CPUC Public Participation Hearings

The CPUC often holds Public Participation Hearings (PPHs) and other events to hear from the public on issues before the CPUC. If you have questions about PPHs or other events, please contact the CPUC's Public Advisor. You can also read What to Expect at Public Participation Hearings.

See information on upcoming PPHs and other events below. To see more CPUC events, check out our Meeting and Events Calendar.

Online Public Participation Survey: The CPUC is conducting an online survey in order to improve outreach to Californians. Please take a moment to participate in our survey so we can learn more about your preferred methods of communication. Thank you!

Upcoming Public Participation Hearings and Certain Events

Costs of Phone Calls from California Prisons and Jails (R.20-10-002)

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will hold remote access (virtual) public forums to hear comments regarding the costs of making a phone call from prisons and jails in California.

BACKGROUND

On October 8, 2020, the CPUC opened a proceeding to address the high in-state inmate calling phone service rates. These public forums are intended to develop and refine a shared understanding of issues regarding the telecommunication services used by incarcerated people and their families in California. The main issue to be addressed in this proceeding is how the CPUC should regulate the rates, terms, and conditions of telecommunications services provided to incarcerated people in California to ensure they are just and reasonable.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed many pre-existing inequalities and has made it difficult for in-person visits to jails and prisons. Now, more than ever, families and friends are bearing the costs to communicate with incarcerated people in the state. In some jurisdictions, a local 15-minute phone call can run as high as $26.75. The same phone call from a juvenile facility can cost as much as $13.65. This proceeding will consider how to ensure incarcerated people and their families have access to affordable communications services.

PARTICIPATION INFORMATION

WEBCAST (ENGLISH AND SPANISH) BOTH DAYS

A live webcast will be available with English and Spanish captions (it will also be recorded and archived for future viewing): www.adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc.
Participants will have audio and video but will not be able to make comments or ask questions. To make comments or ask questions, please join via the English or Spanish phone line.
For captions, after clicking on the name of the workshop, click the green button below the video for captions. Then select captions by clicking on the white icon next to the word “live” at the bottom of the video.

PHONE (ENGLISH) BOTH DAYS

800-857-1917; passcode: 7218384#
Participants will have audio (in English) and will be able to make comments or ask questions.

PHONE (SPANISH) BOTH DAYS

800-857-1917; passcode: 8147204#
Simultaneous interpretation in Spanish will be available by phone.
Participants will have audio (in Spanish) and will be able to make comments or ask questions in Spanish.

SUBMITTING WRITTEN COMMENTS AND ANONYMITY

Interested participants may submit comments at any time as follows:

Online form via the CPUC Docket Card: www.cpuc.ca.gov/R2010002Comments
Email: Public.Advisor@cpuc.ca.gov (reference Rulemaking R.20-10-002)
U.S. Mail: CPUC Public Advisor’s Office, 505 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA 94102 (reference Rulemaking R.20-10-002)
To offer anonymity, it is not necessary to provide contact information, but please note that if you do, it will be publicly accessible.

ANONYMITY OF CALLERS

The CPUC is taking steps to ensure the anonymity and prioritization of incarcerated persons providing verbal comment during the public forums:

Incarcerated persons will be moved to the front of the queue on the phone line to make comment.
Callers are not required to provide or record names or locations at any point during their call.
Each caller will be assigned a “port number,” which will be read in lieu of the caller’s name to signal his or her turn to speak.

Media Advisory
Proceeding Documents

More information: www.cpuc.ca.gov/prisoncalls

NOTICES