California RLECs, Consumer Groups Support 25/3 Mbps Standard
Small rural telcos and consumer advocates supported 25/3 Mbps, with caveats, as California’s essential broadband definition in comments filed Wednesday in a utility affordability proceeding at the California Public Utilities Commission. That standard is fine if the agency recognizes smaller…
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companies need state and federal funding to cover their higher costs, CalTel and other small RLECs commented in docket R.18-07-006. The Utility Reform Network said 25/3 Mbps is a “reasonable starting point” but the CPUC should specify that the service must not include data caps and reevaluate the speed every three years. The agency should consider what is an essential data capacity in the proceeding’s next phase, said the Center for Accessible Technology, saying 1 terabyte "is a commonly provided data cap in both market-rate and certain low-income broadband programs." Consolidated Communications warned that broadband internet access services are beyond the agency’s jurisdiction. “Clarify that unregulated broadband Internet access services will not be subject to rate regulation or data reporting requirements beyond providing publicly available pricing information,” it commented. The National Diversity Coalition urged included a household's socio-economic status when defining affordability of essential utility services.