FCC Seeks Comment on AT&T'S Petition for Preemption and Declaratory Ruling

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a Petition for Preemption and Declaratory Ruling filed by AT&T Services (AT&T). In its Petition, AT&T requests that the Federal Communications Commission declare that “any California law or regulation that interferes with or otherwise conditions AT&T’s ability to discontinue [Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS)] as authorized by the FCC is preempted,” following the FCC’s March 2026 Network and Services Modernization Order. Specifically, AT&T requests that the FCC “declare that its approval of AT&T’s Discontinuance Applications preempts the [California Public Utilities Commission’s Carrier of Last Resort] rules, tariffing requirements, General Orders, Mass Migration Guidelines, LifeLine participation rules, and any other state requirements to the extent they impede AT&T from fully discontinuing POTS to existing customers in the Affected Service Area, such that AT&T may proceed with discontinuance without securing any additional state authorization. Comments Due:  June 22, 2026; Reply Comments Due:  July 7, 2026. WC Docket No. 26-125