TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: Executive Office
MEETING DATE: February 27, 2024
DEPARTMENT CONTACT:
Darcie Antle
PHONE:
707-463-4441
DEPARTMENT CONTACT:
Kelly Hansen
PHONE:
707-463-4441
ITEM TYPE: Consent Agenda
TIME ALLOCATED FOR ITEM: N/A
AGENDA TITLE:
title
Ratification of a Letter of Opposition for AT&T Application, Relief of Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) Obligation with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
End
RECOMMENDED ACTION/MOTION:
recommendation
Ratify letter of opposition for AT&T application, Relief of Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) Obligation with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
End
PREVIOUS BOARD/BOARD COMMITTEE ACTIONS:
No previous action.
SUMMARY OF REQUEST:
As a "Carrier of Last Resort" (COLR), AT&T must provide "Plain Old Telephone Service" or (POTS) landline phone service upon request to all residential and business customers within its service territory. POTS has a uniform set of minimum service standards and regulations that do not extend to new technologies that provide similar services, such as VoIP. According to the CPUC's Universal Service rules, carriers (such as AT&T) may opt out of their COLR when another COLR provides service and assumes COLR service responsibilities. AT&T's application, on the other hand, requests COLR relief for over 99% of their service territory where AT&T determines an alternative voice provider exists (VoIP, wireless, etc.) and does not request a replacement COLR. AT&T's application also requests expedited approval for future COLR relief through a CPUC Tier 1 Advice Letter process, which does not require CPUC approval. If the CPUC approves, AT&T could cancel service to its POTS customers as early as six months. Over 580,000 AT&T customers would be affected, including residents of Mendocino County, many of whom are senior citizens, live in low-income households, or reside in rural areas where other connectivity is not available to them.
ALTERNA...
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