California rejects AT&T proposal to stop offering landline phone service in some areas

(Reuters) – A California state agency said Thursday it has rejected AT&T’s proposal to be able to stop offering landline and other services as a “carrier of last resort.”

Marin County said AT&T’s request made in March 2023 would have ended services provided to more than 580,000 eligible households statewide.

The California Public Utilities Commission said in denying AT&T’s request that the decision did not prevent AT&T from removing its copper facilities or investing in fiber optics or other facilities or technologies to improve its network. .

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chris Reese)