BILL NUMBER: SB 1863	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 20, 2002
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 1, 2002

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Bowen

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2002

   An act to amend Section 709 of  , and to add Section 884 to,
 the Public Utilities Code, relating to public utilities.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1863, as amended, Bowen.  Telecommunications services.
   Existing law declares the Legislature's policies for
telecommunications in California.
   This bill would include, in the Legislature's policies for
telecommunications in California, providing educational institutions,
health care institutions,  community based  
community-based  organizations, and governmental institutions
with access to advanced telecommunications services in recognition of
their economic and societal impact.   The bill would state the
intent of the Legislature that the Public Utilities Commission should
provide community-based organizations with comparable discounts for
community technology programs, as defined, that are provided to
schools and libraries to address inequality of access to advanced
telecommunications services. 
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  no.
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   services  to
all Californians.
   (b) To focus efforts on providing educational institutions, health
care institutions, community based organizations, and governmental
institutions with access to advanced telecommunications services in
recognition of their economic and societal impact.
   (c) 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.
   (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.   
  SEC. 2.  Section 884 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
   884.  (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that any program
administered by the commission that addresses the inequality of
access to advanced telecommunications services by providing those
services to schools and libraries at a discounted price should also
provide comparable discounts to community based organizations for
community technology programs.
   (b) For purposes of this section, a "community technology program"
is a program provided by a community based, nonprofit organization
that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code that disseminates technology in local communities and
trains local communities in the use of technology.