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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 27, 2021 12:39 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Lisa M. Boscola |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Internet as a Utility |
| The pandemic has only reinforced how essential internet access is for our way of life. It is quickly becoming similar to electricity in that our dependence on reliable and affordable access for it is critical to life. Most people, regardless of age or education rely on quality internet service to do anything: working from home, going to school, visiting our doctors, paying our bills, refilling prescriptions and in this time staying connected to love ones. It was access to reliable internet that allowed us to cast votes and attend hearings in the Pennsylvania legislature. The COVID-19 pandemic has put more stresses on the infrastructure and need for access to the internet. Despite the growing use, demand and reliance of internet service, for many Pennsylvanians, there remains little to no choice for residential internet service. Recently, I have read about large scale internet service providers looking at charging users based on the volume of data used as opposed to the flat service fee that now exists. With those same homeowners having no other option for service, these service providers act as monopolies and moving from a flat fee to a data usage fees is concerning. A shift to a usage-based charge is more akin to a utility and I believe warrants the designation as a utility. Consumers should be afforded the protection of the service as a public utility to assure reliability, accessibility and affordability. Our public utilities provide an infrastructure heavy service, prone to monopolies that is essential or near essential to the operation of society, and in most instances provide the service on a volumetric basis. Given the nature of the service of providing internet access, many if not all of these characteristics are met. My legislation would require any internet provider that chooses to charge users based on data volume be declared a public utility and fall under the regulation of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. Please join me in sponsoring this legislation. |