BILL NUMBER: SB 1066	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   JULY 14, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   MAY 10, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   APRIL 5, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Bowen

                        FEBRUARY 26, 1999

   An act  to add Article 5 (commencing with Section 2898) to
Chapter 10 of Part 2 of Division 1 of the Public Utilities Code,
 relating to telecommunications.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1066, as amended, Bowen.  Telecommunications  :  line
sharing  .
   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   require
the Public Utilities Commission to open a proceeding to determine how
to implement line sharing if the Federal Communication Commission
determines that line sharing is feasible and would prohibit the
Public Utilities Commission from adopting regulations that are
contrary to any determination by the Federal Communication Commission
that line sharing is not feasible  .
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  
no   yes  . 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.  While operational issues have yet to be
resolved, the FCC appears to be supportive of line sharing.

   (f) Therefore, if the FCC  
  SEC. 2.  Article 5 (commencing with Section 2898) is added to
Chapter 10 of Part 2 of Division 1 of the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
      Article 5.  Line Sharing

   2898.  If the Federal Communications Commission  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
  line sharing is feasible, the commission shall open a
 proceeding to determine how best to implement line sharing.  If
the  FCC   Federal Communications Commission
 determines that line sharing is not  feasible, then it
is the intent of the Legislature that the state  
feasible, the commission shall  not adopt regulations that are
contrary to that determination.