TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Ryan J. Alsop, County Executive Officer
REPORT BY: Jasmine Elo, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: Letter to CPUC opposing AT&T California's application for targeted relief from its Carrier of Last Resort obligation.
RECOMMENDATION
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Approve and authorize a letter opposing AT&T California's application with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for targeted relief from its Carrier of Last Resort obligation.
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BACKGROUND
AT&T is currently required by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to provide landline services upon request to all residential and business customers within its service territory as Carrier of Last Resort (COLR). AT&T estimates that around one million Californians rely exclusively on landlines. In March 2023, AT&T filed an application for relief from that obligation with the CPUC and provided notice to affected local customers and governments in early 2024. Other counties, including Marin and Sonoma, have submitted letters opposing the granting of AT&T's application.
On February 26, 2024, the Legislative Subcommittee approved this item for Board consideration, as it is outside the scope of the County's Legislative and Regulatory platform.
As a COLR, AT&T is required to offer landline phone service to all residential and business customers within its service area upon request. This service is known as "Plain Old Telephone Service" or (POTS) and has a uniform set of minimum service standards and regulations that do not apply to new technologies that provide similar service, such as wireline VoIP.
According to the CPUC's Universal Service rules, carriers like AT&T may opt out of their COLR when another COLR is providing service and assumes COLR service responsibilities. AT&T has requested COLR relief for over 99% of its service territory where it believes an alternative voice provider exists, without requesting a replacement COLR. Additionally, AT&T has requested expedited approval f...
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