FCC Adopts Rules to Retire Copper Lines and Speed Network Modernization

FCC Headlines

Published March 26th, 2026

Detected March 30th, 2026

Summary

The FCC has adopted rules to streamline the retirement of copper telephone lines, aiming to free up billions of dollars for the rollout of high-speed networks. These actions reduce regulatory burdens on providers, allowing them to invest more in modernizing infrastructure and ensuring continuity of public safety and 911 services.

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What changed

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted a Report and Order that overhauls rules governing the retirement of legacy copper telephone lines. This action aims to accelerate the transition to modern, high-speed internet protocol (IP) networks by reducing regulatory hurdles for telecommunications providers. Key changes include eliminating filing requirements for network change disclosures, streamlining technology transition discontinuance applications under section 214, and granting blanket authority for carriers to grandfather legacy voice and data services provisioned over copper. The order also addresses state and local requirements that may hinder modernization, asserting federal preemption where such requirements conflict with federal law and impede the discontinuation of legacy services.

Telecommunications providers can now more easily retire aging copper infrastructure, redirecting significant annual savings towards deploying advanced broadband services nationwide. While streamlining the process, the FCC has retained safeguards for public safety and 911 continuity. Companies affected by these changes should review the new rules to understand the updated application processes and the scope of federal preemption over conflicting state and local mandates. The FCC's action is part of its broader initiative to promote network modernization and expand high-speed broadband access to more Americans.

What to do next

Review FCC Report and Order regarding copper line retirement rules.
Assess impact of streamlined section 214 applications on network transition plans.
Evaluate state and local requirements for potential federal preemption under new FCC rules.

Source document (simplified)

FCC Takes Action to Speed Up Rollout of Modern, High-Speed Networks

Agency to Streamline Process to Retire Copper Lines, Freeing Up Billions for New Networks

WASHINGTON, March 26, 2026—Today, the Federal Communications Commission adopted rules that will get communities off of old and slow copper lines and onto new, high-speed networks. Today’s actions will allow providers to retire their decades-old and increasingly expensive copper line networks, freeing up tens of billions of dollars annually for the roll out of upgraded, high-speed networks to more Americans. This marks another step forward in the FCC’s Build America Agenda.

Today’s communications marketplace offers consumers and businesses a vast array of advanced communications services, far beyond the legacy voice service that first connected Americans in the 19th century. However, the expansion of these modern networks and their benefits to consumers has been hindered by the need for carriers to divert precious resources to the maintenance of deteriorating legacy networks that deliver outdated services to an ever-decreasing number of subscribers.

To spur network modernization and obtain the benefits from end-to-end Internet Protocol (IP) networks and truly ubiquitous availability of high-speed broadband nationwide, today’s actions reduce regulatory burdens, allowing providers to invest more resources toward modernizing their networks so all consumers can access advanced communications services.

More specifically, through today’s Report and Order, the FCC takes several actions to bring the regulatory environment in line with today’s communications marketplace, while retaining or adopting safeguards to protect public safety and ensure continuity of 911 services. This includes eliminating the filing requirements associated with FCC rules implementing the statutory network change disclosure mandate; overhauling and streamlining rules applicable to technology transitions discontinuance applications under section 214; and granting blanket section 214(a) authority for carriers to grandfather legacy voice services, lower-speed data telecommunications services, and interconnected Voice over IP (VoIP) service provisioned over copper wire. In accordance with the FCC’s “Delete, Delete, Delete” effort, today’s actions also eliminate other rule provisions rendered irrelevant.

Additionally, the record has shown that certain state and local requirements have prolonged the use of legacy networks and hindered the deployment of modern ones. Today’s Report & Order addresses state and local requirements that would hinder the modernization enabled by these rules. If state and local statutes and regulations force providers to devote resources to maintaining deteriorating legacy networks and provisioning near-obsolete services to fewer subscribers even after the FCC has approved the provider’s application to discontinue legacy services, those state requirements conflict with federal law and are subject to preemption.

Action by the Commission March 26, 2026 by Public Notice (FCC 26-19). Chairman Carr, Commissioners Gomez and Trusty approving and issuing separate statements.

WC Docket Nos. 25-209, 25-208

Media Contact: MediaRelations@fcc.gov / (202) 418-0500

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