California passes bill to expand broadband deployment

California recently passed Senate bill 1193 creating the California Advanced Services Fund, which will allocate $100 million to spread high speed Internet access to un-served and underserved areas.

The bill's sponsor, Senator Alex Padilla, spoke to its' importance:

"Broadband deployment is essential to California’s economy; it can improve access and delivery of health care, education, job training, public safety and other vital services. SB 1193 is a strategic investment in California’s digital infrastructure.”

The bill also is essential is closing the digital divide.  A report from the California Broadband Task Force shows how high speed Internet access is distributed unevenly geographically and socio-economically leaving almost 1.4 Californians with no access.

“It is unacceptable that there are communities in our state that are still reliant on a dial-up connection or don’t have Internet access at all. SB 1193 will remove barriers to broadband access and it will move California toward a ubiquitous broadband network,” said Senator Padilla.

The bill is being funded by an approximately five cent per month surcharge on consumer’s phone bills that used to support rural voice phone service.

Senator Padilla’s SB 1193 to Expand Broadband Deployment Signed into Law

Official California Legislative Information - Bill Information

Broadband Task Force Report - California Broadband Initiative