Landline Action Bulletin

Access to reliable communications under assault nationwide — immediate action required!

There are currently multiple efforts underway to aggressively deregulate and phase out traditional landline service in many parts of the country right now, under the guise of "IP transition" and "modernization". Many people will be left with no reliable alternatives, including for emergencies and 911 access, especially during prolonged power outages, directly causing injury and death. Your immediate action is needed to try to prevent this (and you don't need to live in California).

We will be updating this page frequently throughout the coming days and weeks; please check back often for the latest actions and updates.

CONFERENCE CALL: You are invited to join the weekly organizing call Thursdays at 6:00pm Pacific — (510) 255-4046 / (510) 777-6650 (local); (888) 530-8443 or (800) 574-5716 (toll-free)

Critical Deadlines

Flyers/Posters to Raise Awareness

Urgent Actions Required NOW

  1. OPPOSE AT&T's Petitions to Preempt Californian Protections

    WHAT: On May 20, AT&T sued the California Public Utilities Commission and California Attorney General for requiring AT&T to provide basic voice service to all Californians. AT&T argues the CPUC's rules are preempted by the FCC (see item #5).

    AT&T has filed petitions with the FCC to disconnect 199,000 customers in California. They have sent out notices to 199,000 customers in parts of California, grandfathering service on July 19 and discontinuing on or after June 1, 2027. Due to a recent FCC rulemaking, discontinuances are automatically granted unless the FCC reviews and determines otherwise after public protest.

    IMPACT: AT&T is now looking to the FCC for approval to discontinue service to hundreds of thousands of Californians following the FCC's assertion of preemption of state rules. This bypasses the CPUC by seeking relief from the courts and the FCC. They have already notified 199,000 customers they plan to discontinue their service by June 2027 pending the assumed approval by the FCC.

    ACTION:

    • Submit comments to the FCC opposing preemption of California's rules. COMMENTS DUE JULY 7! Particularly emphasize how the "alternatives" (e.g. wireless, VoIP, satellite, etc.) are not accessible or functional or are less reliable for you (the FCC has shifted the burden to consumers to prove that "alternatives" are not viable or functional in their area). Tell all your family members, neighbors, friends, etc. to likewise submit comments. If you have Lifeline service, also object to AT&T's plans to discontinue Lifeline service.

      The original comment deadline was June 22; it has been extended until July 7 (the new reply comment deadline is now July 22).

      You can submit a text comment (or upload a PDF of your comments). Include proceedings* 26-123, and 26-125 (26-120, 26-121 ended on June 15). When you start typing the docket numbers, they should show up:
      Screenshot of FCC ECFS

      (*26-120 is the docket to disconnect 15,000 business customers; 26-121 to disconnect 184,000 residential customers; 26-123 for Lifeline/ETC; 26-125 for FCC preemption of California's rules; you can reuse the same comments for 26-120/26-121; you may want to tailor your comments for 26-123/26-125 to focus on the preemption issue).

    • Sign TURN's petition OPPOSING these changes.

    • Flyer your neighborhoods! See Communications Crisis and Myths & Facts (b&w) and combined 2-sided

  2. Submit Public Comments to CPUC on Carrier of Last Resort Rulemaking

    WHAT: The CPUC is in the final stages of reviewing its COLR rules to possibly revise them in response to AT&T's previous requests to eliminate its COLR obligations.

    IMPACT: The CPUC Staff Proposal is a significant handout to industry by proposing elimination of critical service elements of basic voice service that would more easily allow carriers to fulfill their COLR obligations via alternative services to copper. The proposal also significantly de-emphasizes voice and shifts to focusing on broadband connectivity instead. Overall, the proposal significantly neuters the existing protections. Requirements for directory assistance, free White Pages listings, telephone directories, operator assistance, and basic local calling plans would be eliminated. This is purely about making it easier for carriers to decomission copper service and use other technologies.

    ACTION: Submit comments in opposition of the staff proposal and insist the current rules either be retained or strengthened. Also ask the CPUC to not give into AT&T and challenge AT&T's lawsuit, AT&T's petition to the FCC, and the FCC's preemption of COLR in California.

    • Submit public comments online (click "Public Comments") or by email at [email protected]
    • Leave comments by phone by calling 1-866-849-8390, press 1 for English, then press 4 to leave a public comment.

  3. Raise awareness of and opposition to AT&T's requests (see OPPOSE AT&T above)

    ACTION:

    • Sign TURN's petition OPPOSING these changes.

    • Flyer your neighborhoods! See Communications Crisis and Myths & Facts (b&w) and combined 2-sided
    • Write op-eds and letters to the editor in your local newspaper about this.
    • Some of your friends and neighbors may not understand the full gravity of this situation. Please help them to understand its seriousness by holding local town halls, going door-to-door, etc. to raise awareness and opposition. You can also try posting in places like NextDoor, etc.
      • Other Ways You Can Encourage Policymakers to Fight AT&T
    • Call the CPUC Public Advisors office at 1-866-849-8390, press 1 for English, then press 4 to leave a public comment. You can do this anytime. Reference proceeding Carrier of Last Resort and Network Modernization Staff Proposal (R.24-06-012) in your comments. The main points are:

      • NO to the staff proposal
      • FIGHT AT&T's petition to disconnect 199,000 Californian customers and FIGHT AT&T's lawsuit against the CPUC
      • SUE the FCC for preempting COLR rules

      e.g. I am calling about the Carrier of Last Resort Staff Proposal, R.24-06-012. I ask the CPUC to reject the Staff Proposal, which waters down COLR to allow inferior technologies that do not even meet current standards to be designated COLR-eligible. I also ask the CPUC to protect Californians by challenging AT&T's petition to the FCC to disconnect 200,000 customers and also fight AT&T's lawsuit naming the CPUC and Attorney General, which attempts to undermine CPUC protections and eliminate access to reliable phone service for hundreds of thousands of Californians. Additionally, the CPUC needs to sue the FCC over its order asserting federal preemption over state COLR rules. We have already spoken out — we want to keep reliable landlines and do not want the inferior alternatives. Please do not give into AT&T's bullying — the CPUC has an obligation to fight this lawsuit to protect the public against industry or many people will lose access to communications.

    • Take your comments and submit them in writing online at in the R2406012 proceeding by clicking "Public Comments" and adding your comment.
    • Call the California Attorney General at 1-800-952-5225 (916-210-6276 out of state) and press 1 for English, then 7 to leave a message for the Attorney General. e.g. I am asking the attorney general to defend the rights of hundreds of thousands of Californians to reliable phone service by challenging AT&T's petition to disconnect 200,000 customers and also fight AT&T's lawsuit against the CPUC and Attorney General. The alternatives that AT&T claims are sufficient are inferior and inadequate (and not even functional everywhere) and if AT&T wins this lawsuit, thousands of Californians may never have reliable phone service again, so we need you to make this issue a top priority. Please also challenge the FCC order asserting preemption of state rules like COLR.
    • If you live in California, contact your state representatives to alert them to this issue. Call first, then follow up by email.
    • We can't do this alone. Reach out to consumer advocacy groups that can help challenge these efforts by AT&T and the FCC — ask for their support in this fight and to make this a top priority:
    • Share your perspective with the FCC on landlines. Tell them you do NOT approve of their current deregulatory agenda which puts lives at risks by cutting people off from reliable communications. Let them know you insist upon having a reliable landline. (Note: This is not a formal complaint and will not count as a comment in any of the active proceedings; do this only in addition to filing formal comments with the FCC as directed elsewhere on this page.)

    Remember: even if you do not personally use a landline regularly, landlines provide an additional method (and often, the only functional method) of communications in case of an emergency. The dismantling of landlines creates a safety issue for communities at large. Please especially have solidarity with those whose lives literally depend on landline access.

  4. Help Us Challenge FCC Preemption of State COLR Rules

    WHAT: In its Report and Order on "Reducing Barriers to Network Improvements and Service Changes" (WC Dockets 25-209 and 25-208), adopted March 26th, the Federal Communications Commission asserted that state rules such as COLR (Carrier of Last Resort) obligations were subject to preemption for conflicting with the federal agenda to eliminate copper POTS lines nationwide.

    IMPACT: Because the FCC claims it can preempt state rules (though this of highly questionable authority and legality), it means that even in states like California, whose COLR requirements aim to ensure that all consumers have access to some level of communications, the state could be unable to enforce these requirements. In other words, the FCC is attempting to unilaterally prevent all state public service commissions from protecting consumers by imposing roles requiring a minimum level of service. Even though the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has previously denied AT&T the ability to discontinue service in California, AT&T is now looking to the FCC to preempt the CPUC from protecting landline service.

    For a more detailed analysis of the impact of this order, see this more detailed analysis (linked).

    ACTION: There is urgent need to legally challenge this FCC order. We are seeking legal support to challenge this FCC decision and need your help to refer organizations and law firms who would be willing to help (preferably pro-bono), or possible funding sources. If you are able to help or have suggestions, please contact us.

  5. Submit Public Comments to FCC on Requests from Carriers to Discontinue Service

    WHAT: A number of applications have already been filed to discontinue service (mostly by AT&T). We are keeping track them of them here so you can file comments objecting to AT&T's false argument that alternative or replacement services, if even available, are equivalent to (let alone "superior") to POTS.

    IMPACT: Because the FCC streamlined the process to allow carriers to discontinue POTS service as part of a "technology transition", these requests are automatically granted in most cases. If filing comments, the FCC will remove the application from "streamlining" and perform a review.

    ACTION: To submit comments, submit a text comment or upload a PDF of your comments. Include the corresponding docket number from the table below. Remember, a threat to POTS anywhere is a threat to POTS everywhere!

    Note that Dockets 26-123 and 26-125 refer to the California petitions referred to in the bulletin on AT&T/California.

    Public Notice Carrier/Application Docket Comp. Pol. File No # Customers # Wire Centers States Comments Due Reply Comments Due Auto-Granted
    DA 26-502 AT&T 26-106 2130 29 (bus.) 39 Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana,
    Mississippi, South Carolina,
    Tennessee    		 June 3 — June 19
    DA 26-507 Frontier 26-115 2135 ? ? Alabama, Georgia, Iowa,
    Mississippi, and Tennessee    		 June 5 — June 21
    DA 26-508 Frontier 26-116 2135 ? ? Alabama, Georgia, Iowa,
    Mississippi, Tennessee    		 June 8 — June 19
    DA 26-539 AT&T 26-120 2137 15,000 business 360 California June 15 — June 29
    DA 26-539 AT&T 26-121 2138 199,000 residential 360 California June 15 — June 29
    DA 26-518 AT&T 26-123 ETC Requirements California July 7 July 22 —
    DA 26-520 AT&T 26-125 Petition for Preemption and Declaratory Ruling California July 7 July 22 —
    DA 26-596 AT&T 26-143 2143 27 10 Louisiana, South Carolina,
    Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas,
    Wisconsin     		July 1 — July 17

    Carriers also generally post notices of service discontinuances to their websites — here are where the large incumbents post their notices:

  6. Order A Phone Book

    WHAT: AT&T, in its argument to the FCC petitioning to abandon POTS in much of California, falsely claims that "customers simply do not value" unique elements of POTS, such as phone books, directory assistance, and operator assistance, despite these being critical to ensuring that everyone has access, even persons with disabilities and those without Internet access.

    ACTION: Many consumers do not even know they must know request phone books on demand. You can easily request free directories: call (877) 243-8339 (M-F 8-4:45 Eastern) and ask for both the Yellow Pages and White Pages. You can request up to 5 free copies of the Yellow Pages and White Pages directories. Do it now! (It's also possible this may be your last chance if directories are discontinued, stock up!)

  7. If you haven't already, join the Save Landlines organizing and discussion list to receive updates on further actions and discuss mobilization against the assault on reliable phone service. (We will also keep this page updated, so check back frequently).

Upcoming Actions/Participation Opportunities

  1. June 10, 1pm EDT — FCC Consumer Protection and Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting — The meeting will be streamed live at fcc.gov/live, and public comments can be submitted during the meeting to [email protected]
    2. . Tell the FCC how you feel about its dismantling of regulatory protections and ask them some tough questions.
  2. June 11, 11am PDT — Provide public comments during the next CPUC Voting Meeting. You can provide a 1-minute comment to the CPUC, either in-person (varying location) or remotely by phone; dial 1-800-857-1917, then 9899501#. Press *1 to enter the queue to provide comments. The next meeting is June 11, 11am PDT. See Upcoming CPUC Events for subsequent meetings.
  3. July 15/16 — Workshop on IP Transition — The FCC will host an industry workshop to provide an opportunity to examine issues involving the transition to all-IP networks. Unfortunately, the panel is by invitation only from the FCC, but the public may be able to ask questions by email during the meeting.

Other Information

No action required here; this information is provided for informational purposes.

This page is a joint effort of PhreakNet with our friends at SaveLandlines.org
If you have a question that is not answered from reviewing this page, you may email [email protected] for assistance. Additional outreach is also welcome at this address.