SMC Supes Probe AT&T Plan To Cut Landline Service

REDWOOD CITY, CA — Peninsula leaders are demanding answers from AT&T as the phone provider seeks to end landline service in much of California.

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors had planned to discuss issuing a subpoena for documents and other clarification but an AT&T representative who attended Tuesday's meeting said the company would meet with supervisors in good faith over the next two weeks.

In a news release Tuesday, supervisors noted that thousands of customers in San Mateo County rely on AT&T as their "carrier of last resort," providing access to basic functions like 911 access and Telephone Relay Service.

"Unfortunately, far too many residents in my district live in areas with unreliable or no cell service whatsoever," said Ray Mueller, the District 3 Supervisor who represents several rural communities. "Cutting off landlines for these residents is, in effect, severing their lifelines to emergency services."

According to the county, lists and maps provided to the California Public Utilities Commission show AT&T planned to virtually all landline service in San Mateo County, excluding only a handful of locations near the Coyote Point Recreation Area and SFPUC Watershed.

Supervisors said AT&T will send a representative to the board's next meeting to answer questions. If the county is not satisfied with the answers, they will move forward with issuing a subpoena.

"The County has an urgent need to hear from AT&T because they alone know exactly how many residents would be impacted, where those residents live and, importantly, if there is even cell service available in many of those areas," Mueller said.

The board will also ask AT&T for information about incidents where cell service has failed during emergencies.