Renters will be guaranteed the right to purchase cable or telephone services from a provider of their own choosing, under a new law signed April 15 by Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
Sponsored by Rep. Al Juhnke (DFL-Willmar) and Sen. Kathy Sheran (DFL-Mankato), the law prevents landlords from forbidding or discriminating against tenants for choosing one telecommunications provider over another.
Effective April 16, 2010, the law prevents landlords from striking deals with telecommunications companies to give renters who purchase their cable or phone service exclusive rates, or from charging higher rent for tenants that opt for a different provider. A similar protection for renters existed in state law prior to 2004.
A separate provision in the law, effective Aug. 1, 2010, will make it easier for telephone companies to offer “triple-play” services — voice, video and Internet — by letting local governments grant cable franchises to companies that already provide phone services within a given area.
In essence, the law will allow cities to let existing telecommunications providers offer more services to their customers. Rep. Mike Beard (R-Shakopee), who sponsored the provision as a standalone bill, said state law was previously unclear on whether local franchise authorities could allow telephone companies to provide cable services to customers within their existing service area without running into certain legal roadblocks.
A provision effective April 16, 2010, makes it easier for telecommunications providers to disconnect resellers who are delinquent on their bills.
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