AT&T sues California in attempt to shut off old phone network

AT&T sued California after regulators declined to waive its duty to provide landline service to any customer in its territory.

The company also asked the FCC to block state enforcement and let it stop serving about 199,000 phone customers.

The fight centers on whether AT&T can retire its aging copper network in California and end its Carrier of Last Resort obligation.

The outcome could reshape landline access, telecom modernization, and the balance of state vs. federal authority over utility service rules.