AT&T's plans to stop offering copper services in California have been given a boost after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted the carrier approval to discontinue copper voice services at more than 184,000 locations in California.

It's part of the FCC's response to AT&T's request to discontinue the services, which the carrier filed in late May.

In a June 29 response, the FCC said the request will be automatically granted unless the agency decides otherwise. As reported by Broadband Breakfast, AT&T's request for the FCC to override the state’s copper retirement rules is still pending.

AT&T's biggest obstacle appears to be the state of California. At present, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has the authority to ensure AT&T continues to provide copper services in the state, even if on a smaller scale.

Previous attempts by AT&T to exit from its Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) duties in the state have failed, leading to the carrier filing a federal lawsuit against the CPUC and the California Attorney General’s Office, arguing that the state's powers are overturned in this instance.

"This is a phased, multiyear transition and we’re committed to working with our customers to ensure that no one loses connectivity,” said AT&T in a statement last week. “All current customers can keep their existing service until it is discontinued on or after June 1, 2027.”

AT&T is seeking to move customers away from copper for good, as the telco continues its fiber push. The carrier has plans to reach 60 million locations with its fiber across the US by 2030.

However, the carrier is still obliged to continue providing these services in California, as voted by the CPUC in June 2024 as part of AT&T's duties as Carrier of Last Resort in the state.

This means that AT&T is legally obligated to provide its telephone services to anyone who asks.

In May, AT&T noted that its copper service only serves around three percent of households in California, as the carrier pledged to invest $19 billion in its network across the state.

At the time, AT&T said it was "taking a phased, year-long approach to upgrade customers in these areas where better, more reliable services are available."

As part of AT&T's plans to bolster its fiber offering, the carrier said it will bring fiber to an additional four million households and businesses in the state by the end of 2030, to reach nine million fiber locations with the most advanced technology.