In a unanimous vote that rings alarm bells for public safety, San Mateo County Supervisors stand united against AT&T's bid to disconnect the lifeline of the community's most vulnerable—its landline telephone service. The telecom giant's plea to the California Public Utilities Commission to drop the mantle of Carrier of Last Resort threatens to leave residents in the lurch, particularly during dire emergencies like wildfires.

San Mateo County's official website details the resolution passed—which points out that, if AT&T gets its way, dependable free access to 911, and vital telephone relay services for individuals with speech or hearing impairments hangs in the balance. San Mateo's proximity to tech hub Silicon Valley, a mere 20-minute drive, stands in stark contrast to the "spotty or non-existent cell service" which plagues parts of the county.

Supervisor Ray Mueller from District 3, which covers a significant rural swath of the region, starkly delineated the stakes. "Landlines are a lifeline in many areas of San Mateo County," he said, highlighting the peculiar danger faced by residents who might find themselves isolated without a traditional phone connection in calamitous times. Past emergencies underscore the indispensable role of copper wire landlines, which stayed functional even as tens of thousands faced power losses just last month.

AT&T, in its communications with CPUC, has assured that its agenda is confined to "only modest regulatory reforms," promising that service to customers will remain uninterrupted until further permissions are granted. However, the supervisors have denounced these assurances as toothless. The resolution skeptically probes AT&T's claim, charging that the company's application "fails to explain how the reliability of such alternative services will be assessed and assured," indicating the comfort drawn from such promises might be cold.

The CPUC's deliberations continue with a decision anticipated in the autumn.