BILL NUMBER: SB 379	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 25, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 25, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Senators Fuller and Cannella
    (   Coauthors:   Senators  
Berryhill,   La Malfa,   Rubio,   and
Vargas   ) 

                        FEBRUARY 15, 2011

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


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 379, as amended, 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 telecommunications for California  , including 
 to include  : (1) to continue our universal service
commitment by ensuring the continued affordability and widespread
availability of high-quality telecommunications 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)   and (2)  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 telecommunications
services.
   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 telecommunications in California are as follows:
   (a) To continue our universal service commitment by ensuring the
continued affordability and widespread availability of high-quality
telecommunications 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
telecommunications services.
   (d) To encourage the development and deployment of new
technologies and the equitable provision of services in a way that
efficiently meets consumer needs and encourages the ubiquitous
availability of a wide choice of state-of-the-art services.
   (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.
   (f) To promote economic growth, job creation, and the substantial
social benefits that will result from the rapid implementation of
advanced  telecommunications and information  
information and communications  technologies by facilitating
adequate long-term investment in the necessary infrastructure
 throughout the state, including in rural areas  .
   (g) To promote lower prices, broader consumer choice, and
avoidance of anticompetitive conduct.
   (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.
   (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.