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S 9271

Enacts the "NY broadband resiliency, public safety and quality act"

2025 Regular Session Introduced by April Baskin and 20 co-sponsors

The bill gives the NY PSC new authority to oversee broadband and VoIP, requiring resiliency, outage reporting, emergency planning, pricing data, and minimum service quality standar

REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
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Bill Summary · S 9271

Summary of Bill S. 9271 (2025-2026) – New York: NY Broadband Resiliency, Public Safety and Quality Act

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes a comprehensive framework for oversight of broadband and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services in New York.
  • Aims to close gaps in broadband availability and improve resilience, quality, affordability, and public safety of communications networks.
  • Recognizes the shift from traditional telephone services to VoIP and seeks state-regulated reliability and accountability to safeguard public safety and economic participation.

Key provisions

Definitions (Article 12, § 250)

  • Broadband service: Mass-market retail service enabling data transmission to and from most internet endpoints, excluding dial-up.
  • Internet service provider (ISP): Entity qualified to do business in NY that provides broadband connectivity to individuals, businesses, or other entities.
  • VoIP: Real-time two-way voice communications over IP that (i) uses a broadband connection, (ii) requires IP-compatible equipment, and (iii) can originate/terminate calls with the public switched telephone network (PSTN).

Oversight and rulemaking (Article 12, § 251)

  • The New York Public Service Commission (PSC) is authorized to oversee broadband and VoIP service.
  • PSC must promulgate rules to implement oversight, including:
    • Resiliency and outage reporting: Require ISPs to provide information on network reliability and outages.
    • Public safety and emergency preparedness: Review and enforce emergency plans, including minimum power backup requirements and continuous network operation to ensure reliable and safe communications post-emergency.
    • Pricing and adoption data: Require reporting on pricing and adoption of broadband and VoIP.
  • PSC will conduct evaluations and audits of facilities/infrastructure used to provide high-speed internet, focusing on public safety, resiliency, quality, universality, and affordability.
  • PSC must annually report to the Legislature on progress toward resiliency, public safety, and quality of broadband/VoIP.

Minimum service quality benchmarks (Section 4)

  • PSC must commence a proceeding within 3 months of the act’s effective date to establish minimum network service quality standards, including:
    • Service order fulfillment timelines.
    • Outage repair timelines/maximum restoration hours.
    • Customer service standards, including time to resolve billing inquiries.
    • Clear and timely pathways for subscribers to contact customer service.
  • The proceeding will determine appropriate reporting and enforcement mechanisms for these standards.

Effective date

  • The act takes effect immediately upon enacting.

Who/what is affected

  • Public Service Commission: Expanded regulatory authority over broadband and VoIP.
  • Internet service providers operating in New York (and their networks): Subject to new reporting, resiliency, emergency planning, and quality standards.
  • Consumers in New York: Beneficiaries of improved reliability, clearer customer service expectations, and enhanced public safety communications.
  • State legislators and the public: Receive annual progress reports on resiliency, public safety, and quality.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The PSC is directed to issue rulemakings and oversight standards, plus begin a formal quality benchmarks proceeding within 3 months of enactment.
  • Annual PSC reporting to the Legislature is mandated.
  • Immediate effect means regulatory actions could follow promptly after passage.

Potential impact (high-level)

  • Strengthened reliability and resilience of broadband infrastructure, with explicit back-up power and emergency restoration expectations.
  • Increased transparency through mandated outage, pricing, and adoption reporting.
  • Formalized consumer protection practices for broadband/VoIP service, including service quality benchmarks and enforceable standards.
  • Greater alignment between broadband policy and public safety objectives in the context of VoIP reliance.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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