Broad and Diverse Coalition Applauds Advancement of Assembly Bill 470

For Immediate Release
April 30, 2025
Contact: Molly Weedn
molly@weednpa.com

AB 470 will accelerate investments in advanced communications options while ensuring no Californian or community is left behind

SACRAMENTO, CA – Californians for a Connected Future (CCF) applauds the Assembly Committee on Communications and Conveyance for their foresight in helping modernize California’s telecommunications network by advancing AB 470 (McKinnor).  

Dozens of groups representing diverse interests provided comments in support of AB 470, urging committee members to vote yes on the important legislation.  

“First responders know that advanced communication technologies are essential before, during, and after emergencies,” said Wendy Moore, Executive Director of San Diego Fire-Rescue Foundation. “They enhance situational awareness and decision-making during wildfires, floods, landslides, earthquakes, active shooter incidents, search and rescue operations, and disaster recovery efforts. AB 470 ensures that California is updating and modernizing our telecommunications networks to keep Californians safe.” 

“The NAACP supports AB 470 because it is a necessary step toward closing the gap and ensuring every Californian, particularly those in Black and Brown communities, can access modern, affordable, and reliable digital tools,” Rick Callender, President, California/Hawaii NAACP State Conferences said, following conclusion of the hearing’s public comment on AB 470.

Today, only 5% of households within the service area of the state’s largest landline provider still subscribe to copper-based home phone service – a number that continues to decline. Outdated state laws result in massive investments in aging copper landline technology that consumers are increasingly abandoning because it does not meet their needs. These laws hinder investments in more modern communications systems that consumers are demanding because they provide more reliable and innovative options.  

California’s aging copper network technology is nearly 150-years-old, and many manufacturers no longer provide copper parts, meaning it can take weeks to restore service when the system goes down. Modern wireless and high-speed wired services, like fiber and cable, are much more reliable, resilient, faster and easy to restore.  

“Assembly Bill 470 (McKinnor) represents a thoughtful, forward-looking approach to modernizing California’s communications network. Developed following productive conversations and collaboration with key stakeholders and informed by extensive input from policymakers, AB 470 is about moving California forward,” added Justine Murray, Executive Director of Public Affairs, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, following her statement of support of the bill. 

AB 470 will:  

  • Ensure a careful, phased-in, multi-year, modernization process that protects all Californians during the transition to a next-generation communications network. 
  • Provide robust consumer protections  
  • Strengthen public safety  
  • Ensure services remain affordable AND  
  • Prepare Californians for the future  

AB 470 will move forward to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.  

CCF is committed to the following principles in promoting the future of connectivity:

  • No Californian will be left without reliable phone service in their homes – including 9-1-1 services  
  • A phased, multi-year approach is best for customers and best for California.  
  • Any transition will be a collaborative and transparent process.  

For a full list of CCF coalition members, visit https://caconnectedfuture.org/our-coalition/. 

About Californians for a Connected Future   

Californians for a Connected Future (CCF) is a broad and diverse group of organizations dedicated to innovative, reliable, fast and affordable communications for all. CCF supports Assembly Bill 470 which is being developed as part of a comprehensive stakeholder process to prioritize investments in advanced communications options for all, while ensuring no Californian or community is left behind. CCF is a project of USTelecom – The Broadband Association. For more information, visit: www.caconnectedfuture.org 

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