A2303003 - Public Comments

Regarding landline protection versus fiber optic lines. I have both on poles behind my house. The box for fiber is there as well. The landline wires are protected by large cables with covering. The newer fiber lines are just draped below the landline cables. Most are only about 5 feet above my fence. The fiber runs through my trees with little protection. Because the lines are so low and unprotected, they have been severed by tree cutters, wind and squirrels several times If we are to be dependent on these fiber wires, they will need better protection.

AT&T should not be allowed to suspend or terminate its Carrier of Last Resort designation and responsibilities. Over the years, AT&T has enormously benefited and profited by generous taxpayer support of this program and should not be allowed to curtail its obligations to the public by suspending these obligations financed by such generous public support. Further, the many people who receive internet service through AT&T's low cost DSL internet over regular telephone wires would face enormous physical and financial challenges in finding and securing alternative internet service. AT&T's assertion that customers have declined in number in recent years for plain old fashioned telephone service have been largely caused by At&T's own subversive efforts in discouraging new customers from signing up for regular landline service, for example for the past several years AT&T has deceptively claimed regular landline telephone service is no longer available in my neighborhood with address searches done on its website. And when I called AT&T recently to inquire about the longevity of my existing AT&T DSL internet service associated with my AT&T landline, the AT&T representative instead of being helpful tried to get me to sign up for new AT&T cellular service and switch to "Internet Air" which was claimed to be a 3rd party unrelated internet service; however afterward upon checking I discovered that Internet Air was owned or affiliated with AT&T! Plain Old Telephone Service via fixed wires is far more dependable than spotty cell service during emergencies, adverse weather, power failures, and heavy tourist visitation periods. Do not let AT&T engage in devious and selfish tactics in allowing them to abandon their obligations to the public and taxpayers who have rewarded them with fat profits and subsidies in exchange for virtual monopoly status and benevolent treatment by the government.

There is absolutely no way that the CPUC should permit AT&T to abandon copper landlines. They are critical to the health and safety of California's rural residents. It is an outrageous request and the CPUC must say no.

I oppose AT&T application to stop providing landline service. It is superior in an emergency to the alternatives (that don't work when power is out, or for cell, cell tower access becomes overloaded in widespread emergency with too many calls). I don't want the "alternative voice services" mentioned in the application as they will likely come with indifferent customer service and so-so reliability common in the industry now from internet providers. Landline capability still has a public safety benefit and utilities should not be allowed to cast off their obligations to the public they previously agreed to, just to increase their profits.

Is there any chance that the CPUC will do the right thing by the everyday, ordinary citizens of CA? I doubt it. They seem to be a subdivision of big business. AT&T, rightfully so, has the worst reputation of any communications organization in the USA. If they have ever operated for the benefit of consumers, it is certainly NOT within the memory of this 80 yr old. Now they are trying to weasel out of their responsibilities for the sake of their bottom line and at the risk of hurting a great number of people. Perhaps if their upper level management didn't have such outrageous compensation packages they wouldn't be as conserned about their bottom line. Maybe, for once, they could do what is in the best common interest. I recently had a discussion with one of their telephone representatives who admitted that they are doing whatever they can to get rid of land lines everywhere. Very sad and disgusting. This must be denied, if you have ANY decency.

I don't see why AT&T can do this to all of the people who have land lines in the 96003 area. For some of us, it may be our only link to safety & to make appointments, etc. We don't have cell phones & if we do, there often is not a good signal to talk. We have been here for 38 years with the same phone. As it is, I pay almost as much for my landline as I do my TV & my internet service. It is very important that I keep my landline & pray that AT&T will not be able to drop us. Thanks. Charlene Buffum

We need to keep landlines because if there's ever a zombie apocalypse, we can't rely on our cell phones. You think zombies are just gonna let us keep our cell service up and running? No way! But those trusty landlines will still be there, ready to connect us with other survivors and help us come up with a plan to defeat the undead hordes. So don't even think about phasing out landlines, or you'll be sorry when the zombies come knocking on your door! Sincerely, A Concerned Citizen from Gen Z