Chapter 106
2016 -- H 7542
Enacted 06/17/2016

A N   A C T
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND CARRIERS

Introduced By: Representatives Ackerman, Maldonado, Amore, Shekarchi, and
Date Introduced: February 10, 2016

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
     SECTION 1. Section 39-2-20.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-2 entitled "Duties of
Utilities and Carriers" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     39-2-20.1. Internet service providers -- Duty to disclose certain information. -- (a) As
used in this chapter:
      (1) "Internet service provider" means an entity offering the transmission, routing or
providing of connections of digital online communications, between or among points specified by
a user, of material of the user's choosing, without modification to the content of the material as
sent or received and includes a provider of online services or network access, including entities
that provide an electronic communication service or remote computing service, but does not mean
the offering on a common carrier basis of telecommunication facilities or of telecommunications.
      (2) "Electronic communication service" means any service which provides to its users
the ability to send or receive wire or electronic communications.
      (3) "Remote computing service" means the provision to the public of computer storage
or processing services by means of an electronic communication system.
      (4) "Foreign entities" means any entity that makes a contract or engages in a term of
service agreement with a resident of the Sstate of Rhode Island and a foreign entity.
      (5) "Proper service" means the delivery of a search warrant or an administrative
subpoena by hand, by United States mail, by commercial delivery service, by facsimile, or by any
other manner to any officer of a corporation or its general manager in the Sstate of Rhode Island
to any natural person designated by the entity as their agent for service of process, or if such
corporation has designated a corporate agent.
      (6) "Service of process on a foreign entity" means that the service of a search warrant or
subpoena which is properly served on said foreign entity shall have the same legal force and
effect as if served personally within the Sstate of Rhode Island.
      (b) (1) An Iinternet service provider, as defined herein, shall disclose subscriber account
information consisting of the name, address, IP address, and telephone numbers associated with
the account to the attorney general or to the superintendent of the Rhode Island state police upon
proper service, and with certification under oath by the attorney general or by the superintendent
of the Rhode Island state police, that the information is necessary for an officially documented
criminal investigation or prosecution of criminal complaint based on probable cause related to:
the exploitation for commercial or immoral purposes, pursuant to § 11-9-1; child nudity
prohibited in publications pursuant to § 11-9-1.1; child pornography prohibited pursuant to § 11-
9-1.3; employment of children for unlawful purposes pursuant to § 11-9-2; seizure and custody of
exploited child-proceedings as against neglected child pursuant to § 11-9-3; contributing to
delinquency pursuant to § 11-9-4; cruelty to or neglect of child pursuant to § 11-9-5; indecent
solicitation of a child pursuant to § 11-37-8.8; access to computer for fraudulent purposes
pursuant to § 11-52-2; intentional access, alteration, damage, or destruction pursuant to § 11-52-
3; cyberstalking prohibited pursuant to § 11-52-4.2; violation of restraining order pursuant to §
11-52-4.3; use of false information pursuant to § 11-52-7, and/or video voyeurism pursuant to §
11-64-2, online impersonation pursuant to §11-52-7.1, and/or electronically disseminating
indecent material to minors prohibited pursuant to §11-9-1.5.
      (2) A duly authorized law enforcement person, as designated above, after issuing a
certification pursuant to this section, if an arrest, grand jury proceeding, or any criminal
prosecution does not result within sixty (60) days, shall apply to a judge for a search warrant as
soon as practicable, but not later than seventy-five (75) days after issuance of the certification. In
the event that such application is not approved, no information obtained or evidence derived from
said subpoena shall be received in evidence or otherwise disclosed in any trial, hearing, or other
proceeding in or before any court, grand jury, department, office, agency, regulatory body,
legislative committee, or other governmental authority or committee, and no information
concerning any person acquired from such subpoena shall subsequently be used or disclosed in
any other manner by state or local officers or employees without the consent of such person.
      (c) An administrative subpoena issued to an Iinternet service provider shall authorize the
release of non-content-based subscriber information identifying the name, address, and telephone
number of said account along with the Iinternet protocol number.
      (d) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, or any other provision of the general
or public laws to the contrary, telephone records may not be released by an Iinternet service
provider pursuant to an administrative subpoena. The Rhode Island superior court shall have the
authority to enforce said administrative subpoenas upon application by the issuing law
enforcement authority.
      (e) The attorney general and/or the superintendent of the Rhode Island state police who
issues an administrative subpoena to Iinternet service providers related to: the exploitation for
commercial or immoral purpose, pursuant to § 11-9-1; child nudity prohibited in publications
pursuant to § 11-9-1.1; child pornography prohibited pursuant to § 11-9-1.3; employment of
children for unlawful purposes pursuant to § 11-9-2; seizure and custody of exploited child-
proceedings as against neglected child pursuant to § 11-9-3; contributing to delinquency pursuant
to § 11-9-4; cruelty to or neglect of child pursuant to § 11-9-5; indecent solicitation of a child
pursuant to § 11-37-8.8; access to computer for fraudulent purposes pursuant to § 11-52-2;
intentional access, alteration, damage, or destruction pursuant to § 11-52-3; cyberstalking
prohibited pursuant to § 11-52-4.2; violation of restraining order pursuant to § 11-52-4.3; use of
false information pursuant to § 11-52-7; and/or video voyeurism pursuant to § 11-64-2; online
impersonation pursuant to §11-52-7.1, and/or electronically disseminating indecent material to
minors prohibited pursuant to §11-9-1.5, shall provide an annual report to the general assembly
each year detailing the following:
      (1) The number of administrative subpoenas issued in the previous year;
      (2) The number of separate criminal investigations for which the administrative
subpoenas were issued and whether said administrative subpoenas resulted in an arrest,
indictment, or criminal information;
      (3) The number of investigations that remain part of a pending investigation;
      (4) The number that resulted in the closing of a criminal investigation as unfounded; and
      (5) The number of investigations that did not result in an arrest, grand jury proceeding,
or any criminal prosecution due to an inability to identify the subscriber.
      (f) The attorney general's office and the Rhode Island state police shall compile and
forward said reports to the general assembly on an annual basis by March 31 of each year for the
previous year. The reports shall be a public record.
      (g) No cause of action shall lie in any court against any Iinternet service provider, its
officers, employees, or agents for furnishing or disclosing information, in strict compliance with
this section.
      (h) No law enforcement officer, or any party to these investigations under this section,
shall disclose any information obtained as a result of this section, except as it is essential to the
proper discharge of their duties.
     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC004476
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