The Quickening Pace of Landline Retirement

Sooner rather than later, landline telephone service will completely transition to wireless and Internet-based calling (commonly referred to as Voice Over the Internet Protocol or "VoIP").  While the Federal Communications Commission, for over a decade, has precluded a “flash cut” service termination, I expect the timeline for copper wire service retirements to shorten. In 2023, the FCC removed a federal statutory obligation for landline, copper service where “Plain Old Telephone Service” alternative service exists. The big problem—particularly for the elderly and homes with fax machines, burglar alarms, and/or health monitoring—is the added risks and burdens that consumers must bear.  Landlines use power provided by the telephone company, while wireless and VoIP require home-provided power. Cellphones need daily recharging.  VoIP calling requires modems and special terminals that may run out of backup battery power after a few hours during a blackout.  

[Rob Frieden is Academy and Emeritus Professor at Penn State University​.]