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Bill

S 4083

Requires CATV company to establish toll-free telephone number for customers to report and to receive updates concerning CATV service outages.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Jim Beach and 1 co-sponsor

CATV providers in New Jersey would must offer a toll-free number to report outages and receive real-time restoration updates for customers.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee
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Bill Summary · S 4083

Bill Summary: S 4083 (New Jersey, 222nd Legislature)

Title

Requires CATV company to establish toll-free telephone number for customers to report and to receive updates concerning CATV service outages.

Purpose and Intent

  • To ensure customers of community antenna television (CATV) services have a direct, no-cost method to report outages and obtain timely updates on service restoration.
  • Aims to improve transparency, customer communication, and responsiveness during service interruptions.

Key Provisions (What the Bill Would Do)

  • Establish Toll-Free Reporting Line: CATV companies must set up a toll-free telephone number that customers can call to report outages.
  • Outage Reporting Availability: The toll-free line must be operational for customers to report outages when service disruption occurs.
  • Outage Updates: The toll-free system must provide customers with updates on the status of outages, potentially including estimated restoration times and ongoing efforts.
  • Accessibility of Information: The updates should be readily accessible to customers contacting the toll-free line, with clear information on outage scope and progress.

Note: The exact procedural specifics (e.g., required hours of operation, frequency of updates, integration with internal outage management systems, or requirements for written/online updates) are not detailed in the provided summary. If enacted, the bill may include such implementing details in the full text or regulatory guidance.

Who Is Affected

  • Primary Stakeholders: CATV (Cable Television) service providers operating in New Jersey.
  • Consumers: Individuals and households that subscribe to CATV services and experience outages.
  • Potentially: Municipalities and local regulators overseeing utilities and communications services, depending on existing regulatory frameworks.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced: May 4, 2026.
  • Referral: Senate Economic Growth Committee.
  • Sponsors: Co-sponsors Jim Beach and Tony Bucco.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Consumer Experience: Likely to improve customer satisfaction during outages due to a dedicated, free reporting channel and access to outage updates.
  • Operational Obligations for CATV Providers: Requires investment in toll-free infrastructure and outage communication processes. Providers may need to ensure multilingual support, accessibility, and consistent update protocols.
  • Regulatory Alignment: Depending on existing New Jersey statutes and regulations governing CATV providers, this bill could necessitate adjustments to service-level obligations and consumer protection rules.
  • Enforcement and Compliance: Future details in the bill or implementing regulations would address enforcement mechanisms, penalties for noncompliance, and timelines for full compliance.

Summary

S 4083 proposes that New Jersey CATV providers offer a toll-free number for customers to report outages and to receive ongoing updates about service restoration. The bill emphasizes improved customer communication during outages and greater accessibility to outage information, affecting both providers and consumers. The measure is currently in the early stages of the legislative process, having been introduced and referred to the Senate Economic Growth Committee, with two co-sponsors.

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

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