AT&T loses key ruling in bid to stop offering basic phone service in California | TheBriefWire
AT&T loses key ruling in bid to stop offering basic phone service in California
Published 20 July 2026 ยท us
California can keep enforcing rules that require AT&T to offer basic phone service to new customers in its wireline territory, following a federal judge's ruling
California can keep enforcing rules that require AT&T to offer basic phone service to new customers in its wireline territory, following a federal judge's ruling last week. AT&T sued California in May in a bid to end the state's Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) rules that require it to offer telephone service to any potential customer in its territory.
AT&T asked for a preliminary injunction that would prevent California from enforcing the COLR rules while the litigation continues. To win a preliminary injunction, AT&T had to show it is likely to succeed on the merits of its claim that California rules are preempted by a Federal Communications Commission order.
US District Judge Linda Lopez denied AT&T's request for a preliminary injunction during a motion hearing on Thursday, according to a docket entry. The case
is in US District Court for the Southern District of California. Read full article Comments
Published: July 21, 2026 โข 12:50 AM IST ยท Updated: July 21, 2026 โข 2:36 AM ISTBy TheBriefWire Editorial Team
Key points
California can keep enforcing rules that require AT&T to offer basic phone service to new customers in its wireline territory, following a federal judge's ruling last week.
AT&T sued California in May in a bid to end the state's Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) rules that require it to offer telephone service to any potential customer in its territory.
AT&T asked for a preliminary injunction that would prevent California from enforcing the COLR rules while the litigation continues.
To win a preliminary injunction, AT&T had to show it is likely to succeed on the merits of its claim that California rules are preempted by a Federal Communications Commission order.
US District Judge Linda Lopez denied AT&T's request for a preliminary injunction during a motion hearing on Thursday, according to a docket entry.