T-Mobile/Sprint Opponents Plan CPUC Meetings After Proposed OK

that’s stopping business as usual at the agency. The CPUC said Friday it's canceling public forums through April 22 in an electric rate-making case due to COVID-19. The agency is following guidance from Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) “to conduct essential proceedings using technology and other means to minimize gatherings of personnel,” an agency spokesperson emailed Monday. Newsom's executive order waived in-person participation requirements, allowing local and state agencies to hold meetings by teleconference. The Utility Reform Network, one of the groups planning CPUC ex parte meetings, has “already moved most of our meetings with Commissioner offices to phone calls and I imagine they’ll still happen unless the employees themselves are unavailable for personal reasons,” TURN Managing Director-San Diego Christine Mailloux emailed Monday. The CPUC Public Advocates Office (PAO) plans to meet Thursday with an aide to Commissioner Martha Guzman Aceves and March 24 with an aide to Commissioner Liane Randolph, said two filings distributed Friday to the docket A.18-07-011 service list. Representatives for TURN and the Communications Workers of America will join, PAO said. CWA said in a Monday filing it has Thursday meetings with aides to those commissioners and Commissioner Cliff Rechtschaffen, with TURN and PAO joining. PAO "will attend the scheduled meetings via conference call," emailed the office's program manager, Ana Maria Johnson, saying she didn't know if COVID-19 would affect the review or its schedule. CWA met in person Wednesday with Guzman Aceves’ chief of staff, Jonathan Koltz, said CWA in a Friday filing. “Despite the [Dish Network] divestiture and new commitments made by the applicants, CWA continues to be concerned about store closures, job loss and wage loss that would result from the merger,” the union said. CWA urged conditions to protect workers and “specific enforcement methods to ensure outcomes.”