The California Public Utilities Commission issued a proposed decision recently that would adopt new post-disaster community engagement and reporting requirements for investor-owned utilities and facilities-based telecommunications service providers in California.
Among other requirements, within 15 days of being allowed access into damaged areas after a State or Federally declared disaster, telecommunications providers must provide the CPUC and the appropriate local or tribal government a report including the following details:
- A report of what facilities or equipment was damaged;
- Restoration and/or rebuild plans, including a description of what is being repaired, replaced or added, and maps of where the restoration will occur;
- The date the facilities-based wireline or wireless provider received access to the damaged area;
- The timeline to make repairs;
- Any changes to any energy/communication infrastructure required; and
- The contact information of the individual responsible for community engagement in these instances.
The proposed decision, part of a broader ongoing Rulemaking (R.20-09-001) addressing broadband issues, has no legal effect unless approved by the Commission as a whole. This item may be heard, at the earliest, at the Commission’s Oct. 21 Business Meeting. Formal comments for the proceeding’s record are due on Oct. 6.
See more details and read the full resolution.
