Assembly Standing Committee on Communications and Conveyance

The communications and conveyance committee is now called to order. My name is Tasha Boerner as I serve and I serve as the chair of this committee. Joining me on the dais today are, assembly members Chris Rogers, Leticia Castillo, Maggie Krell, and then Blanca Rubio. We're also joined by Emilio Perez, chief consultant communications committee, and Elizabeth Delgado, the committee secretary, as well as Daniel Balan, the Republican policy consultant. There's only one item on today's agenda.

Before we get begin our presentation, I'd like to take care of some logistical housekeeping. As we proceed with witnesses and public comment, I wanna make sure everyone understands the assembly has rules to ensure we maintain order and run an efficient and fair hearing. We apply these rules we apply these rules consistently to all people who participate in our proceedings regardless of the viewpoints they express.

We seek to protect the rights of all who participate in the legislative process so that we can effectively we can have effective deliberate deliberation and decisions on the critical issues facing California. You can exit the hearing room once you're done testifying or return to your seat.

Now let's cover the ground rules for appropriate conduct. The assembly has experienced a number of disruptions to committee and floor proceedings in the last few years. In order to facilitate the goal of hearing as much from the public within the limits of our time, we will not permit conduct that disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of legislative proceedings. We will not accept disruptive behavior or behavior that incites or threatens violence.

The rules today for today's hearing include no talking or loud noises from the audience.

Public comment may be provided only at the designated time and place as permitted by the chair. Public comment must be must relate to the subject being discussed today. No engaging in conduct that disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of these hearings. Please be aware that violations of these rules may be subject to subject you to removal or other enforcement actions. It looks like we have a quorum, so the committee secretary, please take attendance. Please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Okay. We have a quorum, and we're gonna go we're gonna hear a AB 2790 by communications and conveyance committee relating to tell California TeleConnect Fund. I'm gonna hand this over who hasn't ever shared a meeting. Maggie or Chris, which one do you want? Who wants to chair the meeting?

Maggie, you've been designated. We have a script. They make it easy. They have a script. So pretty much all you gotta do is you just run this through the script, and I have some notes here, a letter in italics you don't have to read.

Alright. We have a motion in a second. We're hearing item number one, AB 2790, relating to California Teleconnect Fund. Chair Boerner, you may open.

Good afternoon, chair and members. I'm here to present AB 2790 on behalf of communications and conveyance committee. This bill would implement changes to the eligibility and administrative procedures for the California Teleconnect Fund, the CTF program, administered by the California Public Utility Public Utilities Commission, CPC. Specifically, the bill updates the list of entities that are eligible to participate in the CTF program and clarifies how noninstructional facilities are considered.

Additionally, the bill revises the procedures for applying to the CTF, applying for applying the CTF benefit in tandem with the federal e rate program.

E rate is the federal counterpart to CTF. This bill comes in response to feedback we received from the state superintendent for public instruction and education stakeholders at this committee's oversight hearing in March. During this hearing, superintendent Thurman and other stakeholders raised concern about the direction of the new rulemaking the CPUC initiated to update the rules for the CTF program. There is a concern that that the changes being considered by the CPUC may make the program more challenging for schools instead of more accessible.

As we continue to work with the CPUC, we aim to find agreement on how this bill can help the rulemaking process reach our common goal to keep schools and other eligible entities connected.

I'm confident that with our committees engagement through this bill, we'll provide the clarity that is needed in the regulatory process. Thank you to the majority of members who've already agreed to sign on to this bill after the first hearing. I respectfully ask for your aye vote. And here to speak in support of the bill, I have Kim Lewis on behalf of CENIC, the corporation for education network and, initiatives in California.

Good afternoon, Kim Lewis. So it's CENIC, and we operate the California Research and Education Network, which provides high speed, high capacity broadband to our educational research institutions across the state. Included in our membership is the community colleges, k through 12, and libraries who are eligible entities under the California Teleconnect Fund today. And when the program was first initiated and created thirty years ago, it was designed to be in compliance and consistent with the federal e rate program.

And so the some of the initial first applicants who are part of the program were County Office of Education and School District.

And so as, the assembly member noted, the current rulemaking calls into question some of the existing programmatic practices that could jeopardize funding for our public serving institutions at a time when reliable broadband connectivity is extremely important.

And so we just and codifying these existing practices, it will provide continuity, stability, and fairness in the program administration, particularly during periods of regulatory or staffing changes, and that there is no new funding required by this program since it is already, codifying again what existing and then currently occurring in the program. Thank you.

Thanks, miss Lewis. Are there any other witnesses in support of this bill?

Good afternoon, madam chair and members. Christina DiCaro representing the California Library Association in very strong support of the bill. Thank the committee for their leadership on this issue.

Kimberly Rosenberg on behalf of the state superintendent public instruction, Tony Thurmond, pleased to support and appreciate of the committee. Thank you. Moving on, are there any primary witnesses in opposition? If so, you may approach the microphone or the table. Okay.

Seeing none, thank you to all the witnesses bringing it back to the committee. We do have a motion in a second. Does anyone have any questions? Okay. Chair Boerner, would you like to close?

Respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you. Will the secretary please call the roll?

[Roll Call]

Thank you. Members, AB 2790 has passed, and we'll leave the roll open so that members can add their votes.

Good job. Double out. Thank you, sir. Double out, bro.

Seeing Assemblymember Bonta, committee secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Thank you. Okay. That bill AB 2790 from the committee on communication conveyance is at nine to zero. Members, that concludes the bill presentation for today.

Hold on. I'm on the wrong page. The members, that concludes the work of the Assembly Committee on Communications and conveyance today. We are adjourned.