CPUC Draft on Verizon/Tracfone Sought by Aug. 10

Verizon and Tracfone want a proposed decision by the California Public Utilities Commission on their combination by Aug. 10, the companies told an aide to CPUC Commissioner Cliff Rechtschaffen in a June 28 videoconference. They noted both companies said the deal would close in Q3 and an August draft would facilitate a CPUC vote in September or October, said a Thursday filing in docket A.20-11-001. Verizon and Tracfone said they tried but failed to negotiate with other parties on commitments. Responding to a claim by the CPUC Public Advocates Office and others, "Verizon clarified that its current three-year commitment to offer LifeLine in California is not conditional on a lack of material changes to the LifeLine program,” but that condition does apply to Verizon's two-year commitment not to add co-pays to existing Tracfone LifeLine plans.