AT&T loses key ruling in bid to stop offering basic phone service in California
Summary
A federal judge ruled that California can keep requiring AT&T to offer basic phone service to new customers in the state. AT&T sued to stop these rules, but the court denied their request to pause enforcement while the case continues.Key Facts
- California has rules called Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) that require AT&T to provide phone service to any potential customer in its area.
- AT&T sued California in May to stop these rules and asked the court to temporarily block the rules during the lawsuit.
- US District Judge Linda Lopez denied AT&T’s request for this temporary block.
- AT&T wants to stop offering phone service to 184,000 homes and 15,000 businesses by June 1, 2027.
- AT&T claims maintaining old copper phone lines costs $1 billion a year in California.
- AT&T currently uses old copper lines but wants to switch to newer fiber technology in some places or rely on cell networks where fiber isn’t profitable.
- California says AT&T must keep offering basic phone service either through copper lines or modern fiber lines.
- AT&T can appeal the judge’s decision, but for now it must continue following California’s rules.
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