Telecommunications universal service programs: Lifeline Oversight Board.

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including telephone corporations. The Moore Universal Telephone Service Act established the Universal Lifeline Telephone Service (ULTS) program. In carrying out the ULTS program, the commission is required annually to designate a class of lifeline service necessary to meet minimum residential communications needs, to set the rates and charges for that service, to develop eligibility criteria for that service, and to assess the degree of achievement of universal service. Funding for the ULTS program is provided through a surcharge established by the commission on specified communications services, moneys from which are deposited into the Universal Lifeline Telephone Service Trust Administrative Committee Fund and are made available to the commission, upon appropriation, exclusively for the ULTS program. Existing law creates the Universal Lifeline Telephone Service Trust Administrative Committee, which is an advisory board to advise the commission regarding the development, implementation, and administration of the ULTS program and to carry out the ULTS program pursuant to the commission's direction, control, and approval. This bill would repeal language creating the Universal Lifeline Telephone Service Trust Administrative Committee and instead establish the Lifeline Oversight Board both to advise the commission on the effective development, implementation, and administration of the lifeline program to ensure lifeline service is available to the people of the state, and to serve as a liaison between the commission and low-income subscribers and their representatives to carry out the program pursuant to the commission's direction, control, and approval. The board would be composed of 11 members, selected by the commission as specified, and the bill would require that board meetings alternate locations between northern, central, and southern California to maximize participation from consumers in those regions. The bill would require the commission to (1) assign staff and provide technical support to the board, and work with the board and other specified entities to increase participation in the lifeline program, (2) ensure the needs of low-income lifeline subscribers are met, and (3) provide formal notice of board meetings in the commission's daily calendar. Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime. Because certain of the provisions of this bill would be a part of the act and because a violation of an order or decision 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.