Pub. Util. Code, § 767.7

(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(1) The Legislature has encouraged, and continues to encourage, the rapid and economic development of telecommunications services to all Californians.

(2) Pursuant to Section 767.5, public utilities have dedicated a portion of their support structures to cable television corporations which have been increasingly attaching fiber optic cable that is capable of a variety of telecommunications uses. Other utilities not under the jurisdiction of the commission have also made the same dedication.

(3) Public utility and publicly owned utility support structures are also used by entities, other than cable television corporations, with the acquiescence of the public utility and voluntary permission of the publicly owned utility, for the purpose of installing fiber optic cable in order to provide various telecommunications services.

(4) Electric public utilities are currently installing fiber optic cables on their systems to enhance their operations and better serve their customers. Fiber optic cables installed by telephone, cable, and other telecommunications corporations may be accessed by electric public utilities and publicly owned utilities to enhance their operations and better serve their customers. The access may be accomplished by contract or through the purchase of tariffed services.

(b) It is therefore the intent of the Legislature that public utilities and publicly owned utilities be fairly and adequately compensated for the use of their rights-of-way and easements for the installation of fiber optic cable, and that electric public utilities and publicly owned utilities have the ability, if they so desire, to negotiate a purchase, lease, or rent of access to those fiber optic cables for their own use.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to change existing law with respect to Section 767.5.