ASSEMBLY TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND UTILITIES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2448

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 24, 2021

      The Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 2448.

      As reported, this bill requires a cable television (CATV) company holding a system-wide franchise issued by the Board of Public Utilities to make CATV service available throughout the residential areas of those municipalities not required to be served pursuant to current law within: 1) two years if, on the bill’s effective date, the CATV company is providing CATV service on a commercial basis directly to more than 25 percent of subscribers within the municipality; and 2) five years if, on the bill’s effective date, the CATV company is providing CATV service on a commercial basis directly to less than 25 percent of subscribers, but more than one percent of subscribers within the municipality.  This requirement is to be subject to the CATV company's line extension policy and exempted from the requirement in: 1) areas where developments or buildings are subject to claimed exclusive arrangements with other CATV companies; 2) developments or buildings that the CATV company cannot access, using its standard technical solutions, under commercially reasonable terms and conditions after good faith negotiation; or 3) areas in which the CATV company is unable to access the public rights-of-way under reasonable terms and conditions.