California’s Public Utilities Commission rejected AT&T’s application to stop providing landlines and other services in areas where there is no other option. Its 4-0 vote Thursday came after a judge determined the application by AT&T California was “fatally flawed.” AT&T is the “carrier of last resort” for California, an official designation that means it covers most major cities, rural communities, and the land of more than 100 tribal governments. The company had argued that customers could switch to voice over internet service or to mobile phones. Numerous public comments supported keeping landlines, citing inconsistency with cell coverage and saying internet service wouldn’t be usable during a power outage.