Assembly Bill 2758 would add two years to the sunset date of the state's Rural Telecommunications Grant Program. If signed into law, the bill would extend the program until 2008.

The $10 million annual program, funded by a statewide surcharge on telephone service, provides money to bring telecommunications infrastructure to low-income residents of remote, rural areas.

"There are a lot of people who need the help that this program brings," said Berg, D-Eureka. "It's important that we don't quit before the job is done."

In 2001, when the grant program was established, the state auditor estimated that 112,000 people lived in areas without any access to telephone service. The program got off to a rocky start the following year when funding for administration was stripped from that year's cash-strapped budget.

Counties that would benefit from a sunset extension include Mendocino, Mono, Inyo, Humboldt, Riverside, Lake, Plumas and Tulare.

"This bill removes barriers to service," said Berg. "It's about access, and it's about equity."