* § 399-zzzzz. Use of preferred name and pronouns. 1. For the purposes of this section, "telephone service provider" means any company that provides voice service utilizing any technology, regardless of whether such provider is regulated pursuant to the public service law. 2. Every telephone service provider shall provide customers with a convenient option to request that the telephone service provider use their preferred name and/or preferred pronouns in all written or oral communications between the telephone service provider and the customer, as well as all statements or documentation relating to a customer's telephone service, regardless of whether such customer's preferred name differs from their current legal name. 3. If a customer's preferred name differs from their current legal name, a telephone service provider may require such customer to provide reasonable proof of identity using their legal name, provided that such information shall be used solely to verify the customer's identity or for other purposes required by law. 4. No telephone service provider shall:

(a) willfully and repeatedly fail to use a customer's preferred name and/or preferred pronouns after being clearly informed of the preferred name and/or preferred pronouns pursuant to subdivision two of this section; or

(b) require a customer to specify their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression in order to use their preferred name and/or preferred pronouns. * NB There are 3 § 399-zzzzz's * NB Effective December 16, 2021