BILL NUMBER: SB 909	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  870
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 30, 2006
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 30, 2006
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 31, 2006
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 31, 2006
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 24, 2006
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JANUARY 4, 2006
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 18, 2005
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 9, 2005
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 12, 2005

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Bowen

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2005

   An act to amend Section 884 of the Public Utilities Code, relating
to broadband services, and making an appropriation therefor.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 909, Bowen  Broadband services.
   Existing law establishes the California Teleconnect Fund
Administrative Committee to advise the Public Utilities Commission
regarding the implementation, development, and administration of a
program to advance universal service by providing discounted rates to
qualifying schools, libraries, hospitals, health clinics, and
community organizations, and to carry out the program pursuant to the
commission's direction, control, and approval (teleconnect program).
  Existing law establishes the California Teleconnect Fund
Administrative Committee Fund in the State Treasury, and requires
that moneys from the fund only be expended upon appropriation in the
annual Budget Act and requires that the moneys appropriated be
utilized exclusively by the commission for the authorized teleconnect
programs. Existing law authorizes the commission to expend up to
$3,000,000 for up to an additional 40% of the one-time installation
costs of advanced telecommunications services, as defined, for
certain entities that do not have access to those services, from the
unencumbered difference between what is appropriated and what is
expended by the commission from the California Teleconnect Fund
Administrative Committee Fund for the 2003-04 and 2004-05 fiscal
years.
   The Budget Act of 2006 reappropriated $2,000,000 for the
above-described purposes for encumbrance or expenditure until June
30, 2008.
   This bill would instead authorize the commission to expend up to
$2,000,000 of the unencumbered amount for the nonrecurring
installation costs of high-speed broadband services, as defined, for
community organizations that are eligible for discounted rates
pursuant to the teleconnect program. By removing the 40% limitation
and expanding eligible expenses to nonrecurring installation costs,
the bill would make an appropriation.
   Appropriation: yes.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 884 of the Public Utilities Code is amended 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 high-speed broadband services by providing those services
to schools and libraries at a discounted price, provide comparable
discounts to a nonprofit community technology program.
   (b) Notwithstanding any other law or existing program of the
commission, but consistent with the purposes for which those funds
were appropriated from the California Teleconnect Fund Administrative
Committee Fund in Item 8660-001-0493 of Section 2.00 of the Budget
Act of 2003 (Chapter 157 of the Statutes of 2003), and reappropriated
in Item 8660-491 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2006 (Chapter
47 of the Statutes of 2006), the commission may expend up to two
million dollars ($2,000,000) of the unencumbered amount of those
funds for the nonrecurring installation costs for high-speed
broadband services for community organizations that are eligible for
discounted rates pursuant to Section 280.
   (c) For the purpose of this section:
   (1) "High-speed broadband services" means a system for the digital
transmission of information over the Internet at a speed of at least
384 kilobits per second.
   (2) "Nonprofit community technology program" means a
community-based nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation
under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and engages in
diffusing technology into local communities and training local
communities that have no access to, or have limited access to, the
Internet and advanced telecommunications technologies.