CA AB1959

Extends the California High-Cost Fund-A (CHCF-A) program requirements from January 1, 2019 to January 1, 2023, maintaining universal service rate support for small independent rural telephone corporations subject to rate-of-return regulation.

Extends the California High-Cost Fund-B (CHCF-B) program requirements from January 1, 2019 to January 1, 2023, continuing a competitively neutral program providing fair and equitable local rate support to telephone corporations in high-cost service areas.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to structure both universal service programs so that charges imposed reasonably equal the value of benefits to contributing entities and their subscribers.

Becomes effective immediately as an urgency statute to ensure the Public Utilities Commission has timely statutory direction to fund state universal service programs.