An Act To Ensure the Safety of Low-income Persons Who Are Deaf and Who Use Video and Captioned Phones by Providing Equitable Access to the Internet
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §9219 is enacted to read:
§ 9219. Price reduction for broadband services provided to low-income persons who are deaf
1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
A. "Broadband services" means all communications services that the authority by rule determines to be necessary for an eligible person to effectively access and use the Internet. "Broadband services" does not include usage-sensitive intrastate toll services subject to rate reduction under section 7302.
B. "Eligible person" means a person who:
(1) Is deaf as described in section 8702, subsection 3; and
(2) Meets income qualifications established by the authority by rule.
2. Discount. In accordance with rules adopted by the authority, a communications service provider shall provide a 70% price reduction on all broadband services provided to an eligible person who applies to the authority and receives certification from the authority that the person qualifies as an eligible person.
3. Rules. Notwithstanding section 9205, subsection 3, rules adopted under this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
summary
This bill requires communications service providers to provide a 70% price reduction on all broadband services provided to a low-income person who is deaf.