Advice Letter Information

Pursuant to General Order (G.O.) 96-B General Rule 3.1, an Advice Letter is (1) an informal request by a utility for Commission approval, authorization, or other relief, including an informal request for approval to furnish service under rates, charges, terms or conditions other than those contained in the utility's tariffs then in effect, and (2) a compliance submittal by a load-serving entity pursuant to Public Utilities Code Section 380.

As of January 1, 2020, the Communications Division implemented a streamlined advice letter process that is more efficient and environmentally friendly pursuant to Resolution T-17670 (adopted on November 7, 2019).

• November 12, 2019: Administrative Letter for all Telecommunications Carriers re: Advice Letter process change to electronic filing

Communications Division Advice Letter Process

All Advice Letters must contain the following:

• Advice Letter Filing Summary Form (updated 12/2024)
• Cover Letter - Refer to General Order 96-B, General Rule 4.6
• Supporting Documents (e.g. performance bond, tariff pages, contract, etc.)
• Service List (see additional instructions below)

Each telephone corporation (utility) submitting an advice letter must number the advice letter sequentially, beginning with No. 1 for the first advice letter filed. For questions regarding the next available Advice Letter number, send a request for information via email to TD._PAL@cpuc.ca.gov and provide the utility name and assigned utility ID number.

The cut off time to be considered an Advice Letter is filed the same day as submitted is 5:00 PM Pacific Standard Time (PST).

• Instructions to submit Advice Letters (Initial/Supplements) and Protest and Response Letters
• Advice Letter Training Presentation Slides
• Advice Letter Training Presentation Q&A

Advice Letter Service List (G.O.96-B § General Rule 7.2 , Telco Industry Rule 10 and Resolution T-17327)

All telephone corporations are required to submit a copy of their Advice Letter to the Telco Advice Letter Filing service list and/or additional service list pursuant to the Commission Decision, Resolution, and/or Rules that authorized the advice letter filing.

Telco Advice Letter Filing Service List

• View the Current Service List
• Sign Up for the Service List  

If you no longer wish to be on the telco advice letter service list, please send an email request to telcoadvice.letterservice@cpuc.ca.gov and identify the email address for removal and the service list(s) affected.

Advice Letter Protest and Response to a Protest (G.O. 96-B General Rule 7.4)

Anyone may file an advice letter protest within 20 calendar days of the date of filing of the advice letter. If a protest is filed, the utility that submitted the advice letter being protested has 5 business days to respond. The cut off time to be considered filed the same day as submitted is 5:00 PM PST. Protests and responses submitted after 5:00 PM PST or on a non-business day will be considered filed the following business day.

Written protest(s) or response(s) must be submitted via email to the utility that submitted the advice letter and provide a copy via email to TD._PAL@cpuc.ca.gov. The protest should be addressed to the following:

Communications Division – Advice Letter Coordinator
California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102-3298

Additional information regarding protests and responses are available in G.O. 96-B General Rule 7.4.

Advice Letter Filing Status

To obtain status about advice letters filed by Telecommunications carriers:

• Advice Letter Summary Statistics
• Suspended Advice Letters
• Closed Advice Letters (last 30 days) 

Additional Information on Advice Letter Filings

1. Interconnection Agreements (G.O. 96-B Telco Industry Rule 8.1) 
2. Contracts (G.O. 96-B Telco Industry Rule 8.2)
All contracts for tariffed services to be submitted as a Tier I Advice Letter to Communications Division within 15 business days after execution of the contract(s).

• November 10, 2009: Fine Collection Process Details 
• April 28, 2008: Revised fine policy for late filed contracts to start June 1, 2009

3. Name Change/DBA (GO 96-B Telco Industry Rule 9)
Changes related to the Utility’s Legal Name and doing business as (DBA) name(s) must be submitted as a Tier 1 Advice Letter. Advice Letter must submit appropriate documentation to support changes (e.g., a copy of the California Secretary of State certification).

4. Tariff Filing Requirements 
5. Performance Bond Requirements