This week, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) began a series of public hearings to receive customer input regarding AT&T’s pending Application to discontinue copper landline phone service.
RCRC opposes AT&T’s Application and is a formal party to this proceeding. Several rural counties have already joined in the opposition, providing comment letters to the CPUC. RCRC encourages impacted counties to submit comments.
For more information, see the CPUC website here, or contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate Tracy Rhine or RCRC Policy Advocate Leigh Kammerich.
Public comments may also be submitted here.
Background
AT&T is a “Carrier of Last Resort” (COLR) and, thereby, required to provide “Plain Old Telephone Service,” also known as POTS or landline phone service, upon request to all residential and business customers. POTS has a uniform set of minimum service standards and regulations that does not extend to new technologies that provide similar service, such as wireline Voice Over IP (VoIP). While it is not unusual for one company to replace another as a COLR, AT&T is requesting permission to abandon its COLR obligation without finding a replacement.
If approved by the CPUC, over 580,000 affected AT&T customers would be left with fewer options in terms of choice, quality, and affordability. Alternative services, such as VoIP and wireless, have no obligation to serve a customer or to provide equivalent services to AT&T landline customers, including no obligation to provide reliable access to 9-1-1 or LifeLine program discounts.
Schedule of Remaining Public Hearings
|
WHEN |
FORMAT |
LOCATION |
|
February 22, 2024 |
In-person only |
Mendocino County Board of Supervisors |
|
March 14, 2024 |
In-person only |
Indio City Hall Council Chambers |
|
March 19, 2024 |
Virtual only |
Remote access via webcast or phone. Phone: 1-800-857-1917, passcode: 6032788# |