California Says AT&T Can’t Drop Landline Service in Rural Areas

AT&T must keep providing landline phone service to California’s rural areas, state regulators said June 20 after getting an earful from far-flung residents fearful of being cut off. The California Public Utility Commission voted to dismiss a proposal from AT&T to withdraw as a carrier of last resort—meaning the state requires the company to offer basic communication services for all residents in certain coverage areas—after thousands of public comments poured in saying its landline services are the only option for some rural residents. “Our vote to dismiss AT&T’s application made clear that we will protect customer access to basic telephone service—no matter where they live, income, or access to other forms of communication,” Commissioner John Reynolds said during the hearing. “Our rules were designed to provide that assurance, and AT&T’s application did not follow our rules.”...