NY State Senate Bill 2015-S1305

Senate Bill S1305

2015-2016 Legislative Session

Directs telecommunication and cable corporations to provide call center service assistance from centers located within the state

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Energy And Telecommunications Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 06, 2016	referred to energy and telecommunications
Jan 09, 2015	referred to energy and telecommunications

co-Sponsors

2015-S1305 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A1050
Current Committee:: Senate Energy And Telecommunications
Law Section:: Public Service Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §65, Pub Serv L; add §394-f, Gen Bus L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: S7967, A4872
2011-2012: S75, A175
2013-2014: S78, A1190
2017-2018: S582, A1399
2019-2020: A65
2021-2022: A1444
2023-2024: A3730
2025-2026: A1024

2015-S1305 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Directs telecommunications and cable corporations to provide call center service assistance from centers located within the state and such corporations' service areas; includes a list of what services must be provided.

2015-S1305 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                BILL NUMBER:S1305

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the public service law and the general
business law, in relation to telecommunications and cable call centers

PURPOSE:  This Bill directs telecommunication corporations to provide
call center service assistance from centers located within the state
and such corporations' service area.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 renumbers subdivision 12 and adds a new subdivision 13 to
subdivision 11 of section 65 of the public service law, as added by
chapter 693 of the laws of 1985.

Section 2 shall contain the same provisions as section 1, however
shall also apply to cable companies. This section also contains the
effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:  This will require telecommunication corporations which
provide telephone, cable, or internet service to provide call center
service assistance. These call centers will utilize services located
within the state in order to determine customer financial
responsibility, processing requests for new or additional services,
including emergency service, determining deposit required or bill
rate, preparing service orders, and obtaining access to businesses and

residential properties. These service centers will also provide
customer assistance regarding explanation of rates, regulations,
policies, procedures, equipment, and common practices. The centers
will investigate trouble order forms and initiate high bill
investigations, handle payment, and other credit arrangements such as
obtaining deposits, financial statements and payments plans referring
customers to social service agencies and other assistance programs
when applicable. This will provide support for the customers of
telephone, cable and/or internet services with clear access to
information regarding their service while supporting the service
providers with resources to maintain this system through services
located within the state.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:  2013-2014 - S.78 2011-12: S.75 2010:
S.7967/A.4872-C (Senate Energy and Telecommunications) 05/14/08
      Referred to Corporations, Authorities and Commissions

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after
it shall have become a law; provided, however, that the public service
commission is immediately authorized and directed to take any and all
actions, including but not limited to the promulgation of any rules or
regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act on such
effective date.

2015-S1305 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  1305

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                             January 9, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen. PERALTA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on  Energy  and  Telecommuni-
  cations

AN  ACT to amend the public service law and the general business law, in
  relation to telecommunications and cable call centers

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Section 65 of the public service law is amended by adding a
new subdivision 16 to read as follows:
  16.  (A)  EVERY  TELECOMMUNICATION  CORPORATION AND THEIR SUBSIDIARIES
FURNISHING TRADITIONAL LANDLINE TELEPHONE SERVICE, FIBER OPTIC  SERVICE,
VOICE  OVER  INTERNET  PROTOCOL (VOIP), DATA CIRCUITS, CABLE OR INTERNET
SERVICES SHALL PROVIDE CALL CENTER SERVICE ASSISTANCE INCLUDING, BUT NOT
LIMITED TO OPERATOR SERVICES,  DIRECTORY  ASSISTANCE  BUREAUS  AND  CALL
COMPLETION SERVICES FOR THE FOLLOWING:
  (1) DETERMINING CUSTOMER FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY;
  (2) TAKING REQUESTS FOR NEW OR ADDITIONAL SERVICES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, EMERGENCY SERVICE, COMPLETING ASSISTANCE WITH DIALING, USING
CALLING CARDS, CONNECTING COLLECT CALLS, BUSY LINE VERIFICATION OR RELAY
CENTERS FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED, PROVIDING REQUESTED LOCAL AND NATIONAL
TELEPHONE  NUMBERS,  REVERSE NUMBER SEARCHES AND TAKING REQUESTS FOR AND
COMPLETING THE PUBLISHING AND NON-PUBLISHING OF A TELEPHONE NUMBER,  AND
PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO PAYPHONE CUSTOMERS;
  (3) DETERMINING DEPOSIT REQUIRED OR BILLING RATE;
  (4)  PREPARING  INSTALLATION  AND  REPAIR SERVICE ORDERS AND OBTAINING
ACCESS TO SUBSCRIBER'S PREMISES;
  (5)  EXPLAINING  COMPANY  RATES,  REGULATIONS,  POLICIES,  PROCEDURES,
EQUIPMENT AND COMMON PRACTICES;
  (6)  INVESTIGATING TROUBLE ORDER FORMS AND INITIATING HIGH BILL INVES-
TIGATIONS;

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD00370-01-5

S. 1305                             2

  (7) HANDLING PAYMENT AND OTHER CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS SUCH  AS  OBTAINING
DEPOSITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND PAYMENT PLANS; AND
  (8) AIDING CUSTOMERS WITH INTERNAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
  (B)  NO  TELECOMMUNICATION  CORPORATION  SHALL  CLOSE A CALL CENTER OR
OTHER FACILITY PROVIDING THE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE SET FORTH IN  PARAGRAPH
(A)  OF THIS SUBDIVISION OR RELOCATE SUCH CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE TO ANOTHER
AREA OF THIS STATE OR OUTSIDE OF THIS STATE WITHOUT NOTICE  AND  HEARING
BEFORE  THE  COMMISSION.  HOWEVER,  AT NO TIME SHALL A TELECOMMUNICATION
CORPORATION PERMANENTLY TRANSFER MORE THAN .7 PERCENT OF JOBS  FROM  ANY
CALL  CENTER DESCRIBED ABOVE TO ANOTHER AREA OF THIS STATE OR OUTSIDE OF
THE STATE AND A VALID  COLLECTIVE  BARGAINING  AGREEMENT  OR  EMPLOYMENT
CONTRACT THAT GOVERNS PERMANENT TRANSFER PERCENTAGES OF CALL CENTER JOBS
SHALL SUPERSEDE THE .7 PERCENT JOB TRANSFER RATE DESCRIBED ABOVE.
  (C) THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT APPLY TO THE COLLECTION OF DEBT WHEREBY
UTILITY  COMPANY  POLICY SUCH DEBT IS DIRECTED TO A COLLECTION AGENCY OR
SIMILAR SERVICE COMPANIES OR WHERE THE ATTENDANCE OF CALL CENTER EMPLOY-
EES IS LESS THAN NINETY PERCENT IN ANY GIVEN MONTH, THIS  SECTION  SHALL
NOT  APPLY FOR THE FOLLOWING MONTH. ATTENDANCE FOR THIS SECTION SHALL BE
DEFINED WHEN AN EMPLOYEE IS EXPECTED TO REPORT TO WORK AS SCHEDULED.  IF
A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT OR EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT DEFINES ATTEND-
ANCE THEN THAT SHALL SUPERSEDE THE DEFINITION ABOVE. IF ATTENDANCE FALLS
BELOW  NINETY  PERCENT  AS  A DIRECT RESULT OF THE CORPORATION THEN THIS
SECTION SHALL APPLY.
  S 2. The general business law is amended by adding a new section 394-f
to read as follows:
  S 394-F. CABLE COMPANY CALL CENTERS. (A) EVERY CABLE  CORPORATION  AND
THEIR  SUBSIDIARIES  FURNISHING  TRADITIONAL LANDLINE TELEPHONE SERVICE,
FIBER OPTIC SERVICE, VOICE OVER INTERNET PROTOCOL (VOIP), DATA CIRCUITS,
CABLE OR INTERNET SERVICES SHALL PROVIDE CALL CENTER SERVICE  ASSISTANCE
INCLUDING,  BUT  NOT  LIMITED TO OPERATOR SERVICES, DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE
BUREAUS AND CALL COMPLETION SERVICES FOR THE FOLLOWING:
  (1) DETERMINING CUSTOMER FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY;
  (2) TAKING REQUESTS FOR NEW OR ADDITIONAL SERVICES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, EMERGENCY SERVICE, COMPLETING ASSISTANCE WITH DIALING, USING
CALLING CARDS, CONNECTING COLLECT CALLS, BUSY LINE VERIFICATION OR RELAY
CENTERS FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED, PROVIDING REQUESTED LOCAL AND NATIONAL
TELEPHONE NUMBERS, REVERSE NUMBER SEARCHES AND TAKING REQUESTS  FOR  AND
COMPLETING  THE PUBLISHING AND NON-PUBLISHING OF A TELEPHONE NUMBER, AND
PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO PAYPHONE CUSTOMERS;
  (3) DETERMINING DEPOSIT REQUIRED OR BILLING RATE;
  (4) PREPARING INSTALLATION AND REPAIR  SERVICE  ORDERS  AND  OBTAINING
ACCESS TO SUBSCRIBER'S PREMISES;
  (5)  EXPLAINING  COMPANY  RATES,  REGULATIONS,  POLICIES,  PROCEDURES,
EQUIPMENT AND COMMON PRACTICES;
  (6) INVESTIGATING TROUBLE ORDER FORMS AND INITIATING HIGH BILL  INVES-
TIGATIONS;
  (7)  HANDLING  PAYMENT AND OTHER CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS SUCH AS OBTAINING
DEPOSITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND PAYMENT PLANS; AND
  (8) AIDING CUSTOMERS WITH INTERNAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
  (B) NO CABLE CORPORATION SHALL CLOSE A CALL CENTER OR  OTHER  FACILITY
PROVIDING  THE  CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION (A) OF THIS
SECTION OR RELOCATE SUCH CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE TO ANOTHER AREA OF NEW YORK
STATE OR OUTSIDE OF THIS STATE WITHOUT NOTICE  AND  HEARING  BEFORE  THE
COMMISSION.  HOWEVER,  AT  NO TIME SHALL A CABLE CORPORATION PERMANENTLY
TRANSFER MORE THAN .7 PERCENT OF JOBS FROM  ANY  CALL  CENTER  DESCRIBED
ABOVE  TO ANOTHER AREA OF THIS STATE OR OUTSIDE OF THE STATE AND A VALID

S. 1305                             3

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT  OR  EMPLOYMENT  CONTRACT  THAT  GOVERNS
PERMANENT  TRANSFER  PERCENTAGES OF CALL CENTER JOBS SHALL SUPERSEDE THE
.7 PERCENT JOB TRANSFER RATE DESCRIBED ABOVE.
  (C) THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT APPLY TO THE COLLECTION OF DEBT WHEREBY
UTILITY  COMPANY  POLICY SUCH DEBT IS DIRECTED TO A COLLECTION AGENCY OR
SIMILAR SERVICE COMPANIES OR WHERE THE ATTENDANCE OF CALL CENTER EMPLOY-
EES IS LESS THAN NINETY PERCENT IN ANY GIVEN MONTH  THIS  SECTION  SHALL
NOT  APPLY FOR THE FOLLOWING MONTH. ATTENDANCE FOR THIS SECTION SHALL BE
DEFINED WHEN AN EMPLOYEE IS EXPECTED TO REPORT TO WORK AS SCHEDULED.  IF
A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT OR EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT DEFINES ATTEND-
ANCE THEN THAT SHALL SUPERSEDE THE DEFINITION ABOVE. IF ATTENDANCE FALLS
BELOW  NINETY  PERCENT  AS  A DIRECT RESULT OF THE CORPORATION THEN THIS
SECTION SHALL APPLY.
  S 3. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day  after  it  shall
have become a law; provided, however, that the public service commission
is  immediately  authorized  and  directed  to take any and all actions,
including but not limited to the promulgation  of  any  rules  or  regu-
lations necessary to implement the provisions of this act on such effec-
tive date.

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Senate Bill S1305

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Sponsored By

Jose Peralta