identification registration authority and denial and/or suspension of its California LifeLine disbursements. Safety Considerations Staff has safety concerns in two main areas of wireless phone service: the coverage of wireless mobile phone service and the ability of emergency first responders to find the location of the caller when using a mobile phone. Where there is a lack of coverage, poor signal strength, or atmospheric or terrain conditions that affect connections, emergency calls may not be completed. In rural areas, for example, with spotty connectivity or interference (e.g. due to geographic or structural obstacles), wireless mobile resellers of wholesale facilities service cannot guarantee full, accessible emergency connections for their own customers. An incomplete emergency call can have devastating results. Given that safety and emergency communications are common concerns for all of California’s wireless customers, Staff requires that EZ Reach fully and clearly inform prospective California LifeLine participants that coverage limitations may affect wireless mobile phone service access to E-911 and/or 911 in the event of an emergency. Such disclosures include, but are not limited to, clear statements on marketing materials and conspicuous placement on the public website in the form of information content on webpages, footnotes, and/or listings on a frequently asked questions (FAQ) webpage. Future Changes to Designated Service Areas As a California LifeLine provider, EZ Reach is authorized to provide California LifeLine prepaid wireless services throughout the state without geographic restrictions, excluding federally-recognized Tribal lands. However, regarding future changes that EZ Reach may want to make to its service areas in California, Staff requires that the company file a Tier 2 advice letter that describes the areas to be served, a list of geographic service areas, and a map in Shapefile format of the proposed area. Conclusions In light of the above discussions, Staff recommends that the Commission: Approve EZ Reach’s request to be authorized as a California LifeLine service provider to provide prepaid wireless services to qualifying households where its underlying carriers, Sprint and T-Mobile, provide wireless service in California, excluding federally-recognized Tribal lands.
identification registration authority and denial and/or suspension of its California LifeLine disbursements. Safety Considerations Staff has safety concerns in two main areas of wireless phone service: the coverage of wireless mobile phone service and the ability of emergency first responders to find the location of the caller when using a mobile phone. Where there is a lack of coverage, poor signal strength, or atmospheric or terrain conditions that affect connections, emergency calls may not be completed. In rural areas, for example, with spotty connectivity or interference (e.g. due to geographic or structural obstacles), wireless mobile resellers of wholesale facilities service cannot guarantee full, accessible emergency connections for their own customers. An incomplete emergency call can have devastating results. Given that safety and emergency communications are common concerns for all of California’s wireless customers, Staff requires that EZ Reach fully and clearly inform prospective California LifeLine participants that coverage limitations may affect wireless mobile phone service access to E-911 and/or 911 in the event of an emergency. Such disclosures include, but are not limited to, clear statements on marketing materials and conspicuous placement on the public website in the form of information content on webpages, footnotes, and/or listings on a frequently asked questions (FAQ) webpage. Future Changes to Designated Service Areas As a California LifeLine provider, EZ Reach is authorized to provide California LifeLine prepaid wireless services throughout the state without geographic restrictions, excluding federally-recognized Tribal lands. However, regarding future changes that EZ Reach may want to make to its service areas in California, Staff requires that the company file a Tier 2 advice letter that describes the areas to be served, a list of geographic service areas, and a map in Shapefile format of the proposed area. Conclusions In light of the above discussions, Staff recommends that the Commission: Approve EZ Reach’s request to be authorized as a California LifeLine service provider to provide prepaid wireless services to qualifying households where its underlying carriers, Sprint and T-Mobile, provide wireless service in California, excluding federally-recognized Tribal lands.
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