DRA Communications Policy in the News
September 14, 2008 - AT&T buries customer rights in 2,500-page 'guidebook'
In the LA Times on Sept. 14, 2008, David Lazarus provides a consumer perspective on the AT&T Residential Service Agreement recently sent to AT&T customers. The column provides several references to the Division of Ratepayer Advocates efforts in this area. It notes that "the California Public Utilities Commission's Division of Ratepayer Advocates is preparing to protest an attempt by AT&T to remove numerous services from regulatory scrutiny before they're offered to customers." The column also reports DRA "...staffers recently reviewed AT&T's service agreement and that some believe regulatory action is needed to protect consumers."
Read the entire column, entitled AT&T buries customer rights in 2,500-page 'guidebook'.
August 17, 2008 - Getting the 411 on phone charges
David Lazarus, in his Consumer Confidential column in the Los Angeles Times, reports on rate hikes by AT&T and Verizon, and quotes from DRA's July 29, 2008 Report on Rate Increases.
Read_his_article in the LA Times.
August 4, 2008 - Telcos, others debate need for additional monitoring reports
Several telecom carriers filing comments last week with the Public Utilities Commission argued that information currently available is more than adequate to sufficiently monitor the market, while groups such as the Division of Ratepayer Advocates contended that the commission is required by law to consistently assess the effectiveness of the telecom market.
Comments were filed last week by several carriers and groups in response to a proposed decision released on July 1 by Commissioner Rachelle Chong relating to the regulation of retail special access, monitoring reports, and consumer protection rules that would conclude the commission's extensive Uniform Regulatory Framework (URF) proceeding.
Read the full article in TR's State NewsWire.
July 31, 2008 - DRA wants cap on basic rate increases extended for three years
The Division of Ratepayer Advocates this week filed a petition with the Public Utilities Commission to extend the rate cap on basic telephone services for an additional three years, through 2012, in order for the commission to conduct an investigation into the affordability of rates for those services.
Read the full article from TR's State NewsWire.
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