FCC pauses Verizon plan to retire copper landlines

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has paused its review of Verizon’s proposal to retire copper-based landline services in nine U.S. states. The decision to withhold an automatic grant comes amid concerns from consumers and lawmakers regarding service reliability in remote and rural areas.

Verizon’s plan covers Arizona, Delaware, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, and Virginia. The carrier intends to replace traditional copper networks with fiber and wireless technologies. However, critics, including U.S. Representative Ben Cline, have warned that many areas remain cellular dead zones or lack fiber infrastructure, potentially leaving households without reliable wireline alternatives.

In response to these concerns, Verizon stated in a letter to the FCC that it will not discontinue service if a Commission-approved replacement is unavailable. The company noted it will confirm the availability of replacement services at specific addresses before transitioning customers off the copper network. Verizon plans to utilize tools to measure signal strength for its proposed wireless alternatives, which include a cellular-based fixed wireless service with battery backups for power outages.