Introduction
This investigation was opened to set rules for when and how local phone companies are allowed to remove copper wire phone lines from their networks. Most people’s phone lines into the home are now are “loops” made of copper wire. But as phone companies increasingly replace the copper with optical fiber so that they can offer high-speed internet services, they sometimes want to remove the copper loops. Federal rules require these companies make their copper loops available (for a charge) to competing phone companies to use if a customer wants to change his or her phone company. In contrast, there are no rules requiring the phone companies to make their optical fiber available to any other companies, which reduces the choices available to the customer.
Advocacy
DRA’s interest in this case is to preserve customers’ ability to choose between competing phone companies. As long as you still have copper wires running to your home, you may pick a company other than the incumbent (such as AT&T and Verizon) to serve you. But if the copper loop is removed and you are served only by optical fiber, you can only get phone service from the incumbent. Customers are often not told that the copper wires are being removed. If a customer later decides that they like the old copper loop service better than the optical fiber service, the phone company has to come out and re-install all the copper wire. They may charge the customer for doing that.
DRA also believes that there are significant public safety concerns if the copper is removed. Existing copper wire loops are very reliable and most work even when the power is out or some other emergency occurs. Optical fiber requires conventional electrical power to operate. DRA believes that the safe and economical choice is to leave all copper wire installed and attached as a backup if problems occur with the optical fiber. DRA and other parties have provided their ideas and recommendations to the Commission; it is considering them. DRA represents you by advocating for the maximum customer choice and the safest reliable phone service.
Rulemakings
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Copper Loop Retirement Rulemaking Proceeding Docket Card.
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The Commission Rulemaking (R.08-01-005) was issued on January 10, 2008.
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DRA filed its Opening Comments on March 14, 2008 and its Reply Comments on May 28, 2008.
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California Association of Competitive Telecommunications Companies (CALTEL) originally requested this Rulemaking by filing a Petition for Rulemaking. CALTEL filed its Opening Comments on March 14, 2008 and Reply Comments on May 9, 2008.
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DRA filed Comments on California Association of Competitive Telecommunications Companies’ (CALTEL’s) Petition on October 16, 2007. Petition Phase Docket Card.