2021 New York Laws
GBS - General Business
Article 26 - Miscellaneous
399-YYY - Satellite Television Company Providing Television And/or Telephone Services.

§  399-yyy.  Satellite  television company providing television and/or
telephone  services.  1.  Every  direct  broadcast   satellite   service
provider,  as  defined  in this section, that provides television and/or
telephone services to customers in New York shall allow a person who  is
under  contract  including,  but not limited to a multi-year contract or
bundled contract with such satellite television company, to  opt-out  of
such  contract without charge when such a person is a victim of domestic
violence and requests to opt-out in writing.  Such  victim  of  domestic
violence  shall  provide to such satellite television company any of the
following documents, which  shall  relate  to  such  domestic  violence,
within  six  months  of  the  document's  issuance: (a) a valid domestic
violence incident report form, as such term is  defined  in  subdivision
fifteen  of section eight hundred thirty-seven of the executive law; (b)
a valid police report; (c) a valid order of  protection;  (d)  a  signed
affidavit  from  a  licensed  medical  or  mental  health care provider,
employee of a court acting within the scope of his  or  her  employment,
social worker, a rape crisis counselor, as defined in section forty-five
hundred  ten  of the civil practice law and rules, or advocate acting on
behalf of an agency that assists domestic violence victims. A claim  for
opting-out  of such contract without charge shall be made in good faith.
Such satellite television company shall waive the  otherwise  applicable
charges for such person requesting to opt-out of such contract.
  2.  For  the  purposes of this section, the following terms shall have
the following meanings:
  (a) "Direct broadcast satellite service", means  the  distribution  or
broadcasting  by  satellite of video programming or services directly to
receiving equipment located at an end user subscriber's or an  end  user
customer's  premises,  including,  but  not limited to, the provision of
premium channels, the provision of music  or  other  audio  services  or
channels,  and  any  other  service  received  in  connection  with  the
provision of direct broadcast satellite service.
  (b) "Direct broadcast satellite service provider", means a person  who
transmits,  broadcasts  or otherwise provides direct broadcast satellite
service to subscribers or customers in the state.