BILL NUMBER: AB 876	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Bonta

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2013

   An act to add Section 280.1 to the Public Utilities Code, relating
to telecommunications.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 876, as introduced, Bonta. Telecommunications: California
Teleconnect Fund Administrative Committee Fund.
   Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission to develop
and implement a program funded by the California Teleconnect Fund
Administrative Committee Fund to advance universal service by
providing discount rates to qualifying schools, community colleges,
libraries, hospitals, health clinics, and community organizations.
   This bill would require the commission to revise the program
described above to give priority for advanced high-quality
communication services over legacy communication services. The bill
would require the commission to open a new proceeding or amend an
existing proceeding to determine whether the rates charged to
qualifying schools receiving financial support from the program are
comparable to the rates charged to for-profit entities for comparable
communication services. The bill would require the commission to
establish, maintain, and make available to the public a database of
communication services purchased by qualifying entities receiving
financial support from the program.
   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 280.1 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
   280.1.  (a) The commission shall open a new proceeding or amend an
existing proceeding to determine whether the rates charged to
qualifying schools receiving financial support from the program
developed pursuant to Section 280 are comparable to rates charged to
for-profit entities for comparable communication services.
   (b) The commission shall establish and maintain a database of
communication services purchased by qualifying entities receiving
financial support from the program developed pursuant to Section 280
to allow qualifying entities to collaborate and allow for the use of
common infrastructure to reduce costs, and make the database
available to the public on the commission's Internet Web site.
   (c) The commission shall revise the program developed pursuant to
Section 280 to give priority to using moneys in the California
Teleconnect Fund Administrative Committee Fund for advanced
high-quality communications services over legacy communication
services.