Small independent telephone corporations: rates.

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including telephone corporations. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix just and reasonable rates and charges for public utilities. Existing law requires the commission to exercise its regulatory authority to maintain the California High-Cost Fund-A program, until January 1, 2023, to provide universal service rate support to small independent telephone corporations, as defined, in furtherance of the state's universal service commitment to the continued affordability and widespread availability of safe, reliable, high-quality communications services in rural areas of the state. This bill would authorize a small independent telephone corporation to initiate a rate case through either an advice letter or application. If a rate case is initiated by an advice letter, the bill would require that the case be processed according to the commission's rules governing advice letters. If a rate case is initiated by application, the bill would require that the case be processed according to the commission's rules governing formal proceedings. The bill would authorize the commission, following review of a rate case advice letter, to require that it be resubmitted as an application, if the commission adopts a resolution within 120 days that includes specified factual findings.