BILL NUMBER:  AB 468
  VETOED	DATE: 09/30/2002




SEP 30 2002

I am returning AB 468 without my signature.

This bill requires, with the approval of the applicable state agency,
the director of the Department of Transportation or the director of
the Department of General Services to negotiate a lease with any
wireless telecommunications provider for their facilities on state
property. This bill would also establish the Digital Divide Account
and deposit 15% of the revenues collected from wireless
telecommunication providers to this account.

I am returning this bill for two reasons.  By requiring approval of
the applicable state department, the location of telecommunication
facilities is then exempt from local land use review. In some
communities the location of cell towers is a matter of great
community interest. I am unwilling to thwart the discretionary review
of local governments. I certainly am supportive of bridging the
digital divide as evidenced by my recent signatures of SB 1863
(Bowen) which increases funding to community  technology centers and
SB 1563 (Polanco) which requires the Public Utilities Commission to
develop a meaningful plan to improve access to the Internet. However,
the deposit of revenues into a new Digital Divide Account is nothing
more than a transfer of the same revenues from the General Fund.
Because of the $24 billion revenue shortfall the state has faced and
continuing fiscal pressures, I am unwilling to create this new
account at the expense of the General Fund.

Sincerely,



GRAY DAVIS