Why Companies Depend on Plain Old Telephone Services (POTS)
Plain old telephone services (POTS) have been around in some form since 1876. By the mid-2010s, many businesses began reducing their dependency on analog copper lines, driven by the FCC’s deregulation of POTS and the rise of VoIP.
While most organizations migrated voice services to digital alternatives, many business- and safety-critical systems like elevators, alarms, fire panels, fax machines, and point-of-sale devices still relied on POTS.
Fast-forward to today, and the landscape has shifted dramatically.
Why POTS Lines Are Disappearing
The decision to sunset POTS lines is being accelerated by both regulatory actions and carrier strategies. Businesses need to understand what’s happening and why the time to act is now.
FCC Actions
The FCC has been steadily dismantling the regulatory framework supporting copper networks. Beginning with Technology Transitions (FCC Order 15-97) and continuing through multiple orders, carriers were allowed to retire copper infrastructure with minimal notice requirements.
Most recently, in March 2025, the FCC issued four orders further reducing regulatory barriers to copper retirement. These rulings mean:
- Providers no longer need to offer a stand-alone voice replacement service when discontinuing, copper-bundled alternatives are sufficient.
- Costly notice requirements have been waived, expediting retirement timelines.
- Businesses now have as little as 180 days to migrate once a discontinuance notice is issued.
The result: carriers are accelerating copper decommissioning nationwide.
AT&T and Lumen Announcements
Large carriers are no longer delaying copper retirement. Instead, they’re moving aggressively:
- AT&T issued a sweeping grandfathering notice effective October 15, 2025, covering all wire centers across 18 states. No new POTS or specialty line orders will be accepted as of this date. Rates for existing lines are already spiking – in some cases exceeding $2,700 per line per month.
- Lumen also issued its own grandfathering notice across 14 states, signaling that a full retirement notice is imminent.
Both carriers have made it clear: the copper era is ending. Grandfathering is only the first step. Once discontinuance notices are filed, businesses have only 180 days to transition or risk losing service.
The Cost of Waiting
For businesses that try to hold on to POTS lines, the reality is harsh:
- Exploding costs – Rates are rising dramatically, with some states already over $2,700 per line.
- Declining support – As carriers withdraw resources, repair times lengthen, and service quality declines.
- Regulatory and safety risks – Without functioning emergency lines (e.g., fire panels, elevators), businesses can lose their Certificate of Occupancy and even be forced to close until compliance is restored or pay for fire marshals on-site at $200+ per hour.
Preparing for the Transition
Copper retirement isn’t just about voice, it impacts critical infrastructure across industries. Businesses must act now to:
- Inventory all copper-based specialty lines (e.g., elevators, alarms, fire panels, fax, POS).
- Confirm compatibility of replacement solutions with regulatory and operational requirements.
- Plan migration well ahead of carrier deadlines, as demand for alternatives will surge.
MetTel’s POTS Transformation
MetTel offers the industry’s most proven alternative: POTS Transformation. Designed for large-scale, complex environments, MetTel’s POTS in a Box (PIAB) solution supports the full range of legacy telecom and safety/security equipment, while providing:
- 30%+ cost savings immediately and year-over-year
- Dual SIM failover with LTE/5G connectivity and multi-carrier access
- 24–48 hour battery backup and auto-restart for resilience
- 24/7 monitoring through the MetTel Portal
- Nationwide deployment expertise – with successful projects at Extra Space Storage and USPS (17,000+ sites), resulting in MetTel winning the USPS 2024 Supplier Excellence Award
MetTel has deployed more POTS replacements to enterprise and federal agencies than any other provider in the U.S., with the scale, expertise, and infrastructure to keep your business running without disruption.
Act Now to Avoid Service Disruptions
The FCC, AT&T, and Lumen announcements make one thing clear: the countdown clock on copper has entered its final phase. Waiting exposes your organization to soaring costs, service outages, and regulatory compliance risks.
MetTel can help you transition seamlessly with a turnkey solution. Contact us today to learn how to protect your business from copper retirement before it disrupts your operations.
