Proposed California LifeLine Rules Ignite Debate Between Providers, Advocates

摘要

The California Public Utilities Commission is scheduled to discuss at its Dec. 19 open meeting anproposed decision to revise the state LifeLine program. Commissioner Catherine Sandoval’s proposedndecision would extend the price cap and adopt specifications for LifeLine wireless services (http://bit.lyIhm0C6). The proposed decision requires all participating providers to have a certificate of public conveniencenand necessity (CPCN), a wireless identification registration from the PUC and/or a franchisenauthority to provide service. All wireline service providers must charge no more than $6.84 per monthnfor flat-rate local service and no more than $3.66 monthly for measured rate service through Dec. 31,n2015, said the proposed decision. To participate in the California LifeLine program, any fixed VoIPnprovider or wireless service provider must file a Tier 3 advice letter to demonstrate that its proposed servicesnare in compliance with the proposed decision, it said. Gov. Jerry Brown (D) vetoed a bill thatnwould have limited the PUC’s powers to adopt new rules for its LifeLine program due to the open proceedingn(STRR Oct 25 p11).