BILL NUMBER: SB 1563	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 20, 2002
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 30, 2002
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 22, 2002

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Polanco

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2002

   An act to amend Section 709 of, and to add and repeal Section
709.1 of, the Public Utilities Code, relating to telecommunications.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1563, as amended, Polanco.  Telecommunications:  services.
   Existing law, the Public Utilities Act, sets forth the findings
and declarations of the Legislature regarding described policies for
telecommunications in California.
   This bill,  in addition to existing policies, would refer
to   would include within those policies, 
assisting in bridging the "digital divide" by encouraging expanded
access to state-of-the-art technologies  by  
for  rural, inner-city, low-income, and disabled Californians,
and  to encourage   encouraging  fair
treatment of consumers through consumer-oriented conduct 
within the listing of the policies  .
   The bill would also require the  commission  
Public Utilities Commission  , not later than April 1, 2003, to
convene a proceeding to develop a plan for encouraging the
widespread availability of advanced telecommunications
infrastructure, and would require the proceeding to encourage
participation from a broad cross section of the telecommunications
industries, including those entities that the commission does not
regulate, as well as users and community representatives.   The
commission would be required to encourage participation by
community-based organizations, including nonprofit community
technology centers and libraries. 
   The bill would require the commission to submit  by
February 1, 2004,   a report  to the Governor and
the Legislature  a report   no later than
February 1, 2001,  of its findings and  recommendation
  recommendations  regarding the plan, 
which  that  identifies areas where
telecommunications infrastructure is inadequate, assesses the
consequences of this inadequacy, and develops strategies for
encouraging the deployment of adequate investment.  
   These latter  
   The bill would provide that the  provisions concerning the
commission's convening of a proceeding and the related report would
be repealed on January 1, 2005.
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  yes.
State-mandated local program:  no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 709 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to
read:
   709.  The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the policies
for telecommunications in California are as follows:
   (a) To continue our universal service commitment by assuring the
continued affordability and widespread availability of high-quality
telecommunications service to all Californians.
   (b) To encourage the development and deployment of new
technologies and the equitable provision of services in a way
 which   that  efficiently meets consumer
need and encourages the ubiquitous availability of a wide choice of
state-of-the-art services.
   (c) To assist in bridging the "digital divide" by encouraging
expanded access to state-of-the-art technologies  by
  for  rural, inner-city, low-income, and disabled
Californians.
   (d) To promote economic growth, job creation, and the substantial
social benefits that will result from the rapid implementation of
advanced information and communications technologies by adequate
long-term investment in the necessary infrastructure.
   (e) To promote lower prices, broader consumer choice, and
avoidance of anticompetitive conduct.
   (f) To remove the barriers to open and competitive markets and
promote fair product and price competition in a way that encourages
greater efficiency, lower prices, and more consumer choice.
   (g) To encourage fair treatment of consumers through provision of
sufficient information for making informed choices, establishment of
reasonable service quality standards, and establishment of processes
for equitable resolution of billing and service problems.
  SEC. 2.  Section 709.1 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
   709.1.  (a) No later than April 1, 2003, the commission shall
convene a proceeding to develop a plan for encouraging the widespread
availability of advanced telecommunications infrastructure.  The
proceeding shall encourage participation that includes a broad cross
section of the telecommunications industries, including those
entities that the commission does not regulate, as well as users and
community representatives.   The commission shall also encourage
participation by community-based organizations, including but not
limited to, nonprofit community technology centers and libraries,
that have demonstrated success in assisting low-income residents in
bridging the digital divide. 
   (b) The mission of the plan is to identify areas where
telecommunications infrastructure is inadequate, assess the
consequences of this inadequacy, and develop strategies for
encouraging the deployment of adequate investment.
   (c) The commission shall submit  to the Governor and
Legislature  a report of its findings and recommendations
 by   to the Governor and Legislature, not later
than  February 1, 2004.
   (d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2005, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2005, deletes or extends
that date.