BILL NUMBER: SB 323	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Kehoe

                        FEBRUARY 16, 2007

   An act to add Section 882.5 to the Public Utilities Code, relating
to telecommunications.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 323, as introduced, Kehoe. Telecommunications: broadband
report.
   Existing law required the Public Utitilities Commission to
consider ways to ensure that advanced telecommunications services are
made available as ubiquitously and economically as possible, in a
timely fashion to California's citizens, institutions, and businesses
and to develop rules, procedures, orders, or strategies, to provide
all citizens and businesses with access to the widest possible array
of advanced communications services, to provide the state's
educational and health care institutions with access to advanced
communications services, and to ensure cost-effective deployment of
technology so as to protect ratepayer's interests and the
affordability of telecommunications service.
   This bill would require the commission, by January 1, 2009, and by
January 1 of each year through 2013, to report to the Legislature on
the availability of two-way broadband telecommunications access in
the state.
   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 882.5 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
   882.5.  On or before January 1, 2009, and by January 1 of each
year through 2013, the commission shall report to the Legislature on
the availability of two-way broadband telecommunications access,
including both of the following:
   (a) All geographic areas where two-way broadband access is
unavailable.
   (b) All geographic areas where there is a lack of competition for
providing two-way broadband.