universal service
California Asks Court to Toss AT&T’s Copper Retirement Suit
State regulators say AT&T’s federal preemption claim lacks merit.
Expert Opinion
Joel Thayer and Ethan Tun: Stop Making Americans Pay for Yesterday’s Phone Network
Outdated rules tying carriers to copper phone lines are diverting billions from fiber and wireless buildout, and the FCC should finish modernizing them.
Fiber
House Dems Oppose FCC Preempting Calif. Copper Rules
AT&T wants the agency to grant preemption and allow it to discontinue copper service in the state
FCC
FCC’s Carr: Retiring Copper Networks Will Save Billions
Chairman Brendan Carr said the FCC has ejected more than 1,200 telecom providers for robocall mitigation.
AT&T
AT&T Marks 150 Years Since First Telephone Call
The company plans to spend $250 billion on its networks over the next 5 years.
Public Safety
Industry Leaders Launch STRIKE Coalition as Officials Warn of Deliberate Cable Cuts
Panelists said outdated state laws hamper efforts to prosecute attacks on broadband networks.
Ziply
Twenty-one States Push to Scrap Carrier-of-Last-Resort Laws
Telecom leaders call mandates to maintain copper a barrier to next-gen broadband.
FCC
Carr Unveils FCC’s ‘Delete, Delete, Delete’ Initiative
FCC Chair’s deregulatory blitz likely to target media ownership, copper decommissioning rules
Fiber
Copper Theft and Vandalism Threatening Critical Infrastructure, Say Industry Leaders
Copper theft has evolved beyond petty crime into organized operations.
Infrastructure
NARUC Wants Copper Theft Federally Criminalized
Group says stricter penalties needed to modernize communications protection.
Labor Department
AT&T Copper Retirement Plan Would Undercut Universal Service, CWA Warns
The telecom giant will not offer fiber to many copper customers, potentially jeopardizing broadband access.
Infrastructure
Fort Worth Sees Big Surge in Copper Theft from AT&T's Network
Criminals are targeting a critical piece of broadband infrastructure.
Broadband Live
Broadband Breakfast on February 26, 2025 - Copper Theft and Broadband Vandalism
Increasing copper prices and gaps in regulations also contribute to the problem.
Infrastructure
O’Rielly Wants Federal Law to Target Copper Theft
Former GOP FCC Commissioner says we need steeper federal penalties.
White Papers
Protecting The Nation's Critical Communications Infrastructure From Theft and Vandalism
To protect economic and public safety interests, regulators, legislators, law enforcement, municipalities, and communications providers must work together.
Broadband Mapping and Data
Fiber, Fixed Wireless Connections Rose in 2023: FCC Marketplace Report
The biannual report detailed the agency's latest national subscriber figures.
