| 1 | 1 | | |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | 2025 -- H 5578 |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | ======== |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | LC002116 |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | ======== |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025 |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | ____________ |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | A N A C T |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- REGULATORY POWER S OF |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | ADMINISTRATION |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | Introduced By: Representatives Kazarian, Dawson, DeSimone, Voas, Alzate, Stewart, |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | Edwards, Morales, Furtado, and Casimiro |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | Date Introduced: February 26, 2025 |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | Referred To: House Corporations |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | 1 |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | SECTION 1. Chapter 39-3 of the General Laws entitled "Regulatory Powers of 2 |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | Administration" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 3 |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | 39-3-11.4. Internet access rates for seniors. 4 |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | (a) For purposes of this section, "Internet" means collectively the myriad of computer and 5 |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | telecommunications facilities, including equipment and operating software, that comprise the 6 |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | interconnected worldwide network of networks that employ the transmission control 7 |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | protocol/Internet protocol, or any predecessor or successor protocols, to such protocol, to 8 |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | communicate information of all kinds by wire or radio. 9 |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | (b) Effective January 1, 2026, providers of access to the Internet shall not increase rates for 10 |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | persons sixty-two (62) years or older for connection services to the Internet. 11 |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 12 |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | ======== |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | LC002116 |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | ======== |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | LC002116 - Page 2 of 2 |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | EXPLANATION |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | OF |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | A N A C T |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- REGULATORY POWE RS OF |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | ADMINISTRATION |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | *** |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | This act would prohibit public utilities from raising the cost for access to the Internet for 1 |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | senior citizens. 2 |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | This act would take effect upon passage. 3 |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | ======== |
|---|
| 53 | 53 | | LC002116 |
|---|
| 54 | 54 | | ======== |
|---|