Via CWA

“Dear CWA D9 Local Presidents, 

Last Year AT&T petitioned the CPUC to no longer be the Carrier of Last Resort. The CPUC Denied their petitions with prejudice and opened a Rulemaking Process to see if the rule’s around COLR Obligations are still applicable.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is seeking public input during any of the 14 upcoming Public Forums on potential updates to Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) rules for telecommunications providers, which ensure universal access to essential communications service.

Here is the ask: Please make a plan to attend and bring your local activists to one of the Public Participation Hearings (Schedule is below). 

Show up to represent your CWA local and customers interest’s, We are the experts in this work, have your local’s Technicians share stories about what they see in the field or call center workers share their experiences about frustrated customers. AT&T should remain as COLR and the CPUC should not change the COLR Rules.

Yvonne Melton will be reaching out to get a commitment from every local on attendance at the upcoming hearings. This is our fight … and When We Fight, WE WIN!

 If you have any questions please contact CWA D9 L&P Campaign Lead Yvonne Melton at ymelton@cwa-union.org. 

About the Proceeding

·  A telecommunications provider designated as a COLR stands ready to provide basic telephone service to all customers that request service within a specific area. Telecommunications providers offering basic service are required to provide certain basic service elements such as a voice-grade connection, free access to 911/E911, free access to telephone relay services, etc.

·  California’s COLR rules require that at least one telecommunications service provider serve as a COLR and provide basic service to any customer within its designated COLR territory. Currently, every California household is served by a COLR.

·  A telecommunications service provider designated as a COLR may not cease to act as a COLR unless another service provider assumes the COLR obligation in the designated COLR’s service territory.

·  The CPUC is reviewing the rules that currently require certain telephone companies to provide basic service. This includes looking at what “basic service” means, which companies must offer it, and the process for a company to stop providing this service in a specific area.

Join a Public Forum 

The schedule and location information for the Public Forums is as follows: 

When	Format	Location
April 9, 20252 p.m. and 6 p.m.	In-Person	City of Vista (San Diego County)City Council Chambers200 Civic Center Dr.Vista, CA 92084
April 10, 20252 p.m. and 6 p.m.	In-Person	City of Walnut (Los Angeles County)City Council Chambers21201 La Puente Rd.Walnut, CA 91789
April 15, 20252 p.m. and 6 p.m.	In-Person	City of Bakersfield (Kern County)City Council Chambers1501 Truxtun Ave.Bakersfield, CA 93301
April 17, 20252 p.m.	Remote	– Webcast (to watch only):https://www.adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc/-Phone: 1-800-857-1917, Passcode: 6032788# Must call-in to make a public comment
April 23, 20252 p.m. and 6 p.m.	In-Person	City of Roseville (Placer County)City Council Chambers311 Vernon St.Roseville, CA 95678
April 30, 20252 p.m. and 6 p.m.	In-Person	City of Santa Rosa (Sonoma County)City Council Chambers100 Santa Rosa Ave.Santa Rosa, CA 95404
May 5, 20256 p.m.	Remote	– Webcast (to watch only):https://www.adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc/-Phone: 1-800-857-1917, Passcode: 6032788# Must call-in to make a public comment
May 13, 20252 p.m. and 6 p.m.	Remote	– Webcast (to watch only):https://www.adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc/-Phone: 1-800-857-1917, Passcode: 6032788# Must call-in to make a public comment

The CPUC welcomes attendance and comments at the Public Forums (formally called Public Participation Hearings), as public comments help the CPUC reach an informed decision. 

How to Make Comment 

·  Attend: Join the CPUC at a Public Forum in-person and sign-up to speak.

·  Call In: For the Public Forums that offer remote access, use the telephone number listed above to comment publicly during the Public Forum.

·         Participants who wish to speak must press star (*) one, unmute their phone, and record their name. This will alert the operator who will put the speakers into a queue and announce each speaker’s name one at a time when the speaker’s turn comes up. When it is time for public comment, the Administrative Law Judge assigned to the proceeding will make an announcement through the telephone line for those who wish to speak. 

·  Submit Written Comments: Submit your comments anytime, and read the comments of others, at: apps.cpuc.ca.gov/c/R2406012.”