Consumer Groups Urge CPUC to Reject WISPA's Eligibility Demands

The California Public Utilities Commission should reject a Wireless ISP Association motion to clarify that wireless is eligible for broadband funding from the CPUC’s federal funding account (FFA), consumer and community groups urged Friday. WISPA is “belatedly, and inappropriately, requesting substantive changes to a decision that was well reasoned and based on a comprehensive record,” said Center for Accessible Technology, The Utility Reform Network and others in docket R.20-09-001. The CPUC decided FFA rules more than four months ago, and WISPA didn’t participate in that proceeding, they said. “It is unclear why WISPA has just now intervened, and it is even more unclear why WISPA is demanding that the Commission act on an ‘expedited’ basis notwithstanding its own deferred involvement in the proceeding.” Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) must decide by Sept. 30 whether to sign a legislature-passed bill (AB-2749), supported by WISPA and other industry groups, to require wireless eligibility (see 2209160037). “There is no appropriate way that WISPA can know the Governor’s intent, and his actions will speak for themselves in a matter of weeks,” the consumer and community advocates said. “If the Commission grants the motion, providers will continue to invest in high-quality, future-proof fiber infrastructure in wealthy, predominantly white communities and invest, if at all, in inferior wireless infrastructure in low-income communities and communities of color.”