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 discounted rates to qualifying schools maintaining kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, community colleges, libraries, hospitals, health clinics, and community organizations. This bill would specify that discounted rates are available to qualifying schools maintaining preschools and transitional kindergartens. The bill would require the commission to develop and implement an outreach plan to preschools and transitional kindergartens to increase awareness of services available to these schools under the program described above. This bill would require the commission to revise the program described above to give priority for advanced communications services as the commission deems appropriate. The bill would require the commission to ensure that the program described above does not favor a particular technology used to provide advanced communications services to qualifying entities. The bill would require the commission to open or amend an existing proceeding to develop a plan on the feasibility and expense associated with establishing and maintaining a database of communication services purchased by qualifying entities receiving financial support from the program and the prices paid for those communication services. The bill would require the commission to report the plan findings or progress on the plan to the Legislature and to specified committees of the Legislature no later than March 1, 2016.