FCC's decision to allow internet-based phone service affects California's most vulnerable

I recently learned that in August, the Federal Communications Commission approved deregulation that allows telecom companies to shut down their copper wire landline phone service and replace it with internet-based phone service.

This decision affects California’s most vulnerable groups, and if the federal government won’t look out for their interests, the state government should step in.

According to the FCC Order, because landline service requires infrastructure that’s expensive to maintain, its existence is preventing us from transitioning to the next generation of communication technology.

Explain that to my parents or to the 4.5 million seniors in California who still rely on landline service. My parents can barely use their cellphone, and the internet in their home often cuts in and out. I can’t imagine tying their primary means of communication to something as unreliable as their internet connection. Not to mention the fact that they lose internet completely if the power goes out.

The FCC’s decision puts the telecom giant’s profit over the needs of rural communities, senior and elderly folks, and replaces it with poor internet connectivity. The California state legislature has a responsibility to step in and advocate on behalf of the people who are most likely to get left behind in this blind march of “progress.”

Samuel Taylor, Palm Springs

Rep. Ken Calvert's "Flash Poll" is inaccurate

Rep. Ken Calvert’s recent “flash poll” sent to his constituents is completely inappropriate. He writes that the only way one can support raising the debt limit is if (a) Congress takes no other actions to address our fiscal challenges or (b) Congress takes “other steps that include significant taxpayer savings and recoup unspent COVID emergency funding.” These are not the only options, but we must choose (a) or (b) if we wish to raise the debt limit.

Why is Calvert politicizing the health of the American economy for his view of unspent COVID funding? So he can then tell the world that his constituents (those who answer the poll) favor Congress taking no actions to address our fiscal challenges (which is no one) or only if Congress addresses significant taxpayer savings and recoup unspent COVID emergency funding? As everyone knows, raising the debt ceiling is a must for the American economy. Congressman Calvert had no problem raising the debt ceiling for Donald Trump without any conditions. Is that not an option now because Joe Biden is president? The next time Calvert does a flash poll, he should think of the real needs of Americans.

Michael P. Friedman, La Quinta

Citizens for a New La Quinta will help promote change

Extremely well-written April 23 letter to the editor from Robert Sylk. His article reflects, summarizes and gives reasons for the outcomes of poor leadership in La Quinta. It clearly and concisely describes projects that have been left undone, promises that remain unfulfilled and a continuum of costly mistakes.

The challenges and the remedies for the people of La Quinta for the betterment of their city is to come together in a forum or better yet to join an existing committee, Citizens for a New La Quinta. This group is committed to reviewing current issues and making plans for a viable change.

It is now, not later to begin the process. Innovative policies have emerged through the recognition that existing policies are failing. Once this is understood, the path to change becomes clear. The most important resource in this city is the will of the people. Once people ban together unacceptable progress can be confronted and resolved − then La Quinta will once again be the city it is supposed to be.

Dr. R. Sandra McCarthy, La Quinta

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: FCC's decision to allow internet-based phone service is a bad decision