Committee approves Condominium Law amendment to regulate sole‑source telecom contracts

The Commission on Consumer Rights, Banking Services and Insurance Industries approved Proyecto de la Cámara 2101 on June 18, 2024, a proposed amendment to Article 58 of Law No. 129‑2020 (the Condominium Law of Puerto Rico) to establish provisions governing contracts with single‑source or exclusive providers for telecommunications, cable, television, telephone and Internet services.

Chair Estrella Martínez Soto introduced the project and said the commission had solicited explanatory memorials from agencies and organizations with interest in the matter. The commission director, Edgar González Moreno, confirmed the bill and its amendments were circulated to members on June 16, 2024 and that no additional amendments were received prior to the session.

The bill text presented to the commission states the insertion to Article 58 is "a los fines de establecer disposiciones sobre la contratación de proveedores únicos o contratos de exclusividad en los servicios de telecomunicaciones, cable, televisión, telefonía y o Internet"; the chair read that description as part of the project's introduction.

During the roll call, multiple members stated their votes on the record. Representative Roberto Rivera Ruiz de Porras stated he was abstaining on the measure; the director later reported a final tally of eight votes in favor, zero against and one abstention. Chair Martínez instructed staff to prepare the certification of the public‑consideration session and the approved text for signature, consistent with the House's procedural requirements under Section 12.21.

The commission closed its public final‑consideration session after the certification instructions were given. The transcript does not record further details about the text of proposed enforcement mechanisms, penalties or funding for implementation; those elements were not specified during the session and are therefore reported here as not specified.