AB 391

This bill requires the Public Service Commission (PSC) to contract with a

nonprofit organization to create a statewide inventory of high-speed Internet and

other relevant telecommunications and information technology services that is

consistent with any data reporting required under federal law. The PSC is allowed

to contract with a nonprofit organization only if the PSC determines that the

nonprofit organization has an established competency in working with public and

private sectors to accomplish wide-scale deployment and adoption of

telecommunications and information technology. The inventory that is created must

identify geographic gaps in high-speed Internet service and provide a baseline

assessment of statewide high-speed Internet deployment in terms of percentage of

households with high-speed Internet availability. The bill also requires the

nonprofit organization to update the inventory every six months.

In addition, the contract entered into by the PSC must require the nonprofit

organization to do the following: 1) track statewide residential and business

adoption of high-speed Internet services, computers, and related information

technology, identify barriers to such adoption, and annually measure progress

regarding such adoption; 2) create and facilitate local technology planning teams in

counties or other regions to measure technology use, set goals for improving

technology use, and develop business plans for achieving the goals; 3) collaborate

with high-speed Internet providers and technology companies to encourage

deployment and use of high-speed Internet services, especially in underserved

areas; and 4) establish programs to improve computer ownership and Internet access

for disenfranchised populations. The bill also requires the nonprofit organization to

obtain the input of specified governmental and nongovernmental entities in carrying

out the foregoing duties.

The bill allows the nonprofit organization to require nongovernmental entities

to submit information that is relevant to the foregoing duties, but only to the extent

and in the format that the data is maintained in the normal course of business. If

a nongovernmental entity provides information that the nongovernmental entity

designates as confidential or proprietary, the nonprofit organization must enter into

a nondisclosure agreement with the nongovernmental entity regarding the

designated information. Also, the designated information is not subject to disclosure

under the state open records law.