COM/SK1/hkr Mailed 5/192005

Decision 05-05-013 May 5, 2005

BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Order Instituting Rulemaking on the Commission's Own Motion to Comply with the Mandates of Senate Bill 1563 regarding deployment of Advanced Telecommunications Technologies.

Rulemaking 03-04-003 (Filed April 3, 2003)

ORDER ADOPTING REPORT
IN FULFILLMENT OF SENATE BILL 1563

I. Summary

This decision releases the report of the Commission entitled Broadband Deployment in California, attached to this decision as Attachment A. This decision and report satisfy the requirements of Senate Bill (SB) 1563 (Ch. 674, Stats. 2002).

The report finds generally that advanced telecommunications technologies are increasingly central to the needs of families, the state's economy and the vitality of local communities. We find that California leads the nation in the deployment of broadband services and usage, and yet must continue to advance forward-looking public policies and programs that will ensure the state's continued leadership in deploying new advanced telecommunications technologies. Accordingly, we find that California should consider policies in several key areas, among them, improving access to rights-of-way, modifying the role of Commission approval of new networks and new providers of telecommunications services, and encouraging the examination of broadband deployment over existing power lines. The report also finds that the widespread adoption of Voice Over Internet Protocol services and other innovative services is likely to spur the deployment of broadband networks in California. Finally, the report discusses several ways to ensure broadband services are available to communities such as lower-income Californians, residents of rural areas, and the disabled community.