[GB-Today] Fwd: Survey and Workshop/Meetings with Community Groups for the SB 1563 Broadband Report

[Susan Estrada]

NOTE:  We converted two attachments to plain text for your convenience in 
viewing. If you are a community-based organization and want to complete the 
survey, please see the link to the online version in the LETTER 
section.  The AGENDA for the 5 meetings around the state is also embedded 
in this message.

If you have any questions, please contact the people indicated below.


>From: "Walker, Cynthia" <CIW at cpuc.ca.gov>
>Subject: Survey and Workshop/Meetings with Community Groups for the SB 
>1563 Broadband Report
>Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2004 11:30:11 -0800
>
>
>The Telecommunications Division mailed the attached letter, agenda and
>survey to 3000 community group/organizations. The survey is online at the
>Commission's website, and we are hoping that most recipients will respond
>through that mechanism.  In addition, we have scheduled 5 meetings around
>the state to provide further opportunity for input.
>
>The purpose of the survey and meetings is to facilitate input from groups
>who do not normally participate in Commission proceedings, particularly in
>the areas of barriers to broadband access, how existing programs promote
>access, and the benefits of having access .
>
>Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
>
>Cynthia Walker
>California Public Utilities Commission
>Phone:  415.703.2591
>FAX:     415.703.4405
>ciw at cpuc.ca.gov

LETTER:

January 13, 2004

RE:  Senate Bill 1563 Regarding Barriers to the Availability of Advanced 
Communications Services

California Senate Bill 1563 requires the California Public Utilities 
Commission (CPUC) to convene a proceeding to investigate barriers to the 
ubiquitous availability and use of advanced telecommunications technology, 
and to develop a plan to address these barriers.  We seek your 
organizations opinion and help in identifying barriers and in understanding 
the benefits that your community currently experiences or would enjoy with 
improved access to the internet.  As a local organization at the forefront 
of bridging the digital divide, your input is critical to providing an 
in-depth analysis. The final report is due to the Legislature no later than 
December 31, 2004.

The CPUC Staff developed the attached questions as a mechanism to include 
your viewpoints and experiences in our report.  Your responses to these 
questions would be extremely helpful to the Staff responsible for drafting 
this report. Please complete the online survey at 
http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/cbosurvey by Tuesday, February 3, 2004. 
Alternatively, you may complete the survey in hard copy and mail it to:

Karen Watts-Zagha
California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor
San Francisco, CA  94102

In addition, the CPUC Staff will host five meetings around the state to 
discuss these questions and to provide your community with an additional 
opportunity to respond to the CPUCs specific questions as well as share 
other information with our Staff.  We hope you will be able to attend one 
of these meetings.

The meetings will be held on the following dates, times and places:

San Francisco:  Tuesday, February 10, 2004, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Auditorium
Hiram Johnson State Building
455 Golden Gate Ave
San Francisco, CA 94102

Fresno:   Thursday, February 19, 2004, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Assembly Room  Room 1036
Hugh M. Burns State Building
2550 Mariposa Mall
Fresno, CA 93721

San Diego:   Tuesday, February 24, 2004, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

San Diego State Building
Room B 109
1350 Front Street
San Diego, CA 92101

Los Angeles:   Wednesday, February 25, 2004, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Los Angeles CPUC office
Auditorium
320 West Fourth St. Ste 500
Los Angeles, CA 90013

Redding:  Wednesday, March 3, 2004, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Redding City Hall
City Council Chambers
777 Cypress Avenue
Redding, CA 96001

As background, please view the CPUC's initial order convening the 
proceeding at  http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/word_pdf/FINAL_DECISION/25266.doc
The legislation motivating this effort is Attachment A to this document.

Please let us know if you plan on attending one of the meetings by noting 
the meeting of your choice on the online survey or by filling out the form 
at the end of this letter and mailing the form to Karen Watts-Zagha at the 
address listed above. If you have any questions, or need further 
information, please contact either Cynthia Walker at (415) 703-2591 or via 
email at ciw at cpuc.ca.gov or Karen Watts-Zagha at (415) 703-2287 or via 
email at kwz at cpuc.ca.gov.

Thank you for your help. We look forward to hearing from you.

Jack Leutza, Director
Telecommunications Director

cc.:   Susan Kennedy, Assigned Commissioner
Kim Malcolm, Administrative Law Judge
Phyllis White, Telecommunications Division
Cynthia Walker, Telecommunications Division
Karen Watts-Zagha, Telecommunications Division


Organization Name_____________________________________________________

Contact Person_________________________________________________________

Telephone____________________________________________

Email________________________________________________

_______(number of people) will attend the following meeting:

___San Francisco, February 10, 2004
___Fresno, February 19, 2004
___San Diego, February 24, 2004
___Los Angeles, February 25, 2004
___Redding, March 3, 2004


AGENDA:

Agenda for Five CPUC Meeting with CBOs

Assessing Barriers to Broadband Access


1)  Introductions and Overview

   a.  SB 1563 and the CPUC Broadband Proceeding

   b.  When you speak, please take some time to identify yourself and 
describe your constituency

   c.  Ground Rules
   i.  Participants will each have an opportunity to respond to the 
questions listed below.
   ii.  Questions and comments to those presentations are welcome, but we 
ask that you wait until the presenter has finished responding to the question.


2)     Is broadband widely available and used by your constituent 
community? Are there barriers (such as those listed below) to the 
availability and use of broadband by your constituent community?

   a.  High price of broadband services?
   b.  Cost of customer equipment, such as computers and modems?
   c.  Lack of computer familiarity and training?
   d.  Cultural, religious and educational beliefs and/or customs?
   e.  Others?

3)  Would more availability and use of broadband in your communities 
promote economic growth, job creation, or other social benefits? How?  Can 
you provide specific examples?

4)  Does your organization utilize existing broadband subsidy programs such 
as the California Teleconnect Fund, the Federal E-Rate, Federal Rural 
Utilities Service, or other programs?

   a.  Are these programs meeting your constituent needs?
   b.  Are there funding gaps or are there other ways the programs could be 
improved to better serve your constituent needs?

5)  Summary of meeting