A federal judge has denied AT&T’s request to stop offering basic phone service in California. The telecom giant sued the state in May, seeking an injunction to end Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) rules that require it to serve any potential customer within its territory.
AT&T is pushing to shut off copper lines used for Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS), arguing it spends $1 billion annually on a network almost no one uses. The company aims to discontinue service for 200,000 customers by June 2027.
However, AT&T remains under California’s mandate to continue offering phone service while the case plays out. The company can still appeal the ruling, but for now, Californians will keep their landlines.
The case highlights the ongoing tension between legacy telecom infrastructure and modern technology. As AT&T seeks relief in 20 other states, California suggests it upgrade old lines to fiber, a move that could cost billions.
