AT&T filed suit in Southern California federal court, demanding the state and FCC block California’s mandate that forces the carrier to keep a century‑old copper network in service. The company argues the network serves only 3% of households and costs $1 billion annually.

California’s Public Utilities Commission rejected AT&T’s request to drop its Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) duty, a rule that obligates AT&T to offer landlines to any potential customer. AT&T claims the rule hinders its shift to fiber and wireless, which it says can meet consumer needs.

The lawsuit seeks an FCC declaration that California’s COLR requirements conflict with the agency’s Network Modernization Order. AT&T also petitions the FCC to allow it to discontinue copper service for about 199,000 residential customers and to bypass state mandates like the Lifeline program.

If the court sides with AT&T, the carrier could reduce the copper footprint in California, freeing capital for fiber roll‑out and modernizing services for nearly a quarter‑million users.