AT&T to ditch old copper phone lines for most: How will you be impacted?

[corbe]

AT&T to ditch old copper phone lines for most: How will you be impacted?

by Addy Bink - 12/10/24 12:49 PM ET

(NEXSTAR) — If you’re still using a landline phone, a change by AT&T may soon impact you.

During its recent Analyst & Investor Day, AT&T announced it is “actively working to exit its legacy copper network operations across the large majority of its wireline footprint by the end of 2029.” The company cited its ongoing fiber expansion, saying it “will greatly increase [AT&T’s] opportunity to serve customers how they want to be served.”

According to the Chamber of Commerce, nearly 69 million Americans still have a landline as of July 2024. That’s compared to roughly 183 million who rely on wireless phones.

A spokesperson for AT&T told Nexstar, however, that only 5% of its residential customers still use copper voice technology.

“Legacy copper services are no longer meeting our customers’ needs for speed, reliability and always-on connectivity,” the spokesperson said. “The Copper network is incredibly inefficient:  We are seeing declining reliability with storms and increased copper theft. Copper simply does not do well with water and flooding.”

<..snip..>

https://thehill.com/homenews/nexstar_media_wire/5032431-att-to-ditch-old-copper-phone-lines-for-most-how-will-you-be-impacted/?tbref=hp

[Bigun]

AT&T to ditch old copper phone lines for most: How will you be impacted?

Not in the least.

[Cyber Liberty]

Not in the least.

Same.  I voted no, haven't had a landline for 10 years now.

[roamer_1]

If Centurytel goes fiber it can only be a good thing. Where fiber exists here, it is only one carrier, Spectrum, with the only competition being carried on Centurytel's DSL - That's right, outside of town, the best you can do is DSL over those awful copper lines. Past that there is only Dial-up and past that, *nothing*.

Little wonder why so many rave for SpaceX up in here. 

[DB]

If Centurytel goes fiber it can only be a good thing. Where fiber exists here, it is only one carrier, Spectrum, with the only competition being carried on Centurytel's DSL - That's right, outside of town, the best you can do is DSL over those awful copper lines. Past that there is only Dial-up and past that, *nothing*.

Little wonder why so many rave for SpaceX up in here. 

Does Starlink offer VoIP telephone service?

[Free Vulcan]

I'm just hoping they'll pull and sell the copper wire.

[Cyber Liberty]

I'm just hoping they'll pull and sell the copper wire.

They'll probably let the Tweakers have it...

[roamer_1]

Does Starlink offer VoIP telephone service?

Not that I know of, though some/most smart phones can be rigged for cell over wifi... That's how the hillbillies are doing it.

[Smokin Joe]

Well, I know a place, just 50 miles from Washington D.C. where those copper lines are just about it. It's that or Starlink. Cell service is iffy, with the closest being 2+miles away across the river, and pretty much weather dependent. No cable TV out there, either. Internet is starlink or satellite.
I have little doubt that that is not the only market area like that in the country, but AT&T caters to population centers, and cares bugger all about rural markets, as evidenced by their cell tower distribution in this state and elsewhere.

We used to joke we could pretty much tell where drilling activity would peak here, because it was the non-covered area on the AT&T coverage maps. They were fine along the paved roads and in town, but that's just a very small part of North Dakota's oil producing areas.
 
Verizon stepped into that vacuum here, realizing that the same people and places where there were drilling rigs would have production hands and pumpers on those locations for decades to come. AT&T, in its arrogance, lost gobs of market share here.

[bigheadfred]

Does Starlink offer VoIP telephone service?

Yes, Starlink supports VoIP

[Cyber Liberty]

Well, I know a place, just 50 miles from Washington D.C. where those copper lines are just about it. It's that or Starlink. Cell service is iffy, with the closest being 2+miles away across the river, and pretty much weather dependent. No cable TV out there, either. Internet is starlink or satellite.
I have little doubt that that is not the only market area like that in the country, but AT&T caters to population centers, and cares bugger all about rural markets, as evidenced by their cell tower distribution in this state and elsewhere.

We used to joke we could pretty much tell where drilling activity would peak here, because it was the non-covered area on the AT&T coverage maps. They were fine along the paved roads and in town, but that's just a very small part of North Dakota's oil producing areas.
 
Verizon stepped into that vacuum here, realizing that the same people and places where there were drilling rigs would have production hands and pumpers on those locations for decades to come. AT&T, in its arrogance, lost gobs of market share here.

And that is why I am glad I had Verizon when we moved from Phoenix to here in a rural county.

[DB]

Yes, Starlink supports VoIP

So you can have a phone anywhere now. Starlink is likely more expensive than a land line, but if you also want Internet too then it covers all the bases.

[corbe]

   Starlink is very expensive to initially setup by far and no Gov rebate, like Tesla's.

[berdie]

Although I have a cell phone that I use for emergencies, the reception can be sketchy here. So, yes, I'll miss having a landline.

That being said, I got my bill today and it's gone up another $5. It's stupid expensive. I think they are trying to force landline customers to cancel service on their own.

[catfish1957]

After Rita, we had folks all over wanting to use our land line due to cell tower damage.

And I really don't want to rely on the internet for a 911 call.   Old fashioned, but just my thoughts.

[SZonian]

We had a monsoonal microburst in our area a number of years ago. No reliable power for days outside of the generator, and we were the only one on our street who had one.

Cell towers were down, so landline was the only way to get updates about power restoration and remain in contact with family, neighbors and friends. The missus has resisted giving it up for that reason.

It's a bit of a nuisance due to all of the spam calls, however, it's a good alternate to have around.

Like others have said though, it's getting stupidly expensive and the CA utilities commission has sent letters stating that regular phone service is going to be considered "non-essential" soon due to the proliferation of cell phones. Meaning AT&T will no longer be required to maintain the system if they choose not to.

[Fishrrman]

I gave up the copper phone line in late 2018, when I dropped (phone line based) DSL and went with Comcast cable (and VOIP).

A little over a year ago I moved from cable to fiber. Still using VOIP. Same number here since the late 70's.

The only cell phone I have is a "flip-phone" which costs me $30 for an entire year.
It's ALWAYS turned off and put away. Can be useful when a website sends me a "text message code" for authentication.

[mountaineer]

Although I have a cell phone that I use for emergencies, the reception can be sketchy here. So, yes, I'll miss having a landline.

Same situation here. The only way I can make a call with the cell phone is hanging over the edge of the back deck, which isn't particularly pleasant in cold weather. I guess they'll have to pry our landline phone from our cold (from being out on the deck) hands.

[Smokin Joe]

Although I have a cell phone that I use for emergencies, the reception can be sketchy here. So, yes, I'll miss having a landline.

That being said, I got my bill today and it's gone up another $5. It's stupid expensive. I think they are trying to force landline customers to cancel service on their own.

THey play similar games with phones. First, they forced out the analog phones (I liked my old bag phone).
Then they forced the 3G customers out. We figured out they degraded the signal after replacing Mrs. Joe's phone battery twice and it still died in 12 hours. The harder the phone has to work to find a tower, the more power it uses.
I expect they'll do the same to the 4G phones soon, as they have been pushing me to take a 'free' upgrade (that they refund you over the next 24 to 36 months of service). I'm not biting on that.
If I have to, I'll drop them, go to Straight Talk (same network) for half the money and pick up a cheapie 5G at Walmart. By then, there will be plenty of ratings to fuss over for the models there.