Freedom. For life.

The landline switch-off in the US

Switching off. There is no national landline switch-off date. Phone companies are retiring copper lines area by area under FCC rules streamlined in March 2026, moving customers to fiber, fixed wireless or a wireless home phone service. Source

What changes

  • The FCC adopted rules on 26 March 2026 to move communities "off of old and slow copper lines", including blanket authority for carriers to grandfather (stop selling) legacy copper voice services. Source
  • AT&T plans to essentially retire its copper network by 2029, with no copper customers by 2027 in areas without planned fiber (news report of AT&T's December 2024 investor day). News report
  • AT&T Phone-Advanced lets customers "keep your current home phone" (not rotary/pulse phones). Source

Who and what is at risk

  • AT&T says Phone-Advanced is powered by electricity in your home; its battery backup won't power connected devices, so cordless phones may need a separate battery to place calls, including 911. Source

Help and protections

  • The FCC says its March 2026 rules keep safeguards to "ensure continuity of 911 services". Source
  • AT&T Phone-Advanced includes E911 location detection with a 24-hour automatic battery backup (for AT&T's own equipment). Source

A home phone that doesn't need the line

Or carry a plain mobile: other simple phones, each checked against your network.