Are Landlines Becoming Obsolete?
Traditional or plain old telephone service (POTS) is in steep decline. POTS is an analog telecommunication technology. It was introduced in 1876, and until the late 1980s, it was what everyone used to communicate.
The Decline in Landline Usage
However, that is all changing now. In 2004, more than 90 percent of U.S. adults lived in households with a functioning landline phone. In 2022, it was less than 30 percent. In most states, the number of landline-only households is less than 3%.
Some households have made the switch from POTS without even realizing it. This can happen when people bundle their phone service with cable TV and/or Internet service. If you do that, it means you are using VoIP phone service, even if it’s delivered via a hardwired cable modem.
Mobile phones make life easier. We can leave the house and still receive phone calls. Plus your cell phone is not just a phone, it is your camera, scanner, and much more. Apps like WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Messenger make communication more affordable, lessening the need for landline service even further.
Change in FCC Regulations
The late 19th-century copper wire network is ancient and deteriorating. Telecoms don’t want to spend money maintaining a network that fewer and fewer customers use. Not surprisingly, telecom companies have been lobbying the FCC over the years to eliminate the regulations that require them to provide landline service across the country, including rural areas.
No more Price Caps Or POTS Requirements
In 2019, the telecoms were successful. The FCC Order 19-72 states that telephone companies are no longer subject to price caps. It also eliminated the requirement that they offer copper wire phone service. Instead, the companies can now migrate to the next-generation networks and services like fiber optic cables and VoIP internet phone systems.
Backup Power Requirement
The biggest downside of the decline of the POTS system is that POTS works even if the power goes out. The Internet/VOIPs system does not. This is why the FCC, in various orders, requires providers to offer their customers backup power options at the point of sale. Specifically, to offer at least one option that provides a minimum of 24 hours of standby backup power.
No Requirement to Remove Old Phone Lines
However, it did NOT require the companies to remove the phone lines they had previously installed even though large providers typically lay fiber optic in the same places where they installed the old copper wire phone lines.
The Change Is Coming
Fiber Optic and Internet technology is a more profitable option for telecoms. Now that they are no longer required to offer copper wire phone services, the end of POTS is in sight. Gone are the days when landlines were as common as a cup of coffee in the morning. With the rise of mobile phones and the increased use of Voice Over IP (VoIP) systems, it’s no doubt that the world is shifting away from traditional phone lines.
We all know the benefits of having a mobile phone, of not having to be tied to your home to get a phone call. However, there is also the not-so-obvious aesthetic benefit of getting rid of all those old telephone wires criss crossing our sky.
Say Goodbye to Unused Telephone Wires
Do you still have old telephone wires that you no longer use, but are still attached to your house and cluttering your views? Did you know that getting rid of them can bring you significant benefits? Let’s take a look at some of them:
- No More Safety Hazards: Removing those old telephone wires makes it easier and safter to do home maintenance. You will eliminate the risk of maneuvering a ladder around those overhead wires. Better safe than sorry!
- Improve Your Home’s Aesthetic: Eliminating those unsightly wires make your yard, vies and home more beautiful and a more restful place to be.
- Increased Home Value: You will be surprised how much removing all that unnecessary wires will improve your home’s appearance. As you know a home’s attractiveness is a factor in its value.
Removing unneeded telephone wires is something every homeowner should consider. It protects you from potential safety risks while improving the overall aesthetics of your space.
Who is Responsible for Removing Telephone Lines?
You can call your local telecom company to remove your old unneeded phone lines. Very occasionally, they do remove them, but not often. As I mentioned above, they are not required to remove them.
You could remove them yourself.
Or you could hire someone to remove them for you. And it will come as no surprise, that I recommend that you contact Wire Free Sky to remove those unneeded wires. You can check out all our services and prices here.
We have the experience and equipment to get the job done right and quickly. We have many happy customers that attest to our work and how happy they are with the results.
Contact us today, and let us help you eliminate those unused wires.
Say goodbye to clutter and hello to a wire free home!