For many Californians — especially those in rural communities like Jamul, Deerhorn Valley, Lawson Valley, and other pockets of East County — landlines are more than just a nostalgic connection to the past. They’re a lifeline. Cell service can be unreliable, power outages are common, and emergencies don’t wait for a fully charged phone.

But AT&T, the largest landline provider in California, is looking to retire traditional copper landline service nationwide. Over the past two years, the company has invested millions of dollars in legislative efforts that would allow them to drop their obligation to provide landline service in rural areas. So far, they’ve been unsuccessful, but these efforts are only gaining momentum.

As Yue Stella Yu, politics reporter with CalMatters, recently stated, “It’s unclear which California areas AT&T is seeking to withdraw its traditional, copper landline services from. But what we’ve heard from many Californians, especially in rural areas, is that a reliable alternative to their landlines has yet to emerge.”

That uncertainty has many residents worried — and rightfully so.

Why Landlines Still Matter

For urban neighborhoods with strong cell coverage and fiber internet, moving away from landlines might feel inevitable. But in rural regions like ours, where dropped calls and dead zones are an everyday frustration, landlines provide stability and reliability that wireless options can’t always match.

Landlines don’t rely on electricity (unless you have cordless handsets), they work through many emergencies, and they’re often the most dependable way to call 911 when seconds matter.

The Rural Challenge

Jamul and surrounding communities face the same challenge many rural pockets of California do: limited broadband infrastructure, terrain that interferes with wireless signals, and power outages that instantly take down cell towers and internet-based phones.

Losing landlines without a reliable replacement would leave thousands of residents at risk.

What’s Next?

AT&T’s push is expected to continue, and state lawmakers will ultimately decide how much responsibility the company must maintain in providing traditional phone service. Residents, community leaders, and rural counties are paying close attention — because the future of communication in our area may depend on it.

The Big Question

What do you think about landlines?
Are they essential? Outdated? Something you only keep for emergencies?