CPUC Assigned Commissioner's Temporary Suspension of Portions of the ULTS Verification Process
Date of Filing/Decision
Nov 1 2006
DGX/KAJ/hkr 11/1/2006 F I L E D 11-01-06 01:35 PM BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA Order Instituting Rulemaking Into Implementation of Federal Communications Commission Report and Order 04-87, As It Affects The Universal Lifeline Telephone Service Program. Rulemaking 04-12-001 (Filed December 2, 2004) ASSIGNED COMMISSIONER’S RULING TEMPORARILY SUSPENDING PORTIONS OF GENERAL ORDER 153 RELATING TO THE ANNUAL ULTS/CALIFORNIA LIFELINE VERIFICATION PROCESS I. Summary This Assigned Commissioner’s Ruling (ACR) reopens this proceeding and temporarily suspends, for a period not to exceed six months, portions of General Order (GO) 153 relating to the annual California Lifeline verification process. I take this step because the recently instituted verification process is not working well. We are experiencing a very low response rate to the Lifeline verification notice, which results in significant numbers of current Lifeline customers being removed from the program. This hiatus in the verification process will allow staff and interested parties an opportunity to isolate the reasons for the low response rate and to take steps to solve the problem. I will place an item on the agenda for the upcoming Commission meeting so that the full Commission can ratify this ACR. II. Background In Decision (D.) 05-04-026, the Commission took the initial steps necessary to make certain that the state would continue to receive the $330 million in federal Lifeline/Link-Up funds to protect the financial viability of the Universal Lifeline Telephone Service (ULTS) or California Lifeline program. Specifically, that decision adopted a program of income certification and annual verification, as required by the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Lifeline Order.1 In D.05-12-013 and in Resolution T-16996, the Commission adopted revisions to GO 153 necessary to implement changes to the ULTS program. The Telecommunications Division issued a Request for Proposal and entered into a contract with Solix, Inc. (Solix) to serve as Certifying Agent for the certification and verification processes. The new certification/verification process was implemented on July 1, 2006. III. Implementation Issues The annual verification program calls for verifying the continued eligibility of the 3.5 million customers currently enrolled in the Lifeline program. Commission staff has found that the customer response to the ULTS verification notice is extremely low: in August 2006, 29% returned the verification notice; in September, the percentage was 49%. Under the process adopted, those who do not respond to the verification notice are sent a letter that they are being removed from the Lifeline program and will be required to pay regular telephone rates. Those who receive these denial letters may appeal the denial to the Consumer Affairs Branch (CAB) at the Commission. Still, other customers find out about their removal from Lifeline via their monthly bill that regrades them to regular rates. According to the telephone carriers who previously conducted the verification process for their customers, they experienced a response rate of about 70%. In recent weeks, CAB has been receiving between 300-500 letters per day from customers appealing their elimination from the Lifeline program. At the same time, the number of phone calls from these customers has deluged both the CAB offices, as well as the consumer representatives for the telephone carriers. While we do not know for sure why the response rate is so low, staff believes that the new name (California Lifeline) and logo for this program, and the fact that the verification notice is coming from an entity other than the customer’s telephone carrier have all contributed to the low response rate. Customers may have ignored the mail, thinking it was junk mail. 1 Lifeline and Link-Up Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, WC Docket No. 03-109, FCC 04-87 (rel. April 29, 2004). IV. Possible Solutions Commission staff in the Telecommunications Division and the Consumer Service and Information Division have been working to identify the source of the problem and to develop solutions. One solution is in the process of being implemented. Effective October 31, 2006, Solix will imprint the exterior of the envelopes used to mail the verification forms with messages in English and Spanish, advising the customers on the contents and that their immediate action is required. It is anticipated that this will alert the recipients that the letter is not junk mail and needs to be opened and read. In addition, staff is exploring ways to make better use of the current 60- day verification process, which begins with the date the certifying agent mails the verification forms to the customers and, absent a response, ends on the date when customers are removed from the Lifeline program. Currently, if a customer fails to return the verification form within 30 days, the customer has no means of correcting that oversight. The customer is in “limbo,” as the customer is scheduled to be removed from the Lifeline program on the 60 60 are a “dead zone” that causes needless work for CPUC staff and carriers and distress for customers. Under the proposed revised process, the notice that the customer receives after 30 days would include another copy of the verification form to be completed and returned. Staff believes that having a second opportunity to return the verification document would cause a significant reduction in the percentage of customers who do not respond to the certifying agent. Staff is also exploring other avenues of active outreach to customers. Those include possible use of automated dialing devices to contact customers who have not returned the verification form within 15 days. The message would also tell customers how to request new verification forms. Staff is also finalizing a tri-fold brochure explaining the new Lifeline verification/certification procedures. I anticipate that the solution could include a variety of changes to Commission internal processes, Solix-carrier processes, and perhaps also rule changes. At this point in the process, we do not know what all the elements of the solution will entail. I appreciate the work that Commission staff is doing to identify and solve this problem. However, I am concerned that many members of the vulnerable low-income population served by the Lifeline program, including the elderly, the disabled, and limited English speakers will be erroneously deprived of their Lifeline telephone service because they do not understand the process. Therefore, we need to make urgent steps to see that this does not happen. I intend to suspend the current annual verification process while we explore and implement solutions to the current low response rate. I do not take this step lightly, since the annual verification process is a requirement under the FCC’s order 04-87. I will ask our Legal Division to write a letter informing the FCC of this situation and the steps we are taking to correct the problems we are experiencing. I am ordering a suspension of six months. I would prefer that the problems be resolved in 90 days and the annual verification process then be restarted, but that may not be possible. If we need to institute system changes or make changes to our General Order, it may require more than 90 days to accomplish. I strongly encourage staff to make every effort to effect the necessary changes as expeditiously as possible. When the annual verification program resumes, we will start the clock from the beginning. I am ordering that Solix send a letter to all customers who had previously been notified that they were to be removed from the Lifeline program because they did not respond to Solix’s verification letter. The letter will explain that the customer will be temporarily reinstated to the program. Those customers will receive a new verification letter after we have instituted our corrective measures and resumed the verification process. The carriers will be instructed to back-date those customers participation in the Lifeline program to the date when they were removed from the program. CAB shall discontinue processing denial letters, which will be dealt with by the letter from Solix. Customers that contact CAB will be told that they will be reinstated to Lifeline service, pending a subsequent verification letter, which they will receive sometime over the next year. Nothing that we are doing shall have an impact on the certification of new Lifeline customers. Those procedures will remain in place and will continue while we deal with problems in the verification process. I plan to ask my fellow commissioners to ratify this ACR at our upcoming public meeting on November 9, 2006. Due to the urgency of the problem, this issue must be dealt with as expeditiously as possible. Still, I want to give interested parties an opportunity to comment on my ACR. Those comments will be taken into account in the decision which will ratify the ACR. Comments are due on Monday, November 6 and should be e-mailed to my advisor, Kelly Hymes at Karen Jones, at kaj@cpuc.ca.gov. 1. Rulemaking 04-12-001 is reopened. 2. The following sections of General Order 153 are temporarily suspended: 4.5, including Appendix C; 5.5; those portions of 6.3 and 6.4 as they relate to the annual verification process; Appendix C; and the portion of Appendix E titled “Existing ULTS Customers (Verification).” 3. Within seven days of this ruling, the Telecommunications Division and Consumer Service and Information Division shall set a date for a workshop so that telephone carriers, the certifying agent, and other interested parties can meet with staff to discuss solutions to the current problem with the verification form response rate. That workshop should be held as soon as possible. 4. Solix, Inc. shall send letters to all customers who were sent verification notices since July 1, 2006, but did not return the forms. The letter will inform those customers that they will be temporarily reinstated on the California Lifeline program, with full reinstatement pending verification at a later date. 5. Interested parties may file and serve comments on this ACR by noon on Monday, November 6, 2006. Such comments shall be served and filed electronically and shall be limited to five pages. Dated November 1, 2006, at San Francisco, California. /s/ DIAN M. GRUENEICH Dian M. Grueneich Assigned Commissioner R.04-12-001 DGX/KAJ/hkr INFORMATION REGARDING SERVICE I have provided notification of filing to the electronic mail addresses on the attached service list. Upon confirmation of this document’s acceptance for filing, I will cause a copy of the filed document to be served upon the service list to this proceeding by U.S. mail. The service list I will use to serve the copy of the filed document is current as of today’s date. Dated November 1, 2006, at San Francisco, California. /s/ KE HUANG Ke Huang R.04-12-001 DGX/KAJ/hkr SERVICE LIST - 1 - ************ APPEARANCES ************ Josephine Wong APEX TELECOM INC. PO BOX 1917 OAKLAND CA 94604 C. Hong Wong APEX TELECOM, INC. 113 10TH STREET OAKLAND CA 94607 (510) 521-2771 hongwong@apexglobalnet.com Anna Kapetanakos Attorney At Law AT&T CALIFORNIA 525 MARKET STREET, ROOM 2024 SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105 (415) 778-1480 anna.kapetanakos@att.com Greta Banks DORETTA DEA AT&T COMMUNICATIONS OF CALIFORNIA 525 MARKET STREET, 18TH FLOOR, 4 SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105 (415) 778-1271 greta.banks@att.com Brian Plackis Cheng BLUE CASA COMMUNICATIONS 911 OLIVE STREET SANTA BARBARA CA 93101 finance@bluecasa.com Linda Burton DEBBIE BEHIE PO BOX 219 OAKHURST CA 93644 (559) 642-0229 lindab@stcg.net Joleen Hogan LORRIE BERNSTEIN CAL-ORE TELEPHONE COMPANY PO BOX 847 DORRIS CA 96023 joleen@cot.net Yvonne Smythe CALAVERAS TELEPHONE COMPANY PO BOX 37 COPPEROPOLIS CA 95228 (209) 785-2211 Kimberly Kretchmer CITIZENS TELECOM COS OF CA/GS/TU 180 S. CLINTON AVENUE ROCHESTER NY 14646-0400 Kimberly.Kretchmer@frontiercorp.com Margarita Gutierrez Deputy City Attorney CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO 1 DR. CARLTON B. GOODLETT PLACE, RM. 375 SAN FRANCISCO CA 94102 (415) 554-4632 margarita.gutierrez@sfgov.org John A. Gutierrez COMCAST 12647 ALCOSTA BOULEVARD, SUITE 200 SAN RAMON CA 94544 (925) 973-7214 john_gutierrez@cable.comcast.com For: COMCAST PHONE OF CALIFORNIA LLC Mark P. Schreiber E. GARTH BLACK,SEAN P. BEATTY, Attorney At Law COOPER, WHITE & COOPER, LLP 201 CALIFORNIA STREET, 17TH FLOOR SAN FRANCISCO CA 94111 (415) 433-1900 mschreiber@cwclaw.com For: SureWest Telephone and SureWest Tele Video Patrick M. Rosvall E. GARTH BLACK,JEFFREY F. BECK Attorney At Law COOPER, WHITE & COOPER, LLP 201 CALIFORNIA STREET, 17TH FLOOR SAN FRANCISCO CA 94111 (415) 433-1900 prosvall@cwclaw.com For: The Small LEC's Latanya Linzie COX CALIFORNIA TELCOM, L.L.C. 2200 POWELL STREET, SUITE 1035 EMERYVILLE CA 94608 (510) 923-6220 LaTanya.Linzie@cox.com Melissa W. Kasnitz MAZEN BASRAWI DISABILITY RIGHTS ADVOCATES 2001 CENTER STREET, THIRD FLOOR BERKELEY CA 94704-1204 (510) 665-8644 pucservice@dralegal.org For: DISABILITY RIGHTS ADVOCATES Eric Wolfe Regulatory DUCOR TELEPHONE COMPANY PO BOX 42230 BAKERSFIELD CA 93384-2230 For: DUCOR TELEPHONE COMPANY W. Lee Biddle Attorney At Law FERRIS & BRITTON, P.C. 401 WEST A STREET, SUITE 1600 SAN DIEGO CA 92101 (619) 233-3131 lbiddle@ferrisbritton.com Edward J Schneider, Jr FORESTHILL TELEPHONE CO., INC. 4655 QUAIL LAKES DR. STOCKTON CA 95207 ejs@ejschneider.com Linda Cooper GLOBAL VALLEY NETWORKS, INC. 4918 TAYLOR COURT TURLOCK CA 95380 John L. Clark Attorney At Law GOODIN MACBRIDE SQUERI RITCHIE & DAY LLP 505 SANSOME STREET, SUITE 900 SAN FRANCISCO CA 94111 (415) 765-8443 jclark@gmssr.com For: BLUE CASA COMMUNICATIONS Gail Long Telephone Company HAPPY VALLEY/HORNITOS/WINTERHAVEN PO BOX 1566 OREGON OR 97045 gail.long@tdstelecom.com Erin Dawley HORNITOS TELEPHONE COMPANY PO BOX 5158 MADISON WI 53705-0158 Dave Clark GLENDA KOUNTZ KERMAN TELEPHONE COMPANY 811 S MADERA AVE. KERMAN CA 93630 dclark@kermantelephone.com Enrique Gallardo LATINO ISSUES FORUM 160 PINE STREET, SUITE 700 SAN FRANCISCO CA 94111 (415) 547-7550 enriqueg@lif.org Louie De Carlo Compliance Manager MCI METRO ACCESS TRANSMISSION SERVICES 201 SPEAR STREET, 9TH FLOOR SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105 louie.decarlo@mci.com David Moriarty MEDIA ONE/AT&T BROADBAND 550 CONTINENTAL BLVD. EL SEGUNDO CA 90245 Lorrie Bernstein MOSS ADAMS LLP 3121 WEST MARCH LANE, STE. 100 STOCKTON CA 95219-2303 lorrie.bernstein@mossadams.com For: PINNACLES TELEPHONE COMPANY Olivia B. Wein Attorney At Law NATIONAL CONSUMER LAW CENTER 1001 CONNECTICUT AVE., NW., STE. 510 WASHINGTON DC 20036 (202) 452-6252 For: NATIONAL CONSUMER LAW CENTER Jeff Schnur NECA SERVICES, INC. 80 S. JEFFERSON ROAD WHIPPANY NJ 07981 (973) 884-8383 jschnur@necaservices.com Lynne Martin PAC-WEST TELECOMM, INC. 1776 MARCH LANE, SUITE 250 STOCKTON CA 95207 lmartin@pacwest.com Peter M. Hayes General Manager PACIFIC BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY 140 NEW MONTGOMERY ST., RM 922 SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105 (415) 542-7824 peter.hayes@sbc.com Lorrie Bernstein PINNACLES TELEPHONE COMPANY 340 LIVE OAK ROAD PAICINES CA 95043-9998 Karl Andrew Regulatory Affairs SAGE TELECOM, INC. 805 CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY SO, STE 100 ALLEN TX 75013-2789 Robert B. Ryan SBC 140 NEW MONTGOMERGY, ROOM 1909 SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105 Joy C. Yamagata Regulatory Case Manager SEMPRA UTILITIES 8330 CENTURY PARK COURT SAN DIEGO CA 92123 (858) 654-1755 JYamagata@semprautilities.com Peter Glass STEVE BEATTY SEREN INNOVATIONS, INC. 15 SOUTH 5TH STREET, STE 500 MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402 Peter.M.Glass@xcelenergy.com Glenn Stover CAMILLE ESTES Attorney At Law STOVER LAW 221 MAIN STREET, SUITE 800 SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105-1906 (415) 495-7000 glenn@stoverlaw.net For: Adir Internation Export Ltd. dba La Curacao Gladys K. Strong Specialist-Regulatory 600 HIDDEN RIDGE - HQE02E88 IRVING TX 75038 (972) 718-0626 gladys.strong@verizon.com For: VERIZON CALIFORNIA INC. Linda Lupton Regulatory Manager SUREWEST TELEPHONE PO BOX 969 ROSEVILLE CA 95678 (916) 786-1677 l.lupton@surewest.com Sean Wilson TALK.COM 12020 SUNRISE VALLEY, STE.250 RESTON VA 20191 Sharon Thomas TECHNOLOGIES MANAGEMENT, INC. 210 N. PARK AVE. WINTER PARK FL 32789 (407) 740-8575 sthomas@tminc.com For: Talk America Inc. Jeff Compton Vice Resident Carrier Relations TELSCAPE COMMUNICATIONS INC. 606 EAST HUNTINGTON DRIVE MONROVIA CA 91016 (626) 415-1016 jcompton@telscape.net Chris Vaeth Attorney At Law THE GREENLINING INSTITUTE 1918 UNIVERSITY AVE., 2ND FLOOR BERKELEY CA 94704 (510) 926-4026 chrisv@greenlining.org For: THE GREENLINING INSTITUTE Dan Douglas MINDY DUALL THE PONDEROSA TELEPHONE CO. PO BOX 21 O'NEALS CA 93645 dand@ponderosatel.com James Lowers DENISE REYNOLDS THE SISKIYOU TELEPHONE COMPANY PO BOX 157 ETNA CA 96027 jtlowers@sisqtel.net Christine Mailloux Attorney At Law THE UTILITY REFORM NETWORK 711 VAN NESS AVENUE, SUITE 350 SAN FRANCISCO CA 94102 (415) 929-8876 cmailloux@turn.org For: THE UTILITY REFORM NETWORK Regina Costa THE UTILITY REFORM NETWORK 711 VAN NESS AVENUE, SUITE 350 SAN FRANCISCO CA 94102 (415) 929-8876 X312 rcosta@turn.org For: THE UTILITY REFORM NETWORK Rose Cullen THE VOLCANO TELEPHONE COMPANY PO BOX 1070 PINE GROVE CA 95665-1070 Kristie Flippo TIME WARNER CONNECT 15303 DALLAS PARKWAY, SUITE 610 ADDISON TX 75001 kristie.flippo@twtelecom.com Mary Pharo VAR TEC TELECOM, INC. 1600 VICEROY DRIVE DALLAS TX 75235 Jacque Lopez Legal Assistant VERIZON CALIFORNIA INC CA501LB 112 LAKEVIEW CANYON ROAD THOUSAND OAKS CA 91362 (805) 372-6664 jacque.lopez@verizon.com Lorraine A. Kocen VERIZON CALIFORNIA INC. 112 S. LAKEVIEW CANYON ROAD THOUSAND OAKS CA 91362 (805) 372-6945 lorraine.kocen@verizon.com For: VERIZON CALIFORNIA INC. Don Eachus VERIZON CALIFORNIA, INC. CA501LB 112 S. LAKE LINDERO CANYON ROAD THOUSAND OAKS CA 91362 (805) 372-7276 don.eachus@verizon.com Jesus G. Roman VERIZON CALIFORNIA, INC. 112 S. LAKEVIEW CANYON ROAD, CA501LB THOUSAND OAKS CA 91362 (805) 372-6233 jesus.g.roman@verizon.com For: VERIZON CALIFORNIA, INC. Sara A. Lauer Verizon West Coast VERIZON CALIFORNIA, INC. 600 HIDDEN RIDGE DR., E01E55 IRVING TX 75038-2092 Michael Morcom VERIZON SELECT SERVICES, INC. 600 HIDDEN RIDGE, HQE01J016 IRVING TX 75038 Thalia R. Gietzen VYCERA COMMUNICATION, INC. 12750 HIGH BLUFF DR., STE.200 SAN DIEGO CA 92130-2565 Dale Dixon Attorney At Law VYCERA COMMUNICATIONS, INC. 12750 HIGH BLUFF DRIVE, SUITE 200 SAN DIEGO CA 92129 (858) 792-2400 ddixon@vycera.com Ross A. Buntrock WOMBLE CARLYLE SANDRIDGE & RICE PLLC 1401 EYE STREET, N.W. SEVENTH FLOOR WASHINGTON DC 20005 (202) 857-4479 rbuntrock@wcsr.com For: FONES4ALL ********** STATE EMPLOYEE *********** Natalie Billingsley Division of Ratepayer Advocates RM. 4108 505 VAN NESS AVE San Francisco CA 94102 3298 (415) 703-1368 nxb@cpuc.ca.gov Karen A. Degannes Energy Division AREA 4-A 505 VAN NESS AVE San Francisco CA 94102 3298 (415) 703-2575 kdg@cpuc.ca.gov Hazlyn Fortune Energy Division AREA 4-A 505 VAN NESS AVE San Francisco CA 94102 3298 (415) 703-1809 hcf@cpuc.ca.gov Jessica T. Hecht Consumer Service & Information Division RM. 2013 505 VAN NESS AVE San Francisco CA 94102 3298 (415) 703-2280 jhe@cpuc.ca.gov Karen Jones Administrative Law Judge Division RM. 2106 505 VAN NESS AVE San Francisco CA 94102 3298 (415) 703-1483 kaj@cpuc.ca.gov Mark A Vandervelden Division of Strategic Planning RM. 5119 505 VAN NESS AVE San Francisco CA 94102 3298 (415) 703-2329 mav@cpuc.ca.gov Donna L. Wagoner Water Division AREA 3-C 505 VAN NESS AVE San Francisco CA 94102 3298 (415) 703-1942 dlw@cpuc.ca.gov Josie Webb Energy Division AREA 4-A 505 VAN NESS AVE San Francisco CA 94102 3298 (415) 703-1966 wbb@cpuc.ca.gov Sean Wilson Water Division AREA 3-C 505 VAN NESS AVE San Francisco CA 94102 3298 (415) 703-1818 smw@cpuc.ca.gov Angela Young Information & Management Services Divisi AREA 3-E 505 VAN NESS AVE San Francisco CA 94102 3298 (415) 703-2837 ayy@cpuc.ca.gov ********* INFORMATION ONLY ********** Esther Northrup COX CALIFORNIA TELCOM 5159 FEDERAL BLVD. SAN DIEGO CA 92105 (619) 266-5315 esther.northrup@cox.com For: COX CALIFORNIA TELCOM Suzanne Toller Attorney At Law DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE LLP 505 MONTGOMERY STREET, SUITE 800 SAN FRANCISCO CA 94111-6533 (415) 276-6500 suzannetoller@dwt.com Bettina Cardona President FONES4ALL CORPORATION 6320 CANOGA AVE, SUITE 650 WOODLAND HILLS CA 91367 (818) 615-0100 bettina@fones4all.com Joe Chicoine Manager, State Government Affairs FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS PO BOX 340 ELK GROVE CA 95759 (916) 686-3588 jchicoin@czn.com Charles E. Born Manager-State Government Affairs FRONTIER, A CITIZENS TELECOMMUNICATIONS PO BOX 340 ELK GROVE CA 95759 (916) 686-3570 cborn@czn.com Glennda Kountz Regulatory Assistant KERMAN TELEPHONE CO. 811 S. MADERA AVENUE KERMAN CA 93630 (559) 846-4872 gkountz@kermantelephone.com Law Department File Room PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY PO BOX 7442 SAN FRANCISCO CA 94120-7442 cpuccases@pge.com Julie Weigand RICHARD HEATH AND ASSOCIATES, INC. 590 W. LOCUST AVENUE, SUITE 103 FRESNO CA 93650 (559) 447-7000 julie@rhainc.com Adrienne M. Mercer Regulatory Compliance Analyst SAGE TELECOM, INC. 805 CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY S, STE 100 ALLENT TX 75013 (972) 747-4004 ADmercer@sagetelecom.net Robert Gnaizda Policy Director/General Counsel THE GREENLINING INSTITUTE 1918 UNIVERSITY AVENUE, SECOND FLOOR BERKELEY CA 94704 (510) 926-4006 robertg@greenlining.org Margaret L. Tobias Attorney At Law TOBIAS LAW OFFICE 460 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE SAN FRANCISCO CA 94107 (415) 641-7833 marg@tobiaslo.com Gina Gomez VERIZON BUSINESS 201 SPEAR ST., 9TH FLOOR SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105 (415) 228-1245 garciela.gomez@verizonbusiness.com (END OF SERVICE LIST)
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