WV House advances bills to strengthen internet & data consumer protections

West Virginia is borderline notorious for its low-quality internet connections. Earlier this week, several bills advanced that would strengthen internet and data-related consumer protections across the Mountain State. 

The House Energy and Public Works Committee passed a bill Monday that would require internet providers to automatically credit customers when service is disrupted for more than five days. 

HB 2502 also requires internet providers to collect data on the number of customers receiving credits, the dollar amount of credits provided and the locations where disruptions take place. It would allow the Office of the WV Attorney General to take action against internet providers who fail to give required credits. The bill will likely be up for a House Floor vote on Friday, Mar. 21. 

Committee members also passed HB 2987, creating the Consumer Data Protection Act. The bill strengthens consumers’ ability to gain access to their personal data, correct it and opt out of its sale or use for targeted advertising. 

The bill mainly applies to businesses that control or process a large amount of personal data, and it requires them to create and implement robust cybersecurity programs. 

In other Energy and Public Works news…

The Committee passed several other bills with little fanfare:

• HB 3168 would ensure that people can cancel electronic or online subscriptions by phone or mail, rather than being required to use internet.
• HB 3187 requires the state to identify economic opportunities related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and write an annual report about it every year until Jul. 1, 2027.
• HB 3263 requires utilities to improve notifications about service disruptions. It would direct each utility to have an outage communication plan that includes an estimate of how long disruptions will last. 

All three of those bills will likely be up for House Floor votes on Friday as well.