The proposed bill aims to amend the Code of West Virginia by introducing a new section, 46A-9-1, which addresses billing practices of internet and telecommunications service providers during service outages. The bill mandates that providers issue prorated bill credits to consumers for outages lasting more than 12 continuous hours, ensuring that consumers are not charged for services they did not receive. Providers are required to notify consumers of the outage and the applied credit within 24 hours of service restoration. Additionally, the bill outlines definitions for key terms such as "consumer," "internet and telecommunication service provider," and "outage," while also specifying exceptions for scheduled maintenance and certain uncontrollable circumstances.

Furthermore, the bill establishes record-keeping requirements for service providers, mandating them to maintain detailed records of outages and the credits issued for a minimum of three years. This data must be reported monthly to the commission and the Attorney General, who can take civil action against providers for willful violations, with penalties of up to $1,000 per violation. The bill also clarifies that it does not alter existing consumer rights or remedies and specifies that its provisions do not apply to mobile service disruptions as defined by federal law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 46A-9-1