BILL NUMBER: SB 1013	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Padilla

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2007

   An act to amend Section 873 of the Public Utilities Code, relating
to telecommunications.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1013, as introduced, Padilla. Telecommunications: universal
service.
   The Moore Universal Telephone Service Act established the
Universal Lifeline Telephone Service (ULTS) program in order to
provide low-income households with access to affordable basic
residential telephone service. Existing law requires the Public
Utilities Commission to annually designate a class of lifeline
service necessary to meet minimum residential communications needs.
Existing law provides that minimum residential communications needs
includes the ability to originate and receive calls and the ability
to access electronic information services.
   This bill would require the commission to annually designate a
class of lifeline service, including broadband service, necessary to
meet minimum residential communications needs, including the ability
to originate and receive calls and the ability to access electronic
information services at reasonable download and upload speeds.
   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 873 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to
read:
   873.  (a) The commission shall annually do all of the following:
   (1) Designate a class of lifeline service  , including
broadband service,  necessary to meet minimum residential
communications needs.
   (2) Set the rates and charges for that service.
   (3) Develop eligibility criteria for that service.
   (4) Assess the degree of achievement of universal service,
including telephone penetration rates by income, ethnicity, and
geography.
   This information shall be annually reported to the Legislature by
the commission in a document which can be made public.
   (b) Minimum residential communications needs  includes,
but is not limited to,   include  the ability to
originate and receive calls and the ability to access electronic
information services  at reasonable download and upload speeds
 .