BILL NUMBER: SB 1741	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE   APRIL 25, 2000
	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.  The
guidelines 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.   The bill would also prohibit the commission from
implementing any authority granted by the Federal Communications
Commission in a manner that impairs number portability. 
   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.  
   (1) The commission has utilized the authority granted by the
Federal Communications Commission pursuant to subdivision (a). 
   (2) Further area code relief is warranted. 
   (d) The commission may not implement any authority granted by the
Federal Communications Commission pursuant to subdivision (a), in a
manner that impairs the ability of a customer to have number
portability.