Communications: Digital Equity Bill of Rights.

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 that will promote economic growth, job creation, and the substantial social benefits of advanced information communications technologies, as specified. This bill, the Digital Equity Bill of Rights, would state that it is the policy of the state, to ensure digital equity for all residents of the state, that residents shall have the right to broadband that meets specific requirements, and that broadband internet subscribers benefit from equal access to broadband internet service. The bill would provide any person or entity the right to petition the state for relief on or after January 1, 2027, if the state fails to act in good faith and pursue all reasonable measures to effectuate the Digital Equity Bill of Rights, as specified. The bill would require the commission, on or before January 1, 2025, to adopt rules to facilitate equal access to broadband internet service, as specified, and require that any rules adopted by the commission promote equal access to robust broadband internet service by prohibiting deployment discrimination, as specified. The bill would require the commission to develop model policies and best practices that local governmental entities may use to ensure that broadband internet service providers do not engage in digital discrimination and would require the commission to revise its public complaint process to accept complaints from consumers or other members of the public that relate to digital discrimination. Under existing law a violation of the Public Utilities Act is a crime. Because the provisions of the bill would be codified in the act, a violation of which would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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.