Existing law, the Moore Universal Telephone Service Act, establishes the Universal Lifeline Telephone Service program to provide low-income households with access to affordable basic residential telephone
service. Existing law requires all revenues collected by telephone corporations in rates authorized by the Public Utilities Commission to fund the Universal Lifeline Telephone Service program to be submitted to the commission pursuant to a schedule established by the commission. Existing law requires all moneys appropriated from the Universal Lifeline Telephone Service Trust Administrative Committee Fund to the commission to be used exclusively by the commission for the Universal Lifeline Telephone Service program.
This bill would require the commission, as part of a new or existing proceeding, to establish a mechanism to include standalone broadband internet access service as a class of lifeline service. The bill would provide that an internet service plan would be eligible for a lifeline subsidy if it provides broadband internet access service at a speed of at least 100 megabits per second downstream and 20 megabits per second upstream and costs $30 or less per month. The bill would authorize the commission to adjust the speed and monthly plan cost for certain areas of the state, as provided. The bill would prohibit the commission from requiring a lifeline subscriber to bundle their voice and internet service plans in order to receive a lifeline subsidy pursuant to these provisions, as specified. The bill would prohibit an internet service provider from being required to obtain an eligible telecommunications carrier designation in order to obtain a lifeline subsidy, except as provided. The bill would require the commission to prohibit internet service providers that offer lifeline service pursuant to these provisions from upselling their internet service plans. The bill would require the commission, on or before July 1, 2026, to adopt rules to implement these provisions.
Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.
Because the above-described provisions would be part of the act and a violation of a commission action implementing this bill's requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
This bill would include a change in state statute that would result in a taxpayer paying a higher tax within the meaning of Section 3 of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution, and thus would require for passage the approval of 23 of the membership of each house of the Legislature.

Statutes affected:
SB 716: 871.5 PUC
02/21/25 - Introduced: 871.5 PUC
03/26/25 - Amended Senate: 11549.56 GOV, 11549.56 GOV, 270 PUC, 270 PUC, 277 PUC, 277 PUC, 871 PUC, 871 PUC, 871.5 PUC
04/21/25 - Amended Senate: 11549.56 GOV, 270 PUC, 277 PUC, 871 PUC
05/06/25 - Amended Senate: 11549.56 GOV, 270 PUC, 277 PUC, 871 PUC