Verizon says customers in the Athens area who use copper-based landlines will keep service past a date Frontier Communications flagged in an August letter. Frontier, which Verizon acquired earlier this year, wrote on Aug. 7 that it planned to end traditional copper home phone service locally and could do so on or after Oct. 23.
Verizon associate director Diana Alvear told the Athens County Independent that no one would be cut off that Friday. The company's August request to the Federal Communications Commission to discontinue legacy voice telephone service remains pending, according to a filing the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio shared with the newspaper.
In an October filing, Verizon told the FCC that subscribers lacking an adequate replacement would not be disconnected at this time. Alvear said customers with no viable alternative would retain copper service. If regulators approve the plan, Verizon would evaluate each customer's options, contact them and run a process lasting several months; a hotline would be available for some. Verizon added in an Oct. 20 statement that it intends no customer to be left behind.
Doug Brooks of Wallbrown Road said copper lines are the only way he and at least one neighbor can reach 911. He described unreliable cell coverage, satellite-only internet, deteriorating lines and static after a summer storm, and said he contacted the FCC and local officials.
Athens County Commissioner Chris Chmiel said he is worried about residents losing copper lines and hopes the FCC rejects the request, calling the issue rural-wide. Ohio is among states including Arizona, Utah and Virginia where Verizon seeks to end copper service. Alvear said fewer than 3% of Verizon customers nationally depend on landlines for calls.