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On March 19, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will hold its final two public hearings seeking input on AT&T’s petition to discontinue its obligation to be the carrier of last resort for customers in California who are still using copper-based landlines. If approved, large areas of San Benito County could be affected by the change.
While opponents say if the petition has been approved, it could leave some customers with less reliable service—or no service at all—AT&T says customers will not be abandoned and that the company will help upgrade those affected to newer technology.
If the commission grants AT&T’s request, the utility company would no longer be required to offer service to customers seeking a copper-based landline. It currently offers basic service packages that include Lifeline rates, free access to 911, service for persons with hearing or speech disabilities, and directory and operator services.
AT&T is also seeking to withdraw as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier, a utility that receives financial assistance from the federal government to provide affordable telephone service to customers at all income levels.
Advocacy groups such as the Rural County Representatives of California oppose the change, saying, “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 [voice over internet protocol] and wireless, have no obligation to serve a customer or to provide equivalent services.”
The American Association of Retired Persons has also formally protested, saying that over 100,000 low-income and senior households could see a 200% increase or more in their phone bills and that it would affect rural areas with high risk factors related to wildfires and other natural disasters.
The CPUC estimates that households with Lifeline service could see a monthly rate increase of up to $9.25 and households on Tribal lands with Lifeline service could see a $25 per month increase. Currently, Lifeline service is available for as little as $1 a month.
Members of the California Delegation to Congress have also issued a statement opposing the petition.
Speaking for AT&T, spokesperson Chris Collins said the company “is not canceling landline service in California, and none of our California customers will lose access to voice service or 911 service. No customer will be disconnected, and we’re working with the remaining consumers who use traditional landline service to upgrade to newer technologies.”
Collins also said that Californians in AT&T’s service also have the choice to move to “several comparably or lower priced wireline and wireless alternatives to traditional landlines for voice service” and that less than 5% of its customers still use copper-based services.
“In California,” he wrote, “99.7% of consumers within our service territory have at least three facilities-based alternative options for voice service. For customers who do not have alternatives available, we will continue to provide service until such time as an alternative is available.”
Collins said that those concerned that fiber and wireless-based networks may be less reliable should know that they use less energy and require less maintenance over time, are more resilient than the copper network during climate disasters, and that copper cables take significantly longer to repair following severe weather incidents.
Californians concerned about the possible disruption of their current AT&T service can opt for other providers, including the recently launched Community Phone. This alternative to voice over internet protocol (VoIP) systems works by connecting existing landline phones to cell towers.
Service is provided by plugging a phone into a landline base equipped with a 12-hour backup battery. Essentially cell phone service using a landline phone, an internet connection is not used, and the system will work as long as the backup battery maintains power.
According to Community Phone Founder James Graham, 23% of Californians age 65 and older lack broadband and 25% of people over 65 report never going online, making his service a good option for seniors.
“Copper is expensive to maintain, and they’d rather get people into VoIP,” he told BenitoLink. “The landline system is decaying, and they’re walking away from it. And with price increases, they’re trying to provide a negative incentive for consumers to change.”
Graham says he believes that a need exists for an “ultra-reliable home phone service that plugs into the wall and is not a smartphone. I think the industry has assumed that smartphones solve all their problems, but it turns out that a lot of people either don’t have or don’t want a smartphone.”
While the service is reliant on cell phone towers, Graham said it will work even in areas where phones are unable to pick up a signal.
“Since phones are mobile, their antennas move around constantly, and the connection needs a higher bandwidth,” he said. “This might lead people to incorrectly conclude that there is no cellular service in certain areas at all.”
Since Community Phone systems have a larger antenna than a cell phone, are stationary rather than moving, and are only being used for a voice rather than internet, Graham said that if there’s even a hint of the cellular signal in an area, his system can connect to it.
When asked to verify coverage in some of the back areas of San Benito County, Graham said that the only dead zone he could identify were only a few areas potentially outside of his service area, including a small area near the Paicines Reservoir and spotty coverage in a five-square-mile area of the Cienega Valley. He added a disclaimer, however, saying that the only real test of his system is to use it at a given location.
The March 19 CPUC hearings start at 2 p.m. and 6.m. Both will be accessible via webcast or audio feed by calling 1-800-857-1917 and entering 6032788# as the passcode. Those attending by webcast will have an audio and video feed but will not be able to comment. Phone-in participants will be able to comment as time allows.
These will be the final public hearings and the only virtual hearings held by the CPUC. Three in-person hearings were held in Clovis, Ukiah, and Indio in February and March. The hearings will begin with an overview of AT&T’s proposals and at least one representative from AT&T will be available to answer questions.
Documents relating to AT&T’s petition are available on the CPUC website.
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