The California High Cost Fund-A (CHCF-A) was implemented in accordance with Public Utilities Code § 739.3. It provides a source of supplemental revenues to 17 small local exchange carriers (LECs) for the purpose of minimizing any rate disparity of basic telephone services between rural and metropolitan areas. These 17 small local LECs are:
- Calaveras Telephone Company
- California-Oregon Telephone Company
- Citizens Telecommunications Company Of The Golden State
- Citizens Telecommunications Company Of Tuolumne
- Ducor Telephone Company
- Evans Telephone Company
- Foresthill Telephone Company
- Happy Valley Telephone Company
- Hornitos Telephone Company
- Kerman Telephone Company
- Pinnacles Telephone Company
- The Ponderosa Telephone Company
- Sierra Telephone Company
- Siskiyou Telephone Company
- Verizon West Coast Incorporated
- The Volcano Telephone Company
- Winterhaven Telephone Company
CHCF-A is funded by an all-end-user surcharge billed and collected by telecommunications carriers which, in turn, remit the surcharge monies to a financial institution as directed by the Commission or its representatives. Procedures for the administration of CHCF-A are outlined in the Implementation of the California Intrastate High Cost Fund adopted by the Commission in D.91-09-042.
A hard copy of Commission decisions/orders can be obtained for a fee by calling 415-703-2045. Questions about this program should be directed to Eric Van Wambeke by phone at 415-703-2896 or by e-mail to evw@cpuc.ca.gov.