Verizon May Spare 66-Year Copper Line as Oct. 23 Cutoff Threatens Virginia Homes
Updated
Updated · WDBJ · Sep 21
Verizon May Spare 66-Year Copper Line as Oct. 23 Cutoff Threatens Virginia Homes
1 articles · Updated · WDBJ · Sep 21
Summary
Hundreds of Virginia households received Verizon letters saying copper lines will be retired on Oct. 23, leaving some customers at risk of losing both landline and internet service.
Cathy Stanley of Roanoke County says her 66-year-old landline is also her only internet connection, with no cable, fiber or fixed wireless available at her home.
Verizon told WDBJ that customers without a suitable replacement will not be disconnected for now and that some may keep copper lines, but Stanley said she has received no firm promise or timeline.
A second Verizon letter outlining next steps is pending and could take months, while Congressman Ben Cline has urged the FCC to review the plan over rural cell-service gaps and outage risks.
As Verizon pulls the plug on aging copper lines, will rural residents be left completely in the dark during the next emergency?
Can regulatory agencies stop telecom giants from abandoning unprofitable rural networks before reliable technological alternatives are actually in place?