Eliminates state regulation of voice over internet protocol service in order to facilitate competition and ensure consumers receive the maximum benefit of competition.

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S5769-2011 Actions

• May 9, 2012: referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
• May 8, 2012: DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
• May 8, 2012: PASSED SENATE
• Apr 25, 2012: ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
• Apr 19, 2012: 2ND REPORT CAL.
• Apr 18, 2012: 1ST REPORT CAL.551
• Jan 4, 2012: REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
• Jan 4, 2012: returned to senate
• Jan 4, 2012: died in assembly
• Jun 20, 2011: referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
• Jun 20, 2011: DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
• Jun 20, 2011: PASSED SENATE
• Jun 20, 2011: ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1374
• Jun 15, 2011: REFERRED TO RULES

S5769-2011 Meetings

Energy and Telecommunications: Apr 18, 2012, Rules: Jun 17, 2011, Rules: Jun 24, 2011

S5769-2011 Calendars

Active List: May 8, 2012 , Floor Calendar: Apr 19, 2012 , Floor Calendar: Apr 25, 2012 , Floor Calendar: Apr 26, 2012 , Floor Calendar: Apr 30, 2012 , Floor Calendar: May 1, 2012 , Floor Calendar: May 2, 2012 , Floor Calendar: May 7, 2012 , Floor Calendar: May 8, 2012

S5769-2011 Votes

S5769-2011 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S5769

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the public service law, in relation to eliminating state
regulation of VoIP service in order to facilitate competition and ensure
consumers receive the maximum benefit of competition

PURPOSE:
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a technology
application that uses a broadband Internet connection to transmit
voice telecommunications over the Internet. The rates, terms and
conditions of VoIP service, which has been offered in New York State
since the early 2000's, are not regulated.

JUSTIFICATION:
VoIP service converts voice
communications into digital
packets that travel over the Internet. When a VolP call is placed to
a traditional telephone number, the digital packet is converted to a
traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) signal before it
reaches its destination. VoIP allows a call to be made directly from
a computer, a special VoIP phone, or a landline phone connected to an
adaptor.

VoIP brings increased efficiency, reliability and functionality to
voice communications. The Internet's use of computer processing
allows for decreased use of transmission facilities, and automatic
rerouting around malfunctioning routers or damaged lines without
relying on a separate telephone signaling network. Since the cost of
computer processing is decreasing and the demand for communications
bandwidth is increasing, IP networks offers a more economical and
robust means for providing communication connections than the
traditional networks.

This legislation is especially important for consumers living in rural
upstate New York who have yet to enjoy the benefits of broadband and
voice competition. Adopting the legislation could help rural
consumers to benefit from voice competition, rural telecommunications
companies to extend broadband more affordably, remote businesses to
transform the way they do business, rural communities to connect to a
new world of remote job opportunities, and rural economies to become
an engine for higher paying information age jobs. Rather than
outsourcing jobs oversees, some progressive companies are now using
VoIP to "home-source" jobs to rural communities.

This legislation will enable a consistent and predictable policy
framework and thus foster VoIP innovation to grown in New York.

SUMMARY OF THE BILL:
This bill updates the Public Service Law to
encourage the deployment of new technologies. The legislation does
not affect the assessment of E-911 fees, telecommunications relay
service fees, or federal or state Universal Service Fund fees on VoIP
service. Payment of intercarrier compensation that applies to a VoIP
carrier's use of the public switched telephone network is also


preserved. Finally, New York State consumer protections still apply
(e.g., unfair or deceptive trade practices, payment and/or billing -
request paper bill and/or pay by mail).

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New legislation.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
No fiscal costs to the state or localities. The state as a whole
should see increased economic activity and investment when the right
business model is developed to lure broadband investment in the state.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

S5769-2011 Text

                      S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
  ________________________________________________________________________

                                    5769

                         2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                              I N  SENATE

                                June 15, 2011
                                 ___________

  Introduced  by  Sen. MAZIARZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
    printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules

  AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to eliminating state
    regulation of VoIP service in  order  to  facilitate  competition  and
    ensure consumers receive the maximum benefit of competition

    THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
  BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


    Section 1. Section 2 of the public service law is amended by adding  a
  new subdivision 28 to read as follows:

    28.  THE TERM "VOICE-OVER-INTERNET PROTOCOL SERVICE" OR "VOIP SERVICE"
  WHEN USED IN THIS CHAPTER, SHALL MEAN  ANY  SERVICE  THAT:  (A)  ENABLES
  REAL-TIME  TWO-WAY VOICE COMMUNICATIONS THAT ORIGINATE FROM OR TERMINATE
  TO THE USER'S LOCATION USING INTERNET PROTOCOL OR ANY  SUCCESSOR  PROTO-
  COL;  (B)  USES A BROADBAND CONNECTION FROM THE USER'S LOCATION; AND (C)
  PERMITS USERS GENERALLY TO RECEIVE CALLS THAT ORIGINATE  ON  THE  PUBLIC
  SWITCHED TELEPHONE NETWORK AND TO TERMINATE CALLS TO THE PUBLIC SWITCHED
  TELEPHONE NETWORK.
    S  2.  Paragraph d of subdivision 1 of section 5 of the public service
  law, as amended by chapter 155 of the laws of 1970, is amended  to  read
  as follows:

    d. To every telephone line which lies wholly within the state and that
  part  within  the  state  of New York of every telephone line which lies
  partly within and partly without the state and to the persons or  corpo-
  rations  owning, leasing or operating any such telephone line.  NOTWITH-
  STANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, NEITHER THE COMMIS-
  SION, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE,  NOR  ANY  OTHER  DEPARTMENT  OR
  AGENCY  OF  THIS STATE, OR ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION THEREOF, SHALL HAVE
  AUTHORITY TO REGULATE THE ENTRY, RATES OR  OTHER  TERMS  OF  SERVICE  OF
  VOICE-OVER-INTERNET  PROTOCOL SERVICE.   PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT NOTHING
  IN THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL AFFECT THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OR  ITS  AGEN-
  CIES  TO  ENFORCE  SUCH REQUIREMENTS AS ARE OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED

   EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                        [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                             LBD13156-01-1

 S. 5769                             2

  FOR BY FEDERAL LAW, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED  TO,  CONNECTION  TO  911
  FACILITIES,  THE  COLLECTION  OF  ENHANCED  911 FEES, TELECOMMUNICATIONS
  RELAY  SERVICE  FEES,  OR  FEDERAL  UNIVERSAL  SERVICE  FUND   FEES   ON
  VOICE-OVER-INTERNET  PROTOCOL  SERVICES THAT MAY BE DETERMINED TO APPLY,
  OR BE CONSTRUED TO (1) MODIFY  OR  AFFECT  THE  RIGHTS,  OBLIGATIONS  OR
  AUTHORITY OF ANY ENTITY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE
  COMMISSION,  TO  ACT PURSUANT TO, OR ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF 47 U.S.C.
  251, 47 U.S.C. 252, ANY APPLICABLE TARIFF, OR ANY STATE LAW, RULE, REGU-
  LATION OR ORDER RELATED TO WHOLESALE  RIGHTS,  DUTIES  AND  OBLIGATIONS,
  INCLUDING THE RIGHTS, DUTIES, AND OBLIGATIONS OF LOCAL EXCHANGE CARRIERS
  TO  INTERCONNECT  AND  EXCHANGE  VOICE TRAFFIC; (2) MODIFY OR AFFECT THE
  AUTHORITY OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO IMPLEMENT, CARRY OUT,  AND
  ENFORCE  SUCH  PROVISIONS, RIGHTS, DUTIES, OBLIGATIONS OR TARIFF THROUGH
  ARBITRATION PROCEEDINGS OR OTHER AVAILABLE MECHANISMS AND PROCEDURES; OR
  (3) AFFECT THE PAYMENT OF SWITCHED NETWORK ACCESS RATES OR OTHER  INTER-
  CARRIER  COMPENSATION  RATES,  AS  APPLICABLE.   NOTHING HEREIN SHALL BE
  CONSTRUED TO AFFECT THE APPLICATION OR ENFORCEMENT OF OTHER STATUTES  OR
  REGULATIONS  THAT  APPLY  GENERALLY  TO  THE  CONDUCT OF BUSINESS IN THE
  STATE, INCLUDING CONSUMER PROTECTION, OR UNFAIR OR DECEPTIVE TRADE PRAC-
  TICES RULES OF GENERAL APPLICABILITY.
    S 3. Subdivision 1 of section 90 of the public service law, as amended
  by chapter 414 of the laws of 1981, is amended to read as follows:

    1. [The] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN  PARAGRAPH  D  OF  SUBDIVISION  ONE  OF
  SECTION FIVE OF THIS CHAPTER, THE provisions of this article shall apply
  to communication by telegraph or telephone between one point and another
  within  the  state  of  New  York and to every telegraph corporation and
  telephone corporation.
    S 4. This act shall take effect immediately.