CA AB2189

Allows small independent telephone corporations (rural incumbent local exchange carriers) to request revenue requirement or rate design adjustments through either an advice letter or formal application process with the Public Utilities Commission.

Rate cases submitted by advice letter are processed under the Commission's advice letter rules, while rate cases submitted by application follow formal proceeding rules.

Permits the Commission to require resubmission of an advice letter as an application if the proposal either seeks revenue increases exceeding the inflation-adjusted current approved requirement or raises new or unusual factual issues requiring formal process.

Requires the Commission to issue a resolution with factual findings within 120 days of advice letter submission to mandate resubmission as an application, with extension to the next business day if the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday.

Provides small independent telephone corporations at least 90 days from the resubmittal resolution to file their application, with all procedural rights and deadlines tolled during this conversion period, using the Gross Domestic Product-Chained Price Index to measure inflation.