H3527 — An Act preserving broadband service for low-income consumers

Summary

An Act preserving broadband service for low-income consumers

Bill Text

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This bill establishes requirements for broadband providers in Massachusetts to offer affordable high-speed internet access services specifically targeted at low-income consumers.

• Chapter 25C

  Section 10. Broadband internet access service for low-income consumers.

  This addition creates a new section that outlines broadband access requirements for low-income consumers.

• Chapter 25C, Section 10

  (a) For the purposes of this section, the term "broadband internet access service" shall mean a mass-market retail service that provides the capability to transmit data to and receive data from all or substantially all internet endpoints, including any capabilities that are incidental to and enable the operation of the communications service provided by a wireline, fixed wireless or satellite service provider, but shall not include dial-up service.

  Defines what constitutes broadband internet access service for the new section.

• Chapter 25C, Section 10

  (b) Every person, business, corporation, or their agents providing or seeking to provide wireline, fixed wireless or satellite broadband service in the commonwealth shall, no later than sixty days after the effective date of this section, offer high speed broadband service to low-income consumers whose household: (i) has a member that participates in one of these assistance programs: 1. SNAP 2. Medicaid 3. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 4. Federal or State Housing Assistance 5. WIC 6. Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits 7. Lifeline 8. Qualifying Tribal land assistance programs 9. Free or reduced-priced lunch through the National School Lunch Program; or (ii) whose annual gross household income is not in excess of two hundred percent of the federal poverty guidelines as updated periodically in the Federal Register by the United States Department of Health and Human Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C. § 9902(2).

  Mandates that broadband service providers must offer affordable services to low-income households based on specific eligibility criteria.

• Chapter 25C, Section 10

  (c) Such low-income broadband service shall provide a minimum download speed equal to the greater of one hundred megabits per second download speed or the download speed of the provider's existing low-income broadband service sold to customers in the state subject to exceptions adopted by the department of telecommunications and cable where such download speed is not reasonably practicable.

  Sets minimum speed requirements for low-income broadband services.

• Chapter 25C, Section 10

  (d) Broadband service for low-income consumers, as set forth in this section, shall be provided at a cost of no more than fifteen dollars per month...

  Establishes a price cap for low-income broadband services at $15 per month, including fees.

• Chapter 25C, Section 10

  (g) Every person, business, corporation, or their agents providing or seeking to provide broadband service in Massachusetts shall make all commercially reasonable efforts to promote and advertise the availability of broadband service for low-income consumers...

  Requires broadband providers to actively promote services for low-income consumers.

• Chapter 25C, Section 10

  (f) Every person, business, corporation, or their agents providing or seeking to provide broadband service in Massachusetts shall annually submit to the department of telecommunications and cable...

  Imposes an annual reporting requirement on broadband providers regarding low-income service offerings.

• Chapter 25C, Section 10

  (h) Whenever there shall be a violation of this section, an application may be made by the attorney general in the name of the people of the commonwealth to a court or justice having jurisdiction by a special proceeding to issue an injunction...

  Gives the attorney general authority to enforce compliance with the new broadband service requirements.

Sponsors

• Rita A. Mendes · Primary

Subjects