§ 399-yy. Cable television company providing telephone services. 1. Every cable television company, as defined in section two hundred twelve of the public service law, that provides telephone service to customers in New York shall, at its option: a. allow a customer to use a modified or alternative name for a directory listing or b. waive the otherwise applicable charges for a non-published telephone listing, where the customer requests protection of its identity in connection with the customer's purchase of telephone service and the customer is a victim of domestic violence, as defined in section four hundred fifty-nine-a of the social services law, and for whose benefit any order of protection, other than a temporary order of protection, has been issued by a court of competent jurisdiction. This waiver of charges shall be for the duration of the applicable, non-temporary, order. Any non-published listings provided in this section shall conform to all the same requirements of other non-published listings. A customer requesting such an accommodation shall provide a copy of the order of protection to the applicable cable television company. Any customer requesting an accommodation pursuant to this section may also request and shall be provided, at no cost to the customer, a new telephone number within fifteen days from the request for such accommodation.
2. Every cable television company, as defined in section two hundred twelve of the public service law, that provides television and/or telephone service to customers in New York under contract including, but not limited to a multi-year contract or bundled contract with such cable television company, shall allow a person to opt-out of such contract without charge when such person is a victim of domestic violence and request to opt-out in writing. Such victim of domestic violence shall provide to such cable 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 cable television company shall waive the otherwise applicable charges for such person requesting to opt-out of such contract.