (1) an alternative telephone number, such as a wireless telephone number or other landline telephone number, (2) an email address, and (3) other reasonable mode of communication the customer may provide.
