For many Californians, the death of the landline feels inevitable. Technology changes. We stream instead of renting movies, send texts instead of letters, and most of us haven’t answered a rotary phone in decades.
But before we disconnect the last copper wire, we should answer one simple question:
Can we guarantee that every Californian will have a reliable way to call for help when they need it most?
Last week, the Federal Communications Commission approved AT&T’s request to begin ending traditional landline service for thousands of California households. The company argues that maintaining an aging copper-wire network no longer makes economic sense, especially as most Americans now rely on cell phones.
That may be true. But anyone who has driven Interstate 5, traveled through the Sierra, or visited many rural parts of California knows there are still large stretches where cell service is unreliable or nonexistent.
During a wildfire, earthquake, winter storm, or prolonged power outage, those dead zones become more than an inconvenience. They can become life-threatening.
Traditional copper landlines have one important advantage: they carry their own power. Even when electricity goes out, they often continue working. Cell towers, internet service, and home Wi-Fi don’t always offer that same level of reliability.
This isn’t about resisting progress or preserving yesterday’s technology simply because we’re nostalgic. It’s about making sure the replacement is at least as dependable as what it’s replacing.
Can the federal government and the State of California guarantee reliable wireless or internet-based phone service everywhere? Can they ensure rural communities, seniors, and people with disabilities won’t lose access to affordable, dependable communications? Those questions deserve clear answers before the last landline disappears.
There are practical questions, too. What happens to the phone numbers families and small businesses have used for decades? Most can be transferred, but many consumers don’t know that, adding unnecessary confusion during an already significant transition.
Technology should move us forward, not leave people behind.
If landlines are truly reaching the end of their life, then California should insist that every replacement provides equal or better reliability before the old system is unplugged. Progress shouldn’t be measured by what we eliminate, but by what we improve.
