- AT&T says only 3% of California households still use copper landlines.
- The communications giant estimates the cost of maintaining such a service at around $1 billion.
- California is one of 21 states currently opposed to AT&T’s removal of copper landlines, setting the stage for a possible legal battle between the state and federal government for authority.
AT&T filed a lawsuit against the State of California, asking the FCC to end state-sanctioned regulations that require it to offer service as a carrier of last resort (COLR) in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.
The lawsuit names both the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the state attorney general as defendants, although it asks the FCC for permission to discontinue traditional telephone service in areas where better service options are available.
The telecommunications provider is also seeking relief from state regulations, which it says are being superseded by federal regulations.
A complex issue, driven by profitability, reliability and ecological concerns
AT&T pointed out that not only does copper-based infrastructure in its current form cost more than $1 billion to maintain, despite serving only 3% of its user base, but it is also prone to theft, particularly due to rising copper prices globally, making it a relatively easy target for thieves.
He also noted that California is now the only state facing regulatory hurdles that prevent AT&T from completely phasing out its copper-based service, even though he says up to 80 percent of the nation’s adults use wireless phone service as their only means of calling, with most of them not using IP phone services instead.
AT&T’s multi-pronged attack on California also highlighted the environmental benefits of such a move, claiming that ditching copper could save about 300 million kilowatt hours per year by 2030, the equivalent of eliminating emissions from 17 million gallons of gasoline.
No fiber-for-all plans yet as AT&T eyes wireless to fill part of the gap
AT&T, for its part, does not yet want to replace all of its copper installations with fiber. The goal is to promote a “wireless first” approach in certain areas where wireless connectivity is deemed sufficient to replace existing copper infrastructure.
In his lawsuit, he said, “AT&T cannot invest all of its resources into modernizing its network while continuing to devote enormous sums of money to maintaining POTS. Because it makes no sense to maintain an existing, ubiquitous and expensive network that consumers have largely abandoned, AT&T has sought to transition its customers to IP-based services across its entire national territory. »
The CPUC’s position on this matter is also clear: It states that it does not have specific rules regarding the retirement of copper facilities, but rather is willing to consider upgrades to fiber or “other facilities” with an emphasis on reliability.
With 40,000 Lifeline subscribers remaining in California, thanks to a process that AT&T, according to the FFC, calls “grandfathering,” which allowed it to stop accepting new customers for service, there are still a significant number of other affected customers; AT&T’s requests to the FCC indicate it is seeking permission to discontinue service to 184,000 residential and 15,000 business customers in the state.
With landlines often remaining functional even during wildfires, power outages, and cell tower failures, the state of California could argue that its approach is technology neutral and that AT&T is required to provide reliable coverage throughout the state, particularly to rural or marginalized communities, who would have to bear the brunt of such a decision.
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