"Phone Service Providers Nearing Phase-Out of Landline Services"

AT&T has applied for a waiver to stop servicing traditional landlines in California as part of a broader industry shift away from copper wire-based telephone systems to faster, more advanced technology like fiber optics and ethernet access. Consumers will need to decide whether to give up their landlines or face potentially higher costs, with impacts on seniors, small businesses, and areas prone to power outages or disasters. Challenges in fully phasing out copper landlines include the reliability of alternatives like VoIP, the difficulty of locating and removing old equipment, and the lack of high-speed internet in rural areas. The California Public Utilities Commission will hold meetings to discuss the potential discontinuation of copper landline phone service across the state.