Bill Text: CA AB286 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended

California Assembly Bill 286 (Prior Session Legislation)

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

Bill Title: Broadband infrastructure: mapping.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-10-10 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 645, Statutes of 2023. [AB286 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB286-Amended.html

Amended IN Senate June 29, 2023

Amended IN Assembly April 11, 2023

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 286

Introduced by Assembly Member Wood

January 24, 2023

An act to amend Section 281.6 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to communications.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 286, as amended, Wood. Broadband infrastructure: mapping.

Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission, in collaboration with relevant state agencies and stakeholders, to maintain and update a statewide, publicly accessible, and interactive map showing the accessibility of broadband service in the state. Existing law authorizes the commission to collect information from providers of broadband services at the address level and prohibits the commission from disclosing certain protected residential subscriber information.

This bill would require that the map identify, for each address in the state, each provider of broadband services that offers service at the address and the maximum speed of broadband services offered by each provider of broadband services at the address.

The bill would additionally require that map to include certain features to receive self-reported data, including, among others, a feature that allows individuals to refute the broadband speed or technology, or both, that an internet service provider claims to offer at an address. The bill would require that map to include a feature for users to submit a verified speed test, as defined, at their location. The bill would make this self-reported data publicly available by address and would require the commission to ~~make individuals aware that this information will be made publicly available by address,~~ obtain consent from an individual before publicly disclosing information that the individual submits, as provided. The bill would prohibit the commission from accepting certain self-reported information collected by the commission as evidence in a commission proceeding unless the commission validates the accuracy of that self-reported information.

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

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

SECTION 1.

Section 281.6 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:

281.6.

(a) The commission, in collaboration with relevant state agencies and stakeholders, shall maintain and update a statewide, publicly accessible, and interactive map showing the accessibility of broadband service in the state, including, but not limited to, information identifying the percentage of each census block that has broadband service meeting federal and state standards. The map shall identify, for each address in the state, each provider of broadband services that offers service at the address and the maximum speed of broadband services offered by each provider of broadband services at the address.

(b) The map required pursuant to subdivision (a) shall also include all of the following features to receive self-reported data:

~~(1)A feature for users to submit a qualified broadband speed test at their location.~~
~~(2)~~

(1) A feature for users to disclose how much they pay for ~~standalone~~ stand-alone or bundled broadband service.

~~(3)~~

(2) A feature for users to identify the internet service provider to which they subscribe for broadband ~~service and rate their satisfaction with their current provider.~~ service.

~~(4)~~

(3) A feature for users to disclose the maximum speed for broadband service to which they subscribe.

~~(5)~~

(4) A feature that allows individuals to refute the broadband speed or technology, or both, that an internet service provider claims to offer at an address.

~~(6)~~

(5) A feature that allows individuals to identify barriers to broadband access.

(c) The features and self-reported data required pursuant to ~~subdivision~~ subdivisions (b) and (h) shall be made publicly available and expressed at the address for which the data was submitted. The commission shall ~~make individuals aware that all information they provide~~ obtain consent from an individual before publicly disclosing information that the individual submits pursuant to subdivision (b) ~~will be made publicly available at the address level.~~ or (h).

(d) The commission may collect from providers of broadband services information necessary to establish and update the map required pursuant to this section.

(e) The commission shall also create a notification feature on the map for individuals. Using this feature, an individual may sign up to be notified when updates are made to the map.

(f) The commission may collect information from providers of broadband services at the address level.

(g) The commission shall not, pursuant to subdivision (a), (d), or (e), disclose residential subscriber information protected by Section 2891.

(h) The map required pursuant to subdivision (a) shall include a feature for users to submit a verified speed test at their location.
(i) The commission shall not accept information collected by the commission pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (c) as evidence in a commission proceeding unless the commission validates the accuracy of the self-reported information.
~~(h)~~

(j) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Broadband” has the same meaning as defined in Section 5830.

(2) ~~“Qualified broadband~~ “Verified speed test” means a broadband speed performance test result that was measured and verified using a reputable ~~or verifiable~~ application ~~intended~~ specified by the commission for that purpose.