CSAC, UCC, and RCRC are opposed to
Assembly Bill 2797 by Assemblymember Tina McKinnor. AB 2797
proposes that telephone corporations seeking relief from carrier
of last resort obligations will no longer need to fulfill those
obligations if they submit a notice to the California Public
Utilities Commission and make specific changes to their tariffs.
They would also need to identify areas with no population or no
basic exchange telephone service customers, or areas designated
as urban where alternative voice services are offered by multiple
providers. Additionally, they would have to acknowledge that they
will not discontinue basic exchange telephone service until
certain federal requirements are met. The bill also requires
telephone corporations to provide public benefits commitments,
including educating affected customers about transitioning to
modern networks and services. This bill establishes a process
wholly outside any oversight and approval framework, gifting
for-profit companies with financial incentives to make
self-interested findings to be the sole arbiters to the truth and
accuracy of that information.
Lastly, AB 2797 puts the industry’s interests ahead of the needs
of some of the most disadvantaged Californians and will interfere
with the ability to reach emergency services, receive evacuation
notices, or simply call a friend or family member for help. The
bill does not provide a transition process for these communities
to receive these modern telecommunications. Rather, it is a
process for companies to abandon essential services, at the cost
of public safety and consumer safeguards.
Your county’s opposition to AB 2797 would greatly aid our
advocacy efforts.
AB 2797 is waiting to be heard in the Senate Energy, Utilities
and Communications Committee (hearing date TBD). An
AB 2797 opposition letter template is provided so that your
county may use it to register a formal opposition position on the
bill.
Thank you for your consideration. Please don’t hesitate to reach
out to Kalyn Dean, Legislative Advocate at kdean@counties.org, and Stanicia
Boatner, Legislative Analyst at sboatner@counties.org if you
have any questions.
