When disaster strikes—whether it’s wildfire, flood, or prolonged power outage—rural Californians rely on copper landlines as their last connection to emergency services. Yet AT&T and other telecom giants are pushing to shed their Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) obligations, threatening this lifeline for countless residents in the San Lorenzo Valley and beyond.

The Valley Women’s Club has been a vocal advocate on this issue since the CPUC opened proceedings in 2024. We’ve submitted numerous formal comments on behalf of the community—and many of our members have added their voices too. Now, we invite you to join us in taking a stand to protect essential landline service for all.

Take Action Now

Your Voice Matters. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is still accepting public comments on this critical issue. Share your concerns and help preserve landline access for our most vulnerable neighbors.

📣 Tell the CPUC: We Need Reliable Landlines.
📝 Submit Your Comment Today: COLR COMMENTS

Let’s make sure our communities stay connected—no matter the weather, the terrain, or the power grid.

Valley Women’s Club Comments re: CPUC Proceeding known as Rule Making 24-06-012

California Public Utilities Commission

June 11, 2025

Dear Commissioners,

We are writing to express our strong and continued opposition to the attempted abandonment of Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) obligations by AT&T and the other telecommunications companies. As a 48-years active community and environmental organization, the Valley Women’s Club of San Lorenzo Valley, Inc. (VWC) is deeply concerned by the current CPUC COLR Proceeding and its potential impact on the safety of California’s residents.

As residents of the Santa Cruz Mountains, which are heavily forested in steep, erosive terrain and have suffered frequent natural disasters in the past few years, including wildfire and repeated atmospheric river events and landslides, copper landlines are not outdated. They are essential to our safety. During the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire, which burned 86,509 acres and almost 1,000 homes, residents were able to evacuate thanks to reverse 911 calls to landlines, despite poor cell phone service. These same landlines allowed residents to call for help during the 2022-2023 atmospheric river events, because the landlines worked even with the power out for up to a month for some locals. Copper landlines are lifelines.

Lengthy power outages are a part of rural living, especially in high fire threat areas where electricity is frequently and purposely cut off to prevent wildfires ignited by electrical equipment. Under these conditions, there is no affordable alternative to copper landlines. AT&T and the other COLR telecommunications service providers should be required to continue providing landline service to customers and to resume regular maintenance of their copper landlines to retain functionality and reliability of this critical infrastructure.

Alternative technologies do not comprehensively address the needs of rural Californians and should not be considered adequate substitutes for copper landlines. Many areas of the Santa Cruz Mountains will not be receiving broadband technology; due to the difficult terrain and expense, we are not included in the current broadband expansion plan. Additionally, in many areas of the San Lorenzo Valley and throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains cell reception is limited, unreliable and of poor quality. Contacting emergency services would be impossible in many cases without landlines. Like many of California’s rural communities, we have a significant demographic of limited-income residents, including elderly and retired people who need reliable and affordable ways to conduct business and to contact emergency services. Any loss of landline services will impact these vulnerable populations, many of whom simply could not afford to move to areas served by alternative telecommunications. These residents have contributed to their communities and California’s economy for decades and deserve to have their communication needs addressed within the CPUC’s regulatory framework. 

With wildfire dangers and the risk of natural disasters increasing due to changing climate conditions, it is imperative to retain this lifeline for residents, businesses, schools, and communities. 

We insist that the CPUC not alter or dismiss the COLR obligations imposed on AT&T and the other telecommunications service providers for the protection of residents solely to benefit these companies and increase their profits.

Respectfully Yours,
Nancy B. Macy, Co-Chair
Environmental Committee
Valley Women’s Club of San Lorenzo Valley, Inc.
www.valleywomensclub.org