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California LifeLine Program Update

California LifeLine Program Update. Low Income Oversight Board May 16, 2013. California LifeLine Program Update. CA LifeLine Proceeding All Party Meeting – January 2013 Scoping Memo Issued April 10, 2013 Opening Comments Due May 13 Reply Comments Due May 31

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California LifeLine Program Update

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  1. California LifeLine ProgramUpdate Low Income Oversight Board May 16, 2013

  2. California LifeLine Program Update • CA LifeLine Proceeding • All Party Meeting – January 2013 • Scoping Memo Issued April 10, 2013 • Opening Comments Due May 13 • Reply Comments Due May 31 • Public Participation Hearings Scheduled • May 14 – Rancho Cordova • May 15 – San Francisco • June 12 – San Diego • June 17 – Riverside • June 18 – Los Angeles • July 17 – Eureka (updated from July 16) • July 31 – Fresno • August 13 – Salinas

  3. Summary of Basic Service Elements • Provider must offer the ability to place and receive voice grade calls over all distances, including access to: • 911/Enhanced 911. • Directory Assistance. • Optional white pages directory (or an electronic equivalent). • Billing Provisions • The option for customers to purchase a flat-rate plan to receive unlimited incoming calls without a per-minute or per-call charge. • Carriers are required to offer a stand-alone CA LifeLine rate to qualified residential customers. • Customers must have an option to a monthly rate without a contract or early termination penalty. • Carriers must offer stand-alone basic services, without a requirement to purchase additional features/services. Although these options can be offered to the customer. • One-time free blocking for information services and one-time billing adjustments for charges incurred inadvertently, mistakenly, or without authorization. • Toll Free Services • At least one basic service option that allows unlimited 800/8YY toll free calls. • The carrier must provide full disclosure of 800 number billing options. • Access to Public Programs • Telephone Relay Services for deaf or hearing-impaired persons or individuals with speech difficulties. • Information on the CA LifeLine program.

  4. Major Issues in the CA LifeLine Proceeding • Service Elements for CA LifeLine: • Should they be changed? • Should they be different than the general Basic Service Elements? • Should they be different for wireless providers? • What should be the requirements for wireless (and VoIP) participation in the CA LifeLine program • Will it result in state subsidy in addition to federal subsidy for wireless LifeLine plans? • These may include a minimum number of monthly minutes/texts to qualify. • Should there be more rules governing: • Bundled service? • Connection charges? • Contract or early termination fees?

  5. Major Issues in the CA LifeLine Proceeding (continued) • Administrative changes, including: • Making the process more transparent for consumers, stakeholders, etc. • Should CA LifeLine continue to require applicants to pay retail rates until they qualify (pre-qualification)? • Should the Commission institute a “pre-registration” process whereby applicants can obtain pre-approval of CA LifeLine eligibility before they sign up of service with a carrier of their choice? • Is the program outreach sufficient and effective? • Should the customer rate cap be extended beyond June 30, 2013? • Should the carrier reimbursement process be re-evaluated?

  6. Direct Application Process and Wireless • Current statistics for the DAP program to date (4/24/13): • A total of 19,840 transaction. • 15,490 were successful • 4,350 errored (customer already existed, usually due to multiple submission attempts) • Wireless Participation in LifeLine (4/20/13) • Cricket – 18,428 Approved, 4,604 Pending • Nexus – 76,076 Approved, 20,958 Pending • Telscape Wireless – 181 Approved, 25 Pending • Assurance (Virgin Mobile) – 557 Approved, 140 Pending

  7. Contact Information • Benjamin Schein – LifeLine Implementation • BDA@cpuc.ca.gov; (415) 703-1088 • Michaela Pangilinan – LifeLine Outreach • WOW@cpuc.ca.gov; (415) 703-1890 • RHA, Inc. (Outreach Contractor) – Vanessa Anderson • vanderson@rhainc.com; (559) 447-7000 • Consumer Affairs Branch • http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/puc/cec/e_complaint/; (800) 649-7570 • Xerox State and Local Solutions, Inc. (LifeLine Public Call Center) • https://www.californialifeline.com/en • (866) 272-0349 – English (866) 272-0354 – Korean • (866) 272-0350 – Spanish (866) 272-0355 – Vietnamese • (866) 272-0351 – Lao/Hmong (866) 272-0356 – Chinese • (866) 272-0352 – Khmer (866) 296-0860 – Japanese • (866) 272-0353 – Tagalog 7

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