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AB-1231 Telecommunications: combining lifeline, federal lifeline, and federal Affordable Connectivity Program subsidies.(2023-2024)



Current Version: 04/26/23 - Amended Assembly

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AB1231:v96#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Assembly  April 26, 2023
Amended  IN  Assembly  April 07, 2023
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 21, 2023

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 1231

Introduced by Assembly Member Santiago

February 16, 2023

An act to add Section 879.1 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to telecommunications.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1231, as amended, Santiago. Telecommunications: combining lifeline, federal lifeline, and federal Affordable Connectivity Program subsidies.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including telephone corporations. The Moore Universal Telephone Service Act establishes the Universal Lifeline Telephone Service program in order to provide low-income households with access to affordable basic residential telephone service.
This bill would, no later than February 1, 2024, require the commission to allow every a wireline and wireless lifeline telephone service subscriber to combine California lifeline subsidies with federal low-income communications subsidies, including, but not limited to, federal lifeline and federal Affordable Connectivity Program subsidies, on the same service line to provide a more robust voice and broadband plan. The bill would prohibit the commission from disallowing any portion of payment to a telephone corporation providing lifeline telephone service based on the combination of those subsidies. The bill would, where the full specific support amount, as defined, can be claimed based on the applicable retail service offering, prohibit the commission from denying the full specific support amount for California lifeline to a service line that combines those subsidies. subsidies, except as provided.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 879.1 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:

879.1.
 (a) No later than February 1, 2024, the commission shall allow every a wireline and wireless lifeline telephone service subscriber to combine California lifeline subsidies with federal low-income communications subsidies, including, but not limited to, federal lifeline and federal Affordable Connectivity Program subsidies, on the same service line to provide a more robust voice and broadband plan. The commission shall not disallow any portion of payment to a telephone corporation providing lifeline telephone service based on the combination of those subsidies. Where subsidies, except that where the full specific support amount can be claimed based on the applicable retail service offering, the commission shall not deny the full specific support amount for California lifeline to a service line that combines those subsidies. reimburse the provider based on the extent to which the provider has offered a more robust public benefit.
(b) As used in this section, “specific support amount” means a maximum support amount reimbursed to California lifeline service providers for the monthly recurring charge of California lifeline service to subscribers, as may be adjusted annually by the commission.