In 1997, Public Advocates managing attorney Mark Savage represented several of the 118 community based organizations involved in hammering out a benefits agreement ok’d by the California Public Utilities Commission as a condition in the merger of telecommunications giants SBC and the Pacific Telesis Group. The community benefits agreement included a  $214 million refund to consumers and set aside $50 million over five years to bring new technology to underserved communities. Said Mark Savage in an LA Times article at the time, “We’re certainly glad that they approved the community partnership agreement and recognized how important it is to all of the ratepayers of California that these kinds of economic development and community building programs be included in mergers.”  Nine statewide coalitions were involved, including  African Americans for Telecommunications Equity; the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, National Council of La Raza, and Korean Youth and Community Center; the Asian Pacific American Community Partnership; the Universal Service Alliance; the Los Angeles Urban League; the Asian Pacific Islanders California Action Network; the Greenlining Coalition; the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility; and the World Institute on Disability. Said Mark Savage in a  press release at the time, “California’s future depends upon such full and equal access for its low-income communities and communities of color. Over 80 percent of all new households now being formed in California are Latino, Asian, and African American households. Over three million low-income households require lifeline telephone service, and over seven million Californians speak common languages other than English. Over five million Californians have disabilities. This is California’s diversity, and it is California’s future wage and tax base. Each of these Californians has every desire to compete and contribute fully, and the Community Partnership Agreement provides critical help toward developing that opportunity.”