California urges court, FCC to rule AT&T must continue basic phone service

WASHINGTON: A California agency said on Thursday it has asked a U.S. court and the Federal Communications Commission to reject AT&T’s request to stop offering traditional copper wire phone service to new customers. The California Public Utilities Commission said AT&T was trying to get out of ‌its obligations as ⁠a ⁠carrier of last resort and to ensure basic service.

The state agency said in a court filing its rules “are explicitly technology-neutral; it does not matter whether the carrier uses copper wire, wireless, Voice over Internet Protocol, or any other type of technology, so long as it meets the standard for ‘basic service.'”