AT&T is facing significant backlash over its plan to retire its copper network, which has sparked heated discussions about access to reliable communication services for rural customers. The Communications Workers of America (CWA) has raised alarms following the company's recent announcement, emphasizing the detrimental impact this move could have on those communities.
The telco giant has set its eyes on transitioning to fiber optic services, with plans to fully retire its copper network by 2029. While the intention is to modernize its infrastructure, the CWA argues this transition will leave many rural customers without adequate service, as AT&T’s new plans will replace aging copper lines with fiber only for selected areas, primarily neglecting vast stretches of its service territory.
On February 21, 2025, the CWA filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) detailing their opposition to AT&T's plan, asserting, "[AT&T's] decision to withdraw from such a large portion of its service area will harm communities and undercut the promise of universal service." This statement encapsulates the union's concern for the tens of thousands of residents who depend on copper lines for reliable, and often the only, means of communication.
AT&T's proposed retirement will affect numerous states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Texas, to name just a few. With the CWA citing specific localities as at risk of losing service, questions arise on whether these communities will retain any equivalent means of connectivity. According to CWA president Claude Cummings Jr., the company’s shift away from copper will leave many residents stranded, stating, "If the Commission approves AT&T’s applications, the company will be free to exit 250,000 square miles of territory...," which constitutes about fifty percent of its historical footprint.
Further compounding the worries surrounding this plan is AT&T's justification for abandoning copper networks, which the company claims is dictated by shifts in technology. AT&T argues fiber technology is superior and necessary for meeting customer demand, but CWA insists the company is simply prioritizing profitability over community service. Urban and suburban areas may see expanded fiber deployments, yet the union claims rural customers will be left with fewer and less reliable options.
AT&T has, by its own admission, registered its commitment to rural service as part of its connectivity strategy. "We’re proud to be America’s largest fiber builder and recently announced plans to reach 50 million locations by the end of 2029," remarked an AT&T spokesperson. This effort to create new infrastructure aims to benefit customers with faster internet speeds, yet many critiqued the feasibility of implementing fiber solutions across difficult terrains without causing service disruption.
Challenging these assertions, the CWA pointed out the advantages of keeping copper lines. The union cites fiber technology as the "most fiscally prudent expenditure of public funds," highlighting its capacity for predictable performance alongside lower maintenance costs compared to coaxial cable or satellite options. This is echoed through various analyses indicating fiber networks offer the best long-term sustainability for users.
"While AT&T’s corporate executives and investors are insulated from the impact of these cuts on the communities they serve, frontline workers bear the brunt of customers’ frustration with poor service quality, long wait times, and other harms from understaffing and outsourcing of basic functions," Cummings Jr. remarked, aligning the stakeholders’ frustrations toward AT&T's recent strategies.
Despite pushback from the CWA, AT&T maintains its approach to rural services. The company proposes alternative means of access through wireless and satellite technologies, which they argue are practical solutions for customers spread over wide areas. Moving forward, AT&T representatives claim, "Through this transition, no customer will be left without voice or 911 service,” as they look to support all customers during this shift.
AT&T also stresses the financial side, asserting they are pivoting away from maintaining outdated copper systems—citing approximately $6 billion spent annually on their upkeep. This, they argue, would be far more effectively invested toward enhancing modern networks for more Americans.
Nevertheless, as the debate looms, the demand for regulatory oversight and commitment to equitable service remains at the forefront of these discussions. The CWA has urged the FCC not only to facilitate fiber deployment but to compel AT&T to keep its commitments toward rural connectivity intact and avoid compromising on quality and access for those most affected.
The challenges presented by transitioning to new technologies and the impending retirement of dated infrastructure offer both opportunities and challenges to AT&T. Meanwhile, the criticisms levelled by the CWA raise broader questions about how the telecommunications industry manages its responsibilities toward underserved communities and the legacy technologies they rely upon.
Going forward, as fiber becomes increasingly prevalent, the debate will likely continue over who gets served first and how those priority decisions will shape the future of connectivity across America.