Media Kampung – California state regulators have accused AT&T of lying to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in its effort to shut down the old copper phone network without providing a suitable replacement. In a June 15 filing, the state of California and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) rejected AT&T’s claims that California is blocking the transition from copper to fiber.
“AT&T asserts that California seeks to prohibit or hinder wireline carriers from discontinuing copper facilities and investing in fiber,” the filing stated. “Indeed, AT&T has been making this argument for years. It is not and has never been true.”
The dispute stems from AT&T’s lawsuit against California over the state’s refusal to allow the company to stop providing phone service to all potential customers in its wireline territory. AT&T also petitioned the FCC to declare that California cannot enforce its rules, seeking permission to discontinue service to approximately 199,000 phone customers.
California regulators maintain that they have not blocked fiber investment but rather require that any discontinuation of copper service be accompanied by adequate alternatives, particularly for customers who rely on traditional phone lines. The state argues that AT&T’s characterization of the situation is misleading and that the company has not demonstrated a genuine effort to transition customers to modern services.
The filing emphasizes that California’s regulations are designed to protect consumers, especially those in rural or underserved areas where copper lines may be the only reliable option. The state insists it supports fiber deployment and has not hindered AT&T’s investments.
As the legal battle continues, the FCC will weigh AT&T’s petition against California’s objections. The outcome could set a precedent for how states can regulate the phase-out of legacy telecommunications infrastructure.
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