California Public Utilities Commission denies petition by Dish to stall CDMA network shutdown

In what’s described as a “proposed decision,” California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Administrative Law Judge Karl Bemesderfer has denied a petition by Dish Network that seeks more time in migrating CDMA customers off T-Mobile’s network. In a filing in early February 2022, the CPUC said the decision by ALJ Bemesderfer has no legal effect “until and unless” the commission hears the item and votes to approve it. The item may be heard, at the earliest, at the California commission’s March 17 meeting. But it essentially signals defeat for Dish at the CPUC level on this item. The decision by ALJ Bemesderfer said “in this circumstance, we find that it is appropriate to leave the determination of what constitutes reasonable notice of the proposed CDMA shutdown to the federal government. Thus, we deny” the Petition for Modification (PFM) sought by Dish. While it’s not certain, the expectation is the full commission will uphold the ALJ’s decision.