Regional leaders oppose bill to relax AT&T landline obligations

Supervisor Ray Mueller, who represents much of the county’s coastal and rural communities, said the telecommunications giant has undermined the CPUC’s regulatory authority by going to the Legislature “where they spent millions of dollars over the last decade in political contributions” to overrule its decision.

Amid dwindling pandemic aid resources and growing inflation, he said corporations are looking to cut expenses where they can.

“What’s happening is that our corporations are looking to go ahead and continue to expand their bottom line,” Mueller said in a press conference in Pacifica on Wednesday. “And they’re doing it, in some cases, at the expense of the public health and safety of the residents of California and in my district.”

If successful, the bill would allow the company to absolve itself of the COLR status as long as certain information is provided, such as the census blocks where there is either no population or in urban areas where “two or more different service providers offer alternative voice services to customers,” according to the text of the bill.

Mueller said this “point in time” legislation would allow AT&T to discontinue service in a particular area due if there are no customers identities. If someone moved to the area, there would be no COLR obligation that AT&T would need to meet.

“It’s incredibly problematic in areas where we have farmworker housing we’re trying to bring up to scale, where we are trying to expand our housing element,” Mueller said at the Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday. “For people who have access and function needs who move to an area, it basically turns a part of our county dark.”

The Board of Supervisors approved a resolution opposing the bill 4-1, with Supervisor David Canepa casting the sole nay vote.

“We’re here in Silicon Valley. I’m just worried that with this legislation it makes us look like we’re dinosaurs,” Canepa said at the board meeting Tuesday. “There are people out there who are hurting for investments in broadband.”

Mueller clarified and said the bill has no mention of broadband investments or any commitment to expanding such infrastructure. Canepa said he wants to “take authority out of the [C]PUC” and believes legislators should be the decision makers in the matter.

Though the resolution was largely supported, Mueller said it’s disappointing the decision was not unanimous. Similar resolutions were passed in Marin and Santa Clara counties opposing the bill.

“I think that’s a really unfortunate thing to say to the person who is living in a rural area who doesn’t have reliable cell service and has a family member with a heart condition,” Mueller said. “Or to people who we had to use reverse 911 to reach them during the CZU fires because all the cell service was out.”

The Board of Supervisors unanimously voted in March to oppose AT&T’s bid to be relieved of its carrier of last resort obligations, which they said would leave “thousands of residents, including vulnerable populations such as seniors and those with access and function needs … at risk.”

At the Pacifica press conference, Mueller also announced his endorsement for congressional candidate Sam Liccardo, largely citing his work taking on major corporations such as PG&E and gun manufacturers during his time as Mayor of San Jose.

“There are powerful corporate interests who are opposing his campaign for Congress because he’s done it before,” Mueller said. “He has what it takes to protect residents in this district.”

Mueller was joined by former U.S. Rep. and Board of Supervisors candidate Jackie Speier and Pacifica Mayor Sue Vaterlaus in the endorsement of Liccardo.

Liccardo said he is committed to representing the coastside and residents living in rural areas.

“There is an agreement that they get the extraordinary benefits of a publicly supported monopoly, a government-sanctioned monopoly,” Liccardo said at the press conference. “With those benefits come responsibilities and that responsibility is simple. They need to serve everyone. Those who critically depend on these services for their lives and livelihoods need to know that service will be there and be reliable.”

The bill currently remains in the state Assembly and has been referred to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications and has yet to be scheduled for a hearing.