Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Ray Mueller, District 3
Supervisor Warren Slocum, District 4
Subject: Resolution Opposing AB 2797
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution opposing Assembly Bill 2797 (McKinnor) amending the requirements for a telephone corporation to withdraw as a carrier of last resort.
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BACKGROUND:
Assembly Bill (AB) 2797 (McKinnor) would authorize a telecommunications service provider to withdraw from certain Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) obligations if a prescribed notice is given to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
Under state law, a COLR is a telecommunications service provider that provides basic telephone service, typically in the form of "Plain Old Telephone Service" (POTS) (i.e., landline phone service), to any customer requesting such service within a specified area. These rules ensure at least one telephone company in a specified area provides access to telephone service to anyone in its service territory who requests it, giving residents safe, reliable, and affordable telephone service.
State regulations allow carriers to opt out of their COLR obligations when another provider opts to provide and assume responsibility for COLR service. In March 2023, AT&T requested to be relieved of its COLR obligations in areas throughout the state, including in many parts of San Mateo County.
On June 20, 2024, the CPUC rejected AT&T's request to withdraw as a COLR. The CPUC noted that AT&T's application did not meet the CPUC's withdrawal requirements, as no potential alternative COLR agreed to assume AT&T's service obligations. The Commission also voted to initiate a new Rulemaking process to address COLR telecommunications service obligations. Responding to recent CPUC action, AT&T is working with Assemblymember McKinnor to sponsor AB 2797, which was recently gutted and amended to address CPUC's oversight of carriers' COL...
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