AT&T could get permission to ‘phase out’ landlines under new state bill

Hundreds of thousands of California households could lose their landline service under a new state bill that would allow AT&T to be relieved of its legal obligation to be a carrier of last resort. That requires the telecom giant to offer landlines to anyone who wants one.

AT&T says the bill would ensure the company’s transition from “antiquated” copper landlines to a more modern network in phases over time. But digital equity advocates say the move would be detrimental for public safety – especially in the case of a wildfire or earthquake.

“ The bill is not just about copper landlines,” said Regina Costa of The Utility Reform Network or TURN, an advocacy group that has helped organize residents around the landline issue. “It's about the mandate… to make sure that every single customer in California has reliable telecom service and it doesn't matter what the technology is.”

What would be the impact?

About 500,000 Californians receive landline services from AT&T, including many older adults and people with disabilities. Experts say landlines are the most reliable form of communication, especially for people who live in rural, tribal or coastal communities that lack reliable alternatives.

Under the bill, AT&T said copper services would be maintained “until new technologies are available that are equally or more reliable.”

In a statement, Susan Santana, the president of AT&T California, said that no customer would be left without access to voice or 911 service.

“We’re committed to working with state leaders and community members on policies that create a thoughtful transition to bring more reliable, modern communications to all Californians,” she said, noting that the bill also includes a requirement to build fiber to additional residential locations across the state.

The issue came to a head last summer, when state regulators denied AT&T’s request to phase out landline service in California, after a strong public backlash. As a carrier of last resort, AT&T is required by law to offer basic phone service to anyone who requests it – and it’s held that designation since 1996.

Then, in December, AT&T formally announced plans to phase out its copper-based network by 2029 in favor of more advanced services like fiber. Twenty other states have already given it permission to drop landlines, but California is the final holdout.

How to get involved

There is no formal public comment period, but Regina Costa of the advocacy group TURN is encouraging people to call their local state senator if they’d like to weigh in on the issue.