California to Petition for LifeLine Implementation Delay
Cox Communications said it will support the California Public Utilities Commission's request for an extension to the FCC Dec. 2 LifeLine implementation deadline. A CPUC spokeswoman confirmed Monday her agency will file at the FCC for an extension but hasn't…
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yet. In replies posted Sunday, the operator said it “understands that the Commission will be filing a petition with the FCC requesting an extension of time to comply with the FCC rules concerning only eligibility criteria and the benefit portability freeze.” Cox heard that at the CPUC’s Oct. 14 LifeLine workshop, which went over federal changes to add broadband as a supported service, it said. “Cox supports the Commission seeking this extension and remains hopeful that the FCC will act promptly to grant the Commission’s petition well in advance of the December 2, 2016 deadline.” Industry and some states separately supported a USTelecom petition seeking a waiver of the deadline in 25 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. (see 1610210046). The D.C. Public Service Commission declined more time in comments posted in FCC docket 11-42 Friday: “Should unanticipated events prevent the DC PSC from amending its rules by December 2, 2016, the DC PSC will inform the Commission of this fact.” New York PSC comments to the FCC joined Michigan, Missouri and Puerto Rico regulators in supporting the USTelecom petition. In the Cox CPUC replies, the cable ISP urged the commission to “promptly adopt rules to align the California LifeLine eligibility requirements with the federal requirements.” AT&T told the CPUC any diversion from federal rules is risky and the commission shouldn’t adopt exceptions proposed by consumer groups (see 1610180028). “The potential for consumer confusion is too great for the Commission to go its own way on eligibility criteria,” AT&T said. Likewise, exceptions to FCC port freeze requirements “will be complex to implement and will ultimately only harm and confuse customers,” it said. The Office of Ratepayer Advocates supports aligning rules but worries about doing it too fast, it said. “An immediate transition will likely result in significant disruption and displacement of customers from the LifeLine program, particularly at a time when details of the FCC’s implementation have not been fully worked out. A gradual transition over a longer period is preferable because it will allow the Commission to better care for the needs of customers impacted by changes in eligibility requirements.”