California rejects AT&T bid to stop offering landline service in some areas By Reuters

By David Shepardson

(Reuters) -California rejected AT&T (NYSE:)’s bid to cease providing landline phone service and different providers because the “service of final resort,” a state company mentioned on Thursday.

Marin County mentioned AT&T’s request made in March 2023 would have ended providers to over 580,000 eligible households all through the state.

The California Public Utilities Fee mentioned in rejecting AT&T’s request that the choice didn’t stop AT&T from retiring amenities or from investing in fiber or different amenities or applied sciences to enhance its community.

AT&T California President Marc Blakeman mentioned “we’re totally dedicated to conserving our clients linked whereas we work with state leaders on insurance policies that create a considerate transition that brings trendy communications to all Californians.”

The corporate it was dedicated to making sure clients can maintain their present conventional landline voice service till they’ve entry to an alternate. “No buyer can be left with out voice and 911 providers,” Blakeman mentioned.

The CPUC mentioned AT&T is pivotal in offering dependable phone service to communities throughout the state and mentioned it didn’t meet the necessities for withdrawal.

“We are going to shield buyer entry to primary phone service – regardless of the place they stay, earnings, or entry to different types of communication. Our guidelines have been designed to offer that assurance, and AT&T’s software didn’t observe our guidelines,” mentioned Commissioner John Reynolds.

The CPUC opened a brand new rulemaking continuing on Thursday to adapt its laws to evolving market situations and technological developments.

AT&T mentioned it’s required to undergo a stringent assessment course of by the Federal Communications Fee that ensures Californians retain entry to dependable voice providers.

It additionally cited proposed laws that may guarantee rural clients are usually not impacted. “We’re totally dedicated to conserving our clients linked whereas we work with state leaders on insurance policies that create a considerate transition that brings trendy communications to all Californians,” AT&T mentioned.