EDITORIAL: CPUC: Make sure landline telephone service remains [Santa Cruz Sentinel, Calif.]

Feb. 20—What is it about living in California, more specifically the Santa Cruz Mountains, that seems like one regulatory burden is layered onto another?

Post-CZU fires, many people who lost their homes in the 2020 wildfires still have not been able to obtain building permits to rebuild.

But if they do get a permit, then they have to obtain homeowners' insurance and the reluctance of insurers to sell policies, already expensive, in higher hazard areas has been well documented.

During winter storms, mudslides can make roads impassable, and downed trees can fall on mountain homes.

In addition, PG&E has hiked its rates making monthly utility costs for lower-income residents painful and even unaffordable.

The latest body blow is coming from AT&T California, which has submitted applications to the California Public Utilities Commission, which regulates private utilities in the state, that, if approved, would release the telecommunications corporation of its Carrier of Last Resort and Eligible Telecommunications Carrier designations.

In other words, AT&T is seeking to get out of its obligation to provide landline services within specified areas of the state including areas in Santa Cruz County.

Here's a sampling of reactions to this we've received in Letters to the Editor:

"AT&T has sent out letters to their customers to ax their landlines in California. ... I know many customers use cell phones but many, especially the elderly, sick, and ones who experience prolonged outages depend on landlines because they are the last to go. They are a lifeline. The elderly depend on their message machines connected to a landline. It's ... inhumane not to have this capability."

"Having a wired landline is the only truly reliable way to get information, communicate, or seek necessary help during an emergency situation as both cellular service and VoIP frequently go down when the power is out, not to mention that they are consistently unreliable, often on a day to day basis."

Responding to similar complaints, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors earlier this month voted to send a letter to the CPUC in opposition to AT&T's applications. Supervisor Manu Koenig said residents who have been notified by AT&T about the potential elimination of wired landline service are "terrified" at the possibility "and rightfully so."

Supervisor Zach Friend said while he agrees with AT&T that landline technology is moving toward obsolescence, he took issue with the fact no backup service has been identified as a replacement.

According to county staff, 167,000 county residents live in areas considered to be at high risk of wildfires.

According to data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Santa Cruz is the most vulnerable county in California to landslides. A county official told supervisors that storms this month meant some residents were without power for more than five days which, in turn, knocked out their internet-based phone services and ability to charge cell phones.

AT&T officials have said the phone provider has had trouble finding parts and technicians to service a copper network that is becoming obsolete. The company's application, they add, is a "phase out" approach that could take months, even years to implement. If the applications are approved, AT&T says it will continue to provide landline telephone service to its existing customers for at least six months and longer in areas where an alternative service is not available.

According to the utilities commission, however, AT&T is attempting to withdraw from its last resort duties without a new carrier named to replace it.

Unfortunately, the CPUC has shown with the PG&E rate increases it is not looking out for the millions of Californians struggling with the often outrageous cost of living in the state.

Abandoning landline service to county residents without a replacement service is unacceptable.

Commissioners need to ensure people don't have to face next winter wondering if they'll be able to reach the outside world once the power, as it so often does, goes out.

Comments on the proposal can be lodged at apps.cpuc.ca.gov/c/A2303003.

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