Title
Supervisor Ranalli recommending the Board authorize the Chair to sign a letter addressed to California State Assembly Member Evan Low stating the Board's opposition to his proposed AB 2395.
Body
AB 2395 (Low) proposes to offer consumers alternative telecom service, often available through Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or Internet Protocol (IP) and/or wireless services. These services primarily rely on fiber or broadband-based networks that are often non-existent and too costly to deploy over the short-term in rural communities.
AB 2395 includes a mechanism that will allow legacy carriers to relinquish their decades-old obligations that guarantee basic two-way telephone service via a landline. The bill includes language to require legacy telephone carriers to meet certain thresholds before a relinquishment; however, there is concern that the bill does not ensure alternatives that are affordable, provide good quality-of-service, and remain viable over the long-term.
While the deployment and expansion of modern telecommunication networks in the County of El Dorado is a priority for the County in order to maintain our economic competitiveness and provide our schools, libraries, businesses and residents with 21st Century connectivity, the alternative telecom services proposed per AB 2395 rely on technologies not yet available to many communities throughout our rural County. AB 2395, as currently proposed, does not include an absolute guarantee that reliable, affordable and quality options will be available to consumers should telecommunication providers relinquish their traditional landline services. The loss of traditional landline services without reliable, affordable and quality options will directly impact residents who do not have access to telecommunication options due to location, age and income.
AB 2395 was referred to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations and is expected to be scheduled for hearing by this committee within the coming we...
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