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Mailed: October 17, 2008

PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Communications Division

RESOLUTION T-17146

Program Implementation Branch

October 16, 2008

R E S O L U T I O N

_________________________________________________________________

Summary

This resolution grants United Way Monterey County hereinafter referred to as UWMC, the authority to use the 2-1-1 abbreviated dialing code to provide information and referral (I&R) services to all of Monterey County. This authority is granted for an indefinite term, and is subject to review upon a letter to the Commission showing sufficient grounds to revise or rescind the term.

Background

2-1-1 is the national abbreviated dialing code designated by the Federal Communications Commission to be used to phone non-emergency community I&R providers. Upon dialing 2-1-1, a caller will be routed to a referral service and then to an agency that can provide information concerning social services such as housing assistance, programs to assist with utility bills, food assistance and other less urgent situations not currently addressed by either 911 or 311 services. On January 23, 2002, the California Public Utilities Commission (Commission) instituted Rulemaking (R.) 02-01-025 into the implementation of 2-1-1 dialing in the State of California. In Decision (D.) 03-02-029, the Commission adopted regulatory policies and procedures to implement 2-1-1 dialing.

Included among these policies were guidelines and procedures whereby the Commission can certify I&R providers as eligible to purchase network telephone service that will enable them to receive calls from those who dial 2-1-1. Most of the procedures for I&R providers to follow in requesting authority to use the 2-1-1 dialing code are contained in D.03-02-029's Ordering Paragraph 2, quoted below:

2. Information and Referral (I&R) providers seeking authority to provide 2-1-1 service or to establish Regional Technical Centers for routing 2-1-1 calls to I&R service providers in California shall submit a letter to the Executive Director of the Commission approximately nine months before they plan to commence service. The letter shall contain the information detailed in the Service Provider Application Package in Appendix A, shall include a service rollout plan, and shall demonstrate compliance with the guidelines contained in Appendix A to this decision, along with letters of endorsement from community groups as described in Appendix A. The I&R providers shall serve this application letter on the parties to this proceeding on the same day as its submission to the Commission. The Commission shall publish a notice of this letter in its Daily Calendar. We establish a milestone of six months from the initial filing of this application letter for action by the Commission via a resolution resolving any issues. This application letter should be served on the appropriate incumbent local exchange carriers and on all parties to this proceeding.

UWMC filed a complete copy of its application letter1 requesting certification as the 2-1-1 service provider in Monterey County, as well as a copy with information UWMC considered confidential redacted, that was received by the Commission's Executive Director on July 14, 2008. On the same date, UWMC sent to the service list for R.02-01-025 redacted copies of its application letter.

We remind local exchange carriers of D. 03-02-029, Ordering Paragraph 3, which states "Within four months of the filling of a letter by I&R providers or a regional technical center seeking to initiate 2-1-1 service, the incumbent local exchange carriers serving the territory over which the 2-1-1 service will be offered shall file advice letters to provide the 2-1-1 switch translation services required. Ordering Paragraph 4 states "All other incumbent local carriers serving a territory over which the 2-1-1 service will be offered shall provide the needed switch translation service, but may either concur in the price terms offered by Pacific or Verizon or submit their own cost support information. This filing shall follow that of Pacific or Verizon by no more than 30 days." Competitive local carriers must comply with Ordering Paragraph 7, which states in part, "Within one month of the filing of an advice letter by incumbent local exchange carriers to offer 2-1-1 switch translation services in a specific area, each competitive local carrier providing services in the affected areas shall submit an advice letter, under General Order 96-A, demonstrating that it will offer 2-1-1 switch translation service at a reasonable rate to I&R providers on a timetable consistent with their rollout plans."

We remind payphone service providers of the same decision's Ordering Paragraph 6, stating in part "The providers of payphone services in an area in which 2-1-1 service will be offered shall end all non-conforming uses of 2-1-1 service within six months of their filing." i.e., within six months of the filing of the application letter by the I&R provider.

Notice/Protests

UWMC states that it mailed a copy of its application letter to SBC Communications now AT&T as well as to the service list for R.02-01-025, which includes the appropriate incumbent local exchange carriers. The Communications Division published notice of UWMC application letter in the Commission Daily Calendar on July 15, 2008 through July 22, 2008. In response to UWMC application letter, the California Alliance of Information and Referral Services, Inc. (CAIRS) submitted written comments supporting the request of UWMC to use the 2-1-1 dialing code in Monterey County. No other comments were submitted.

Discussion

The 2-1-1 application process prescribed by D.03-02-029 for potential I&R providers is divided into four major sections. The first section elicits information on the I&R provider's organization, structure, background, and experience.

UWMC is a non profit organization incorporated in the State of California. The documents included to support this categorization are its articles of incorporation, including by-laws, and letters from the Internal Revenue Service. UWMC is located at 2511 Garden Rd, Suite C-100, Monterey, CA 93940. The contact person is Katy Castagna, at (831) 372-8026 ext 112 and email at KCastagna@unitedwaymcca.org.

As the local grant maker and advocate for human services, UWMC has been acutely aware of the need for more integrated access to health and human service information for community members, service providers and funders. The Monterey County Department of Social and Employment Services approached UWMC in 2006 to discuss collaboration on updating the existing online I&R resource maintained by the County. The website, www.TheResourcebook.org, had been in use for several years, but was not very user-friendly. It relied on providers to update their own listings and was largely out of date. The collaboration between the county and Untied Way to provide 2-1-1 service is an outgrowth of this earlier collaboration.

The I&R system in Monterey County has been fragmented. The county Department of Social and Employment Services currently funds telephone I&R through a Family Helpline provided by Shelter Outreach Plus, a local community organization. Another community organization, Alliance on Aging, also provides I&R for seniors and is also funded by the county.

Development of 2-1-1 in Monterey County has been sponsored by a steering committee composed of a broad group of stakeholders. The 2-1-1 Steering Committee includes representatives of the Monterey County Department of Social and Employment Services, the Monterey County Health Department, the Monterey County communications group (9-1-1), the Community Foundation for Monterey County, the Monterey County Library, Alliance on Aging, First 5 Monterey and United Way Monterey County.

The Monterey County 2-1-1 steering committee explored several options for the provision of 2-1-1 services. One of the existing providers, Shelter Outreach Plus, responded to the Steering Committee's Request for Information. After a review of the organizational capacity of Shelter Plus, it was determined that Shelter Plus was not in a position to assume 2-1-1 responsibility for the county.

Because Shelter Outreach Plus was the only local organization responding to the request for information, the 2-1-1 Steering Committee developed a Request for Proposal (RFP) for outsourcing I&R services in Monterey County. There were two responses to the RFP. Of the two, Interface Children Family Services (Interface) was selected to be awarded the contract for I&R services in Monterey County.

UWMC will be managing the I&R contract for the county with Interface. UWMC will be hiring two staff members to operate the 2-1-1 program and manage the contract. Interface will be trained on the localities in Monterey county. The I&R database, utilized by Interface in the provision of I&R, will be maintained by UWMC.

Interface has the internal protocols to ensure calls are handled consistent with guidelines developed by the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems including call handling, database development and maintenance and disaster response and preparedness.

UWMC provided a five year budget as part of their application. UWMC's budget and financial statements indicate a stable and solvent financial position. It appears that UWMC has appropriate budgetary planning procedures to support 2-1-1 service at current call volumes.

The second section of the prescribed application sets forth the required service conditions that a 2-1-1 service provider must meet. Section 2 of UWMC application indicates that it does not and will not receive fees from referred organizations for referrals and no fees or charges levied to providers listed in its database. Furthermore, UWMC's information and referrals services have been provided free of charge to callers since the inception and will remain that way upon implementation of 2-1-1.

Interface staff currently provides I&R services in English and Spanish along with a subscription to a multi-lingual translation service in Santa Clara County. TTY and TDY service are in place. All of these options will be available with the implementation of 2-1-1 in Monterey County. As additional employees are hired, effort will be made to increase the Spanish-English bilingual staff.

In the third section of the prescribed application, the applicant must demonstrate its understanding of and must agree to adhere to the standards for delivery of I&R services as established by the Alliance of Information and Referral Services (AIRS). UWMC/Interface's Information and Referral program has internal protocols to ensure calls are handled consistent with guidelines developed by AIRS. AIRS' guidelines are the basis for the service delivery standards associated with use of the 2-1-1 dialing code as specified by the CPUC Decision 03-02-029. UWMC's application included descriptions of its policies in the areas of call assessment and follow-up, confidentiality, database standards, disaster readiness, reports and measures, cooperative relationships, training, marketing, and program evaluation. These policies appear to meet the standards established by AIRS.

In the fourth section of the prescribed application, the applicant demonstrates its level of community support by including letters of endorsement from organizations and agencies that are stakeholders in the health and human services network in its community. UWMC included in its application letters of endorsement from fourteen different organizations and agencies in a broad range of health and human service fields throughout Monterey County. These endorsements demonstrate broad community support.

In processing UWMC's 2-1-1 application, Communications Division considered the input of the Monterey County government because it oversees the operations of county hospitals, a county welfare department, and numerous other agencies and programs in the fields of health and human services, and is best equipped to evaluate whether an I&R provider is well suited to provide comprehensive I&R service in Monterey County. California's size and diversity, in geography, politics, and many other categories, argue against a statewide "one size fits-all" approach to evaluating and choosing comprehensive I&R providers. County governments can best apply local standards and local knowledge to this difficult but important task. Fernando Armenta, Chairman of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors sent a letter on May 2, 2008 endorsing UWMC application to serve as the 2-1-1 provider of Monterey County residents and employees. The Commission values the input of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors on this matter, and takes official notice of its action.

D.03-02-029 did not specifically address the length of time for which the Commission's grant of authority to use the 2-1-1 dialing code should be made. Utilities and other frequent participants in Commission proceedings generally know that most Commission decisions, resolutions, and actions can be later modified or rescinded if a showing of sufficient grounds to do so is made in a filing before the Commission. However, most I&R providers and county governments are not frequent participants in Commission proceedings, and may benefit from some clarification of this point. The grant of authority to use the 2-1-1 dialing code in a county or group of counties is for an indefinite term and may be revised or rescinded if a showing of sufficient grounds to do so is made to the Commission. For the reasons cited in the previous paragraph, the Commission should consider a resolution by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors as a crucial part of any showing that the authority to use the 2-1-1 dialing code for comprehensive I&R service for Monterey County should be rescinded, reassigned, or modified. A letter to the Commission's Executive Director could serve to initiate such a process. Any such process should provide notice to all affected parties and an opportunity to be heard.

The Communications Division concludes that the application letter filed by UWMC meets the requirements set forth in the Commission's order and recommends that the Commission approve this filing. Commission approval is based on the specifics of the application letter, and does not establish a precedent for the contents of future filings or for Commission approval of similar requests.

This is an uncontested matter in which the resolution grants the relief requested. Accordingly, pursuant to P.U.Code Section 311 (g) (2) and Rule 14.6(c) (2) of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, the otherwise applicable 30-day period for public review and comment is being waived.

Findings

1. United Way Monterey County, hereinafter referred to as UWMC sent its application letter for certification as the 2-1-1 service provider for Monterey County to the Commission on July 14, 2008.

2. CAIRS submitted written comments in support of UWMC's application on August 14, 2008. No other comments were submitted.

3. UWMC's application provides sufficient information to meet the four major sections of the 2-1-1 application process required by D. 03-02-039.

4. The Chairman of the Monterey County Board of Supervisor sent a letter to the Commission on May 2, 2008, endorsing UWMC's application to serve as the 2-1-1 provider for Monterey County.

5. CD concludes that UWMC's application meets the requirements established by D. 03-02-029 to use the 2-1-1 dialing code.

THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that:

1. United Way Monterey County is granted the authority to use the 2-1-1 abbreviated dialing code to provide information and referral (I&R) services to all of Monterey County.

2. This authority is granted for an indefinite term, and is subject to review upon showing sufficient grounds to revise or rescind the term. Any process to contest, revise, or rescind this authority shall provide notice to all affected parties and an opportunity to be heard.

3. If United Way Monterey County cannot implement 2-1-1 dialing within a year after the Commission's approval of United Way Monterey County and the needed tariffs of the telecommunications service providers ordered in Ordering Paragraphs 3, 4, and 7 of D.03-02-029, then, barring further Commission action, the certification of United Way Monterey County shall lapse so that another I&R provider may apply to offer service in a service territory containing Monterey County.

4. United Way Monterey County shall notify the Director of the Communications Division in writing of the date 2-1-1 service is first rendered to the public, within five business days after service begins.

This Resolution is effective today.

I hereby certify that the Public Utilities Commission at its regular meeting on October 16, 2008 adopted this Resolution. The following Commissioners approved it:

1 The terms "application letter", "letter" and "application" used herein mean the package of materials the prospective I&R provider files with the Commission by letter to the Executive Director, as specified in D.03-02-029, and are not a formal application to the Commission as described in the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure.

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