California Emerging Technology Fund: focus and funding priorities.

Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including telephone corporations. Existing law requires the commission to develop, implement, and administer the California Advanced Services Fund to encourage deployment of high-quality advanced communications services to all Californians. Existing law provides that the goal of the Broadband Infrastructure Grant Account is to, no later than December 31, 2032, approve funding for infrastructure projects that will provide broadband access to no less than 98% of California households, as provided. The California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) was established as a nonprofit corporation pursuant to orders from the commission, for the purpose of achieving ubiquitous access to broadband and advanced services in California, particularly in underserved communities, through the use of emerging technologies by 2010. This bill would require the commission to revise the focus of the CETF to focus on closing the digital divide, promoting digital inclusion, and achieving digital equity by assisting nonprofit community-based organizations that provide services to help low-income residents find a pathway out of poverty, including through access to the internet and proficiency in digital literacy skills. The bill would require the commission to require the CETF to prioritize funding to nonprofit community-based organizations that provide one or more specified services and that reach the highest number of low-income residents, as specified. Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime. Because the provisions of this bill would be a part of the act and because a violation of an order or decision of the commission implementing the bill's requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.