2023 New York Laws › GBS - General Business › Article 26 - Miscellaneous › 399-YY - Cable Television Company Providing Telephone Services.

§  399-yy.  Cable  television company providing telephone services. 1.
  Every cable television company, as defined in section two hundred twelve
  of the public service law, that provides telephone service to  customers
  in  New  York  shall,  at  its  option: a. allow a customer without fee,
  penalty or charge to use a modified or alternative name for a  directory
  listing or b. waive the otherwise applicable charges for a non-published
  telephone  listing,  where  the  customer  requests  protection  of  its
  identity in connection with the customer's purchase of telephone service
  and the customer is a victim of domestic violence, as defined in section
  four hundred fifty-nine-a of the social services law. Any  non-published
  listings  provided  in  this  section  shall  conform  to  all  the same
  requirements of other non-published listings. A customer requesting such
  an accommodation shall provide an attestation in writing  that  they  no
  longer  wish  to  be  a  party to such contract due to their status as a
  victim of domestic violence.  Such  cable  television  company  may  not
  require  such  customer  to disclose confidential information or details
  relating to such customer's status as a victim of domestic violence,  as
  a  condition of implementing such accommodation. Any customer requesting
  an accommodation pursuant to this section may also request and shall  be
  provided,  at  no  cost  to  the customer, a new telephone number within
  fifteen days  from  the  request  for  such  accommodation.  Such  cable
  television  company  shall  dispose  of  information  submitted  by such
  customer no later than thirty days after receiving such information in a
  manner as to maintain confidentiality of such information.
2. Every cable television company, as defined in section  two  hundred
  twelve  of  the  public  service  law,  that  provides television and/or
  telephone service to customers in New York under contract including, but
  not limited to a multi-year contract or bundled contract with such cable
  television company, shall allow a person to  opt-out  of  such  contract
  without  fee, penalty or charge when such person is a victim of domestic
  violence and provides an attestation in writing that they no longer wish
  to be a party to such contract due  to  their  status  as  a  victim  of
  domestic  violence.  Such  cable television company may not require such
  person to disclose confidential information or details relating to  such
  person's  status  as  a  victim  of domestic violence, as a condition of
  permitting such person to opt-out of such contract. Further, such  cable
  television  company  may  not make release from such contract contingent
  on: (a) maintaining contractual or billing responsibility of a separated
  account with the provider; (b) approval of  separation  by  the  primary
  account  holder,  if the primary account holder is not the person making
  such request; or (c) a prohibition or limitation on the separation as  a
  result  of arrears accrued by the account. Such cable television company
  shall release such person from such contract no later  than  seven  days
  after  receiving  such  opt-out  request.  Such cable television company
  shall dispose of information submitted by  such  person  no  later  than
  thirty  days after receiving such information in a manner as to maintain
  confidentiality of such information. A  claim  for  opting-out  of  such
  contract  without  charge  shall  be  made  in  good  faith.  Such cable
  television company shall waive the otherwise applicable fee, penalty  or
  charge  for  such  person  requesting to opt-out of such contract. Every
  cable television company shall make information about  the  options  and
  process  described in this section readily available to consumers on the
  website and any mobile application of the provider, in physical  stores,
  and in other forms of public-facing consumer communication.
3.  A  covered provider and any officer, director, employee, vendor or
  agent thereof shall not be subject to liability for any  claims  arising
  from  an  action  taken or omission made with respect to compliance with
  this section.