NEVADA CITY, Calif. June 14, 2026 – AT&T customers have received letters advising them their traditional landline service will be discontinued and encouraging them to switch to alternative technologies. The hurdles to using these alternatives are electrical power and availability. Members of the public have until June 15 to comment on AT&T’s application.

“While these letters may sound definitive, they can be misleading and do not fully reflect AT&T’s ongoing obligation to provide basic telephone service to its California customers upon request. For many households—particularly seniors, rural residents, and those who depend on reliable service for health and safety—and small businesses, these notices create unnecessary confusion and concern about losing a vital connection,” states a Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) news release.

The telecom giant sent these letters ahead a possible decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on a Section 214 application by AT&T to discontinue “domestic legacy voice service.”

AT&T is designated a Carrier Of Last Resort (COLR) in California. That designation has prevented the abandonment of copper lines so far. A Section 214 ruling on a would supercede the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) rules, in AT&T’s opinion.

Locally, large areas of Nevada County have no cell service and fiber connectivity is still very sparse and mostly concentrated in the higher population areas.

Lisa Swarthout, Chair of the Board of Supervisors, suggests people comment before the deadline. “The County has been advocating for years to make sure our residents continue to have access to landline service. Despite what the notices from AT&T may suggest, the process is still underway. If you’re affected, make sure you share your concerns with the FCC before the June 15 deadline.”

District 4 Supervisor Sue Hoek serves on RCRC’s COLR Ad Hoc Committee to elevate local voices and has advocated for years to retain landlines until reliable connectivity replacements are truly available. “Many folks rely on their landline service for more than just day-to-day communication. In rural communities, landlines can be the only dependable way to receive life-saving information like emergency alerts during fire season, especially for older residents or folks without other reliable options.”

How to file comments with the FCC and the CPUC

To file a comment with the FCC, “Comments should refer to the specific WC Docket No. and Comp. Pol. File No. listed in the Appendix for the Section 214 Discontinuance Application.”

You do not have to be a landline user or AT&T customer to file a comment.

The AT&T application dockets with the FCC:

AT&T Services, Inc., on behalf of its affiliate, Pacific Bell Telephone Company d/b/a AT&T California WC Docket No. 26-120, Comp. Pol. File No. 2137 Link – https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings/results?q=(proceedings.name:(%2226120%22))

AT&T Services, Inc., on behalf of its affiliate, Pacific Bell Telephone Company d/b/a AT&T California WC Docket No. 26-121, Comp. Pol. File No. 2138 Link – https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings/results?q=(proceedings.name:(%2226121%22))

To file a complaint with the CPUC, use this link: www.cpuc.ca.gov/complaints