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2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 798
BY REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON
UTILITIES: Creates the Broadband and Cable Price Notice Act
1 AN ACT
2 To enact Chapter 12-B of Title 51 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be
3 comprised of R.S. 51:1381 through 1389, relative to the Broadband and Cable Price
4 Notice Act; to provide for definitions; to provide for written notice; to provide for
5 method of delivery; to provide for the rights of customers; to provide for
6 enforcement; to provide for authority; to provide for rulemaking; to provide for
7 applicability; to provide for severability; to provide for an effective date; and to
8 provide for related matters.
9 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. Chapter 12-B of Title 51 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
11 comprised of R.S. 51:1381 through 1389, is hereby enacted to read as follows:
12 CHAPTER 12-B. THE BROADBAND AND CABLE PRICE NOTICE ACT
13 §1381. Short title
14 This Chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Broadband and Cable
15 Price Notice Act."
16 §1382. Definitions
17 (1) "Broadband internet access service" means a mass-market retail service
18 that provides the capability to transmit data to and receive data from substantially all
19 internet endpoints, including any functional equivalents.
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1 (2) "Cable or video service" means the one-way transmission to subscribers
2 of video programming or other programming service by a cable operator or video
3 service provider, including services provided pursuant to a state or local franchise.
4 (3) "Customer" means a person who receives cable or video service or
5 broadband internet access service at a address in this state.
6 (4) "Price increase" means any increase to a customer's monthly recurring
7 charge or mandatory fee for service, including but not limited to base service
8 charges, equipment rental fees, modem or router fees, "broadcast TV" or "regional
9 sports" network access, or similar surcharges. "Price increase" does not include
10 taxes or fees imposed by federal, state, or local government.
11 (5) "Provider" means any person or entity that offers cable or video service
12 or broadband internet access service to customers in this state, whether pursuant to
13 a local franchise, a state-issued certificate, or otherwise.
14 (6) "Written notice" includes delivery by United States mail, email, or text
15 message, if the customer has elected to receive billing or account communications
16 through that channel.
17 §1383. Advance notice required; timing
18 A. A provider shall furnish clear and conspicuous written notice to each
19 affected customer at least thirty calendar days before the effective date of any price
20 increase.
21 B. When a price increase results from circumstances outside the provider's
22 reasonable control including but not limited to programmer pass-through charges
23 imposed with less than thirty days' notice to the provider, the provider shall give
24 written notice as soon as practicable, but in no event later than the customer's next
25 regular billing cycle after the provider learns of the change.
26 C. A customer may cancel or downgrade the affected service without early
27 termination fees or other penalties triggered solely by the price increase, if the
28 customer gives notice of cancellation on or before the effective date or within thirty
29 days after receiving a written notice pursuant to this Section.
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1 D. Any broadband or cable service provider that complies with applicable
2 federal disclosure requirements, including the Federal Communications
3 Commission's broadband consumer label requirements, shall be deemed in
4 compliance with the disclosure requirements of this Chapter, if such disclosures are
5 made available to consumers in this state.
6 E. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to shorten or limit any federal
7 notice requirement that provides greater advance notice for cable service.
8 §1384. Content of notice
9 A. The written notice described in this Chapter shall include all of the
10 following:
11 (1) The customer's current monthly recurring charges and each new charge
12 and fee, itemized by line item.
13 (2) The effective date of the increase.
14 (3) A brief statement of the reason for the increase.
15 (4) A statement of the customer's right to cancel or downgrade the affected
16 service without early termination fees or other penalties triggered solely by the price
17 increase, provided the customer gives notice of cancellation on or before the
18 effective date or within thirty days after receiving a written notice in accordance with
19 R.S. 51:1383.
20 (5) A toll-free telephone number and web address where a customer may
21 obtain additional information or exercise cancellation and downgrade rights.
22 B. The written notice outlined in this Chapter shall be sent to a customer
23 separately from any bill from the provider.
24 §1385. Method of delivery; recordkeeping
25 A. Written notice may be provided by any channel the customer has selected
26 for billing or account communications; if no election exists, written notice shall be
27 sent by United States mail to the service address or billing address on file.
28 B. A provider shall retain records sufficient to demonstrate compliance with
29 this Chapter, including samples of notices and logs of the dates and channels used,
30 for two years from the effective date of each price increase.
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1 §1386. Customer rights preserved
2 A. A provider shall not treat a customer's exercise of rights pursuant to R.S.
3 51:1383 as a breach of contract or impose any fee or penalty triggered solely by the
4 customer's cancellation or downgrade in response to a price increase.
5 B. Nothing in this Chapter prohibits a provider from recovering unreturned
6 equipment charges or other amounts lawfully owed that are not early termination
7 fees.
8 §1387. Enforcement; unfair trade practice; remedies
9 A. A violation of this Chapter is an unfair or deceptive trade practice in
10 accordance with the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law,
11 R.S. 51:1401 et seq.
12 B. The attorney general may investigate and bring actions to enforce this
13 Chapter including civil penalties, injunctive relief, restitution, and attorneys' fees as
14 authorized by Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, R.S.
15 51:1401 et seq.
16 C. The remedies provided by this Chapter are in addition to any other
17 remedies available at law or in equity, including private actions authorized by
18 Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, R.S. 51:1401 et
19 seq.
20 §1388. Construction; federal and local law
21 A. This Chapter is a disclosure and customer-notice requirement only and
22 shall not be construed as rate regulation or to require any specific price, term, or
23 offering.
24 B. For cable or video services, this Chapter shall be construed in harmony
25 with federal law, including 47 U.S.C. 521 et seq. and 47 CFR 76.1603, and shall not
26 diminish any federal or franchise-authority notice obligations that are equal to or
27 greater than.
28 C. Nothing in this Chapter shall limit the authority of a local franchise
29 authority to adopt or enforce customer-service standards or notice provisions, if a
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1 provider that complies with the more stringent applicable requirement is deemed in
2 compliance with this Chapter.
3 §1389. Rulemaking
4 The attorney general may promulgate rules under the Administrative
5 Procedure Act to implement the provisions of this Chapter, including rules
6 specifying reasonable notice formats and record keeping standards.
7 Section 2. This Act applies to price increases first noticed to customers on or after
8 the effective date of this Act. It does not require re-noticing of increases that took effect
9 before the effective date of this Act.
10 Section 3. All disclosures required pursuant to this Act shall be limited to factual,
11 objective, and noncontroversial commercial information reasonably related to the state's
12 interest in preventing consumer deception and promoting transparency.
13 Section 4. This Act shall apply only to consumer protection and disclosure practices
14 affecting customers within this state and shall not be construed to regulate interstate
15 communications services in a manner inconsistent with federal law.
16 Section 5. If any provision of this Act or the application thereof is held invalid, such
17 invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this Act which can be given
18 effect without the invalid provisions or applications, and to this end the provisions of this
19 Act are hereby declared severable.
20 Section 6. This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2027.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 798 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Mike Johnson
Abstract: Creates the Broadband and Cable Price Notice Act.
Proposed law creates the Broadband and Cable Price Notice Act.
Proposed law defines "broadband internet access service", "cable or video service",
"customer", "price increase", "provider", and "written notice.
Proposed law requires a provider to furnish clear and conspicuous written notice to each
affected customer at least 30 calendar days before the effective date of any price increase.
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Proposed law provides that when a price increase results from circumstances outside the
provider's reasonable control, the provider shall give written notice as soon as practicable,
but in no event later than the customer's next regular billing cycle after the provider learns
of the change.
Proposed law allows a customer to cancel or downgrade the affected service without early
termination fees or other penalties triggered solely by the price increase, if the customer
gives notice of cancellation on or before the effective date or within 30 days after receiving
a written notice pursuant to proposed law.
Proposed law provides that any broadband or cable service provider that complies with
applicable federal disclosure requirements shall be deemed in compliance with the disclosure
requirements of proposed law.
Proposed law provides that nothing in proposed law shall be construed to shorten or limit
any federal notice requirement that provides greater advance notice for cable service.
Proposed law outlines what shall be included in the written notice required by proposed law.
Proposed law requires the written notice outlined in proposed law to be sent to a customer
separately from any bill from the provider.
Proposed law allows written notice to be provided by any channel the customer has selected
for billing or account communications. Proposed law requires that if no election exists,
written notice will be sent by U.S. mail to the service address or billing address on file.
Proposed law requires that a provider retain certain records.
Proposed law provides that a provider shall not treat a customer's exercise of rights pursuant
to proposed law as a breach of contract or impose any fee or penalty triggered solely by the
customer's cancellation or downgrade in response to a price increase.
Proposed law provides that nothing in proposed law prohibits a provider from recovering
unreturned equipment charges or other amounts lawfully owed that are not early termination
fees.
Proposed law provides that a violation of proposed law is an unfair or deceptive trade
practice in accordance with the La. Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law
and that the attorney general may investigate and bring actions to enforce proposed law
including civil penalties, injunctive relief, restitution, and attorneys' fees as authorized by
La. Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law.
Proposed law provides that the remedies provided by this proposed law are in addition to any
other remedies available at law or in equity, including private actions authorized by La.
Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law.
Proposed law provides that proposed law is a disclosure and customer-notice requirement
only and shall not be construed as rate regulation or to require any specific price, term, or
offering.
Proposed law provides that for cable or video services, proposed law shall be construed in
harmony with federal law and shall not diminish any federal or franchise-authority notice
obligations that are equal to or greater than.
Proposed law provides that nothing in proposed law shall limit the authority of a local
franchise authority to adopt or enforce customer-service standards or notice provisions, if
a provider that complies with the more stringent applicable requirement is deemed in
compliance with proposed law.
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HB NO. 798
Proposed law allows the attorney general to promulgate rules under the APA to implement
the provisions of proposed law.
Proposed law provides that proposed law applies to price increases first noticed to customers
on or after the effective date of this proposed law. It does not require re-noticing of
increases that took effect before the effective date of this proposed law.
Proposed law provides that disclosures required pursuant to proposed law shall be limited
to factual, objective, and non-controversial commercial information reasonably related to
the state's interest in preventing consumer deception and promoting transparency.
Proposed law provides that proposed law will apply only to consumer protection and
disclosure practices affecting customers within this state and shall not be construed to
regulate interstate communications services in a manner inconsistent with federal law.
Proposed law provides for severability.
Effective Jan. 1, 2027.
(Adds R.S. 51:1381-1389)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Commerce to the
original bill:
1. Make technical changes.
2. Amend the definition of "customer" and "provider".
3. Add that any broadband or cable service provider that complies with applicable
federal disclosure requirements shall be deemed in compliance with the
disclosure requirements of proposed law, if such disclosures are made available
to consumers in this state.
4. Clarify the type of notice that is sent.
5. Clarify which portion of proposed law is relevant to the customer's exercise of
rights.
6. Provide that disclosures required pursuant to proposed law shall be limited to
factual, objective, and non-controversial commercial information reasonably
related to the state's interest in preventing consumer deception and promoting
transparency.
7. Provide that proposed law shall apply only to consumer protection and disclosure
practices affecting customers within this state and shall not be construed to
regulate interstate communications services in a manner inconsistent with federal
law.
8. Provide for severability.
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