CWA Local 9510's News Blog

*Important Message from Jim Weitkamp, Vice President CWA*

Follow up:

Passage of SB 1375 would harm vital access to 911 services by residents of our State without sufficient analysis as to alternatives to abandoning the warm line system. Our current system provides 911 access from every housing unit in the state, and should not be hastily abandoned nor should the effectiveness of access to 911 be diminished in any way in this new era of telecommunications.

While the telecommunications system has changed since the warm line obligations were created (at the urging of local exchange carriers, such as now AT&T and Verizon), the complexity of the new system requires far greater discussion and examination of options than SB 1375 proposes. For example, if the commission approves a wireless Lifeline option, under SB 1375 those low income customers who have abandoned their landline would have no access to 911 services if the single handset leaves the house with the subscriber. Nor, wireless access to 911 services is not sufficient in many parts of the state due to lack of dependable signal or no signal at all.

AT&T, Verizon and other local exchange carriers are looking at ways to reduce costs by eliminating good paying jobs and further increase California unemployment, at the expense California consumer's safety. These same carriers are claiming they have no responsibility to maintain these lines when customers are disconnected from landline service. But it is unclear how that can be the case without the carriers being in current violation of their statutory requirement.

I suggest that the PUC be asked to re-examine not only the most ubiquitous and cost-effective way in which to maintain constant access to 911, but to look at the larger issue of maintenance of the traditional copper network which is a valuable asset to Californians, SB 1375 takes a slash and cut approach to a problem that may only need minor adjustment and not diminish the effectiveness of the current 911 system and for that reason Communications Workers of America oppose it.
JW.