Bill Text: SC S1224 | 2011-2012 | 119th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Cable service and cell phone service providers

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-21 - Referred to Subcommittee: Rankin (ch), Hutto, Campbell [S1224 Detail]

Download: South_Carolina-2011-S1224-Introduced.html

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A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 58-1-70 SO AS TO PROVIDE A CONTRACT FOR CABLE SERVICE OR CELL PHONE SERVICE MAY NOT REQUIRE A CUSTOMER PROVIDE A CREDIT CARD NUMBER TO RECEIVE SERVICE OR IN CONNECTION WITH AN APPLICATION OR PAYMENT FOR SERVICE, MAY NOT CHARGE A TERMINATION FEE WHEN A CUSTOMER TERMINATES A SERVICE, AND MAY NOT PLACE ANY CHARGE ON A CUSTOMER'S FINAL BILL EXCEPT FOR PAYMENT OF SERVICE ACTUALLY RENDERED, AND TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Chapter 1, Title 58 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 58-1-70.    (A)    Notwithstanding another provision of law, a contract for cable service or cell phone service may not:

(1)    require that a customer provide a credit card number as part of an application for service, as a condition for providing service, or as a condition for making payments for the service;

(2)    charge a termination fee when a customer terminates service; and

(3)    place any charge on the final bill except for the amount due for service actually rendered.

(B)    For the purposes of this section:

(1)    'cable service' means a service as defined in Section 58-12-300(1);

(2)    'cable service provider' means a provider as defined in Section 58-12-300(2); and

(3)    'cell phone service' means a mobile telecommunications service as defined in Section 58-9-2200(5)."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.