AB 470: Telephone corporations: carriers of last resort.

This bill would require the Public Utilities Commission to adopt a process for telephone corporations acting as carriers of last resort to seek relief from their obligations in areas with no population or where basic exchange service is not provided to any customer. The commission must designate well-served areas by December 15, 2026, and include specified notice and challenge requirements in the process. Telephone corporations would need to meet certain requirements during specified time periods if their amended status is granted. The bill would also create a grant fund for public safety agency technology upgrades and accept donations from non-governmental entities. The bill would exempt certain services and locations from its provisions, and no reimbursement is required for certain costs.