Committee advances bill to consolidate state broadband programs into a single Department of Broadband and Digital Equity

The Assembly Committee on Communications and Conveyance voted to give AB 693 a due-pass recommendation to establish a Department of Broadband and Digital Equity and to create an 11-member Broadband and Digital Equity Commission to oversee broadband and digital equity programs.

The bill’s sponsor (identified in the hearing record as the bill author) told the committee the measure would consolidate existing broadband programs now split between the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the California Department of Technology (CDT) into a single state department beginning July 1, 2027. The author said the new department would centralize broadband and digital equity activities, provide grant and investment authority to the commission and increase coordination and accountability across programs.

Supporters including Sam Nash of the Los Angeles County Office of Education offered brief support on the record. Committee members questioned and discussed the proposed governance structure, regional representation and whether consolidation would require constitutional or ballot changes. One member asked whether the bill would require follow-up ballot language to move telecommunications from the California Constitution; the author replied that a separate constitutional amendment (ACA 9) had been introduced to address the CPUC’s constitutional responsibilities and that the constitutional change would be handled in a later measure.

Committee members who commented said they supported stronger legislative oversight and consolidation to reduce friction that has contributed to funding and project delays. The sponsor told members the proposal is intended to merge the CPUC’s telecommunications and the CDT broadband functions into one entity using existing staff and competencies rather than creating duplicate roles. The sponsor said the commission would include representatives from industry, community, labor and tribes and would have decision-making authority over grants and investments.

The committee moved AB 693 with a motion from Assemblymember Arons and a second; the roll call recorded nine ayes and one no. The committee recorded the action as a due-pass recommendation and referred the bill to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations for fiscal review.

Proponents said consolidation aims to address persistent challenges cited in prior oversight: difficult public participation, confusing decision-making procedures, and poor interagency coordination, which they said have led to funding and project delays for broadband deployment. Concerns raised in the hearing included possible implementation costs and the need to ensure geographic and stakeholder representation on the commission. The committee left the bill open for additional members to add on.