BILL NUMBER: SB 379	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Fuller

                        FEBRUARY 15, 2011

   An act to amend Section 709 of the Public Utilities Code, relating
to telecommunications.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 379, as introduced, Fuller. Telecommunications policies.
   Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
authority over public utilities, including telephone corporations,
as defined. Existing law declares the policies for telecommunications
for California, including: (1) to continue our universal service
commitment by assuring the continued affordability and widespread
availability of high-quality telecommunications services to all
Californians; (2) to focus efforts on providing educational
institutions, health care institutions, community-based
organizations, and governmental institutions with access to advanced
telecommunications services in recognition of their economic and
societal impact; and (3) to promote economic growth, job creation,
and the substantial social benefits that will result from the rapid
implementation of advanced information and communications
technologies by adequate long-term investment in the necessary
infrastructure.
   This bill would instead declare the policies for advanced
telecommunications and information services for California,
including: (1) to continue our universal service commitment by
ensuring the continued affordability and widespread availability of
high-quality telecommunications and information services to all
Californians; (2) to focus efforts on providing public safety
institutions, educational institutions, health care institutions,
community-based organizations, and governmental institutions with
access to advanced telecommunications and information services in
recognition of their economic and societal impact; (3) to promote
economic growth, job creation, and the substantial social benefits
that will result from the rapid implementation of advanced
telecommunications and information technologies by facilitating
adequate long-term investment in the necessary infrastructure
throughout the state, including in rural areas; and (4) to continue
universal service rate support for telephone corporations subject to
rate-of-return regulation by the commission for the purpose of
providing rural areas of the state with access to advanced
telecommunications and information services that are reasonably
equivalent to access in urban areas.
   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 709 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to
read:
   709.  The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the policies
for  advanced  telecommunications  and information
services  in California are as follows:
   (a) To continue our universal service commitment by 
assuring   ensuring  the continued affordability
and widespread availability of high-quality telecommunications 
and information  services to all Californians.
   (b) To focus efforts on providing  public safety institutions,
 educational institutions, health care institutions,
community-based organizations, and governmental institutions with
access to advanced telecommunications  and information 
services in recognition of their economic and societal impact. 
   (c) To continue universal service rate support for telephone
corporations subject to rate-of-return regulation by the commission
for the purpose of providing rural areas of the state with access to
advanced telecommunications and information services that are
reasonably equivalent to access in urban areas.  
   (c) 
    (d)  To encourage the development and deployment of new
technologies and the equitable provision of services in a way that
efficiently meets consumer  need   needs 
and encourages the ubiquitous availability of a wide choice of
state-of-the-art services. 
   (d) 
    (e)  To assist in bridging the "digital divide" by
encouraging expanded access to state-of-the-art technologies for
rural, inner-city, low-income, and disabled Californians. 
   (e) 
    (f)  To promote economic growth, job creation, and the
substantial social benefits that will result from the rapid
implementation of advanced  telecommunications and 
information  and communications  technologies by
 facilitating  adequate long-term investment in the
necessary infrastructure  throughout the state, including in
rural areas  . 
   (f) 
    (g)  To promote lower prices, broader consumer choice,
and avoidance of anticompetitive conduct. 
   (g) 
    (h)  To remove the barriers to open and competitive
markets and promote fair product and price competition in a way that
encourages greater efficiency, lower prices, and more consumer
choice. 
   (h) 
    (i)  To encourage fair treatment of consumers through
provision of sufficient information for making informed choices,
establishment of reasonable service quality standards, and
establishment of processes for equitable resolution of billing and
service problems.