Verizon says it won’t remove every traditional landline in nine US states and the DC area, as the company’s copper retirement proposal continues to face opposition from concerned consumers.
In September, the carrier submitted its proposal to the Federal Communications Commission to discontinue the legacy copper networks in the 10 jurisdictions. But in a new regulatory filing, Verizon indicates it’s limiting the scope of the retirement proposal.
“Verizon has sent a letter to all copper POTS [plain old telephone service] customers who do not have access to an adequate replacement option identified by the Application, and this letter confirms that they will stay connected to Verizon’s POTS network today just as they always have been,” the company wrote in the 3-page filing.
That said, Verizon declined to specify how many users would remain on the copper networks. Its original request to the FCC covered California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
A copy of the Verizon letter (Credit: Verizon/FCC)
For other users, Verizon’s filing says it “will engage in extensive communication prior” to removing the copper networks, and use an FCC-approved replacement service, such as fiber or a cellular network for the telephone service.
Still, Verizon says it won’t pull the plug on the copper landline if that commission-approved replacement service is unavailable at the location within one month of the transition. “Verizon will restore the customer’s service over copper facilities and maintain that service until an adequate replacement solution is identified and available,” the filing says.
So far, the FCC hasn’t started a process to potentially clear Verizon’s request. But a growing number of consumers have urged the FCC to block the proposal over worries they’ll be saddled with a spotty cellular replacement service. “Our cell service here is not reliable, and without the landline we cannot communicate with family or call 911 in a medical emergency,” one consumer in New York told the FCC last month.
In response, Verizon told the FCC it’ll use multiple tools to verify signal strength and network capacity for its replacement service. “The proposed discontinuance satisfies the Commission’s standards and will serve the public interest without leaving customers behind,” it added.
The news arrives nearly a month after Verizon made a similar commitment to affected users in nine other US states, including Arizona, Ohio, and Virginia. The FCC has hit pause on that proposal, and Verizon says it has reached out to concerned consumers, telling some they would remain on old-school landlines. In other cases, Verizon provided details on its alternative solutions, which could involve using fiber or cellular networks to deliver its phone service.
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On its latest FCC filing, Verizon also told PCMag: “As always, we are constructively engaged with the FCC as it considers our pending discontinuance applications, and we are confident the FCC will complete its review in a timely manner. The FCC has recognized the many consumer and economic benefits of moving from legacy copper networks to modern broadband networks. And we are committed to ensuring that no customers lose the ability to connect.”
Still, some affected users fear Verizon’s fiber and cellular replacement will fail during a disaster or power outage. “Now our phones will work only when we have electricity and a steady internet connection,” a couple based in West Virginia told the FCC. “Our cell phone can only be used with wireless, which needs electricity and internet connection. So, if there is a power outage for whatever reason or reasons, we cannot use our phones. That could be life-threatening.”
However, Verizon says that “equipment provided for fiber and fixed wireless services includes battery backup capabilities” to deal with outages.
About Our Expert
Michael Kan
Principal Reporter
Experience
I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.
Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.
I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. In 2024 and 2025, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I’m now following how the AI-driven memory shortage is impacting the entire consumer electronics market. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.
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