ASSEMBLY, No. 2339
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 3, 2020
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman PAUL D. MORIARTY
District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)
Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Assemblywoman CAROL A. MURPHY
District 7 (Burlington)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywomen Vainieri Huttle, Speight, Quijano, Timberlake, Assemblyman Stanley, Assemblywoman Downey, Assemblyman Houghtaling, Assemblywoman Swain, Assemblyman Tully, Assemblywomen Mosquera and Jimenez
SYNOPSIS
Requires cable television, direct broadcast satellite, and television streaming service companies to include certain fees and charges for service in advertised price to consumers.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee on March 5, 2020, with amendments.
An Act concerning certain price advertising and supplementing P.L.1972, c.186 (C.48:5A-1 et seq.) and Title 56 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. A CATV company shall not advertise its price for CATV service to a consumer in this State unless the advertised price is the total billable amount that the CATV company will charge to a consumer for the provision of CATV service based on the minimum equipment necessary per television set to receive and operate the CATV service that is being advertised.
1b.1 A price advertised to a consumer shall include, but not be limited to, any broadcast programming fee, administrative and service fee, 1regional sports network fee,1 or cable television equipment fee per television set, including set-top box and remote rental fee.
1[b.] c.1 The provisions of subsection a. of this section shall not 1[prohibit] require1 a CATV company 1[from including] to include1 in its advertised price for CATV service to a consumer in this State any tax, fee, or other charge that, pursuant to federal or State law, the CATV company is required to charge to a consumer and, pursuant to federal law, may itemize on a bill for CATV service 1; however, a CATV company shall indicate with its advertised price to consumers that federal or State taxes, fees, or other charges may apply1.
2. a. A direct broadcast satellite service company or television streaming service company doing business in this State shall not advertise a price for television service to a consumer in this State unless the advertised price is the total billable amount that the company will charge to a consumer for the provision of the television service based on the minimum equipment necessary per television set to receive and operate the service that is being advertised.
1b.1 A price advertised to a consumer shall include, but not be limited to, any broadcast programming fee, administrative and service fee, 1regional sports network fee,1 or television equipment fee per television set, including set-top box and remote rental fee, if applicable.
1[b.] c.1 The provisions of subsection a. of this section shall not 1[prohibit] require1 a direct broadcast satellite service company or a
television streaming service company 1[from
including] to include1 in its advertised price for television service to a
consumer in this State
any tax, fee, or other charge that, pursuant to federal or State law, the company is required to charge to a consumer and, pursuant to federal law, may itemize on a bill for service 1; however, a direct broadcast satellite service company or a television streaming service company shall indicate with its advertised price to consumers that federal or State taxes, fees, or other charges may apply1.
c. As used in this section:
“Direct broadcast satellite service” shall have the same meaning as provided in section 1 of P.L.2019, c.188 (C.56:12-99).
“Television streaming service” means a service that transmits over the Internet video content that is played continuously without download and whose provider charges a fee to consumers in this State.
3. A violation of section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall be an unlawful practice and violation of P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.).
4. This act shall take effect immediately, but shall remain inoperative for 60 days following the date of enactment.