Requires telephone corporations to create a subsection on their websites with information and materials pertaining to victims of domestic violence and opting-out of a bundle telephone contract with such telephone corporation due to a person's status as a victim of domestic violence.
This bill would amend the New York Public Service Law to give domestic violence victims and survivors a clearer, faster way to separate themselves from shared or bundled telephone contracts. It defines key terms such as “shared telephone line,” “victim of domestic violence,” and “line separation,” and requires telephone corporations to allow a person to opt out of a multi-year or bundle contract without fee, penalty, or charge when the person self-attests in writing that the request is due to domestic violence. The bill also bars carriers from requiring confidential details, additional documentation, primary account holder approval, or restrictions tied to number portability, number changes, or account arrears as conditions of release.
The measure further requires telephone corporations to create a website support-menu subsection titled “Domestic Violence Resources.” That page must explain the available options, provide the self-attestation form, give instructions for separating lines, include a disclaimer about device location-tracking features, and state that requests must be processed within two business days. The form may only ask for limited identifying information and the survivor’s preferred method for keeping, transferring, or porting the phone numbers. The act would take effect 90 days after becoming law.
If enacted, the bill would expand and clarify obligations for telephone corporations under the Public Service Law, particularly section 91, by creating a specific domestic-violence-related opt-out process for shared and bundled phone service contracts. It would require carriers to accept self-attestation, waive fees and penalties, process requests quickly, and provide online consumer information and forms. The bill would directly affect telephone corporations, account holders on shared plans, and domestic violence survivors seeking to separate phone lines or preserve phone numbers safely.
The bill’s apparent purpose is protective and consumer-focused, with a strong emphasis on accessibility, confidentiality, and speed for domestic violence survivors. Although no committee transcript or vote record is provided, the structure of the bill suggests a supportive policy approach aimed at reducing barriers for vulnerable consumers. The inclusion of website resources, simplified forms, and expedited processing indicates an intent to make the process practical and survivor-centered.
The main points of potential contention are the limits placed on telephone corporations and the reduced documentation requirements. Carriers would be prohibited from demanding more than a written self-attestation, from conditioning release on primary account holder approval, and from using arrears or number-portability restrictions to block separation. Another possible issue is the operational burden of creating and maintaining the required website resources and processing requests within two business days. The bill also raises privacy and safety considerations around device tracking disclosures and the handling of submitted information.