Protect Emergency & Phone Communications

Don’t Let AT&T Abandon the Critical Phone Services Needed in Emergencies

If you are one of the more than 1 million customers that depend on AT&T landlines for reliable phone calls, reaching 911 emergency service, or for LifeLine discount services, you are in danger of losing your phone service in 2024.

What is happening?

• Currently, AT&T must provide service to every reasonable request for service in its statewide service territory.  AT&T must also offer federal and California LifeLine throughout its service territory to make services more affordable for low-income households.

• AT&T filed two applications at the CPUC asking to be relieved of these service requirements. 

What is AT&T Attempting to do to your phone service?

AT&T wants to be able to choose whether you receive communication services.  Currently, AT&T must serve every customer with a reasonable service request.  If AT&T wins, it can deny you service even if your request is reasonable.  AT&T also stated its intent to shut down its network in certain communities.

AT&T wants to stop serving low-income households. LifeLine is a low-income program that helps eligible households pay for home or cell phone service.  Currently, AT&T offers Lifeline service throughout its entire California service territory.  AT&T wants to stop offering Lifeline service.  If AT&T wins in this proceeding, 100,000 low-income households may expect a 200% increase, or more, in their monthly phone bill, if they can obtain service from AT&T at all.

Why do consumers oppose AT&T’s efforts?

• For some Californians, landline services are the only safe, affordable, and reliable phone service.  In certain areas, AT&T is the only available landline service provider.

• Landlines can be more reliable than cell phones for emergencies and disasters, especially during a power outage.

• Many AT&T customers on Lifeline services do not have another landline option.

• If the CPUC agrees with AT&T, what will happen to your service?

  • AT&T would no longer offer low-cost service. 

  • AT&T will be able to decide whether it wants you to have telephone service.

  • AT&T has stated that it intends to shut down its landline telephone network. Additionally, AT&T could terminate your service, even if you are not a LifeLine customer. 

  Don’t Let AT&T Abandon Landline Phone Service!

  • Want to find out if AT&T is planning to discontinue your landline service?  Enter your home address in this link: 
    AT&T Map of Areas for Proposed Elimination of COLR

  • Want to see how AT&T plans to cut off landline service in your community? Check out these county maps: 
    County Maps Showing Where AT&T Wants to Abandon COLR

  Speak up at CPUC public hearings to make AT&T live up to its obligations to provide basic phone service to rural California residents and LifeLine customers who depend on landline service to reach health providers, 911 emergency dispatch, children’s schools, employers, family, and friends.

Sign the Petition!