Ann Thryft : "Landline Proposal Sparks Outrage in Rural Santa Cruz - Santa Cruz Sentinel"

– “Landline proposal sparks outrage, concern for rural Santa Cruz County”
– “Long-tailed keyword sparks outrage, concern for rural Santa Cruz County”.

Accident – Death – Obituary News :

SANTA CRUZ — Last winter, during a period of heavy rainfall and strong winds that caused power outages across the Santa Cruz Mountains, Ann Thryft relied on her landline telephone to gather emergency information. Living in Boulder Creek, Thryft wanted to check the status of the roadways in her area in case evacuation became necessary. However, with no generator and unreliable cellphone service, she had to rely on a friend with a signal to check for road closures.

Now, as another round of storms hits the county, Thryft once again finds herself concerned. The California Public Utilities Commission is reviewing an application from AT&T California, which could relieve the telecommunications giant of its obligation to provide landline service in many regions across the state, including large parts of Santa Cruz County.

Last Resort Provider

In 1996, AT&T was designated as a carrier of last resort (COLR) in California, meaning it was required to provide plain old telephone service (POTS) to designated locations upon request. This obligation was put in place to ensure residents had access to reliable and affordable telephone communications. However, AT&T claims that the demand for landline service has significantly declined over the years as customers have increasingly opted for newer technologies, such as broadband and mobile services. In its application, AT&T argues that it is the only provider still burdened with the obligation to offer standalone voice service, despite the availability of numerous alternatives.

An AT&T crew works on repairs to phone lines near Nicasio, California in 2014. Some Santa Cruz County residents say they use AT&T's landline telephone service when storms or disasters knock out broadband and wireless communication options. (Alan Dep/Marin Independent Journal file) — An AT&T crew works on repairs to phone lines near Nicasio, California in 2014. Some Santa Cruz County residents say they use AT&T’s landline telephone service when storms or disasters knock out broadband and wireless communication options. (Alan Dep/Marin Independent Journal file)

If AT&T’s request is approved, areas without a last resort provider could be left without landline telephone access. AT&T has proposed to withdraw from this obligation without designating a new carrier as the last resort provider. Additionally, AT&T has requested to be relieved of its designation as.

1. “Rural Santa Cruz County Outraged and Concerned by Landline Proposal”
2. “Outrage and Concern in Rural Santa Cruz County over Landline Proposal”.