Carrier of Last Resort, or COLR, means that the designated carrier must provide access to basic phone services for the population. In the heyday of landlines, AT&T occupied this role for the California Public Utilities Commission but the proliferation of cell phones has AT&T challenging the CPUC. According to KSBY-TV, AT&T has asked that the company no longer hold the distinction of COLR.
“We are not canceling landline service in California, and none of our California customers will lose access to voice service if the CPUC approves our application” reads an official statement from AT&T. “We’re working to transition the few remaining consumers who still use traditional copper-based phone service to upgrade to newer technologies from us or other providers.” The old copper wire communications are being replaced with fiber and wireless options, though an AT&T representative did acknowledge that 7 percent of their California customers still rely on the copper wire connections.
“For us, it’s important that residents have a backup communications system,” said Scott Jalbert with San Luis Obispo County Emergency Services. “We’re all very reliant on cell phones, and when cell phones go down, it’s nice to have that secondary means of communication.”
While the majority of California residents no longer rely on landlines, some rural residents still depend on them. Without a COLR, residents like Robert Lawrence fear that they could find themselves unable to summon help in an emergency. “We’re dependent on landline for all of our telecommunications,” he noted. “Once upon a time, they installed a copper wire all the way to our house, and they didn’t do it because it was profitable, they did it because they were required to.”
Tracy Rhine, speaking on behalf of Rural County Representatives of California told KSBY-TV, “Catastrophic wildfires, mudslides, flooding — these are areas that will see these natural disasters more often. These are areas that really need more reliable communication services for evacuation notices, where to go, what to do.” Upgrading digital services would ultimately benefit everyone, Rhine argues, but without a reliable COLR, there are people that could find themselves digitally stranded.
The CPUC is currently seeking feedback before reaching a decision on AT&T’s COLR request.
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