Landline Phone Service May Be Discontinued

In February, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) held three in-person public forums to get customer input about AT&T's pending application to discontinue landline phone service.

The forums were held in Clovis, Ukiah, and Indio.

Online forums are scheduled at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19. The webcasts can be seen at http://www.admcinmonitor.com/ca/cpuc and accessed using the "LOGIN" link and the passcode 6032788#.

AT&T is a "Carrier of Last Resort" (COLR) and 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 set of minimum service standards and regulations that do not extend to new technologies that provide similar services, such as wireline Voice Over IP.

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, more than 580,000 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 customers 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.

Locations in Kings County that would be affected include Armona, Avenal, Grangeville, Hanford, Hardwick, Home Garden, Kettleman City, Lemoore Station, Lemoore and Stratford.

Affected locations in Tulare County include: Allensworth, Camp Nelson, Cutler, Delft Colony, Dinuba, Earlimart, East Orosi, East Porterville, East Tulare Villa, El Monte Mobile Village, Farmersville, Goshen, Hypericum, Ivanhoe, Jovista, Linnell Camp, London, Matheny, Monson, Orosi, Patterson Tract, Pierpoint, Pixley, Poplar-Cotton Center, Porterville, Richgrove, Rodriguez Camp, Sequoia Crest, Seville, Springville, Strathmore, Sultana, Terra Bella, Teviston, Three Rivers, Tipton and Traver.

Public comments may also be submitted at public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov.

The Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) opposes AT&T's application and is a formal party to this proceeding.

For more information, visit https://rb.gy/tzuq0b.