Bill Provides Consumer Benefits, Will Slash Carbon Footprint
SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Silicon Valley), co-chairman of the California Technology and Innovation Caucus, today introduced legislation that will enable a state policy to promote broader access to internet-based telecommunications services and help the state meet its carbon reduction goals.
"California telecommunications law established in the 1950's needs to be modernized so our state can continue to be the world's innovation leader as well as the pioneer in addressing climate change," said Low. "This legislation establishes a state policy for a clearly communicated, planned and orderly transition from the last vestiges of the outdated, and carbon unfriendly plainold-telephone-service (POTS) network to modern, fiber-optic networks and services."
Assembly Bill 2395 specifically:
- Provides a roadmap for the transition from the POTS network to advanced IP-based communications services no sooner than 2020;
- Requires telecommunications providers that elect to transition their networks to educate consumers with an outreach program that includes a description of the environmental benefits of the transition;
- Requires transitioning providers to certify that alternative services are available;
- Requires that "alternative services" meet FCC standards;
- Requires confirmation of alternative services by the California Public Utilities Commission;
- Provides that in areas where alternative services are not yet available, existing services will be maintained.
"It's essential that we embrace this technology that so many other states already have, because right now we have a 21st Century economy operating on a 20th Century IT network," Low said. "California seniors are moving away from outdated, plain-old-telephone voice-only networks to IP-based technologies that connect them to anyone, anywhere, on any device – that includes using new technologies that provide access to telemedicine and video conferencing with family across the country," said Gary Passmore, Vice President Congress of California Seniors. "But we need to make sure we don't leave any older Californians behind. We need to work to make sure we modernize regulations so that older Californians don't get stuck on "the Island of POTs."
Most Californians have already made the transition to IP-enabled wireline and mobile technologies. Since 1999, there has been an 85 percent decline in the number of California homes using traditional landlines. Less than one in ten residential voice lines are now traditional plain-old-telephone lines.
"We are one step closer to moving from outdated communications infrastructure to modern networks and services that benefit the state's entire business community," said Cathy Rodriguez, President/CEO of the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "By reinforcing California's position as a technology leader committed to innovation, AB 2395 modernizes state policy to catch up to consumer demand for services and technologies that run on a more advanced network More than 86 percent of Californians use high-speed Internet at home and 92 percent of Californians use a smartphone or other mobile phone, Low noted. Since 2014, when wireless was first offered to the state's low-income families via the state's Lifeline program, 70 percent of those consumers have already chosen wireless technology over plain-old-telephone-service (POTS).
"California's current communications laws actually encourage people to stay isolated on old voice-only phone lines, which keeps them shut away from a wide world of information," said Kish Rajan of CALinnovates. "That's not the way to bridge the digital divide. California's policies need to help and encourage the last remaining consumers to make the short leap from voice-only phones hooked up to copper wires to VOIP and smart devices connected to broadband networks."
Maintaining the state's existing plain-old-telephone network in California creates an estimated greenhouse gas equivalent of burning 100 million pounds of coal each year. Further, the network uses 3 billion gallons of water annually and consumes the power equivalent to running nearly 90,000 90-sera refrigerators 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
"The future of public safety communications requires all consumers and all first responders have access to IP-based services," said James Gonzales of the San Jose Police Officers Association.
"75% of all 911 calls now come from mobile phones, so we have to adapt to what consumers are using. New public safety technologies will also help improve response times and coordination within our own police force and in coordinating with other agencies. AB 2395 will ensure that our officers have access to the latest technologies so they are best equipped to respond."
The bill will have its first hearing on Wednesday, April 13th.
