CPUC HEARS FROM PUBLIC ABOUT AT&T REQUEST TO END SERVICE
FORT BRAGG, CA » Last Thursday, February 22, at the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors Meeting Room in Ukiah, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) held an afternoon and evening public hearing on AT&T's application to end its obligation under California law to provide traditional landline service to any resident in its service area who requests it.
Currently, AT&T is California's default landline service provider, a legal designation known as Carrier of Last Resort (COLR). AT&T has submitted an application to CPUC requesting the state remove the company's role as COLR in a significant portion of its service territory in California.
The proposal, if granted, would give traditional landline customers six months after all regulatory processes are completed to find a new service provider. In a letter to customers, AT&T stated that it would provide advance notice about choices for new services from AT&T or another provider.
In Mendocino County, a significant portion of its geographical area cannot access any cellular service and is dependent on traditional copper wire landlines for all communication services. AT&T is now a critical safety net for such areas and others when cell service networks are down.
The disruption of these traditional communication services would affect every aspect of daily telephone use. Police and fire departments depend upon landlines when called out to areas without cell access. They also use landlines as a backup.
Residents depend upon 911 service to seek assistance and to receive call-ins to their landlines for safety guidelines during natural disasters.
The LifeLine program, which provides low-cost telephone service to low-income households, might not continue. This proposal would also impact the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications (DDTP) customers. Any medical equipment, fire alarm systems, or
other security systems may not work.
AT&T has indicated that Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) customers may lose their service later if the proposal is granted.
The CPUC is acquiring public input about AT&T's application and has scheduled three hearings in Clovis, Ukiah, and Indio. A fourth remote hearing via webcast or phone is scheduled for March 19 at 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
The purpose of CPUC is to “empower California through safe, clean, and affordable utility services and infrastructures.” One role of the commission is to oversee rates charged to utility customers by various energy, telecommunications, transportation, and water service providers.
Over one hundred people signed up to speak at the CPUC hearing in Ukiah. The CPUC was represented by two commissioners, John Reynolds and Darcie Houck. Two administrative judges were present to conduct the hearing.
An AT&T representative spoke first. Questioned afterward by CPUC Commissioner John Reynolds, she could not articulate how AT&T would assist customers in the transition or explain the technology information customers would need to access.
Each speaker was then given two minutes to present concerns representing a wide demographic of the local population.
Among the speakers at the evening hearing were Peter Pratt from the Public Advocates Office of the CPUC; Mendocino County Sheriff Matt Kendall; District 2 County Supervisor Maureen Mulheren; District 5 County Supervisor Ted Williams; a representative for the Manchester Pomo Band; and Shawn Heape, Vice President of CWA Local 9400.
Representatives from social service nonprofits also spoke on behalf of the elderly and victims of domestic violence. Numerous other public comments referenced customers' lives to explain their opposition to the AT&T proposal.
Only two speakers supported the proposal, and both had direct employee ties to the company. A few AT&T line workers spoke and explained their opposition to the proposal. Most people spoke of their situations and why copper lines were vital.
Peter Pratt of Cal Advocates noted that no other providers had come forward to replace AT&T service. He said, “There is no clear mitigation plan for customers, which may result in disruption or termination of services.”
Pratt remarked that there were approximately seven million customers in the “greater Northern California AT&T area” and that nothing prevented AT&T from upgrading its system to fiber optics.
He said, “Cal Advocates is asking the CPUC to dismiss AT&T's application because it is non-compliant with the rules that guarantee the presence of a COLR.”
Sheriff Matt Kendall provided one of the most notable commentaries of the evening. “Mendocino County is not ready for this,” he said. “Cellphone service is in its infancy here.”
Sheriff Kendall then described years of inadequate connectivity in his job and fellow officers' conduct. He particularly referenced that public safety personnel in the county were mostly volunteers, and the copper line was the only reliable communication system to reach them.
Twice, he stated, “Right now, this is a gamble, and I'm not going to slide my chips forward thinking I'm going to win this one. Somebody is going to lose some life over this.”
5th District County Supervisor Ted Williams spoke of his experiences as a fire department member and his frustrations over poor cell phone service. He also stressed that the service coverage maps used by the CPUC were inaccurate. As to AT&T's proposal, he said, “There is no alternative coverage.”
Shawn Heape of CWA Local 9400 advised the commissioners to “listen to the people out in the field” who repaired those lines. He stated that satellite service was not 100% reliable, and often, there is no cell service available. “The network needs pure copper,” he said.
Victor Aparicio, representing the Manchester Pomo Band, informed the commissioners that Point Arena runs its water works on copper lines. He also stated that even the internet was unavailable for some in the Point Arena Area. Dense trees prevented reliable satellite service as well.
After the hearing, Commissioner John Reynolds stated that no decision would be made immediately. The next steps in the process would need to be completed, including evidentiary hearings followed by an administrative judge's written proposal. The CPUC would then need to finalize the decision with a majority vote.
Customers can still comment to the CPUC regarding AT&T's proposal to end its COLR status. Go to cpuc. ca.gov/news-and-updates/ all-news and click on the heading for AT&T's Request Regarding Voice Service.
You will have access to information regarding the upcoming March 19 virtual hearing and how to access it. A menu list to the right titled “Make an online comment here” will provide you with a docket system to record your comments.