H.B. 1037

# H.B. 1037 Legislative Summary H.B. 1037, titled the "Broadband Accountability and Affordability Act," authorizes Maryland's Public Service Commission to oversee broadband and voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) services within the state, marking a significant expansion of regulatory authority. The bill requires the Commission to conduct a study and develop recommendations on implementing oversight mechanisms, including standards for service reliability, outage reporting, emergency preparedness, and customer complaint processes. Key impacts include repealing existing prohibitions on VoIP regulation, establishing a framework for regulating internet service providers' network quality and resilience, and requiring providers to submit data on service availability, pricing, and deployment. By December 31, 2026, the Commission must report its findings to the legislature on how best to regulate these services while considering federal jurisdiction limits and implementation costs.