BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  SB 909
                                                                  Page  1


          SENATE THIRD READING
          SB 909 (Escutia)
          As Amended May 9, 2005
          Majority vote 

           SENATE VOTE  :22-13  
           
           UTILITIES & COMMERCE                          7 - 4             
           
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
          |Ayes:|Levine, Baca, Pavley, De  |     |                          |
          |     |La Torre, Jerome Horton,  |     |                          |
          |     |Montanez, Jones           |     |                          |
          |     |                          |     |                          |
          |-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
          |Nays:|Bogh, Blakeslee, Keene,   |     |                          |
          |     |Wyland                    |     |                          |
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 

           SUMMARY  :  Makes numerous findings and declarations regarding  
          state regulation of telecommunications and video services.   
          Specifically,  this bill  finds and declares that:

          1)Technological advances are allowing telephone corporations,  
            satellite-direct video providers, and commercial mobile radio  
            service providers to compete with cable television  
            corporations in the provision of video services.

          2)It is in the public interest to have widespread access to  
            multiple providers that are competing fairly to offer video  
            services to consumers.

          3)It is state policy to establish fair competition in the areas  
            of telecommunications and video service.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  Unknown

           COMMENTS  :  According to the author, the purpose of this bill is  
          to unify the different regulatory structures and obligations  
          that apply to cable and telecommunications companies that offer  
          video services in California.
           
          Current regulations of telecommunications services are based on  
          the type of wire or "pipeline" used by companies to provide the  








                                                                  SB 909
                                                                  Page  2


          service to consumers.  For example, telephone corporations  
          providing voice service over copper wires are regulated  
          differently than cable corporations offering video service over  
          coaxial cable.  Recent technological developments allow voice,  
          video, and data to be delivered over a variety of different  
          "pipelines."  This has resulted in cable companies offering  
          voice service, and phone companies offering video service as  
          stated in the findings and declarations contained in this bill.   
          This bill makes additional findings and declarations that it is  
          state policy to establish fair competition in the converging  
          areas of telecommunications and video service.  
           

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Adam Hunt / U. & C. / (916) 319-2083 


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