# Copper Retirement Dataset: Data Dictionary

Publisher: Metro Colo Advisory (https://metrocoloadvisory.com/copper-retirement-data/)
Companion tracker: https://metrocoloadvisory.com/copper-retirement-tracker/
Data as of: October 24, 2026
License: CC BY 4.0. Free to use and cite with a link to https://metrocoloadvisory.com/copper-retirement-data/

Dates use the format YYYY-MM-DD. Where a source gives only a month, the date is YYYY-MM. Multiple values in one cell are separated by semicolons. States use two-letter postal codes, with DC for the District of Columbia.

## copper-retirement-carrier-filings.csv
One row per carrier filing, approval or action that affects when copper landline (POTS) service can be discontinued.

| Column | Meaning |
|---|---|
| filing_id | Short ID used across the files (for example ATT-18STATE) |
| carrier | Carrier or carrier group that filed |
| filing_type | Type of filing, usually a Section 214 discontinuance application |
| services | Services covered, as described in the source |
| states | States covered, as postal codes. Blank when the source does not list them |
| area | Wire centers or areas covered, as described in the source |
| filed_date | Date the carrier filed |
| fcc_public_notice | FCC public notice number and date, when one was found |
| fcc_docket | FCC WC docket number, when one was found |
| automatic_grant_date | Date the application would be granted automatically absent FCC action |
| decision | What happened: granted automatically, granted, removed from automatic grant, pending |
| decision_date | Date of that decision |
| earliest_discontinuance | Earliest date service can be discontinued under the filing or customer notices |
| status_2026_10_24 | Status as of October 24, 2026 |
| scale | Customers, lines, locations or wire centers, as reported |
| source_name | Source of the row |
| source_url | Source link. Multiple links separated by " ; " |
| notes | Caveats and detail |

## copper-retirement-state-carrier-status.csv
One row per state and carrier filing. A state appears once for each logged AT&T or Verizon filing that covers it.

| Column | Meaning |
|---|---|
| state_code | Two-letter postal code |
| state | State name |
| carrier | AT&T or Verizon |
| filing_id | Links to copper-retirement-carrier-filings.csv |
| status | Approved, Under FCC review, or Filed, pending |
| approval_date | Date of FCC approval, if approved |
| earliest_discontinuance | Earliest discontinuance date for that filing |
| notes | Overlapping filings and caveats |

## copper-retirement-state-summary.csv
One row per state plus DC (51 rows), built for maps.

| Column | Meaning |
|---|---|
| state_code | Two-letter postal code |
| state | State name |
| att_status | Approved, or None logged |
| verizon_status | Approved, Under FCC review, Filed, pending, or None logged |
| map_category | Combined category used on the map |
| earliest_approved_discontinuance | Earliest date from an approved filing in that state |

## copper-retirement-att-notices-per-year.csv
AT&T copper retirement notices per year, 2019 to 2025.

| Column | Meaning |
|---|---|
| year | Calendar year |
| att_copper_retirement_notices | Number of notices in the industry tally |
| source_name / source_url | Source |
| notes | This is an industry tally, not an FCC count |

## copper-retirement-tracker-log.csv
Every development logged on the tracker page.

| Column | Meaning |
|---|---|
| logged_date | Date Metro Colo Advisory added the entry |
| event_date | Date the event happened (or was reported) |
| event_date_precision | day, month, or reported (date of the report, not the event) |
| carrier_or_agency | Who acted |
| event | What happened |
| source_name / source_url | Source |

## Important limits
- Approvals cover specific wire centers, not every line in a state. A carrier's notice letter decides whether a site is affected.
- A blank or "None logged" state means no AT&T or Verizon approval or request is logged here, not that copper service there is safe. Lumen, Fidium and other carriers publish their own notices.
- AT&T's business-line application under FCC public notice DA 26-1075 covers 34 states and DC, but the sources reviewed do not list the states, so it is not mapped by state.
- Figures come from the linked primary and press sources. Counts of states are Metro Colo Advisory calculations.