Bill Text: CA AB2708 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled

California Assembly Bill 2708

Bill Title: Office of Broadband and Digital Literacy: reports.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2024-07-15 - Vetoed by Governor. [AB2708 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB2708-Enrolled.html

Enrolled June 25, 2024

Passed IN Senate June 20, 2024

Passed IN Assembly May 09, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2708

Introduced by Assembly Member Jim Patterson

February 14, 2024

An act to amend Section 11549.58 of the Government Code, relating to communications.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2708, Jim Patterson. Office of Broadband and Digital Literacy: reports.

Existing law establishes the Office of Broadband and Digital Literacy within the Department of Technology and sets forth its powers and duties. Existing law requires the office to oversee the acquisition and management of contracts for the development and construction of, and for the maintenance and operation of, a statewide open-access middle-mile broadband network, as defined. Existing law requires the office, in consultation with the Department of Technology and the Department of Finance, to annually report to both budget committees of the Legislature on the broadband network, as specified.

This bill would require additional information to be included in the annual report, including, the total cost to complete the statewide open-access middle-mile broadband network, the total available funding for the statewide open-access middle-mile broadband network, and the projected completion date for the statewide open-access middle-mile broadband network.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 11549.58 of the Government Code is amended to read:

11549.58.

(a) The department shall provide oversight and policy input for the statewide open-access middle-mile broadband network.

(b) (1) Within the department shall be a Deputy Director for Broadband, who shall be appointed by, and hold office at the pleasure of, the Governor.

(2) The Deputy Director for Broadband shall be the primary point of contact for the third-party administrator, the commission, the Department of Transportation, and the Legislature.

(c) (1) The department shall establish a broadband advisory committee to monitor the construction and establishment of the statewide open-access middle-mile broadband network.

(2) The broadband advisory committee shall comprise all of the following members:

(A) A representative of the commission.

(B) A representative of the department.

(D) A representative of the Department of Finance.

(E) A representative of the Government Operations Agency.

(F) Two ex officio members, who shall be members of the Assembly and be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly. These ex officio members shall serve at the pleasure of the Speaker of the Assembly.

(G) Two ex officio members, who shall be members of the Senate and be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. These ex officio members shall serve at the pleasure of the Senate Committee on Rules.

(H) A city, county, or city and county elected government official, who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly. This member shall serve at the pleasure of the Speaker of the Assembly.

(I) A city, county, or city and county elected government official, who shall be appointed by the Senate Rules Committee. This member shall serve at the pleasure of the Senate Rules Committee.

(3) The representative of the department shall chair the broadband advisory committee.

(d) The broadband advisory committee shall meet no less often than monthly for the first 12 months following the effective date of this section, and shall meet quarterly thereafter.

(e) The third-party administrator shall seek policy advice from the broadband advisory committee.

(f) (1) On or before March 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the office, in consultation with the department and the Department of Finance, shall report to both budget committees of the Legislature all of the following:

(A) The total length of the statewide open-access middle-mile broadband network.

(B) The length of the portion of the statewide open-access middle-mile broadband network constructed in the preceding year, by quarter.

(D) The number of households projected to connect to the statewide open-access middle-mile broadband network.

(E) The total expenditures for each project, by quarter.

(F) The projected goals for each of the metrics described in subparagraphs (A) to (E), inclusive, for the 18 months following the report.

(G) The total cost to complete the statewide open-access middle-mile broadband network.

(H) The total available funding for the statewide open-access middle-mile broadband network.

(I) The projected completion date for the statewide open-access middle-mile broadband network.

(2) A report to be submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795.

(g) Upon execution of any contract for the lease, build, or joint-build of any portion of the middle-mile broadband network pursuant to this chapter, the department shall within 60 days update a map on its public internet website to identify those segments of this network that will be built, leased, or jointly built pursuant to those contracts.