AT&T is escalating its push to end mandatory landline service in California, moving the fight to federal courts and the FCC. The company says maintaining copper lines is outdated and costly, but many rural customers rely on them during emergencies.
- AT&T filed a lawsuit against California regulators and the state Attorney General on May 20, 2026. - The company proposes ending landline service from 360 wire centers by June 2027, affecting 200,000 customers.
- Customers in Lake, Mendocino, and Sonoma counties report outages lasting weeks, missed repairs, and rising bills. - Consumer advocates and local officials argue that alternative services like cell and fiber are not reliable enough in fire-prone areas.
The California Public Utilities Commission is working on modernizing rules, but customers fear their landlines are being abandoned before reliable replacements are in place.