California telecom companies will have to pay millions for improved...
California telecom companies will have to pay millions for improved infrastructure as a result of the Malibu Canyon fire in October 2007, the California Public Utilities Commission ruled Thursday. “The approved settlement agreement between the CPUC’s Consumer Protection and Safety…
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Division and AT&T Mobility LLC, Sprint Telephony PCS, L.P., and Verizon Wireless requires the companies to pay $12 million, divided equally in one-third shares,” the CPUC said in a press release not yet online. “Of this amount, $6.9 million will be paid to the state’s General Fund and $5.1 million to an Enhanced Infrastructure and Inspection Fund (EIIF) that will be established as part of the settlement agreement.” The EIIF money will go toward strengthening utility poles in Malibu Canyon as well as “to conduct a statistically valid survey of joint-use poles in Southern California Edison’s (SCE) service territory for compliance with General Order 95 safety factor requirements,” it said, adding that any money left will fall to the general fund. The case remains open for SCE and NextG Networks, who also face allegations of violating California rules as part of the Malibu Canyon incident, according to the commission decision (http://xrl.us/bnpm7k). All parties have agreed to the settlement, the CPUC said. Its case against these companies began in 2009.