Sponsored by:
Senator NICHOLAS P. SCUTARI
District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset and Union)
Senator TROY SINGLETON
District 7 (Burlington)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Cruz-Perez, Ruiz, Gopal, Greenstein, Oroho, Diegnan, Lagana and Turner
SYNOPSIS
Prohibits Internet service providers from increasing service rates during public health emergency or state of emergency; requires Internet service providers to notify subscribers six months in advance of service rate increase.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning Internet service providers and rate increases and supplementing Title 56 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. As used in P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):
“Internet service provider” means a person, business, or organization qualified to do business in this State that provides individuals, businesses, or other entities with the ability to connect by wireline or radio frequency to the Internet through equipment that is located in this State.
“Public health emergency” shall have the same meaning as provided in section 2 of P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-2).
“State of emergency” means declaration of an emergency by the Governor pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.).
2. a. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, an Internet service provider shall be prohibited from increasing the Internet service rates of any subscriber in this State for the duration of a declared public health emergency, state of emergency, or both.
b. An Internet service provider shall provide written notice to a subscriber in this State, in a form and manner determined by the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety, of any Internet service rate increase anticipated by the Internet service provider at least six months in advance of the Internet service rate increase.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill prohibits an Internet service provider (ISP) from increasing the Internet service rates of any subscriber in this State for the duration of a declared public health emergency, state of emergency, or both. The bill also requires an ISP to provide written notice to a subscriber in this State, in a form and manner determined by the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety, of any Internet service rate increase anticipated by the ISP at least six months in advance of the Internet service rate increase.