ENROLLED
2020 Second Extraordinary Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 2
BY REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To urge and request the Louisiana Attorney General and all appropriate federal agencies,
including but not limited to the Federal Communications Commission, to investigate
whether Altice USA or Suddenlink Communications has violated state or federal law
in its dealings with the citizens of Louisiana.
WHEREAS, internet connectivity has become a more essential service in the light
of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, tens of thousands of students in Louisiana are dependent on internet
service to go to school, thousands of Louisianans are reliant on internet services for
telemedicine, and small businesses depend on online sales more than ever; and
WHEREAS, the restoration of communication service after a natural disaster is
paramount to relief efforts and Louisianans returning to their normal lives; and
WHEREAS, the Louisiana legislature has received more than one hundred
complaints about Suddenlink engaging in deceptive trade practices, charging fees for
services that are not delivered, providing poor customer service, failing to communicate
about key events including hurricanes, and engaging in various other problematic and
potentially illegal behaviors; and
WHEREAS, a joint commerce committee hearing examined how Suddenlink has
been failing to meet its obligations to reconnect customers to essential communication
equipment, has been charging customers for services it has not delivered, and has lagged
behind its peers in assisting in recovery.
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the Louisiana Attorney General to use the powers granted to him under the
Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law to investigate Altice USA and
Suddenlink Communications and whether they have been engaging in actions that are
prohibited under Louisiana law.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge
and request any appropriate federal agencies, such as the Federal Communications
Commission, to investigate whether Altice USA and Suddenlink Communications have
engaged in a violation of federal law in their dealings with the people of Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Louisiana Attorney General, the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of
Representatives of the Congress of the United States of America, and to each member of the
Louisiana congressional delegation.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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