Sierra County Sheriff Mike Fisher sends a letter of opposition to the California Public Utilities Commission regarding AT&T’s recent application to abandon its role as a Carrier of Last Resort in much of northern California.
In the letter, the sheriff says AT&T’s pull-out would be detrimental to those who live in the county and emergency services.
Urgently appealing to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to deny AT&T’s application.
The Sheriff emphasizes that such a decision would have severe consequences given the current limited telecommunications landscape in Sierra County. This move would leave residents with inadequate options for reliable telecommunications, posing significant risks to public safety and emergency response capabilities.
Most people in the county rely on standard copper connections, which are crucial during extreme weather events and power outages, and disruptions could impact communication for locals and those visiting.
Even the Sheriff’s Office relies on copper phone lines for radio traffic and would see compromised public safety and emergency response efforts in the event of any disruption.
The letter emphasizes AT&T’s fundamental responsibility as a telecommunications provider to ensure uninterrupted essential services, especially in rural areas like Sierra County.
AT&T argues to cease its 27-year-old obligation, stating “about 90 percent of AT&T California’s former customers have left its plain old telephone service (“POTS”)” for newer services like mobile and broadband. The company adds that the obligation “makes them keep [its] old copper network even though they are working on new and better networks like fiber and wireless broadband.” AT&T says the transition will be for the betterment of California as it would result in the “use [of] less energy than copper networks, benefiting public safety and the environment.”
If approved there, the CPUC says there will no longer be a carrier required to provide the service to the affected areas but does not say another carrier could offer to volunteer to offer the same services.
The CPUC has already begun to hold a series of public forums to hear from those in affected areas with a virtual option will be held on March 19th at 2 and 6 pm.
Sierra County Sheriff Fisher urges you to make your comment on the California Public Utilities Commission website, encouraging them to deny the application.
California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102
Subject: Application 22-03-002 and Application 22-03-003
