HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1471        FILED ON: 1/16/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2910

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

David M. Nangle

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act further regulating cable television systems.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

David M. Nangle

17th Middlesex

1/16/2019

Michael F. Rush

Norfolk and Suffolk

2/1/2019

Paul McMurtry

11th Norfolk

2/1/2019

Angelo L. D'Emilia

8th Plymouth

2/1/2019

Paul F. Tucker

7th Essex

2/1/2019

Randy Hunt

5th Barnstable

2/1/2019

Edward J. Kennedy

First Middlesex

2/1/2019

Steven Ultrino

33rd Middlesex

2/1/2019

Mathew J. Muratore

1st Plymouth

2/1/2019

John Barrett, III

1st Berkshire

2/1/2019

William L. Crocker, Jr.

2nd Barnstable

2/1/2019

Denise C. Garlick

13th Norfolk

2/1/2019

Bud L. Williams

11th Hampden

2/1/2019


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1471        FILED ON: 1/16/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2910

By Mr. Nangle of Lowell, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2910) of David M. Nangle and others relative to payments for cable services.  Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1768 OF 2017-2018.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

_______________

 

An Act further regulating cable television systems.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 5 of chapter 166A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following 2 paragraphs:-

(p) Neither it nor the operator shall require payment in advance from any subscriber but a cable subscriber may voluntarily offer and a licensee or operator may accept advance payments for service.

(q) It, and any operator, shall itemize all rates and charges to subscribers.  Payment of bills are due no sooner than 15 days from mailing, which shall be a date certain and in no case a statement that the bill is due upon receipt. A subscriber account shall not be considered delinquent unless payment has not been received by the licensee or operator at least 30 days after the bill due date. The licensee or operator shall not impose a late charge on a subscriber unless a subscriber is delinquent, the licensee or operator has given the subscriber a written late charge notice in a clear and conspicuous manner and the subscriber has been given at least 8 business days from the date of delinquency to pay the balance due.  No late charge may be assessed on the amount of a bill in dispute.  A licensee or operator shall provide subscribers with a written statement of account for each billing period and a final bill at the time of disconnection.