California Commissioner Says AT&T 'Works Tirelessly to Suppress' Public Programs
A California Public Utilities Commissioner shot back at AT&T for claiming the CPUC stalled investment and consumer protection programs (see 1905300040 or 1905300056). After Commissioner Martha Guzman Aceves said the market isn’t competitive for most Californians, AT&T Assistant Vice President-Public…
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Affairs Benjamin Golombek said Thursday the CPUC did “nothing” with $330 million California Advanced Service Fund money authorized by the legislature in 2017 and holds $200 million surplus in the state LifeLine program. Guzman Aceves responded later that day in a statement to us: “I was not directing my comments to the company that has failed to participate in either of those public purpose programs and works tirelessly to suppress them. Nor the company that has repeatedly failed to meet basic service quality metrics while at the same time laying off hundreds of employees in California and across the country.” The commissioner wants the legislature “to provide a statutory framework that fosters solutions for local governments, new entrants, and legacy telecommunications providers and all other participants to ensure the public is served faithfully and to create networks across the state that -- especially in light of these worsening disasters -- function at all times regardless of technology type,” she said.