Experts Say Landlines Are Crucial In An Emergency And Are Opposing AT&T’s Request To Phase Them Out

An official request by AT&T to start phasing out its landline network in California is drawing pushback from residents, advocates and lawmakers who say the move could have “devastating effects” on public safety.

In the event of a disaster or power outage, officials say landlines are the most reliable form of communication, especially for people who live in rural, tribal or coastal communities without viable alternatives.

Dozens of LAist listeners called our current affairs show AirTalk with host Larry Mantle on Tuesday to weigh in on the issue.

Anne in Pasadena said she gave up her landline about a month ago. “I hate not having it. Our cell phones have lost service and having a landline is a good backup,” she said. “Sometimes I use both cell and landline even at the same time.”

Chris in Northridge said his mother relies on her landline. “She's an ex-cop. She knows that mobile phone calls can't always be tracked in an emergency, so taking this away will severely impact her,” he said.

Mike in West Los Angeles said landlines are “critical” for emergencies. “When we have a major earthquake, cell service will go down either from the volume of calls on the network or the capability of the cell sites,” he said.

Zenchu called from Sequoia National Park. “In the Mineral King community, our mountain home has no electricity ... [AT&T] tries at every turn to make us go digital but how do you do that with no electricity? We'll have to rely on a neighbor to provide his satellite internet to us, which is sketchy and relies on solar power,” he said.

The proposed change has also attracted opposition from California Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff. He says since landlines are still associated with addresses, it makes it easier for first responders to arrive at the correct location.

“Californians must have reliable access to communication services, especially during emergencies,” he said in a letter to the California Public Utilities Commission, which will be making the final decision in the coming months.

Staying safe in an emergency without a landline

If landlines are phased out in an emergency, we'll be relying on cell phones. Public safety officials have several tips on how to stay safe if a power outage is likely:

• Keep spare batteries and charge your electronic devices in advance.
  
• Purchase a solar-powered radio, which may be used to charge mobile devices.
  
• Memorize and write down important phone numbers ahead of time in case your cell phone battery dies. That could include medical providers, veterinarians, insurance companies and out-of-town family members. 

• Conserve battery power, such as dimming the brightness of your display screen and disabling certain applications.

• If the wireless network in your area is damaged and you do not see any signal bars on your phone, consider turning your phone off to prevent the battery from draining as your phone seeks a usable wireless signal.

• Try texting, not phoning, 911 for help in L.A. County. “Text messages often can get through if they just get a hint of connection,” says Jennifer Lazo of the L.A. City Emergency Management Department. “It’s one piece of data moving through the network as opposed to requiring an ongoing connection like a phone call. They might be a little delayed, but they can get through.”

• Wait 10 seconds before redialing a call. Redialing a wireless call multiple times in quick succession can increase network congestion, further limiting the ability of all users to place calls. If you must make a call, space out your call attempts.

• If you’re in your vehicle, try to place calls while your vehicle is stationary.
  
• If you have call forwarding on your home number, forward your home number to your wireless number in the event of an evacuation. That way you will get incoming calls from your landline phone.
  
• Listen to the radio. L.A. County residents can also tune into “local primary stations” for emergency updates. That includes our radio station, LAist (89.3), as well as KFI (640 AM), KNX (1070 AM), KBIG (104.3 FM), KROQ (106.7 FM) and KCBS (93.1 FM). “Radio is usually the last thing that's still up and running. And so there are plans in place for helping support neighborhoods … to make sure good information gets out,” Lazo said. 
  
• Know your neighbors. Lazo recommends getting to know your neighbors so you can pool resources together in the case of an emergency, adding that the city works with community-based organizations to reach people with limited access to technology, as well as those who might not trust government agencies.

For more preparedness tips, read this easy-to-digest guide on how to plan for an earthquake or listen to the LAist podcast, "The Big One: Your Survival Guide."