AB 2252

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including telephone corporations. Existing law requires the commission, in consultation with the Office of Emergency Services, to identify the need for telecommunications service systems not on customers' premises to have backup electricity to enable telecommunications networks to function. Existing law requires the commission to report certain information to the Legislature. This bill would, following a state or local disaster for which the Governor has issued a declaration of emergency, require the commission, within 12 months of the declaration of the emergency, to collect specified information from broadband service providers relating to the provider's efforts to restore, repair, or replace broadband infrastructure that was damaged as a result of the disaster, as specified. The bill would require that the information collected from broadband service providers by the commission be broken down by each disaster, submitted annually in a report by the commission to the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature, and posted in a conspicuous area on the commission's internet website. The bill would authorize the commission to make that information public, consistent with the commission's procedures. 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 a violation of a commission action implementing its requirements would be a crime, the 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.