California regulators are opposing AT&T’s request to discontinue traditional copper-wire phone service for new customers. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) petitioned a court and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reject the proposal.
Regulators argue that AT&T is attempting to evade its legal obligations as a carrier of last resort. This mandate ensures that all residents maintain access to basic telephone services. The CPUC clarified that AT&T may use alternative technologies like wireless or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to meet state standards.
AT&T reports that maintaining the legacy copper network costs approximately $1 billion annually. These lines serve a small fraction of households in the company's California territory. The company is currently prioritizing a transition to fiber and wireless networks.