BILL NUMBER: S7227
SPONSOR: GIANARIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public service law, in relation to charges for tele-
phone service on a by the second basis
 
PURPOSE:
Requires charges for telephone calls based on duration, whether over
lines or by cellular, to be charged and prorated by the second basis.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill amends subdivision 1 of § 91 of the public
service law requiring all telephone service providers to charge custom-
ers prorated by the second.
Section two of the bill mends subdivision 1 of § 92-c of the public
service law by adding a new paragraph(c) and a new subdivision 12
including "aggregators", a hotel motel, innkeeper, school or hospital
that provides public telephones, as falling under the same guidelines
for phone charges as other alternate operator service providers, and
COCOT service providers. Additionally, it requires that all of those
providers under this section charge for phone service by the second.
Section three of the bill sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In this day of computer automated phone systems, there is no identifi-
able reason why phone companies cannot charge their customers by the
second instead of by the minute. Many smaller long-distance companies
already provide this service. However, the biggest long-distance compa-
nies do not. A phone call for one minute and ten seconds should be
charged as that, and not as two minutes. Phone companies reap huge
profits from this billing system and are reluctant to change the way
they do business. The consequence of this is that New York phone custom-
ers are overcharged every time they make a long-distance call. This
legislation will force these companies to charge by the second, rather
than by the minute, here in New York State.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S174 (Gianaris) died in Energy & Telecommunications / A10170
(Meeks) died in corporations, authorities and commissions
2021-22: S1248 (Gianaris) died in Energy & Telecommunications
2019-20: S1282 (Gianaris) died in Energy & Telecommunications
2017-18: S2671 (Gianaris) died in Energy & Telecommunications / A2911
(Simotas) died in corporations, authorities and commissions
2015-16: S2425 (Gianaris) died in Energy & Telecommunications / A4978
(Simotas) died in corporations, authorities and communications
2013-14: S577 (Gianaris) died in Energy & Telecommunications / A2133
(Simotas) died in corporations, authorities and communications
2011-12: S2511 (Gianaris) died in Energy & Telecommunications / A4753
(Simotas) died in corporations, authorities and commissions
2009-10: A5226 (Gianaris) died in corporations, authorities and commis-
sions
2007-08: A4257 (Gianaris) died in corporations, authorities and commis-
sions
2006: A9503 (Gianaris) died in codes
2005: A773 (Stringer) died in corporations, authorities and commissions
2003-04: A4564 (Stringer) died in corporations, authorities and commis-
sions
2001-02: A1668 (Stringer) died in corporations, authorities and commis-
sions
1999-00: A1561 (Stringer) died in corporations, authorities and commis-
sions
1998: A8947 (Stringer) died in corporations, authorities and commissions
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law. Effective immediately the addition, amendment
and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such date.

Statutes affected:
S7227: 91 public service law, 91(1) public service law, 92-c public service law