Relates to requiring telephone companies to alert customers to replace telephone backup battery units and to provide one backup battery unit to each customer…

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Leroy Comrie says this is needed

In efforts to provide more efficient service to customers, telecommuni- cation corporations have begun switching from copper-based telephone lines to fiber optic-based lines. Some of the benefits to using fiber edit lines over copper lines include the fact that they are less expen- sive to install; they do not break down as easily and are also less susceptible to damage from environmental factors such as temperature and electromagnetic fluctuations; and they offer enhanced performance capa- bilities, for instance faster speeds and lower rates of signal loss. However, the use of fiber optic lines does present certain consider- ations. One significant issue is a customer's inability to use their telephone in the event of a power outage. During an outage, a phone connected to a copper wire line will continue to work. However, a phone connected to a fiber optic line will only work during an outage if a customer has a back-up battery. The phone would continue to work until the battery runs out of power. This situation is especially problematic for low income individuals who might not have access to a back-up battery nor ever the resources to purchase one, the elderly, and also for these who rely on their landline at home for work purposes, such as doctors who use their phone to connect with patients when they are out of the office. This bill would require telephone corporations to provide customers with a biennial notice that details the need to replace backup battery units before they reach the end of :heir usable life. Additionally, this bill would require such corporations to provide consumers with one backup battery unit every three years, or as a rate determined by the PSC, at the customer's request and free of charge and ensure fiber-based tele- phone services remain operational in the event of residential power loss.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.