AT&T is facing backlash over its attempt to end landline telephone service across California. The latest concern has emerged in rural Nevada County, where customers say the company has warned them that their longstanding home phone lines are set to go away.
According to the report, AT&T sent letters to customers in rural Nevada County saying that their landlines will be disconnected in July of next year. For many households in the area, those landlines have been a basic and reliable way to stay connected for decades.
This is not the first time the company has tried to step back from the service. AT&T attempted to end its landline service a few years ago, but the California Public Utilities Commission blocked the move, pointing out that AT&T is designated as a carrier of last resort and is expected to keep providing service.
Rather than dropping the effort, the company is now turning to the Federal Communications Commission in an attempt to override the state. Nevada County leaders, however, say that no decision has been made just yet, leaving the future of the rural landlines unsettled for now.
For its part, AT&T issued a statement saying it is only upgrading customers in areas where there is reliable connectivity available from the company, and that it is not discontinuing service for customers in rural areas without reliable wireless coverage. The company framed the change as part of a broader move toward newer technology.
Many residents in rural California remain worried, saying their phone service is not always dependable and that a landline can be a vital lifeline. Local officials reported a wave of calls from people asking what they are supposed to do and questioning how much time they really have before any disconnection takes effect.