BILL NUMBER: SB 1741	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE   MARCH 30, 2000

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Bowen
    (Coauthor:  Senator O'Connell) 

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2000

   An act to add Section 7943 to the Public Utilities Code, relating
to telecommunications.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1741, as amended, Bowen.  Telecommunications:  technology
specific area codes.
   Under federal law, the Federal Communications Commission has
delegated authority to the Public Utilities Commission to regulate
area codes within the state subject to specific guidelines.  
One of those   The  guidelines  is that
the state cannot approve   prohibit  an area code
based on specific technology  and require 10 digit dialing for
all telephone calls within and between all area codes covered by an
area code overlay  .
   This bill would require the Public Utilities Commission to request
authority from the Federal Communications Commission to require
telephone corporations to establish technology specific area codes
based on wireless and data communications  and to permit 7 digit
dialing within the affected area codes  .  This bill would also
prohibit the Public Utilities Commission from approving new area code
splits or overlays unless  a telephone utilization study has
been performed and all reasonable telephone number conservation has
been implemented, a technology specific area code had been
established in the affected area  , if authorized,  and
further area code relief is warranted.
   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.  Section 7943 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
   7943.  (a) On or before March 31, 2001, the commission shall
request that the Federal Communications Commission grant authority
for the commission to order telephone corporations to assign
telephone numbers dedicated to wireless and data usage to a separate
area code  and to permit seven digit dialing within the affected
area codes  .
   (b)  Before approving any new area code, the commission shall
first perform a telephone utilization study and implement all
reasonable telephone number conservation measures.
   (c)  If the commission receives the grant of authority set
forth in subdivision (a), the commission may not approve an area code
split or an area code overlay unless  it has complied with
subdivision (b) and  both of the following occur:
   (1) The commission has previously ordered that telephone numbers
dedicated to wireless and data usage in the proposed area code split
or overlay be assigned to a separate area code.
   (2) Further area code relief is warranted.