NJ Assembly passes bill to end most regulations of basic cable, land line telephone services

Most of the New Jersey's regulation of basic cable and land line telephone service would come to an end under a controversial bill that passed the state Assembly.

Supporters of the "Market Competition and Consumer Choice Act" (A3766) say it removes outdated rules that go back to the era of Ma Bell. But Stefanie Brand, the state ratepayer advocate, said in a letter to lawmakers that it would leave New Jersey residents "at the mercy of cable and telephone companies." And local officials are complaining it allows Verizon to go back on pledges it made to towns in exchange for getting a statewide franchise in 2006 so that it would not have to negotiate town-by-town to offer its FiOS service. Currently, companies offering basic telephone and land line services have to get the okay from the Board of Public Utilities before they can raise rates. The bill, which passed 66-7 with four abstentions, would eliminate that oversight. It would also roll back rules requiring cable companies to give credits to customers whose service is out for more than four hours, correct billing errors and protect customers from "slamming," in which their telephone company for local or long distance service is switched without their permission.