BILL NUMBER: SB 1066	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE   MAY 10, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   APRIL 5, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Bowen

                        FEBRUARY 26, 1999

   An act relating to telecommunications.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1066, as amended, Bowen.  Telecommunications.
   Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission is vested with
regulatory authority over the public utilities, including telephone
corporations.  Existing law sets forth legislative findings and
declarations regarding telecommunications policies for California.
   This bill would make legislative findings and declarations
relating to telecommunications.
   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.  The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) Both California policy and federal policy have encouraged the
rapid deployment of advanced telecommunications services and
capabilities to all citizens, institutions, and businesses.
   (b) High-speed connections between the telecommunications network
and end users are critical for consumer acceptance of important new
telecommunications services, including electronic commerce,
telemedicine, distance learning, telecommuting, video telephony, and
television.
   (c) California's consumers, businesses, and institutions will
benefit significantly from expanded competition and enhanced
availability of high-speed services provided over communications
networks.
   (d) Competition in providing high-speed services can be expanded,
thereby lowering prices and increasing availability, if existing
telephone service providers are required to permit competitors to
share in the use of existing telephone lines, known as line sharing
   (e) In March 1999, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
tentatively concluded that line sharing is technically feasible.  The
FCC further tentatively concluded that nothing prevents California
from requiring line sharing.   The FCC cited an example where
Pacific Bell is today sharing the use of its telephone lines.
 While operational issues have yet to be resolved, the FCC
appears to be supportive of line sharing.  
   (f) Therefore, pending the FCC's resolution of the technical and
operational issues, it is the intent of the  
   (f) Therefore, if the FCC resolves the technical and policy issues
related to line sharing and determines that line sharing is
feasible, it is the intent of the  Legislature that the
California Public Utilities Commission open a proceeding to determine
how best to implement line sharing.   If the FCC determines that
line sharing is not feasible, then it is the intent of the
Legislature that the state not adopt regulations that are contrary to
that determination.