A federal judge has dealt a significant blow to AT&T’s efforts to discontinue basic phone service in California. On Thursday, US District Judge Linda Lopez denied the company’s request for a preliminary injunction that would have allowed it to stop offering telephone service to new customers while the litigation continues.
The ruling comes as part of a lawsuit filed by AT&T against the state of California in May. The company had argued that the state’s Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) rules, which require it to offer basic phone service to any potential customer in its territory, are preempted by a Federal Communications Commission order. However, Judge Lopez disagreed with this assertion.
According to court documents, AT&T wants to stop offering basic phone service to new customers and discontinue service for 184,000 residential customers and 15,000 business customers on June 1, 2027. The company claims that maintaining a century-old telephone network is too costly and that it would be better off upgrading to fiber lines.
However, the state of California insists that AT&T must continue to offer basic phone service over either copper wires or a modern equivalent like fiber lines. In its opposition to AT&T’s motion for an injunction, California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) argued that the FCC order allowing carriers to stop offering copper-wire service does not conflict with California rules.
The state officials also accused AT&T of using a ‘facade’ narrative to justify its request for relief from COLR obligations. They claimed that AT&T can offer basic phone service over fiber lines and that there is no conflict between federal and state law.
The case is ongoing, but Judge Lopez’s ruling has dealt a significant setback to AT&T’s efforts to discontinue basic phone service in California. The company may appeal the decision to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, but for now, it remains under California’s orders to continue offering phone service to potential customers.
**The Ruling and Its Implications**
Judge Lopez’s decision is a significant blow to AT&T’s efforts to discontinue basic phone service in California. The ruling means that the company must continue to offer telephone service to new customers, which could have significant implications for the state’s residents and businesses.
AT&T had argued that maintaining a century-old telephone network was too costly and that it would be better off upgrading to fiber lines. However, the state of California insists that AT&T must continue to offer basic phone service over either copper wires or a modern equivalent like fiber lines.
The case is ongoing, but Judge Lopez’s ruling has dealt a significant setback to AT&T’s efforts to discontinue basic phone service in California. The company may appeal the decision to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, but for now, it remains under California’s orders to continue offering phone service to potential customers.
**Background on the Case**
The lawsuit was filed by AT&T against the state of California in May. The company had argued that the state’s Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) rules are preempted by a Federal Communications Commission order. However, Judge Lopez disagreed with this assertion.
According to court documents, AT&T wants to stop offering basic phone service to new customers and discontinue service for 184,000 residential customers and 15,000 business customers on June 1, 2027. The company claims that maintaining a century-old telephone network is too costly and that it would be better off upgrading to fiber lines.
However, the state of California insists that AT&T must continue to offer basic phone service over either copper wires or a modern equivalent like fiber lines.
Source: Original article