BILL NUMBER: SB 1863	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Bowen

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2002

   An act to amend Section 882 of the Public Utilities Code, relating
to public utilities.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1863, as introduced, Bowen.  Telecommunications services.
   Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission to open a
proceeding, or as part of existing proceedings, to consider ways to
ensure that advanced telecommunications services are made available
as ubiquitously and economically as possible to California's
citizens, institutions, and businesses.  Existing law requires the
commission, in the proceeding or proceedings, to develop rules,
procedures, orders, or strategies that seek to provide the state's
educational and health care institutions with access to advanced
communications services.
   This bill would also require the commission to develop rules,
procedures, orders, or strategies that seek to provide the state's
nonprofit community technology centers with access to advanced
communications services.
   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 882 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to
read:
   882.  (a) The Public Utilities Commission shall, as soon as
practicable, open a proceeding or proceedings to, or as part of
existing proceedings shall, consider ways to ensure that advanced
telecommunications services are made available as ubiquitously and
economically as possible, in a timely fashion, to California's
citizens, institutions, and businesses.  The proceeding or
proceedings should be completed within one year of commencement.
   (b) The proceeding or proceedings shall develop rules, procedures,
orders, or strategies, or all of these, that seek to achieve the
following goals:
   (1) To provide all citizens and businesses with access to the
widest possible array of advanced communications services.
   (2) To provide the state's educational  and  
institutions,  health care institutions  , and nonprofit
community technology centers  with access to advanced
communications services.
   (3) To ensure cost-effective deployment of technology so as to
protect ratepayers' interests and the affordability of
telecommunications services.
   (c) In the proceeding or proceedings, the commission should also
consider, but need not limit its consideration to, all of the
following:
   (1) Whether the definition of universal service should be
broadened.
   (2) How to encourage the timely and economic development of an
advanced public communications infrastructure, which may include a
variety of competitive providers.