CASF Update Bills Redrafted Ahead of Floor Votes
Lawmakers redrafted broadband bills to update the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) ahead of floor votes expected next week. Items from the once similar SB-4 and AB-14 will be split between the bills by Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D) and Assemblymember…
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Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D), with the complementary measures contingent on each other’s enactment, showed fact sheets. Legislators adjusted the bills to complement a $6 billion broadband budget bill (see 2107200056). AB-14 now includes proposals to extend the existing CASF surcharge by 10 years until Dec. 31, 2032, require ISPs to report affordable internet plans and to adjust VoIP contribution methodology. SB-4 now includes proposals to streamline permit reviews, raise the CASF surcharge cap to $150 million yearly from $66 million and make local governments eligible. The Senate bill would require CASF infrastructure grant applications to provide 100 Mbps downloads and 20 Mbps uploads and would identify households with less than 25/3 Mbps as unserved, while prioritizing households that have only 10/1 Mbps or that are in mostly low-income census tracts. SB-4 could get a vote by Tuesday or Wednesday next week, said a Gonzalez spokesperson. The redrafted bills, contingent on each other's enactment, should be in print by Friday, emailed Gonzalez aide George Soares. "We are very excited about this development and look forward to taking both bills up early next week."