HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.1.d -John Stonebraker - FW_ comment re_ 3.1.d Carrier of Last ResortFrom:Clerk of the Board
To:BOS
Subject:Public Comment - FW: comment re: 3.1.d Carrier of Last Resort
Date:Tuesday, March 25, 2025 7:26:34 AM
Please see public comment below.
-----Original Message-----
From: John S. <john@upperridge.info>
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2025 6:54 AM
To: Clerk of the Board <clerkoftheboard@buttecounty.net>
Subject: comment re: 3.1.d Carrier of Last Resort
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Since the text of the letter the Board is being asked to ratify has not been published with this agenda item, I can only
support the intent of the transmittal. AT&T has been a bad actor since well before the 1983 breakup and especially
since reabsorbing the Baby Bells. This monstrous monopoly should not be allowed to collect a guaranteed Rate of
Return from the more lucrative portions of Butte County without continuing to serve the county entire, including
portions too remote from a Central Office for Internet-based communications to operate over existing wireline
infrastructure. Yet rather than upgrading to better serve rural communities, AT&T lobbies to instead cut us off, as
they have managed in other states. Since neither the CPUC nor the Legislature can be trusted to oversee a transition
to publicly owned wireline broadband in areas too thinly populated for competitive markets, AT&T's franchise
agreement should specify that continued use of county rights-of-way is conditional on providing Basic Service to all
interested Butte County residents.
Thanks to staff for staying on top of this even if their submission for the March 19 hearing did not make the deadline
to get into this packet.
John Stonebraker
Outer Magalia, CA