Public Advocates Press CPUC to Dismiss AT&T Bid for COLR Relief

AT&T's apparent view that "the mere presence of an uncommitted 'voice alternative' makes” carrier-of-last-resort obligations obsolete is contradictory to California universal service rules, the California Public Utilities Commission’s independent Public Advocates Office said Thursday. PAO pressed the commission to reject AT&T opposition to PAO’s motion to dismiss AT&T’s application to shed COLR obligations in most of California. “AT&T asks the Commission to allow it to withdraw as the COLR for millions of Californians even though there is currently no other provider that is obligated to serve all customers in AT&T’s vast service area,” the advocates said in docket A.23-03-003. The CPUC plans a prehearing conference Thursday on AT&T’s application (see 2307190047).