HLS 202ES-96 ENGROSSED
2020 Second Extraordinary Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 2
BY REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON
UTILITIES: Urges and requests the Louisiana Attorney General to investigate certain
companies doing business in the state to determine if the companies have engaged
in prohibited activities
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To urge and request the Louisiana Attorney General and all appropriate federal agencies,
3 including but not limited to the Federal Communications Commission, to investigate
4 whether Altice USA or Suddenlink Communications has violated state or federal law
5 in its dealings with the citizens of Louisiana.
6 WHEREAS, internet connectivity has become a more essential service in the light
7of COVID-19; and
8 WHEREAS, tens of thousands of students in Louisiana are dependent on internet
9service to go to school, thousands of Louisianans are reliant on internet services for
10telemedicine, and small businesses depend on online sales more than ever; and
11 WHEREAS, the restoration of communication service after a natural disaster is
12paramount to relief efforts and Louisianans returning to their normal lives; and
13 WHEREAS, the Louisiana legislature has received more than one hundred
14complaints about Suddenlink engaging in deceptive trade practices, charging fees for
15services that are not delivered, providing poor customer service, failing to communicate
16about key events including hurricanes, and engaging in various other problematic and
17potentially illegal behaviors; and
18 WHEREAS, a joint commerce committee hearing examined how Suddenlink has
19been failing to meet its obligations to reconnect customers to essential communication
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HCR NO. 2
1equipment, has been charging customers for services it has not delivered, and has lagged
2behind its peers in assisting in recovery.
3 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
4urge and request the Louisiana Attorney General to use the powers granted to him under the
5Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law to investigate Altice USA and
6Suddenlink Communications and whether they have been engaging in actions that are
7prohibited under Louisiana law.
8 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge
9and request any appropriate federal agencies, such as the Federal Communications
10Commission, to investigate whether Altice USA and Suddenlink Communications have
11engaged in a violation of federal law in their dealings with the people of Louisiana.
12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
13Louisiana Attorney General, the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of
14Representatives of the Congress of the United States of America, and to each member of the
15Louisiana congressional delegation.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 2 Engrossed 2020 Second Extraordinary Session Mike Johnson
Requests the La. Attorney General and appropriate federal agencies to investigate Altice
USA and Suddenlink Communications for violations of state or federal law in their dealings
with La. customers.
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