TIRED OF HAVING NO CELL RECEPTION IN THE CANYON?

Make Sure Your Voice Is Heard at a Phone/Internet Service Hearing on May 3
Published April 29, 2022, at 12:00 p.m.

The California Public Utilities Commission wants to know whether members of the public are satisfied with the quality of the communication services they receive.

This is a critical issue for Topanga.

Topanga's worsening cellular service becomes a life-or-death matter during emergencies. While cell service has never been particularly robust in the Canyon, it has become dramatically worse over the past 1.5 years+. And that shows no signs of abating as 5G is rolled out locally.

By holding public hearings, the CPUC is trying to determine whether it should hold wireless and internet companies accountable for unreliable service with new enforceable regulations. And, the commission needs to be able to point to a plethora/critical mass of letters/comments from impacted residents.

IF YOU EXPERIENCE ISSUES WITH YOUR CELL SERVICE IN THE CANYON, PLEASE SUBMIT COMMENTS TO THE CPUC.

Two virtual hearings will take place on May 3, from 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., and at 6:00 p.m. You can find the links to those meetings and more information on the CPUC's Communications Service Quality Rules Fact Sheet.

We also recommend you submit your comments to the CPUC in writing here.

The CPUC opened this proceeding in response to a petition, and will examine service quality standards for landline telephones, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)/internet phones, cellphone/wireless phones, and internet/broadband services. The commission wants to make sure all residents have "adequate access to public safety and emergency services, public health, educational resources, as well as the many other benefits these services provide when offered in a reliable manner."

As it stands currently, the CPUC is handcuffed in its ability to regulate modern-day telecoms because these telecoms no longer offer the kind of service (conventional, copper landlines) that the CPUC had full authority to oversee. Wireless and VOIP technologies were granted a lot of exemptions when they were initially introduced, and they continue to enjoy (and frankly exploit) a lot of those exemptions to this day when it comes to providing RELIABLE service.

Because a lot of us now have ONLY wireless or VOIP options as our communication channel, the CPUC is trying to introduce rule-making that would give the agency the same kind of authority over these types of technology as they had over copper phone lines.

At the May 3 hearing, the CPUC is particularly interested in hearing about service outages residents have experienced within the last two years, how long those outages lasted, and whether outages happen regularly. Let the CPUC know about any non-billing challenges you have with your cell service, internet, or landline.