SB 6329
In CommitteeSenate
Broadband internet
Addressing resiliency, public safety, and quality of broadband.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill gives the Utilities and Transportation Commission authority to regulate internet service providers (ISPs) to ensure reliable, resilient, and safe broadband and voice-over-Internet (VoIP) services. It sets new performance standards, customer service rules, and penalties for delays or failures, and requires ISPs to report service data and pay regulatory fees.
- Establishes broadband and VoIP service as essential services requiring resiliency, reliability, and public safety oversight.
- Grants the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) explicit authority to regulate internet service providers (ISPs) separately from traditional telecom companies.
- Requires the UTC to adopt rules setting minimum performance standards for network quality—including latency, jitter, packet loss—and customer service standards (e.g., response times, access to support).
- Mandates that ISPs complete new service installations within 5 business days and repair outages within 24 hours, with automatic customer credits for delays.
- Requires ISPs to file service schedules and rate information publicly and pay an annual regulatory fee to the UTC.
- Requires the UTC to submit an annual report to the legislature starting July 1, 2027, on progress toward broadband resiliency and quality goals.
Who is affected
- Internet service providers (ISPs) — Must comply with new reporting, service standards (e.g., 5-day installation, 24-hour outage repair), customer service requirements, and fee payments to the Utilities and Transportation Commission.
- Broadband and VoIP customers — May receive automatic credits for delayed installations or unrepaired outages, and benefit from improved service reliability and transparency.
- State legislature and oversight committees — Will receive annual progress reports on broadband performance and may be asked to provide input on service standards and complaints.
- Public safety agencies — Will rely on the Utilities and Transportation Commission to enforce quality, reliability, and public safety standards for broadband and VoIP services.
Pro/Con Analysis
Potential Benefits (5)
Automatic customer credits for delayed installations and outages provide immediate, predictable financial relief to households—especially low-income and fixed-income residents—who cannot afford extended service disruptions and rely on broadband for work, education, and telehealth.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 6(4), Sec. 7(2)Mandating minimum latency, jitter, and packet loss standards ensures VoIP and broadband services meet 911 reliability thresholds—critical for rural communities, seniors, and people with disabilities who depend on VoIP for emergency calls and health monitoring.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 4(1)(f), Sec. 4(1)(g)Resiliency and emergency preparedness requirements—especially backup power and network restoration planning—protect communities during wildfires, floods, and earthquakes, reducing isolation and enabling coordinated emergency response.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 4(1)(a), Sec. 4(1)(d), Sec. 4(1)(e)Public filing of service schedules and rates increases transparency, empowering consumers to compare providers and hold companies accountable—especially beneficial for low-income and non-English-speaking households that lack resources to research complex plans.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 5, Sec. 4(1)(h)Standardized billing inquiry timelines and in-person/mail support access improve service equity for seniors, people with disabilities, and rural residents who may not use digital channels—but may strain small providers’ staffing resources.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 4(1)(f)(iv), Sec. 4(1)(f)(iii)
Potential Concerns (5)
Automatic customer credits for delayed installations (5-day) and outage repairs (24-hour) provide direct monetary compensation to customers when service fails to meet standards, improving accountability and reducing financial harm from service failures.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 6(4), Sec. 7(2)Mandating minimum customer service standards—including response times, access to support, and network performance metrics like latency and packet loss—enhances reliability for critical services like 911 VoIP, directly supporting public safety and equitable access to emergency communications.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 4(1)(f), Sec. 4(1)(g), Sec. 4(1)(h)Requiring resiliency planning, power backup, and emergency restoration plans ensures broadband infrastructure remains operational during disasters—critical for vulnerable populations (e.g., elderly, disabled, low-income) who rely on connectivity for health monitoring, telehealth, and emergency coordination.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 4(1)(a), Sec. 4(1)(e), Sec. 4(1)(d)Standardizing customer service expectations and network quality may increase operational costs for small ISPs, potentially squeezing margins for micro-businesses and rural cooperatives that lack economies of scale—though larger providers may absorb costs more easily.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 4(1)(c), Sec. 4(1)(f)The regulatory fee structure (0.1% on first $50K, 0.4% above) is progressive but still imposes a disproportionate burden on small ISPs and rural cooperatives with lower revenue, potentially discouraging local investment or forcing consolidation into larger providers.
FinancialLean peopleRef: Sec. 8(1)
Who Is Most Affected
Low-income households, seniors, and people with disabilities benefit significantly from guaranteed service reliability, automatic credits for failures, and accessible support channels—reducing digital exclusion and improving emergency access.
Rural ISPs and cooperatives face higher compliance costs relative to revenue and may struggle with fee payments and staffing for 24-hour repair standards—potentially accelerating consolidation or exit from the market.
Large incumbent ISPs (e.g., Comcast, CenturyLink) likely absorb compliance costs more easily due to scale and can pass some to consumers, but may benefit from reduced regulatory uncertainty and standardized rules across providers.
Public safety agencies gain enforceable standards for VoIP reliability and network resiliency, improving 911 call success and disaster response coordination—especially in areas where landlines are obsolete.
The state legislature gains oversight tools and annual reporting to evaluate broadband equity and performance, enabling data-driven policy adjustments—but may face pressure to fund additional enforcement if complaints rise.