For many, landlines are almost an urban legend. But for people who live in isolated areas with unreliable cell phone service such as Cachagua, Royal Oaks or Big Sur, landlines might be the only way to communicate when they’re facing an emergency.
In March 2023, AT&T Corporation sent a request to the California Public Utilities Commission to be released from being a Carrier of Last Resort, which is a designation that requires it to offer landline telephone service.
“This obligation requires AT&T California, but not its major competitors, to wastefully operate and maintain two duplicative networks: one, an antiquated, narrowband network with an ever-dwindling base of subscribers, and the other, a forward-looking, fiber and wireless broadband network,” AT&T officials wrote in their request.
County Supervisor Chris Lopez says landlines are a “lifeline” for many areas. “I think about communities like Arroyo Seco that recently experienced a landslide,” Lopez says. “Their only way to communicate with the other side of that landslide was through those copper wires that are required to be maintained by AT&T.”
On Feb. 20, 15 members of Congress, including Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, sent a letter to Alice Busching Reynolds, CPUC’s president, raising concerns. “AT&T’s application to cease landline service in our communities threaten public safety in an area plagued by earthquakes, severe storms, floods and fires,” they wrote.
If approved, the change would impact several cities in Monterey County, including Carmel, Greenfield and Marina, and unincorporated areas such as Bradley, Carmel Valley and Spreckels.
Lopez is in talks with AT&T representatives to organize a meeting with South County residents and suggested residents submit comments to CPUC.
As of Feb. 7, the CPUC has received over 3,000 public comments. After six in-person meetings, the commission holds virtual meetings on Tuesday, March 19 at 2pm and 6pm (tinyurl.com/54h3teyd).