Jul 1 AB 1588 Modernization of LifeLine Service – Broadband, SUPPORT

July 1, 2024

The Honorable Assemblymember Lori Wilson
1021 O Street, Suite 8110
Sacramento, CA 95814

Re:  AB 1588 Modernization of LifeLine Service – Broadband, SUPPORT

Dear Assemblymember Wilson,

On behalf of the Marin County Board of Supervisors, I write in support of AB 1588, the Affordable Internet and Net Equality Act of 2024, which would expand California LifeLine to broadband Internet services. The bill would increase affordable internet access by expanding the existing program to include subsidies for certain standalone and bundled broadband internet services. AB 1588 would also establish the Net Equality Program, requiring internet providers that contract with the state to expand their affordable internet offerings to low-income households.

This legislation is especially critical on the heels of the lapsed federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in May, which left 5.8 million California households without an assurance of affordable Internet service. AB 1588 would create a new legislative solution to ensure affordable internet connectivity for low-income, digitally-disadvantaged Californians.

In Marin County, accountability is crucial for measuring impact and outcomes. To maximize the effectiveness of AB 1558, it must apply to providers already serving low-income residents: Comcast Xfinity and Horizon Cable TV. Comcast is the largest service provider in urban Marin, offering Internet service to approximately 90,000 living units (99.5%), including single-family homes, apartment buildings, and condominiums. The majority of Marin's in-need residents live in larger, often older apartment buildings. Horizon Cable TV also plays a critical role in providing internet access to low-income, harder-to-reach households as West Marin's sole service provider.

AT&T and Frontier Communication on the other hand focus their residential fiber investments on single-family homes, often within specific higher-income neighborhoods, and tend to not serve apartment buildings with more than four units.

We appreciate your attention to ensuring Comcast Xfinity and Horizon Cable TV would be properly incentivized to participate. Additionally, we recommend that the LifeLine Program be required to report regularly to the California Broadband Council regarding progress in enrolling low-income households and contributing to achieving Digital Equity.

Thank you again for your attention to this critical digital equity issue for so many Californians.

Sincerely,

Dennis Rodoni, President
Marin County Board of Supervisors

Cc:       Marin County Board of Supervisors
            Senator Mike McGuire
            Assemblymember Damon Connolly