BILL NUMBER: S2357
SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act in relation to requiring reports from certain telephone corpo-
rations on the quality and availability of line-powered voice services
 
PURPOSE OF BILL:
Requires reports from broadband, telephone and cable companies on the
quality and availability of copper wire based services
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 provides that all overed providers with more than ten thousand
customers shall prepare and submit to the department of public service
and the legislature a written report that shall make findings and recom-
mendations concerning th equality and availability of copper-wired-based
services.
(2) provides that covered providers shall publish on its website the
reports required pursuant to section one, simultaneously with the
submission of each report.
Section 2 is the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Fiber optic wiring in the telecommunications industry has traditionally
been an expensive alternative to copper, however, this has been chang-
ing. Copper has been the predominant player in the industry and a cheap
option in network device connections. Today, the price gap between the
two continues to narrow as the cost of fiber components and hardware
have steadily decreased. Moreover, fiber provides many benefits over
copper such as its resistance to environmental factors and unlike
copper, it does not transmit electricity and therefore it does not radi-
ate signals nor can it be tapped.
This legislation provides that telecommunications companies with more
than ten thousand customers shall submit to the legislator reports
pertaining to the extent and nature of switching customers from copper
to fiber based services. With this, information will be readily avail-
able on the competency, reliability and availability of the traditional
copper wire based services.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024: S5343A-REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.