California Lawmakers Approve COLR Bill Unanimously
California lawmakers approved a bill Monday establishing a process for the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to allow companies to request relief from carrier of last resort (COLR) obligations. The move comes as the CPUC conducts a rulemaking on the issue (see 2506170067). The Assembly Committee on Communications and Conveyance voted unanimously, with two nonvoting members present, to pass AB-470. The bill would define "eligible area" as a "well-served" census block of at least three different facilities-based providers. The CPUC would have until Dec. 15, 2026, to adopt a map designating such areas.
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The legislation also lays out requirements for carriers to be eligible for relief, including that within six years they make fiber buildouts accessible to at least three times more residential units than the number of basic exchange customers that the company had when it requested amended status.