AT&T wants out of Illinois-wide mandate to run landline phones

[Paula Sims]

A longstanding rule requiring AT&T to provide landline service to many Illinois residents could be going away, but watchdogs say the proposal needs more safeguards to protect rural and low-income customers.

An Illinois Senate committee gave an early OK last Thursday to a bill that would free AT&T from a legal obligation to blanket the state with landline coverage — technology AT&T says nearly 90 percent of consumers have abandoned in favor of wireless or internet-based calling services.

If passed by the full Illinois General Assembly, the Federal Communications Commission would need to sign off before AT&T could discontinue the copper landline service.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/bluesky/originals/ct-illinois-telecom-bill-att-bsi-20170321-story.html

**********************************

I know this has been voted on before but more and more it looks like a reality. We don't get reliable cell service in my area and ATT doesn't realize that if we have to cut the landline cord, I'm dropping their DSL (have to go with Comcast) and then will drop DishNetwork for Comcast to get better combo rates. I don't want to do it but they're forcing my hand.

Anyone know how much of a reality this might be?

[Afromania]

1. ugh

I don't know how much a reality their particular plan is but the telcos have been neglecting the copper wiring in an effort to get people to switch to the IP phone/cable combo services for a while now.

Here in NY when Fios first came around the copper run was ripped out upon installation. It ended up being the deciding factor in not changing services.

Anywho, I wouldn't put it past any of them to do something like this, and with the way things are going they'll probably let them do it.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. In my neck of NJ, Verizon neglected and took away my copper-wire landline.

I used to pay $25 a month for a dialtone. Then $37 with DSL.

Then forced into FIOS with two-year contract of $66. Contract just ended. Now new price for dialtone, "unlimited calls" (I don't use this), and online access is $78.

I'm beyond pissed as there is no other place to go for services. Optimum is $80-something a month.