BILL NUMBER: SB 396	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  JULY 7, 2005
	PASSED THE SENATE  MAY 9, 2005
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 7, 2005

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Battin

                        FEBRUARY 17, 2005

   An act relating to telecommunications.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 396, Battin  Telecommunications: toll call pricing.
   Existing law authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to
regulate telephone corporations.
   This bill would require the commission to examine the impact of
toll call pricing in the Coachella Valley and to consider whether
additional options are needed to serve that area. The bill would
require the commission to consider whether any additional steps are
necessary to encourage innovative pricing plans by incumbent and
competitive carriers and would authorize the commission to consider
whether customer education efforts or other measures that are in the
public interest are necessary. The bill would require the commission
to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature on or before July
1, 2007, regarding these issues.
   The bill would provide that its provisions would be repealed on
January 1, 2008.


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


  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) Population and economic growth in the Coachella Valley have
outpaced many other areas of the state as residents and businesses
have migrated to the area to establish homes, employment, and other
community infrastructure.
   (b) The local interests of residents and businesses in the early
communities in the Coachella Valley have expanded beyond those early
communities to include community links throughout the valley.
   (c) Historically, extended area service (EAS) plans were
available, before the enactment of the federal Telecommunications Act
of 1996, for customers located in some established communities of
interest to mitigate toll call pricing. However, in Public Utilities
Commission Decision 98-06-075, the commission determined that with
the advent of competition for toll service, the public interest would
be served by allowing the market to offer customers choices for toll
call pricing.
   (d) There have been concerns in the Coachella Valley about the
impact of toll call pricing upon the greater community of interest
and commerce in the valley.
   (e) The commission should investigate the effectiveness of the
competitive marketplace and consumer awareness in the Coachella
Valley and consider options to address these concerns. The commission
should consider what additional steps might be necessary to
encourage the availability of innovative pricing options by incumbent
and competitive carriers for customers concerned about toll call
pricing in the Coachella Valley.
  SEC. 2.  The Public Utilities Commission shall examine the impact
of toll call pricing in the Coachella Valley and shall consider
whether additional options are needed to serve that area. The
commission shall consider whether any additional steps are necessary
to encourage innovative pricing plans by incumbent and competitive
carriers. The commission may also consider whether customer education
efforts or other measures that are in the public interest are
necessary. The commission shall prepare and submit a report to the
Legislature on or before July 1, 2007, regarding these issues.
  SEC. 3.  The Legislature finds and declares that due to unique
circumstances relating to the Coachella Valley, a general statute
cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article
IV of the California Constitution.
  SEC. 4.  This act shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2008, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2008, deletes or extends
that date.