TRENTON — An attempt to revive a controversial bill to deregulate the telecom industry has failed. State Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union), who drafted an amendment in an effort to win over opponents and hoped to have the bill up for a vote Wednesday, said the legislation is not moving anytime soon. Lesniak said that as long as the AARP...
A file photo of state Sen. Ray Lesniak. Earlier today, Lesniak, one of the biggest proponents of a controversial bill that would deregulate the state's telecom industry, tried to introduce an amendment in the hopes of assuaging the bill's critics, but now says the legislation lacks the necessary support to clear the Senate.TRENTON — An attempt to revive a controversial bill to deregulate the telecom industry has failed.
State Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union), who drafted an amendment in an effort to win over opponents and hoped to have the bill up for a vote Wednesday, said the legislation is not moving anytime soon.
Lesniak said that as long as the AARP opposes the bill (S2664), it will not pass the Senate.
“Unless something can get done to convince the AARP that they’re opposing a bill that doesn’t affect senior citizens, it’s hard to overcome that opposition,” said Lesniak. “I don’t understand it, but it is what it is, so I’m not moving any amendments.”
The amendment would have altered the bill’s most controversial provision that would have deregulated rates on the most basic telephone landlines, which are currently set by the Board of Public Utilities.
Under the amendment Lesniak drafted, seniors aged 65 and over would still have their basic landline rates regulated. Another change would require Verizon, which has a statewide franchise, to provide public access channels to municipalities, as well as to the equipment necessary to broadcast meetings live.
Opponents of the legislation, however, said the changes were far too minor to allay their concerns. Douglas Johnson, a lobbyist for the AARP, said the amendments “pander to seniors” and accused Lesniak of trying to fly it under the radar while the state takes up the budget.
“The timing is suspect,” he said. “I think they’re trying to pass something in the wee hours of the morning, at the very late stage of the legislative session while all this other stuff is going on.”
The bill passed the state Assembly in February but stalled two months later after a tough campaign against it by the AARP and a coalition of other groups, including the Communications Workers of America and the New Jersey League of Municipalities. Johnston said the AARP made 18,000 phone calls to lawmakers’ offices.
Upon hearing that Lesniak was going to try to amend the bill on the floor of the Senate today, state Sen. Bob Smith (D-Middlesex) said he was going to attempt to introduce his own amendments, which are more sweeping than Lesniak’s and backed by the bill’s opponents.
“Under the current bill, there’s no consumer protection. Citizens don’t have a forum to bring their complaints,” he said.
Previous coverage:
• Stalled bill to deregulate telecom industry could be revived in N.J. Senate
• Gov. Christie says he has 'grave concerns' about bill to deregulate basic phone service
• Telephone and cable deregulation bill's future uncertain in N.J. Senate
• N.J. Senate stalls action on bill to deregulate telecommunications industry
• Verizon N.J. president vows to not raise basic telephone rates for 2 years
• Consumer groups ask N.J. senators to vote 'no' on cable TV, telephone service deregulation