Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB00514 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2	2
3		-	LCO 1 of 6
4	3
5		-	General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 514
	4	+	LCO No. 4595 1 of 7
	5	+
	6	+	General Assembly Committee Bill No. 514
6	7		January Session, 2025
	8	+	LCO No. 4595
7	9
8	10
	11	+	Referred to Committee on GENERAL LAW
	12	+
	13	+
	14	+	Introduced by:
	15	+	(GL)
9	16
10	17
11	18
12	19		AN ACT ESTABLISHING A NET EQUALITY PROGRAM.
13	20		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
14	21		Assembly convened:
15	22
16	23		Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) As used in this section: 1
17	24		(1) "Affordable broadband Internet access service" means broadband 2
18	25		Internet access service that (A) costs not more than the amount 3
19	26		established in subsection (c) of this section, and (B) meets the minimum 4
20	27		speed requirements set forth in subsection (d) of this section; 5
21	28		(2) "Broadband Internet access service" (A) means a mass-market 6
22	29		retail service that, by wire or radio, provides the capability to transmit 7
23	30		data to, and receive data from, all or substantially all Internet endpoints, 8
24	31		including, but not limited to, any capability that is incidental to, and 9
25	32		enables the operation of, such service, (B) includes any service that is 10
26	33		provided to customers in this state and is functionally equivalent to the 11
27	34		service described in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, and (C) 12
28		-	excludes (i) dial-up Internet access service, and (ii) any service that is 13
29		-	functionally equivalent to the service described in subparagraph (A) of 14
30		-	this subdivision but serves end users primarily by using mobile stations; 15
31		-	(3) "Broadband Internet access service provider" means any person 16
32		-	who provides broadband Internet access service in this state; 17 Substitute Bill No. 514
	35	+	excludes dial-up Internet access service; 13
	36	+	(3) "Broadband Internet access service provider" means any person 14
	37	+	who provides broadband Internet access service in this state; 15
	38	+	Committee Bill No. 514
33	39
34	40
35		-	LCO 2 of 6
	41	+	LCO No. 4595 2 of 7
36	42
37		-	(4) "Eligible household" means (A) a resident of a group home or 18
38		-	congregate care facility that (i) is participating in a qualified public 19
39		-	assistance program, and (ii) is located within a qualified broadband 20
40		-	Internet access service provider's service territory in this state, and (B) a 21
41		-	household (i) in which at least one resident is participating in a qualified 22
42		-	public assistance program, and (ii) that is located within a qualified 23
43		-	broadband Internet access service provider's service territory in this 24
44		-	state; 25
45		-	(5) "Person" means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate 26
46		-	trust, partnership, association, joint venture or any other legal or 27
47		-	commercial entity; 28
48		-	(6) "Qualified broadband Internet access service provider" means a 29
49		-	broadband Internet access service provider that is doing business in this 30
50		-	state and with any state agency, including, but not limited to, through a 31
51		-	procurement contract; 32
52		-	(7) "Qualified public assistance program" means (A) the Connecticut 33
53		-	energy assistance program administered by the Department of Social 34
54		-	Services pursuant to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 35
55		-	1981, as amended from time to time, (B) the National School Lunch 36
56		-	Program established pursuant to the National School Lunch Act, 42 USC 37
57		-	1751 et seq., as amended from time to time, (C) the temporary assistance 38
58		-	for needy families program administered by the Department of Social 39
59		-	Services pursuant to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 40
60		-	Reconciliation Act of 1996, as amended from time to time, (D) the 41
61		-	supplemental nutrition assistance program administered by the 42
62		-	Department of Social Services pursuant to the Food and Nutrition Act 43
63		-	of 2008, as amended from time to time, (E) the Covered Connecticut 44
64		-	program established under section 19a-754c of the general statutes, (F) 45
65		-	HUSKY Health, as defined in section 17b-290 of the general statutes, (G) 46
66		-	the state supplement program to the federal Supplemental Security 47
67		-	Income Program administered by the Department of Social Services 48
68		-	pursuant to the Social Security Act, as amended from time to time, and 49
69		-	(H) any program providing need-based financial aid for post-secondary 50 Substitute Bill No. 514
	43	+	(4) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Consumer 16
	44	+	Protection; 17
	45	+	(5) "Department" means the Department of Consumer Protection; 18
	46	+	(6) "Eligible household" means (A) a resident of a group home or 19
	47	+	congregate care facility that (i) is participating in a qualified public 20
	48	+	assistance program, and (ii) is located within a qualified broadband 21
	49	+	Internet access service provider's service territory in this state, and (B) a 22
	50	+	household (i) in which at least one resident is participating in a qualified 23
	51	+	public assistance program, and (ii) that is located within a qualified 24
	52	+	broadband Internet access service provider's service territory in this 25
	53	+	state; 26
	54	+	(7) "Person" means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate 27
	55	+	trust, partnership, association, joint venture or any other legal or 28
	56	+	commercial entity; 29
	57	+	(8) "Qualified broadband Internet access service provider" means a 30
	58	+	broadband Internet access service provider that is doing business in this 31
	59	+	state and with any state agency, including, but not limited to, through a 32
	60	+	procurement contract; 33
	61	+	(9) "Qualified public assistance program" means (A) the Connecticut 34
	62	+	energy assistance program administered by the Department of Social 35
	63	+	Services pursuant to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 36
	64	+	1981, as amended from time to time, (B) the National School Lunch 37
	65	+	Program established pursuant to the National School Lunch Act, 42 USC 38
	66	+	1751 et seq., as amended from time to time, (C) the temporary assistance 39
	67	+	for needy families program administered by the Department of Social 40
	68	+	Services pursuant to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 41
	69	+	Reconciliation Act of 1996, as amended from time to time, (D) the 42
	70	+	supplemental nutrition assistance program administered by the 43
	71	+	Department of Social Services pursuant to the Food and Nutrition Act 44
	72	+	of 2008, as amended from time to time, (E) the Covered Connecticut 45
	73	+	program established under section 19a-754c of the general statutes, (F) 46
	74	+	Committee Bill No. 514
70	75
71	76
72		-	LCO 3 of 6
	77	+	LCO No. 4595 3 of 7
73	78
74		-	education; and 51
75		-	(8) "State agency" has the same meaning as provided in section 1-79 52
76		-	of the general statutes. 53
77		-	(b) The Office of Consumer Counsel shall develop, establish and 54
78		-	administer a program that shall be known as the "Net Equality Program" 55
79		-	for the purposes set forth in this section. As part of said program: 56
80		-	(1) The Office of Consumer Counsel shall monitor progress toward 57
81		-	achieving the objectives set forth in subparagraph (C)(i) of subdivision 58
82		-	(2) of this subsection; and 59
83		-	(2) Each qualified broadband Internet access service provider shall: 60
84		-	(A) Beginning on October 1, 2025, allow any resident or household 61
85		-	described in subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section, during any 62
86		-	month in which such resident or household qualifies as an eligible 63
87		-	household, to immediately convert to affordable broadband Internet 64
88		-	access service provided by such qualified broadband Internet access 65
89		-	service provider; 66
90		-	(B) Not later than October 1, 2025, establish and maintain a telephone 67
91		-	number at which members of eligible households may contact trained 68
92		-	personnel to sign up for affordable broadband Internet access service 69
93		-	during the thirty-minute period immediately following the beginning 70
94		-	of a telephone call made to such telephone number; 71
95		-	(C) Not later than December 31, 2025, and annually thereafter, hold a 72
96		-	public meeting with key stakeholders to (i) ensure that (I) at least ninety 73
97		-	per cent of eligible households receive affordable broadband Internet 74
98		-	access service not later than January 1, 2026, and (II) at least ninety-five 75
	79	+	HUSKY Health, as defined in section 17b-290 of the general statutes, (G) 47
	80	+	the state supplement program to the federal Supplemental Security 48
	81	+	Income Program administered by the Department of Social Services 49
	82	+	pursuant to the Social Security Act, as amended from time to time, and 50
	83	+	(H) any program providing need-based financial aid for post-secondary 51
	84	+	education; and 52
	85	+	(10) "State agency" has the same meaning as provided in section 1-79 53
	86	+	of the general statutes. 54
	87	+	(b) The Department of Consumer Protection shall develop, establish 55
	88	+	and administer a program that shall be known as the "Net Equality 56
	89	+	Program" for the purposes set forth in this section. As part of said 57
	90	+	program: 58
	91	+	(1) The department shall monitor progress toward achieving the 59
	92	+	objectives set forth in subparagraph (C)(i) of subdivision (2) of this 60
	93	+	subsection; and 61
	94	+	(2) Each qualified broadband Internet access service provider shall: 62
	95	+	(A) Beginning on October 1, 2025, allow any resident or household 63
	96	+	described in subdivision (6) of subsection (a) of this section, during any 64
	97	+	month in which such resident or household qualifies as an eligible 65
	98	+	household, to immediately convert to affordable broadband Internet 66
	99	+	access service provided by such qualified broadband Internet access 67
	100	+	service provider; 68
	101	+	(B) Not later than October 1, 2025, establish and maintain a telephone 69
	102	+	number at which members of eligible households may contact trained 70
	103	+	personnel to sign up for affordable broadband Internet access service 71
	104	+	during the thirty-minute period immediately following the beginning 72
	105	+	of a telephone call made to such telephone number; 73
	106	+	(C) Not later than December 31, 2025, and annually thereafter, hold a 74
	107	+	public meeting with key stakeholders to (i) ensure that (I) at least ninety 75
99	108		per cent of eligible households receive affordable broadband Internet 76
100		-	access service not later than January 1, 2029, and (ii) explore options to 77
101		-	establish and advance strategic and effective public -private 78
102		-	partnerships; 79
103		-	(D) Not later than April 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, submit to 80 Substitute Bill No. 514
	109	+	Committee Bill No. 514
104	110
105	111
106		-	LCO 4 of 6
	112	+	LCO No. 4595 4 of 7
107	113
108		-	the Office of Consumer Counsel, in a form and manner prescribed by 81
109		-	said office, a report disclosing (i) the number of eligible households that 82
110		-	signed up for affordable broadband Internet access service provided by 83
111		-	such qualified broadband Internet access service provider during the 84
112		-	year that is the subject of the report, and (ii) the total number of eligible 85
113		-	households that received affordable broadband Internet access service 86
114		-	provided by such qualified broadband Internet access service provider 87
115		-	during the year that is the subject of such report; and 88
116		-	(E) (i) Beginning on October 1, 2025, advertise, in print and online, in 89
117		-	multiple languages and by placing advertisements with public and 90
118		-	nongovernmental organizations, the availability of (I) the affordable 91
119		-	broadband Internet access service provided by such qualified 92
120		-	broadband Internet access service provider in this state, and (II) the 93
121		-	"Affordable Connectivity Program" developed and implemented by the 94
122		-	Federal Communications Commission or an equivalent program 95
123		-	offered by said commission. 96
124		-	(ii) Each advertisement required under subparagraph (E)(i) of this 97
125		-	subdivision shall include the telephone number established and 98
126		-	maintained pursuant to subparagraph (B) of this subdivision. 99
127		-	(iii) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (E)(i) of this 100
128		-	subdivision, a qualified broadband Internet access service provider may 101
129		-	cease all advertisements required under said subparagraph if a 102
130		-	reputable state-wide survey demonstrates that (I) at least eighty per cent 103
131		-	of eligible households are aware that affordable broadband Internet 104
132		-	access service is available, or (II) at least ninety-five per cent of eligible 105
133		-	households are connected to the Internet at home. 106
134		-	(c) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the 107
135		-	monthly cost charged by a qualified broadband Internet access service 108
136		-	provider to an eligible household for affordable broadband Internet 109
137		-	access service provided pursuant to this section shall not exceed forty 110
138		-	dollars. 111
139		-	(2) Not later than June 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the Office of 112 Substitute Bill No. 514
	114	+	access service not later than January 1, 2026, and (II) at least ninety-five 77
	115	+	per cent of eligible households receive affordable broadband Internet 78
	116	+	access service not later than January 1, 2029, and (ii) explore options to 79
	117	+	establish and advance strategic and effective public -private 80
	118	+	partnerships; 81
	119	+	(D) Not later than April 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, submit to 82
	120	+	the department, in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner, 83
	121	+	a report disclosing (i) the number of eligible households that signed up 84
	122	+	for affordable broadband Internet access service provided by such 85
	123	+	qualified broadband Internet access service provider during the year 86
	124	+	that is the subject of the report, and (ii) the total number of eligible 87
	125	+	households that received affordable broadband Internet access service 88
	126	+	provided by such qualified broadband Internet access service provider 89
	127	+	during the year that is the subject of such report; and 90
	128	+	(E) (i) Beginning on October 1, 2025, advertise, in print and online, in 91
	129	+	multiple languages and by placing advertisements with public and 92
	130	+	nongovernmental organizations, the availability of (I) the affordable 93
	131	+	broadband Internet access service provided by such qualified 94
	132	+	broadband Internet access service provider in this state, and (II) the 95
	133	+	"Affordable Connectivity Program" developed and implemented by the 96
	134	+	Federal Communications Commission or an equivalent program 97
	135	+	offered by said commission. 98
	136	+	(ii) Each advertisement required under subparagraph (E)(i) of this 99
	137	+	subdivision shall include the telephone number established and 100
	138	+	maintained pursuant to subparagraph (B) of this subdivision. 101
	139	+	(iii) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (E)(i) of this 102
	140	+	subdivision, a qualified broadband Internet access service provider may 103
	141	+	cease all advertisements required under said subparagraph if a 104
	142	+	reputable state-wide survey demonstrates that (I) at least eighty per cent 105
	143	+	of eligible households are aware that affordable broadband Internet 106
	144	+	access service is available, or (II) at least ninety-five per cent of eligible 107
	145	+	households are connected to the Internet at home. 108
	146	+	Committee Bill No. 514
140	147
141	148
142		-	LCO 5 of 6
	149	+	LCO No. 4595 5 of 7
143	150
144		-	Consumer Counsel shall adjust the maximum monthly cost that a 113
145		-	qualified broadband Internet access service provider may charge to an 114
146		-	eligible household for affordable broadband Internet access service 115
147		-	provided pursuant to this section during the twelve-month period 116
148		-	beginning on July first of the same calendar year in accordance with any 117
149		-	change in the consumer price index for all urban consumers for the 118
150		-	preceding calendar year, as published by the United States Department 119
151		-	of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. 120
152		-	(d) (1) Except as provided in subdivisions (2) and (3) of this 121
153		-	subsection, all affordable broadband Internet access service provided 122
154		-	pursuant to this section shall provide: 123
155		-	(A) Speeds that are at least as fast as (i) one hundred megabits per 124
156		-	second downstream, and (ii) twenty megabits per second upstream; and 125
157		-	(B) Speeds and latencies that are sufficient to support distance 126
158		-	learning and telehealth services. 127
159		-	(2) Beginning on June 1, 2027, and not more frequently than 128
160		-	biennially thereafter, the Office of Consumer Counsel may, in 129
161		-	consultation with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, increase the 130
162		-	minimum speeds set forth in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of this 131
163		-	subsection for the two-year period beginning on July first of the same 132
164		-	calendar year. The Office of Consumer Counsel and the Public Utilities 133
165		-	Regulatory Authority shall post such increased speeds on the Office of 134
166		-	Consumer Counsel's and Public Utilities Regulatory Authority's 135
167		-	Internet web sites. 136
168		-	(3) The Office of Consumer Counsel may authorize a deviation from 137
169		-	the requirements established in this subsection for the purpose of 138
170		-	complying with applicable state or federal law, except said office shall 139
171		-	not authorize any deviation from such requirements to allow any 140
172		-	affordable broadband Internet access service provided pursuant to this 141
173		-	section to provide speeds that are slower than the speeds set forth in 142
174		-	subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of this subsection or established by 143
175		-	the Office of Consumer Counsel, in consultation with the Public Utilities 144 Substitute Bill No. 514
	151	+	(c) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the 109
	152	+	monthly cost charged by a qualified broadband Internet access service 110
	153	+	provider to an eligible household for affordable broadband Internet 111
	154	+	access service provided pursuant to this section shall not exceed forty 112
	155	+	dollars. 113
	156	+	(2) Not later than June 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the 114
	157	+	Commissioner of Consumer Protection shall adjust the maximum 115
	158	+	monthly cost that a qualified broadband Internet access service provider 116
	159	+	may charge to an eligible household for affordable broadband Internet 117
	160	+	access service provided pursuant to this section during the twelve-118
	161	+	month period beginning on July first of the same calendar year in 119
	162	+	accordance with any change in the consumer price index for all urban 120
	163	+	consumers for the preceding calendar year, as published by the United 121
	164	+	States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. 122
	165	+	(d) (1) Except as provided in subdivisions (2) and (3) of this 123
	166	+	subsection, all affordable broadband Internet access service provided 124
	167	+	pursuant to this section shall provide: 125
	168	+	(A) Speeds that are at least as fast as (i) twenty-five megabits per 126
	169	+	second downstream, and (ii) three megabits per second upstream; and 127
	170	+	(B) Speeds and latencies that are sufficient to support distance 128
	171	+	learning and telehealth services. 129
	172	+	(2) Beginning on June 1, 2027, and not more frequently than 130
	173	+	biennially thereafter, the Commissioner of Consumer Protection may, in 131
	174	+	consultation with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, increase the 132
	175	+	minimum speeds set forth in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of this 133
	176	+	subsection for the two-year period beginning on July first of the same 134
	177	+	calendar year. The Commissioner of Consumer Protection and the 135
	178	+	Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall post such increased speeds 136
	179	+	on the Department of Consumer Protection's and Public Utilities 137
	180	+	Regulatory Authority's Internet web sites. 138
	181	+	Committee Bill No. 514
176	182
177	183
178		-	LCO 6 of 6
	184	+	LCO No. 4595 6 of 7
179	185
180		-	Regulatory Authority, pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection, 145
181		-	whichever speeds are faster. 146
182		-	(e) (1) Beginning on October 1, 2025, and except as provided in 147
183		-	subdivision (2) of this subsection, no state agency shall do business, or 148
184		-	enter into any procurement contract, with any broadband Internet 149
185		-	access service provider that is doing business in this state unless such 150
186		-	broadband Internet access service provider offers affordable broadband 151
187		-	Internet access service to eligible households as required under this 152
188		-	section. 153
189		-	(2) The provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall not be 154
190		-	construed to impair any contract that is in existence on October 1, 2025. 155
191		-	(f) The provisions of subsections (a) to (e), inclusive, of this section 156
192		-	shall not be construed to apply to the Department of Emergency 157
193		-	Services and Public Protection. 158
	186	+	(3) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection may authorize a 139
	187	+	deviation from the requirements established in this subsection for the 140
	188	+	purpose of complying with applicable state or federal law, except the 141
	189	+	commissioner shall not authorize any deviation from such requirements 142
	190	+	to allow any affordable broadband Internet access service provided 143
	191	+	pursuant to this section to provide speeds that are slower than the 144
	192	+	speeds set forth in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of this subsection 145
	193	+	or established by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, in 146
	194	+	consultation with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, pursuant to 147
	195	+	subdivision (2) of this subsection, whichever speeds are higher. 148
	196	+	(e) (1) Beginning on October 1, 2025, and except as provided in 149
	197	+	subdivision (2) of this subsection, no state agency shall do business, or 150
	198	+	enter into any procurement contract, with any broadband Internet 151
	199	+	access service provider that is doing business in this state unless such 152
	200	+	broadband Internet access service provider offers affordable broadband 153
	201	+	Internet access service to eligible households as required under this 154
	202	+	section. 155
	203	+	(2) The provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall not be 156
	204	+	construed to impair any contract that is in existence on October 1, 2025. 157
	205	+	(f) The provisions of subsections (a) to (e), inclusive, of this section 158
	206	+	shall not be construed to apply to the Department of Emergency 159
	207	+	Services and Public Protection. 160
194	208		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
195	209		sections:
196	210
197	211		Section 1 July 1, 2025 New section
198	212
199		-	Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
200		-	In Subsec. (d)(3), "higher" was changed to "faster" for consistency.
	213	+	Statement of Purpose:
	214	+	To require certain broadband Internet access service providers to
	215	+	provide affordable broadband Internet access service.
201	216
202		-	GL Joint Favorable Subst.
	217	+	Committee Bill No. 514
	218	+
	219	+
	220	+	LCO No. 4595 7 of 7
	221	+
	222	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	223	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	224	+	underlined.]
	225	+
	226	+	Co-Sponsors: SEN. DUFF, 25th Dist.
	227	+
	228	+	S.B. 514
	229	+
203	230