Texas Senate Bill SB2492

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Caption

Relating to requiring notices prior to certain activities involving Voice over Internet Protocol telephone service.

Impact

Upon enactment, this bill will amend the Business & Commerce Code by adding Chapter 329, which explicitly requires VoIP providers to inform customers about testing their emergency systems post-installation and to notify relevant monitoring services of the new VoIP service. Moreover, providers must inform customers about the crucial need for a 24-hour emergency power source, ensuring that emergency response systems can effectively signal during power outages. This measure is particularly significant given the increasing reliance on VoIP services and the associated risks during emergencies.

Summary

SB2492 aims to enhance consumer protection in the context of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone services by mandating specific notifications to customers regarding the functionality of emergency response systems. The bill stipulates that VoIP service providers must furnish written notice to customers prior to the installation or activation of service. This notice should inform customers about the necessary steps to ensure their emergency response systems and personal emergency response systems are fully operational, especially in situations such as power outages.

Contention

While the bill seems beneficial for consumer safety, there are contentions regarding the enforceability of the notification requirements. Under the provisions of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, failure to provide the mandated notifications would result in deceptive acts, allowing for legal remedies. Nonetheless, stakeholders may debate the practicality and potential burdens this law might impose on service providers, particularly smaller entities that may struggle with compliance costs and logistics associated with the new notification processes.