SAN FRANCISCO–The Division of Ratepayer Advocates (DRA), an independent consumer advocacy division of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), today released a report on findings from its December 2009 forum with Assemblymember Felipe Fuentes (39th District) on proposals for including wireless services in the California LifeLine Telephone Program (LifeLine).
Commissioners Grueneich and Simon gave opening remarks. Participants included wireline and wireless service providers, as well as consumer advocates and community-based organizations.
Forum participants identified many crucial policy, fact-finding, and implementation issues that the CPUC must address in order to effectively deliver subsidized wireless service, such as public safety, service quality, consumer education, and comparable basic service standards for wireline and wireless. “An affordable form of wireless service is important to low income consumers who need wireless telephone service,” said DRA.
“The forum successfully brought stakeholders together to discuss issues that must be resolved in order to successfully offer a wireless LifeLine discount to eligible customers,” said Dana Appling, director of DRA. “DRA urges the CPUC to convene workshops that will continue the dialogue and address the issues identified by forum participants.”
The forum report can be downloaded at DRA’s website.
