California Teleconnect Fund Administrative Committee Fund program

More education and library entities, including administrative offices and data centers, can qualify for discounted telecommunications. The law coordinates state discounts with the federal E-rate program to apply federal support before state-funded aid.

What the law does ​

• Extends California Teleconnect Fund discounts to qualifying preschools, transitional-kindergarten programs, school districts, county education offices, public library systems, and eligible noninstructional facilities.
• Makes data centers and administrative offices operated or contracted by eligible schools, colleges, and libraries eligible for discounts.
• Requires service providers to apply an E-rate discount first for eligible customers before applying the California Teleconnect discount, even if the customer has not applied for or been approved for E-rate.
• Exempts customers barred from E-rate by federal program restrictions and preserves different treatment for specified school districts unless they have applied for and received E-rate support.
• Directs the California Public Utilities Commission to prioritize closing the digital divide for rural, inner-city, low-income, and disabled Californians when setting discounts.

Who it affects ​

• Eligible schools, school districts, county offices of education, community colleges, libraries, hospitals, health clinics, and community organizations.
• Noninstructional facilities, including administrative offices and data centers, operated or contracted by eligible education and library entities.
• Telephone corporations and service providers administering discounted telecommunications rates.

Context ​

The California Teleconnect Fund program is funded through rates authorized by the California Public Utilities Commission.