Greenberg Traurig - New York State Education Department
Greenberg Traurig - New York State Education Department
Greenberg Traurig - New York State Education Department
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<strong>Greenberg</strong><br />
<strong>Traurig</strong><br />
Christopher A. Cemik<br />
Tel. (518) 689-1410<br />
cemikc@gtlaw.com<br />
September 12, 2006<br />
VIA HAND DELIVERY<br />
Hon. George E. Pataki<br />
Governor<br />
Executive Chamber<br />
<strong>State</strong> Capitol<br />
Albany, <strong>New</strong> <strong>York</strong> 12224<br />
Re:<br />
S.8182-A (Marcellino)<br />
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to wireless<br />
telephone recycling<br />
Dear Governor Pataki:<br />
This letter is advanced on behalfofour client, Cingular Wireless in regard to the<br />
above-entitled legislation. For the reasons stated herein, Cingular has no objection to the<br />
adoption ofthis legislation.<br />
Cingular Wireless has long recognized the importance of recycling and/or properly<br />
disposing of the electronic handsets obtained by its customers in conjunction with the<br />
provision of its wireless service. Indeed, as new and innovative products flourish in the<br />
highly-competitive, open market ofwireless service, the need for a comprehensive approach<br />
to recycling used handsets and the component parts has become more acute. To that end,<br />
Cingular Wireless, along with the other major wireless telecommunication suppliers, has<br />
established a nationwide program that involves accepting phones (including those from<br />
other wireless carriers) at no cost and either recycling them or disposing of them in an<br />
environmentally sound manner.<br />
As the nation's leading carrier of wireless services, Cingular believes that it has an<br />
obligation to take a leadership role in recycling and disposing ofelectronic handsets. At the<br />
same time, it normally eschews the enactment of statewide legislation that will force<br />
national telecommunication carriers to meet state-by-state requirements in the sale and<br />
distribution of a product that defies state boundaries. However, the sponsors of this<br />
legislation evinced a willingness to work closely with the national wireless carriers (all of<br />
which have in place a national policy for the recycling and disposal ofused handsets) in the<br />
development of a state policy that is generally consistent with accepted procedures for<br />
recycling, redistribution and disposal of used handsets, including, but not limited to,<br />
reprogramming used handsets for special purposes such as domestic violence programs.<br />
ALBANY<br />
AMSTERDAM<br />
ATLANTA<br />
BOCA RATON<br />
BOSTON<br />
CHICAGO<br />
DALLAS<br />
DENVER<br />
FORT LAUDERDALE<br />
lOS ANGELES<br />
MIAMI<br />
NEW JERSEY<br />
NEW YORK<br />
ORANGE COUNTY, CA<br />
ORLANDO<br />
PHILADELPHIA<br />
PHOENIX<br />
SILICON VALLEY<br />
TALLAHASSEE<br />
TYSONS CORNER<br />
WASHINGTON, o.c.<br />
WEST PALM BEACH<br />
WILMINGTON<br />
ZURICH<br />
<strong>Greenberg</strong> <strong>Traurig</strong>, lLP I Attorneys at law I 54 <strong>State</strong> Street I Albany, NY 122071 Tei 518.689.1400 I Fax 518.689.1499<br />
www.gtlaw.com
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