As AT&T and other telecom giants push aggressively to retire traditional copper wireline services across California, they constantly tell regulators that wireless networks are a perfectly reliable substitute. We know the reality on the ground: wireless networks suffer from frequent outages, dead zones, and slow emergency restoration times, leaving communities vulnerable.
If major carriers want to shift consumers toward wireless infrastructure, we must force them to meet strict, unbreakable service standards.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has ordered Rulemaking 26-02-017 to establish formal service quality, outage, and restoration rules for wireless carriers. Remote Public Participation Hearings (PPHs) are scheduled for July 15 and July 23, 2026.
We need every CWA member, telecom technician, and consumer advocate to call in and testify. We must tell the CPUC that if carriers will not guarantee reliable service, they cannot be allowed to abandon our copper networks.
How to Join the Hearings & Testify
The hearings are entirely remote and can be accessed by phone or viewed via livestream.
Hearing Dates & Times:
- Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM
- Thursday, July 23, 2026 at 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM
Dial-In Information:
- Toll-Free Phone Number: 1-800-857-1917
- English Passcode: 1673482#
- Spanish Passcode: 3799627#
- How to Speak: Once connected to the operator, *press 1 to state that you want to offer public comment. (Public officials should provide their name, title, and governmental entity) .
- Livestream Link (To view only): adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc
Our Key Talking Points
When you call in to testify, keep your comments focused, objective, and urgent:
- Wireless is Not a Perfect Substitute for Copper: Explain that if AT&T intends to shift consumers away from landlines, their wireless service must be held to strict, enforceable public safety standards. Wireless networks must have mandatory backup power and infrastructure redundancy to survive climate-driven power shutoffs and wildfires. Speak from your own personal experience as a wireless user, NOT as an employee. CWA D9 is not a party to this proceeding.
- Mandate Strict Outage Accountability: Demand that the CPUC pass strict rules penalizing carriers for prolonged outages and establishing firm deadlines for service restoration.
- Protect Skilled Telecom Jobs: Highlight that maintaining infrastructure quality requires an experienced, well-trained union workforce. Tell the CPUC that cutting corners on network maintenance puts both consumers and worker safety at risk.
Can’t Call In? Submit Written Comments Online
If you cannot make the live call-in windows, you can submit your public comments directly into the CPUC official docket at any time during the proceeding.
- Submit Comments Online: Go to apps.cpuc.ca.gov/c/R2602017 and click the “Add Public Comment” tab.
- Submit Comments by Mail: Write to the CPUC Public Advisor’s Office, 505 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102. Make sure to explicitly reference Rulemaking 26-02-017 in your communication.
Stay united, make your voice heard, and protect our infrastructure!
