N.J. Telecom Panel Clears 3 Bills

New Jersey's Assembly Telecom Committee unanimously cleared three telecom bills at a livestreamed hearing Monday. The panel voted 8-0 for A-1544, which would ban wireless carriers and mobile app developers from disclosing customer GPS data to third parties under certain circumstances. The committee voted 8-0 for an amended A-1768 to require telecom companies to provide prorated refunds for service outages lasting longer than 72 hours. The adopted amendments would limit the bill credits or adjustments to residential customers, exclude events where there was significant damage to the electrical grid, and allow the state Board of Public Utilities to add other exemptions. Also, the committee voted 8-0 for A-1884 to require telecom, cable TV and ISPs to allow customers to end contracts when a physician refers them to a long-term care facility. The committee discussed that bill at an October hearing (see 2210130025).