CenturyLink moves to replace copper with fiber in MN, WA

CenturyLink is replacing its copper facilities with fiber equipment in Minnesota and Washington. The seven cities where the technology upgrade is taking place were included in the company’s 2014 announcement that it would extend its fiber footprint to residential and business customers.

In addition to Minnesota and Washington, CenturyLink filed copper retirement notices in Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Upgrading the network with fiber facilities will increase Internet speeds for residential and commercial customers. The company filed its plan to retire copper plant under the FCC’s updated copper retirement rules.

The FCC’s Copper Retirement Advance Notice rules went into effect at the end of March. The rules require companies to give customers advance notice before retiring copper lines: 90 days for residential customers and 180 days for wholesale providers. According to the Federal Register notice, the rules are designed “to provide interconnecting entities adequate time to prepare their networks for the planned copper retirements and to ensure that consumers are able to make informed choices.”

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CenturyLink's copper replacement plan could spur protests by consumers, CLECs (FierceTelecom, July 5, 2016)