March 13, 2002 PUC: 23
Media Contact: PUC Press Office – 415.703.1366 –
PUC HOLDS PUBLIC MEETINGS ON PHONE SERVICE IMPLEMENTATION FOR RURAL AREAS
The California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is holding public meetings in March and April targeting rural counties statewide to solicit community input on the implementation and application process of a $10 million per year grant program for establishing telephone service in rural areas.
The public meeting schedule is as follows:
*Coachella, Tuesday, March 26, 2002, 7 p.m. at Coachella City Council Room, 1515 6th St., Coachella
*Independence, Thursday, March 28, 2002, 7 p.m. at Independence Board of Supervisors’ Room, 224 N. Edwards St. (U.S. 395), Independence
*Lakeport, Wednesday, April 3, 2002, 7 p.m. at Lake County Board of Supervisors Chambers, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport
*Eureka, Tuesday, April 9, 2002, 7 p.m. at Eureka City Council Chambers, 531 K St., Eureka
*Susanville, Thursday, April 11, 2002, 7 p.m. at Lassen County Fairgrounds – Commercial Building, 195 Russell Ave., Susanville
As a result of the January 1, 2002, passage of Assembly Bill (AB) 140, up to $10 million per year in grants will be awarded to rural, low-income communities currently without phone service. The $10 million is derived from the California High Cost Funds A & B. Monies in the form of individual community grants, which may not exceed $2.5 million per year, will be used to build telecommunications infrastructure. The program ends January 1, 2006.
Comments received from these public meetings will be used to develop Commission proposals detailing different scenarios for qualifying and grant criteria as well as specifics about the grant application working group membership and function.
The qualifying criteria currently includes the following: a community’s median household annual income can be no greater than $26,700; a local government agency must agree to act as fiscal agent for receipt and distribution of grant funds; and communities with hospitals, schools, and health clinics without phone service will be given greater consideration.
For those who are unable to attend the public meetings, written comments may be submitted to the following address:
PUC Public Advisor’s Office
505 Van Ness Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94102
Or, comments may be sent via e-mail to . Please reference AB140 and the meeting nearest your residence in your comments.
If specialized accommodations are needed, please call the PUC Public Advisor’s Office at 415-703-2074 or 1-866-849-8390, TTY 415-703-5282 or 1-866-836-7825, at least seven business days prior to each public meeting.
For more information about AB140 and the grant program, contact Linda Rochester of the PUC’s Telecommunications Division at 415-703-2785 or .
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California Public Utilities Commission, 03/13/02