Groups Urge CPUC to Protect Consumers While Streamlining VoIP Facilities Rules
Several industry and consumer advocacy groups asked the California Public Utilities Commission to establish streamlined rules and ensure consumer protection as it considers revisions to technical regulations concerning the commission's facilities for interconnected VoIP service providers. In comments posted Tuesday (docket R2208008), some said they intend to participate in the CPUC's May 28 workshop to further discuss definitions of such facilities. Some also raised concerns about the commission's apparent direction toward providers operating in small independent local exchange carrier (ILEC) territories.
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The Small Business Utility Advocates urged the commission to ensure there are "strong consumer protections, reliable and resilient service, and emergency access" to interconnected VoIP services without placing "new barriers" for small businesses. The group sought "precise definitions" and a migration process for providers that doesn't "dilute oversight" or reduce the commission's enforcement authority over service quality or affordability.
In joint comments, the Utility Reform Network and Center for Accessible Technology asked the CPUC to reconsider some of its questions ahead of the workshop to ensure that providers submit more detailed information, which will better inform the commission's rulemakings. The groups raised concern that some providers "provide insufficiently granular responses to questions."
Adopt a streamlined process for interconnected VoIP providers to add utility-type designations to their existing registrations, said the California Broadband & Video Association. The group also asked the CPUC to confirm that non-facilities-based interconnected VoIP providers may provide service throughout the state, including in territories that small ILECs serve, without the need for additional approval. A "simple ministerial process," like a streamlined registration form, "would seem appropriate and would be generally consistent" with the commission's existing process for VoIP migration and opt-outs.
A coalition of small ILECs said the commission's scoping memo and ruling "appears to prejudge and improperly circumscribe" requirements for facilities-based providers operating in small ILEC territories. There's "no basis to apply reduced requirements to VoIP providers," the coalition said, asking the CPUC to clarify that "all facilities-based interconnected VoIP providers are equally subject to the rigorous rural market entry requirements, consistent with the commission’s intent to protect rural consumers and communities."
Consolidated Communications urged the commission to close the proceeding, noting it "satisfied the purpose of the rulemaking," and "there is no apparent nexus between the technical questions ... and matters of ongoing regulatory concern." The carrier said the current proceeding shouldn't be held open "based on the possibility that new concerns or issues may arise."