Bill · S. 4557· Senate(119-S-4557)
Outage Refund Protection Act
- Introduced
- 5/18/2026
- Last activity
- 5/18/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Sponsored by
- Ben Luján
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Outage Refund Protection Act requires specific service providers to automatically refund customers when services are not working. This applies to cable, satellite (DBS), internet, and telephone providers with more than 5,000 customers. If an outage lasts four hours or more, providers must credit the customer's billing statement. If a customer terminates their service, the credit must be issued via check, prepaid debit card, or electronic transfer. The bill also directs the FCC and FTC to issue new rules regarding customer service and service appointments.
Yes· 3 of 5
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?+6
The bill mandates automatic billing credits for service outages of four hours or more and ensures refunds upon service termination.
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?+5
The bill mandates accessible customer service and directs the FTC to address burdens related to equipment returns for individuals with disabilities.
Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities?+5
The bill requires service providers to make customer service accessible for people with disabilities and mandates the FTC to assess and mitigate the burden of equipment returns for them.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Automatic Credits for Outages: Customers will receive automatic credits to their billing statements if their cable, satellite, internet, or telephone service is unavailable for 4 hours or more (Section 3).
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Refunds Upon Termination: If a customer ends their service, providers must issue any outstanding credits via check, a no-fee prepaid debit card, or electronic transfer within 30 days (Section 3).
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Improved Customer Service Accessibility: The FCC will require service providers to make customer service accessible for those with disabilities (Section 4).
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Call Recording Access: Customers or their agents can request and receive recordings of their customer service calls, which must be maintained for at least 1 year (Section 4).
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Fairer Call Options: Providers will be prohibited from charging fees for the option to receive a call back when a representative becomes available (Section 4).
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Reduced Burden for Equipment Returns: The FTC will assess the burden of returning equipment for individuals with disabilities or those who do not drive, potentially requiring alternate no-cost return methods (Section 4).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Service Outage Exceptions for Maintenance: Customers will not receive credits if the outage is due to pre-planned maintenance that the provider notified them about in advance (Section 3).
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Refund Method Restrictions: For customers terminating service, a provider can restrict the refund methods to only those where the refund amount exceeds the cost of disbursement (Section 3).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For People With Disabilities+5Good For Low Income Households+3
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Consumer Protection+6
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Disability Rights+5
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+3
- 5/18/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Introduced in Senate