ALJ/KAJ/eap Mailed 12/6/2004
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. |
FILED |
ORDER INSTITUTING RULEMAKING
I. Summary
By this order, we institute a rulemaking into the implementation of the Federal Communications Commission's Report and Order, FCC No. 04-87 (Lifeline/Link-Up Order or Order), as it affects our Universal Lifeline Telephone Service (ULTS) program. In its Order, the FCC requires all states to document customers' income qualification for their income-based Lifeline/Link-Up programs. At the present time, the California ULTS program, which is based on income eligibility, allows participants to self-certify their income, with no process in place for documentation of customers' income.
In order to comply with the FCC's order, and to preserve the $330 million annual support from the federal Lifeline/Link-Up programs, the Commission must adopt a process to certify participants' income. The primary goal of this Order Instituting Rulemaking (OIR) is to take the steps needed to preserve the $330 million annual support from the federal Lifeline/Link-Up programs.
In addition, we recognize that some program participants do not have information available to document their income. We request parties to comment on how ULTS should serve these low-income households that otherwise would qualify for ULTS but are unable to provide the required income documentation.
We also indicate that we would like to explore the possibility of implementing automatic enrollment for the ULTS program.
