Communications: universal service: lifeline program.

Under the California Constitution and the Public Utilities Act, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including telephone corporations. The act establishes the Universal Lifeline Telephone Service program (lifeline program) in order to provide low-income households with access to affordable basic residential telephone service. This bill would require the commission, before March 1, 2022, to adopt updated rules for the lifeline program establishing a modified recertification process that minimizes barriers to lifeline subscriber recertification and reduces the burden and cost of recertification on the lifeline program, as specified. The bill would require the commission, in consultation with lifeline service providers, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Universal Service Administrative Company, before January 1, 2023, to adopt updated rules for the lifeline program with the goal of achieving recertification rates at least equivalent to those rates achieved for the federal lifeline program. The bill would require the commission to annually publicly report on its internet website the participation and recertification rates of eligible lifeline subscribers. Under existing law, a violation of the act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime. Because the provisions of this bill would be a part of the act and because a violation of an order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission implementing its requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.