Californians for a Connected Future Applauds Assembly on Advancing Assembly Bill 470 to Senate

For Immediate Release
June 27, 2025
Contact: Molly Weedn
molly@weednpa.com

AB 470 will accelerate investments in California’s communications technologies while ensuring no resident or community is left behind

SACRAMENTO, CA – Californians for a Connected Future (CCF) applauds the Assembly for its dedication to modernizing California’s telecommunications network by advancing Assembly Bill 470 (McKinnor). The bill represents a consensus plan shaped by extensive stakeholder input and charts a path that will move California forward by accelerating investments in modern communication technologies.  

One hundred and twenty organizations – including Tribal leaders, social justice advocates, veterans, ethnic businesses, education, youth, community and non-profit organizations – strongly support AB 470, to ensure reliable, fast and affordable communications for all. 

“In Sonoma County, we know firsthand how important it is to ensure there are reliable communication systems that prioritize public safety, especially in the wake of the devastating wildfires and natural disasters,” said Annie Barbor, United Policyholders, Sonoma County. “AB 470 strengthens public safety and ensures critical voice services and technology remain affordable, all while preparing California for the future. As technology has advanced, we know that we need to keep our entire community connected with the latest alerts.”

California’s 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 technologies are much more reliable, resilient, faster and easier to restore.   

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. Consumers are increasingly choosing advanced technologies that are faster and have far greater capabilities like high-speed internet, video conferencing, streaming, gaming, emergency services, and much more, which is exactly what AB 470 will provide.  

“AB 470 ensures a careful, phased-in, multi-year modernization process that protects all Californians during the transition to a next-generation communications network,” said MaryAnn Leffel, President, Marina Chamber of Commerce. “We look forward to the continued progress of AB 470 as it advances to the Senate.”  

The bill 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  
  • Prepare California for the future AND   
  • Strengthen California’s modern communications expansion efforts  

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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