FCC Delays Verizon’s Plan to Retire Copper Landlines Amid Pushback from Lawmakers and Consumers

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has delayed Verizon’s proposal to discontinue legacy copper landline phone service across portions of nine states, removing the application from automatic approval processes.
The decision follows growing opposition from consumer advocacy groups and lawmakers—such as Rep. Ben Cline and the Association of BellTel Retirees—who raised concerns that vulnerable and rural populations rely on copper lines for emergency communication during power outages and in areas with poor cellular coverage. While Verizon argued that maintaining decades-old copper infrastructure costs billions annually and is vulnerable to weather damage and theft, the carrier assured regulators it will not force changes in communities where approved alternative solutions are unavailable.
The push mirrors a broader industry transition away from legacy networks, similar to AT&T's recent filings to retire portions of its copper grid, as U.S. consumer reliance on traditional landlines drops sharply.