Section 879 Of Article 8. Universal Telephone Service From California Public Utilities Code >> Division 1. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 8.
879
. (a) The commission shall, at least annually, initiate a
proceeding to set rates for lifeline telephone service. All telephone
corporations providing lifeline telephone service shall annually
file, on a date set by the commission, proposed lifeline telephone
service rates and a statement of projected revenue needs to meet the
funding requirements to provide lifeline telephone service to
qualified subscribers, together with proposed funding methods to
provide the necessary funding. These funding methods shall include
identification of those services whose rates shall be adjusted to
provide the necessary funding.
(b) The commission shall commence a proceeding within 30 days
after the date set for the filings required in subdivision (a),
giving interested parties an opportunity to comment on the proposed
rates and funding requirements and the proposed funding methods. The
commission may change the rates, funding requirements, and funding
methods proposed by the telephone corporations in any manner
necessary, including reasonably spreading the funding among the
services offered by the telephone corporations, to meet the public
interest. Within 60 days of the annual filing, the commission shall
issue an order setting lifeline telephone service rates and funding
methods for each telephone corporation making a filing as required in
subdivision (a). The commission may establish a lifeline service
pool composed of the rate adjustments and surcharges imposed by the
commission pursuant to this section for the purpose of funding
lifeline telephone service.
(c) Any order issued by the commission pursuant to this section
shall require telephone corporations providing lifeline telephone
service to apply the funding requirement in the form of a surcharge
to service rates which may be separately identified on the bills of
customers using those services. The commission shall not allow any
surcharge under this section on the rates charged by those telephone
corporations for lifeline telephone service.
(d) The commission shall permit telephone corporations operating
between service areas to adjust the rates of any service which may be
affected by any surcharge imposed by this section.