California urges court, FCC to reject AT&T request on service requirements

June 18 : A California agency said Thursday it has asked a U.S. court and the Federal Communications Commission to reject the request of AT&T to stop offering traditional copper ‌wire phone service to new customers.

The California Public Utilities Commission said AT&T’s was trying to get out of its obligations as a carrier of last resort. 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.'”