BILL NUMBER: AB 994 AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JANUARY 14, 2000 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JANUARY 5, 2000 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Wright (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Strom-Martin) FEBRUARY 25, 1999 An act relating to public utilities. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 994, as amended, R. Wright. Rural telephone cooperatives. Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission regulates public utilities. This bill would require the commission to prepare and submit to the Governor and the Legislature a report on the feasibility of establishing rural telephone cooperatives or other alternative service configurations to promote rural telephone service in the state, as prescribed. 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. On or before January 1, 2002, the Public Utilities Commission shall prepare and submit to the Governor and the Legislature a report on the feasibility of establishing rural telephone cooperatives or other alternative service configuration, or both, to promote rural telephone service in the state. The commission shall include in the reportrecommendationsall of the following: (a) Costs to California ratepayers, telecommunications carriers, and cooperative members of all feasible alternatives to rural telephone service. (b) Sources of support for grants, loans, or federal program moneys and how these sources are currently funded. (c) Recommendations concerning appropriate legislation.