Assembly committee advances bill to phase out copper landlines with public-safety safeguards

Assemblymember Tina McKenner, author of AB 470, told the Communications and Conveyance Committee on the California State Assembly that the bill would create a “framework to protect not well served areas of the state while facilitating investments in modern telecommunications” as providers phase out copper landlines.

AB 470 would require the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to certify that a populated area has at least three comparatively priced alternative phone services (one of which must be a wired option that meets defined minimum connectivity standards) before a carrier of last resort (COLR) could receive relief from its obligation to serve that area. The bill also creates a public challenge process and requires additional private-sector investments to support emergency communications modernization, the author said.

Why it matters: Supporters argued the bill responds to technological and safety gaps in old copper networks, while opponents said it risks cutting off households — especially in wildfire- and disaster-prone or remote communities — before adequate alternatives are in place.

Assemblymember McKenner described the human consequences she said were visible in recent disasters: “These Copper Line phones did not save one life or one structure,” she said, adding that some residents could not receive evacuation alerts or connect with emergency services. Terry Nicole Baca, vice president of legislative affairs for AT&T California, told the panel the bill “does not turn off anyone’s copper landline service” but establishes a phased, multi-year migration plan and “no Californian will be left without reliable phone service, including 911 services.”

Public-safety and labor perspectives split the room. Mark Ghilarducci, immediate former director of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, testified in support, saying modern emergency notifications and FEMA’s alerting systems “simply aren’t possible” over old landline networks and endorsing an orderly transition to fiber-based networks.

Consumer and labor groups were sharply critical. Regina Costa of TURN (The Utility Reform Network) warned the bill “does nothing to obligate any provider to actually provide service,” saying it would allow carriers to “pick and choose what neighborhoods to serve and what neighborhoods to ignore.” Anne Cottrell, a Napa County supervisor speaking for the Rural County Representatives of California, said many rural residents still rely on landlines during power outages and wildfires and asked the Legislature to defer to the CPUC’s ongoing rulemaking. Representatives of the Communication Workers of America (CWA) and multiple county and digital equity groups registered opposition during the hearing.

Committee amendments and PUC role: The author and proponents said committee amendments expanded the CPUC’s role and added a tier‑2 advice‑letter requirement before COLR relinquishment could be approved. Terry Nicole Baca said the amendments require PUC review and give the commission authority to deny a relinquishment request for areas the bill defines as “well served.” Regina Costa and other opponents said the bill still gives insufficient evidentiary protections for households seeking to challenge determinations that their homes are “well served.” Costa objected to the proposal that a third‑party reviewer chosen from options provided by the carrier could play a decisive role in initial challenges.

Labor, jobs and reinvestment: Committee members pressed the author on workforce impacts and monetary flows. McKenner said she has met with CWA leadership and invited the union to propose specific language for worker protections and training; AT&T and other proponents said the transition would create infrastructure work, including fiber deployment, that could employ local workers. Several members asked for clearer, enforceable assurances that savings carriers realize from reduced copper maintenance would be reinvested in California infrastructure and digital equity programs.

Vote and next steps: The committee gave AB 470 a due‑pass recommendation and referred it to the next committee. (The transcript records the committee action and a recorded committee outcome.)

Context: Committee members repeatedly said the bill remains a work in progress and urged labor, consumer advocates and rural counties to continue negotiations. The author said she would continue to accept amendments and invited stakeholders to her office to draft worker‑protection language and to clarify challenge procedures.

Ending: With committee approval the bill advances to the next stage of legislative review; lawmakers said further amendments are likely as the bill proceeds to the CPUC and later committees.