S.1740

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Hon. Michael Balboni
New York State Senate
Room 803
Legislative Office Building
Albany, New York 12247

Dear Senator Balboni:

The Business Council respectfully requests that you reconsider your bill that would require all telephone companies to offer police officers unlisted telephone numbers free of charge.

Under the provisions of your legislation, S.1740, the Public Service Commission would require that all telephone corporations waive the unlisted telephone number fee for subscribing individuals who are police officers.

While we recognize that this bill was introduced with the best of intentions, we cannot support legislation that would require the telecommunications industry, or their other customers, to pay for the costs of providing this service. To give discounts to one select group, however worthy they may be, only raises rates for the remaining customers.

Additionally, this legislation would set a dangerous precedent, and potentially open up the floodgates to a whole host of other groups - such as victims of domestic violence, doctors, nurses, and others - who are no less worthy and deserving of such a service.

While The Business Council understands the well meaning intent behind this proposal, we cannot support legislation that would raise costs for other customers. If you wish to discuss this further, I would be happy to do so at your convenience.

Thank you for your consideration.