California State Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Pacoima, this week introduced two pieces of legislation aimed at technology and telecommunications in the state.
Padilla introduced SB 1160 and 1161 Wednesday. SB 1160 would restrict local government and agencies’ abilities to interrupt or shutdown mobile service without court review. The bill would bring modern telecommunications network in line with the current state law for telephone service, which requires a court order for service shutdown or interruption, according to Padilla’s office.
"[The bill] will also ensure that our state laws restrict shut downs that cut off access to call 911 and the public’s ability to connect with family, doctors, jobs and schools," Padilla said in a statement.
Padilla’s office cited the shutdown of mobile service by Bay Area Rapid Transit Agency during August, 2011 protests in San Francisco, suggesting the act as an impetus for SB 1160. The agency shut down service in BART stations to prevent protest organizers from coordinating via cell phone, according to the BART web site. Since the protest, the BART Board has adopted a policy allowing such shutdowns in specific cases, according to Padilla’s office.
The topic of service interruption received national attention as the Federal Communications Commission planned a review of the BART shutdown, according to an FCC statement released in December. The FCC is also expected to open public proceedings on the issue of service interruptions, according to Padilla’s office.
Padilla’s newly introduced legislation will also address the language used to describe California’s policies around telecommunications.
SB 1161 makes a technical change to the current Public Utilities Law, which states that telecommunications policies should encourage new technologies and allow for services to meet consumer needs, according to Padilla’s legislation. The legislation would amend the law to include policies around universal service, access for educational, health and community-based organizations, and bridging the digital divide.
The law would includes statements about the policies for telecommunications in California, including that the policies are "To assist in bridging the ‘digital divide’ by encouraging expanded access to state-of-the-art technologies for rural, inner-city, low-income and disable youth." The full text is available at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/sen/sb_1151-1200/sb_1161_bill_20120222_introduced.pdf.
