Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB00545 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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3		-	LCO 1 of 7
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5		-	General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 545
	4	+	LCO No. 3644 1 of 7
	5	+
	6	+	General Assembly Committee Bill No. 545
6	7		January Session, 2025
	8	+	LCO No. 3644
	9	+
	10	+
	11	+	Referred to Committee on ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY
	12	+
	13	+
	14	+	Introduced by:
	15	+	(ET)
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10	19		AN ACT CONCERNING THE SATISFACTION OF
11	20		TELECOMMUNICATIONS QUALITY OF SERVICE STANDARDS AND
12	21		PROHIBITING REMOTE RECONNECTION FEES.
13	22		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
14	23		Assembly convened:
15	24
16	25		Section 1. Subsection (b) of section 16-247a of the general statutes is 1
17	26		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2
18	27		1, 2025): 3
19	28		(b) As used in sections 16-247a to 16-247c, inclusive, as amended by 4
20	29		this act, 16-247e to 16-247h, inclusive, 16-247k, and sections 16-247m to 5
21	30		16-247r, inclusive: 6
22	31		(1) "Affiliate" means a person, firm or corporation which, with 7
23	32		another person, firm or corporation, is under the common control of the 8
24	33		same parent firm or corporation. 9
25	34		(2) "Competitive service" means (A) a telecommunications service 10
26	35		deemed competitive in accordance with the provisions of section 16-11
27	36		247f, (B) a telecommunications service reclassified by the authority as 12
28	37		competitive in accordance with the provisions of section 16-247f, or (C) 13
29	38		a new telecommunications service provided under a competitive service 14
	39	+	Committee Bill No. 545
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	41	+
	42	+	LCO No. 3644 2 of 7
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30	44		tariff accepted by the authority, in accordance with the provisions of 15
31	45		section 16-247f, provided the authority has not subsequently reclassified 16
32		-	the service set forth in subparagraph (A), (B) or (C) of this subdivision 17 Substitute Bill No. 545
33		-
34		-
35		-	LCO 2 of 7
36		-
	46	+	the service set forth in subparagraph (A), (B) or (C) of this subdivision 17
37	47		as noncompetitive pursuant to section 16-247f. 18
38	48		(3) "Emerging competitive service" means (A) a telecommunications 19
39	49		service reclassified as emerging competitive in accordance with the 20
40	50		provisions of section 16-247f, or (B) a new telecommunications service 21
41	51		provided under an emerging competitive service tariff accepted by the 22
42	52		authority, in accordance with the provisions of section 16-247f, or of a 23
43	53		plan for an alternative form of regulation approved pursuant to section 24
44	54		16-247k, provided the authority has not subsequently reclassified the 25
45	55		service set forth in subparagraph (A) or (B) of this subdivision as 26
46	56		competitive or noncompetitive pursuant to section 16-247f. 27
47	57		(4) "Incumbent local exchange carrier" means a telephone company 28
48	58		that began providing telephone service in the state before the adoption 29
49	59		of the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996. 30
50	60		[(4)] (5) "Noncompetitive service" means (A) a telecommunications 31
51	61		service deemed noncompetitive in accordance with the provisions of 32
52	62		section 16-247f, (B) a telecommunications service reclassified by the 33
53	63		authority as noncompetitive in accordance with the provisions of 34
54	64		section 16-247f, or (C) a new telecommunications service provided 35
55	65		under a noncompetitive service tariff accepted by the authority, in 36
56	66		accordance with the provisions of section 16-19, and any applicable 37
57	67		regulations, or of a plan for an alternative form of regulation approved 38
58	68		pursuant to section 16-247k, provided the authority has not 39
59	69		subsequently reclassified the service set forth in subparagraph (A), (B) 40
60	70		or (C) of this subdivision as competitive or emerging competitive 41
61	71		pursuant to section 16-247f. 42
62	72		[(5)] (6) "Private telecommunications service" means any 43
63	73		telecommunications service [which] that is not provided for public hire 44
64	74		as a common carrier service and is utilized solely for the 45
65	75		telecommunications needs of the person that controls such service and 46
	76	+	Committee Bill No. 545
	77	+
	78	+
	79	+	LCO No. 3644 3 of 7
	80	+
66	81		any subsidiary or affiliate thereof, except for telecommunications 47
67	82		service which enables two entities other than such person, subsidiary or 48
68		-	affiliate to communicate with each other. 49 Substitute Bill No. 545
69		-
70		-
71		-	LCO 3 of 7
72		-
	83	+	affiliate to communicate with each other. 49
73	84		[(6)] (7) "Telecommunications service" means any transmission in one 50
74	85		or more geographic areas (A) between or among points specified by the 51
75	86		user, (B) of information of the user's choosing, (C) without change in the 52
76	87		form or content of the information as sent and received, (D) by means of 53
77	88		electromagnetic transmission, including but not limited to, fiber optics, 54
78	89		microwave and satellite, (E) with or without benefit of any closed 55
79	90		transmission medium, and (F) including all instrumentalities, facilities, 56
80	91		apparatus and services, except customer premises equipment, which are 57
81	92		used for the collection, storage, forwarding, switching and delivery of 58
82	93		such information and are essential to the transmission. 59
83	94		[(7)] (8) "Network elements" means "network elements", as defined in 60
84	95		47 USC 153(a)(29). 61
85	96		Sec. 2. Section 16-247p of the general statutes is repealed and the 62
86	97		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 63
87	98		(a) [Not later than April 1, 2000, the] The Public Utilities Regulatory 64
88	99		Authority shall, by regulations adopted pursuant to chapter 54, 65
89	100		establish, [quality-of-service] monitor and enforce quality of service 66
90	101		standards that shall apply to all telephone companies, incumbent local 67
91	102		exchange carriers and certified telecommunications providers, [and to 68
92	103		all telecommunications services] regardless of the transmission 69
93	104		technology utilized, including, but not limited to, voice over Internet 70
94	105		protocol. Such standards shall include, but not be limited to, measures 71
95	106		relating to customer trouble reports, service outages, installation 72
96	107		appointments and repeat problems as well as timeliness in responding 73
97	108		to complaints or reports. 74
98	109		(1) The authority shall [include with the quality of service standards] 75
99	110		adopt methodologies for monitoring compliance with and enforcement 76
100	111		of [such] the quality of service standards. Such monitoring shall include 77
	112	+	Committee Bill No. 545
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	115	+	LCO No. 3644 4 of 7
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101	117		input from employees of telephone companies, incumbent local 78
102	118		exchange carriers and certified telecommunications providers, 79
103	119		including members of collective bargaining units. 80
104		-	(2) The authority shall adopt semiannual quality of service report 81 Substitute Bill No. 545
105		-
106		-
107		-	LCO 4 of 7
108		-
	120	+	(2) The authority shall adopt semiannual quality of service report 81
109	121		requirements for any telephone company, incumbent local exchange 82
110	122		carrier or certified telecommunications provider concerning such 83
111	123		company, carrier or provider's compliance with the quality of service 84
112	124		standards. Such semiannual reports shall be submitted by each such 85
113	125		company, carrier or provider to the authority not later than the last day 86
114	126		of the month following the semiannual reporting period established by 87
115	127		the authority. 88
116	128		(3) The authority shall adopt exception report requirements for any 89
117	129		telephone company, incumbent local exchange carrier or certified 90
118	130		telecommunications provider that fails to meet any quality of service 91
119	131		standard for more than two consecutive months. Any such exception 92
120	132		report shall be submitted by any such company, carrier or provider to 93
121	133		the authority not later than the last day of the month immediately 94
122	134		following such company, carrier or provider's failure to meet a quality 95
123	135		of service standard for more than two consecutive months. 96
124	136		(b) (1) Any company, carrier or provider that fails to comply with the 97
125	137		semiannual report requirements or exception report requirements 98
126	138		provided in subsection (a) of this section shall be fined not more than 99
127	139		two thousand dollars for each violation in addition to any fines for 100
128	140		failure to meet any quality of service standard. A violation of the 101
129	141		provisions of this section concerning semiannual quality of service 102
130	142		reports or exception reports shall constitute a continued violation 103
131	143		pursuant to section 16-41 from the date the company, carrier or provider 104
132	144		fails to timely provide any such report until the date the authority 105
133	145		receives such report. 106
134	146		(2) The chairperson of the authority shall designate a representative 107
135	147		of the authority's consumer affairs or enforcement unit to review, in 108
136	148		consultation with the Office of Consumer Counsel, quality of service 109
	149	+	Committee Bill No. 545
	150	+
	151	+
	152	+	LCO No. 3644 5 of 7
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137	154		reports submitted pursuant to this section and to report to the authority 110
138	155		a company, carrier or provider's failure to meet any quality of service 111
139	156		standard indicated in any semiannual report. 112
140		-	[(b)] (c) Not later than April 1, 2000, the authority shall, by regulations 113 Substitute Bill No. 545
141		-
142		-
143		-	LCO 5 of 7
144		-
	157	+	[(b)] (c) Not later than April 1, 2000, the authority shall, by regulations 113
145	158		adopted pursuant to chapter 54, establish comprehensive performance 114
146	159		standards and performance based reporting requirements for functions 115
147	160		provided by a telephone company to a certified telecommunications 116
148	161		provider, including, but not limited to, telephone company performance 117
149	162		relating to customer ordering, preordering, provisioning, billing, 118
150	163		maintenance and repair. Such service standards shall be sufficiently 119
151	164		comprehensive to ensure that a telephone company meets its 120
152	165		obligations under 47 USC 251. Such regulations may also contain 121
153	166		provisions the authority deems necessary to prevent anticompetitive 122
154	167		actions by any telephone company or certified telecommunications 123
155	168		provider. 124
156	169		Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) (a) For the purposes of this 125
157	170		section: 126
158	171		(1) "Telecommunications company" means any public service 127
159	172		company, telephone company or certified telecommunications 128
160	173		provider, as such terms are defined in section 16-1 of the general 129
161	174		statutes, offering telephone or telecommunications services, including 130
162	175		voice over Internet protocol services, capable of accessing the 9-1-1 131
163	176		service. 132
164		-	(2) "Remote reconnection" means the reestablishment of usability of 133
	177	+	(2) "Remote reconnection" means the reestablishment of usability to 133
165	178		a telecommunications service that has been temporarily disconnected 134
166	179		by remote means without the need for the telecommunications 135
167	180		company to visit a customer's premises. 136
168	181		(3) "Reconnection fee" means any charge imposed by a 137
169	182		telecommunications company to restore telephone or 138
170	183		telecommunications service that has been temporarily disconnected for 139
171	184		any reason. 140
	185	+	Committee Bill No. 545
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	188	+	LCO No. 3644 6 of 7
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172	190		(4) "Customer" means any individual or entity receiving 141
173	191		telecommunications services from a telecommunications company. 142
174	192		(5) "Temporarily disconnected" means service that has been 143
175		-	interrupted for fewer than fourteen days. 144 Substitute Bill No. 545
	193	+	interrupted for fewer than fourteen days. 144
	194	+	(b) No telecommunications company shall charge a reconnection fee 145
	195	+	to a customer for a remote reconnection following a disconnection of 146
	196	+	service. The prohibition against reconnection fees in this subsection 147
	197	+	applies (1) regardless of the reason for such disconnection, including, 148
	198	+	but not limited to, nonpayment or other breaches of a service agreement 149
	199	+	by the customer, and (2) whether the customer requested a reconnection 150
	200	+	of service or the company initiated such reconnection. 151
	201	+	(c) This section shall not prohibit a telecommunications company 152
	202	+	from requiring a customer to pay the customer's outstanding balance 153
	203	+	due before restoring service, except that no such payment before 154
	204	+	restoring service may be required for a residential telephone or 155
	205	+	telecommunications customer account associated with a dwelling unit 156
	206	+	wherein each adult resident (1) is over the age of sixty, or (2) meets the 157
	207	+	definition of blind, physically disabled or intellectually disabled as 158
	208	+	defined in section 1-1f or 1-1g of the general statutes. 159
	209	+	(d) The provisions of this section do not apply to any fee associated 160
	210	+	with the establishment of a new account or the activation of new 161
	211	+	equipment with a telecommunications company. 162
	212	+	(e) Any telecommunications company that violates this section shall 163
	213	+	be subject to a civil penalty of up to one thousand dollars per violation, 164
	214	+	per customer, and shall be required to reimburse any customer for any 165
	215	+	unlawfully charged reconnection fees. 166
	216	+	(f) The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall have the authority 167
	217	+	to enforce compliance with this statute and may designate a member 168
	218	+	from its consumer affairs or enforcement unit to conduct such 169
	219	+	investigation and enforcement.170
	220	+	Committee Bill No. 545
176	221
177	222
178		-	LCO 6 of 7
	223	+	LCO No. 3644 7 of 7
179	224
180		-	(b) No telecommunications company shall charge a reconnection fee 145
181		-	to a customer for a remote reconnection following a temporary 146
182		-	disconnection of service. The prohibition against reconnection fees in 147
183		-	this subsection applies (1) regardless of the reason for such 148
184		-	disconnection, including, but not limited to, nonpayment or other 149
185		-	breaches of a service agreement by the customer, and (2) whether the 150
186		-	customer requested a reconnection of service or the company initiated 151
187		-	such reconnection. 152
188		-	(c) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to prohibit a 153
189		-	telecommunications company from requiring a customer to pay the 154
190		-	customer's outstanding balance due before restoring service, except that 155
191		-	no such payment prior to restoration of service may be required for a 156
192		-	residential telephone or telecommunications customer account 157
193		-	associated with a dwelling unit wherein each adult resident (1) is over 158
194		-	the age of sixty, or (2) meets the definition of blind, physically disabled 159
195		-	or intellectually disabled, as defined in section 1-1f or 1-1g of the general 160
196		-	statutes. 161
197		-	(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any fee associated 162
198		-	with the establishment of a new account or the activation of new 163
199		-	equipment with a telecommunications company. 164
200		-	(e) Any telecommunications company that violates the provisions of 165
201		-	this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than one 166
202		-	thousand dollars per violation, per customer, and shall be required to 167
203		-	reimburse any customer for any unlawfully charged reconnection fees. 168
204		-	(f) The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall have the authority 169
205		-	to enforce compliance with this section and may designate a member 170
206		-	from its consumer affairs or enforcement unit to conduct such 171
207		-	investigation and enforcement. 172
208	225		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
209	226		sections:
210	227
211		-	Section 1 October 1, 2025 16-247a(b) Substitute Bill No. 545
212		-
213		-
214		-	LCO 7 of 7
215		-
	228	+	Section 1 October 1, 2025 16-247a(b)
216	229		Sec. 2 October 1, 2025 16-247p
217	230		Sec. 3 October 1, 2025 New section
218	231
219		-	Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
220		-	In Section 3, technical changes were made for adherence to standard
221		-	drafting conventions; and in Section 3(b), "temporary" was added before
222		-	"disconnection", for accuracy.
	232	+	Statement of Purpose:
	233	+	To (1) require the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to adopt and
	234	+	enforce quality of service standards concerning telephone service, and
	235	+	(2) prohibit the collection of fees for remote reconnection of
	236	+	telecommunications services.
	237	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	238	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	239	+	underlined.]
223	240
224		-	ET Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO
	241	+	Co-Sponsors: SEN. DUFF, 25th Dist.; REP. FISHBEIN, 90th Dist.
	242	+
	243	+	S.B. 545
	244	+
225	245