CTIA: Extending Calif. Disconnect Ban Is 'Rate Regulation'
CTIA opposed keeping a moratorium on voice disconnections through at least 2021. The California Public Utilities Commission adopted the COVID-19 disconnection policy in December (see 2012170066) and the executive director extended it in July. CPUC members plan to vote Sept.…
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23 on an Aug. 19 draft resolution (M-4857) for further extension. “Whatever the lawfulness of a short moratorium, requiring wireless providers to serve customers without payment for a year or more is preempted rate regulation,” CTIA commented Wednesday. Extending the COVID-19 policy is unnecessary because California’s economy is much better and “multiple new state and federal programs are providing direct monetary support ... as well as subsidies for wireless plans that offer both voice and broadband service,” the association said. The Utility Reform Network and Center for Accessible Technology supported the resolution: “Because the Draft Resolution continues the moratorium without addressing the rates charged for specific services to specific customers, it cannot be construed as rate regulation.”