Federal Judge Rules Against AT&T in California Phone Service Case

A federal judge has ruled that California can continue to enforce regulations requiring AT&T to provide basic phone service to new customers in its wireline territory. AT&T had filed a lawsuit in May seeking to end the state's Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) rules, which mandate that the company offer telephone service to all potential customers in its service area. The company requested a preliminary injunction to halt the enforcement of these rules while the case is ongoing. However, US District Judge Linda Lopez denied AT&T's request, stating that the company did not demonstrate a likelihood of success on its claim that California's regulations are preempted by a Federal Communications Commission order. The case is being heard in the US District Court for the Southern District of California.