SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1695        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 200

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Susan L. Moran

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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 to protect consumers in cable contracts.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1695        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 200

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act to protect consumers in cable contracts.

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. Chapter 25C of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting, after section 9, the following section:-

Section 10. Cable Teaser Rates

For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following definition:

“Teaser rate”, a rate of customer payment for cable television services offered to customers or potential customers in the commonwealth by a cable television provider as part of a special offer, that will subsequently increase after a certain amount of time. 

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Section 623(l)(1) of the Federal Communications Act, section 543 of title 47 of the United States Code of Regulations, any order from the Federal Communications Commission, or any general or special laws to the contrary, the department of telecommunications and cable shall ensure that section 6.00 of Title 207 of the Code of Massachusetts Regulations includes the following provisions:

A cable television provider shall not offer or charge a teaser rate, as defined by [MGL], to a customer for less than 12 consecutive months before the rate increases;

A cable television provider shall send written and electronic notice to any customer receiving cable television services for a teaser rate 60 days and 30 days before first billing deadline after the teaser rate increases; and

A cable television provider shall not impose any penalties, monetary or otherwise, on a customer paying for cable television services under a teaser rate, for cancelling their subscription before the teaser rate increases.