Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission, in collaboration with relevant state agencies and stakeholders, to maintain and update a statewide, publicly accessible, and interactive map showing the accessibility of broadband service in the state. Existing law authorizes the commission to collect information from providers of broadband services at the address level and prohibits the commission from disclosing certain protected residential subscriber information.

This bill would require that the map identify, for each address in the state, each provider of broadband services that offers service at the address and the maximum speed of broadband services offered by each provider of broadband services at the address.

The bill would additionally require that map to include certain features to receive self-reported data, including, among others, a feature that allows individuals to refute the broadband speed or technology, or both, that an internet service provider claims to offer at an address. The bill would require that map to include a feature for users to submit a verified speed test, as defined, at their location. The bill would make this self-reported data publicly available by address and would require the commission to obtain consent from an individual before publicly disclosing information that the individual submits, as provided. The bill would prohibit the commission from accepting certain self-reported information collected by the commission as evidence in a commission proceeding unless the commission validates the accuracy of that self-reported information.