BILL ANALYSIS
SB 1563
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 1563 (Polanco)
As Amended August 7, 2002
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :26-8
UTILITIES AND COMMERCE 10-5 APPROPRIATIONS 17-6
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|Ayes:|Wright, Calderon, |Ayes:|Steinberg, Alquist, |
| |Canciamilla, Diaz, | |Aroner, Cohn, Corbett, |
| |Horton, Kelley, Nation, | |Correa, Diaz, Firebaugh, |
| |Papan, Reyes, Simitian | |Goldberg, Maldonado, |
| | | |Negrete McLeod, Papan, |
| | | |Pavley, Simitian, Keeley, |
| | | |Wiggins, Wright |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Pescetti, Bill Campbell, |Nays:|Bates, Ashburn, Daucher, |
| |John Campbell, La Suer, | |Robert Pacheco, Runner, |
| |Maddox | |Zettel |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY : Expands the state's codified telecommunications policy
declarations, and requires the California Public Utilities
Commission (PUC) to develop a plan for encouraging widespread
availability of advanced telecommunications infrastructure.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Declares that it is among the state's telecommunications
policies to:
a) Assist in bridging the "digital divide" by encouraging
expanded access to state-of-the-art technologies for rural,
inner-city, low-income, and disabled Californians.
b) 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.
c) To encourage fair treatment of consumers through
provisions of sufficient information for making informed
SB 1563
Page 2
choices, establishment of reasonable service quality
standards, and establishment of processes for equitable
resolution of billing and service problems.
2)Contains double-joining language to SB 1863 (Bowen) relating
to encouraging expanded access to state-of-the-art
technologies for rural, inner city, low-income, and disabled
Californians.
3)Requires PUC to convene a proceeding to develop a plan for
encouraging the widespread availability of advanced
telecommunication infrastructure, including broad cross
section of the telecommunications industries, community-based
organizations, and non-profit community technology programs.
4)Requires PUC to submit a report to the Governor and the
Legislature by December 2004 on its findings and
recommendations regarding the plan.
5)Sunsets the provisions relating to development of the plan and
the report on January 1, 2005.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Declares the policies for telecommunications in California,
which include:
a) A commitment to universal service;
b) Encouraging development and deployment of new
technologies in a way that encourages availability of a
wide choice of state-of-the-art services;
c) Promoting economic growth, job creation, and the like by
adequate long-term investment in the necessary
infrastructure;
d) Promoting lower prices, broader consumer choice, and
avoiding anti-competitive conduct; and,
e) Promoting competition to encourage efficiency, lower
prices, and consumer choice.
2)Requires telephone corporations to furnish customers with
sufficient information to make informed service and provider
SB 1563
Page 3
choices, including service options, pricing, and terms and
conditions of service.
3)Requires telephone corporations to provide customers with
information concerning the regulatory process and how they can
participate in those processes and resolve complaints.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : This bill adds to the state's telecommunications
policies, the goal of bridging the digital divide. The concept
that the society should not be separated into those who have
access to information, and those who don't.
In October 2000, the U.S. Commerce Department's National
Telecommunications and Information Administration issued a
report showing that the overall level of U.S. digital inclusion
is rapidly increasing. As evidence of the rise in the level of
digital access, the report cited a 58% increase in households
with Internet access. It cited a 21% rise in the number of
households with access to computers; and a hike in the number of
Americans using the Internet from 32% online in December 1998 to
44% in August 2000.
While Internet access and computer ownership have risen for
almost all groups, noticeable divides exist between those with
different income and education levels, different racial and
ethnic groups, old and young, single and dual- parent families
and those with and without disabilities, the report said. For
example, persons with disabilities are only half as likely to
have access to the Internet as those without a disability.
Large gaps also remain between Internet access rates for
African-Americans and Latinos when measured against the national
average of Internet penetration, the report said.
Analysis Prepared by : Paul Donahue / U. & C. / (916) 319-2083
FN: 0006554