TDS

California to hold public hearings on new rules for federal broadband program

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) wants to hear from you. Virtual public hearings have been scheduled to hear your comments, concerns and opinions regarding the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, a new broadband grant program funded with federal money and administered by the CPUC. Your participation by providing comments can help inform the new rules.

You can watch a livestream of the hearings or participate via telephone. You can also submit comments by mail or post them on the CPUC’s public comment portal.

Dates:

Public participation hearing, November 8, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. https://adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc/hearing/20231108

Toll-free phone number: 1-800-857-1917; code: 1767567#

Spanish language toll-free phone number: 1-800-857-1917; code: 3799627#

Public participation hearing, November 8, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. https://adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc/hearing/202311082

Toll-free phone number: 1-800-857-1917; code: 1767567#

Spanish language toll-free phone number: 1-800-857-1917; code: 3799627#

How does this process work?

This rulemaking is considering rules for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, a new broadband grant program funded with federal money and administered by the CPUC. The rulemaking is assigned to a CPUC Administrative Law Judge and a Commissioner, who will consider proposals and evidence presented during formal processes, and then issue a proposed decision. Any CPUC Commissioner may sponsor an alternate decision with a different outcome. The proposed decision, and any alternate decisions, will be discussed and voted upon by the CPUC Commissioners at a public CPUC Voting Meeting.

Parties involved in the rulemaking include the Public Advocates Office. The Public Advocates Office is an independent consumer advocate within the CPUC that represents customers to help them obtain the lowest possible rates consistent with reliable and safe service levels. Find out more here: 1-415-703-1584, email PublicAdvocatesOffice@cpuc.ca.gov or visit PublicAdvocates.cpuc.ca.gov.

Contact the CPUC:

Please visit apps.cpuc.ca.gov/p/R2302016 to submit a public comment about this rulemaking to the CPUC. You may also mail written comments to the CPUC’s Public Advisor’s address below. For more information on participating in the public hearing, submitting comments, to request special assistance, or to request a non-English or Spanish language interpreter, please contact the CPUC’s Public Advisor’s Office at least five days prior to the hearings.

CPUC Public Advisor’s Office

505 Van Ness Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102

Phone: 1-866-849-8390 (toll-free) or 1-415-703-2074

Email: Public.Advisor@cpuc.ca.gov

Please reference Rulemaking 23-02-016 in any communications you have with the CPUC regarding this matter.

About Mark Schaaf

Mark is a manager of communications for TDS Telecom. Prior to TDS, he worked for 10 years as a journalist and four years in local government. When he's not writing blogs, you might find him at a live music venue, bike trail or baseball stadium. Mark lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with Jordan and Pippin (his wife and cat -- not the Chicago Bulls legends).
No comments yet.

Leave a Comment