Telecommunications and Consumer Rights Campaign
New Jersey residents want affordable telecommunication rates as well as strong consumer protections.
Since 1996, New Jersey Citizen Action has been working to make sure that the implementation of the federal Telecommunications Act produces lower bills and expanded choices.
At the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and in the State House, we advocate for fair rates and customer rights that will allow consumers to benefit from the changes in the industry.
Below you can read more about NJCA’s Campaign for Fair Telco Rates.
For more information about this Campaign, please e-mail Atif Malik — atif@njcitizenaction.org.
Oppose 'Bush Style' Big Media Bill!
On June 23, the NJ State Senate and Assembly very quietly passed A-2906 (Chivikula) and S-1886 (Lesniak, Sweeney), a huge corporate give-away that is anti-consumer and anti-worker. The legislation seeks to eliminate public oversight of the financial wheeling and dealings of private equity firms, huge holding corporations and media giants and would prevent the Board of Public Utilities from reviewing these complex transactions to determine if they will undermine the public interest and the provision of affordable and reliable communications services.
A2906/S1886 is on the Governor's desk.
New! Click here to read Citizen Action's letter to Governor Corzine asking him to veto A2906/S1886.
Take Action! Click here to send an email to Governor Corzine and urge him to veto this anti-consumer and anti-worker legislation!
Or call Governor Corzine TODAY at: 1-609-292-6000 and tell him:
Veto A-2906, a huge corporate give-away that is both anti-consumer and anti-worker that will undermine the provision of affordable and reliable communication services in NJ.
The NJ Board of Public Utilities should continue their oversight of the financial wheeling and dealings of cable and telecommunication holding companies to ensure that the public's interests are being protected.
Verizon-NJ and Embarq's Bid to Deregulate All Local Telephone Services
On June 24, 2008 the NJ Board of Public Utilities (BPU) held a public hearing regarding the settlement that was reached with Verizon-NJ and their petition to deregulate all local telephone services in the State.
Throughout this campaign, NJCA was primarily concerned that the deregulation of basic local service and Lifeline service could lead to steep rate increases that would limit access to affordable and reliable telephone service to the millions of New Jerseyans who still rely on this no frills service to stay in touch with their friends, family and literally the rest of the world.
While the settlement will include some increases to the cost of basic local service that will be spread out over three years, NJCA feels that the schedule of rate increases will maintain the affordability of basic local service and are likely much less than the increases consumers would have dealt with if basic local service was deregulated by the Board. In addition to the continued regulation of basic local service, BPU regulation was also maintained over the other essential services (i.e. single-line business, residential Directory Assistance, residential installation) and Verizon's current Telecommunication Lifeline Assistance program (as well as other social service programs for vulnerable populations) would remain as before with no additional rate increases.
NJCA presented testimony in support of the settlement that was reached between the Board, Rate Counsel and Verizon-NJ. Read the June 24, 2008 Statement of Atif Malik, North Jersey Regional Organizer: In the Matter of the NJ Board of Public Utilities Investigation Regarding the Reclassification of Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC) Services as Competitive.
Following the June 24 public hearing, the BPU approved the settlement at their monthly meeting in Newark on July 11, 2008. A similar settlement has also been reached with Embarq and the BPU will take comments on at a public hearing on August 7, 2008 at the Clinton Municipal Building at 7pm.
Background:
Read NJCA's report: No Dial Tone: Will the NJ Board of Public Utilities Cut the Last Line of Affordable Basic Local Telephone Service in New Jersey? Click here for the report.
This report shows that there is no competition in New Jersey's basic local phone service market and calls on the BPU to reject Verizon and Embarq's petition to deregulate the industry.
In what could amount to over a half billion dollar a year increase for ratepayers, Verizon-NJ and Embarq have petitioned the NJ Board of Public Utilities to deregulate all local telephone services in New Jersey.
If deregulation of basic local telephone service had occurred, the lack of competition in the local wire-line telephone market could have caused the estimated 1.3 million NJ residents who still rely on basic local service to see steep increases in their telephone bills (as much as $30/mo); making these services unaffordable to many low-income families, seniors and people with disabilities.
The NJ Board of Public Utilities must stop this ratepayer rip-off by rejecting Verizon-NJ and Embarq's petition to deregulate phone services in its entirety!
For more information contact Atif Malik at atif@njcitizenaction.org or 973-643-8800.
More resources:
- Download the campaign fact sheet.
- Read the Statement of Evelyn Liebman, Director of Organizing and Advocacy – In the Matter of the Board Investigation Regarding the Reclassification of Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC) Services as Competitive.
- Download the campaign flyer to distribute.
Fighting for Strong Regulation of System-wide Cable Franchises
When Governor Corzine signed the System-wide Cable Franchise Law on August 4, 2006, he shared the concern with NJCA that the law contained ambiguous terms and language that opened up loopholes for companies like Verizon-NJ to redline less populated communities and residents of Multiple Dwelling Units. Despite his concern, the Governor signed the legislation into law, but he also signed Executive Order No. 25, which he hoped would close up these loopholes and usher in better services and cheaper prices for cable and high-speed broadband for all New Jerseyans.
In his Executive Order, the Governor instructed the BPU to promulgate strong rules and provide guidance on the definitions of ambiguous terms in order to ensure Verizon's compliance with the intended build-out requirements. This rulemaking process had not even started when Verizon-NJ decided to submit its application to the Board of Public Utilities on November 3, 2006. According to the law, the BPU had to hold two public hearings and either reject or accept the application within 45 days (December 18, 2006).
Although Verizon-NJ was allowed by law to submit its application, the law also instructed the BPU to only accept applications that showed that the applicant was ready, willing, and able to comply with all the rules and regulations that would apply to system-wide franchises. NJCA testified at the public hearing in Cherry Hill, and urged the BPU to reject the application because it was impossible for Verizon-NJ to show compliance with rules and regulations that didn't exist yet. We asked the BPU to reject the application until the cable rulemaking process was completed so that clear definitions to essential terms regarding build-out requirements and prompt and thorough monitoring practices could be promulgated by the Office of Cable TV within the BPU.
NJCA also pointed out other problems that should have resulted in the rejection of the application at the public hearing in Cherry Hill. These problems included: the exclusion of build-out maps that would indicate to municipalities when and where they should be getting Verizon's Cable service; vague descriptions of how the company would deal with build-out problems in Multiple-Dwelling Units; and the lack of commitment of Verizon-NJ to provide equipment and training to South Jersey residents.
Unfortunately, the BPU decided to accept the application and granted a Verizon a system-wide cable franchise. By granting the application before the cable rulemaking process has been completed, the BPU has essentially allowed Verizon-NJ to make up and play by its own rules. Their decision was accompanies by a number of "conditions", but NJCA feels that these "conditions" are woefully inadequate to properly protect New Jersey residents against redlining practices by Verizon.
NJCA is now participating in the Cable Rulemaking process in order to ensure that clear definitions to ambiguous terms, prompt reporting requirements of Verizon when they cannot provide service to Multiple Dwelling Units, and thorough monitoring practices are promulgated by the BPU that will stop Verizon from unjustly redlining communities. This rulemaking process is expected to be completed early in March, 2007.
Corzine Signs Verizon Cable Bill
Governor Corzine recently signed into law legislation that guts 30 years of cable television regulation in the name of competition and choice for consumers. The law makes it easier of companies, like Verizon, to provide video services in our state but NJCA felt it also contained loopholes that would allow a company to redline whole communities, cherry-picking customers it wants to serve while ignoring others.
To help guard against these unwanted practices, Governor Corzine also signed an Executive Order mandating that the NJ Public Advocate monitor the build-out of new cable franchises and utilize appropriate enforcement actions when they find a company has been redlining communities. His order also directs the Board of Public Utilities to monitor the build-out, impose thorough reporting requirements and also provide clear definitions to ambiguous terms and language in the bill that could potentially allow companies like Verizon to redline certain communities unjustly!
Citizen Action wanted to see the Governor conditionally veto the bill until all of the problems were fixed. Unfortunately this didn’t happen, but if the framework of the Executive Order is effective then Citizen Action welcomes the new competition in the cable industry and hope that it will bring access to broadband internet for all of New Jersey’s residents, as well. Here is the August 4, 2006 Press Release, "Governor Corzine Signs Cable Franchise Legislation And Executive Order."
Fair Telco Rates
New Jersey telephone customers want lower rates and increased choices in their phone service.
In 2002, Garden State residents inched closer to those goals when the NJ Board of Public Utilities (BPU) established reasonable rates for competitors to lease parts of Verizon’s network.
In addition to leading the fight for lower rates, NJCA also worked to secure an accessible payment assistance program, called Lifeline, that helps low-income customers afford phone service.
As a result of these changes, companies have offered competitive products and New Jersey consumers have been able to shop for services that fit their lifestyle.
In 2003, the Federal Communications Commission’s protected the progress New Jersey has made by ruling that states have the authority to oversee the transition to competition. We believe this decision is good for consumers as well as small businesses and will urge the BPU to remain committed to its existing rules for local competition here.
Now, NJCA is working to make sure the BPU continues to keep phone service affordable. In a recent decision, the Board announced it would review its 2002 wholesale rate ruling. NJCA will be fighting to make sure that affordable service and customer choice stay in the Garden State. Read NJCA’s December 2003 letter to the Governor about the BPU's decision. We hope that you will support these efforts.
For more information, e-mail Atif Malik — atif@njcitizenaction.org.