Education and Youth Advocacy Organizations Across California Support AB 470 to Provide Fast, Affordable Communications for All

For Immediate Release
April 16, 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 – More than a dozen education and youth advocacy organizations have joined Californians for a Connected Future (CCF), a broad and diverse coalition dedicated to innovative, reliable, fast, and affordable communications for all. The coalition is urging lawmakers to support Assembly Bill 470 (McKinnor), which will prioritize investments in advanced communications options while ensuring no Californian or community is left behind.

“Mission Bit empowers young innovators to become leaders of the global technology revolution, developing solutions that serve our whole community,” said Christina Ortega, CEO, Mission Bit. “We support AB 470 because it will help lift communities up and provide Californians with reliable, fast and affordable communications options – which is an essential part of advancing the technology revolution.”

In California 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 Outdated state laws result in massive investments in aging copper landline technology that consumers are increasingly abandoning because it does not meet their needs.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. 

“Reliable, high-speed internet is essential to education at all ages,” said Arnulfo Manriquez, President & CEO of MAAC, a California nonprofit that runs educational preschool programs for children ages 0-5, a charter high school for students ages 14-24, as well as career success programs for adults. “Modern connectivity doesn’t just support learning—it powers everything from lesson planning and assessments to our communication with families. This Assembly bill is a crucial step toward ensuring all students, educators, parents, and schools have the digital tools needed for success.”

California’s aging copper network technology is nearly 150-years-old, and many manufacturers no longer provide copper parts, and 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.

AB 470 will help ensure that California students, teachers and schools keep pace with technological advancements and provide students with the skills and opportunities they need to thrive in the digital age.

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.  

Education and Youth Advocacy organizations supportive of Californians for a Connected Future include:  

  • Black Education Expo 
  • Boys & Girls Club of Carson 
  • Boys & Girls Club of Fresno County 
  • Boys & Girls Club of Kern County 
  • Boys & Girls Club of Vista 
  • Business of Student Success (BOSS) 
  • Dev/Mission 
  • EXP: The Opportunity Engine 
  • kidSTREAM Children’s Museum 
  • Latino Education and Advocacy Days (LEAD) CSUSB 
  • Mission Bit 
  • Reality Changers 
  • San Gabriel Valley Conservation Corps 
  • The Village Family Services 
  • Urban Corps of San Diego County 

The full coalition list can be found, here. 

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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