WASHINGTON-A deal has been struck on California’s proposed bill of rights for telecom consumers, opening the way for a vote by state regulators in early spring.
“We’ve reached agreement on everything substantial. . I think it will be ready for a vote in April,” said Carl Wood, a member of the California Public Utilities Commission and author of the bill of rights.
For months, Wood has been working with Commissioner Geoffrey Brown, the crucial swing vote on the PUC, on changes that address concerns of the wireless industry and consumer advocates and that can withstand legal challenge.
With Brown’s support and that of Commissioner Loretta Lynch, Wood has enough votes to get the bill of rights through the five-member PUC.
Wood said the revised bill of rights would be put out for public comment in the next week or so. On a parallel track, the PUC will solicit economic impact analyses of the new draft. Late last year, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger asked the PUC to honor an executive order freezing regulatory proposals until their economic impact can be assessed.
