Death knell for landlines - RANT

[newbury]

We've had Verizon landline for 42 years at this location, suburbia 11.6 miles from the Whitehouse.
SWMBO and I always were glad that when the power went out the phone still worked.
In the last two years we have been getting occasional phone outages during times of high moisture, rain, heavy fogs, etc. Each time the tech came out he complained about old corroded lines.
This last time Verizon said they would HAVE to switch us over to Fiber, as they were not replacing copper.
So they switched us over. It requires residential power.
Except now when the power goes out THE PHONE GOES OUT.

Verizon provides a battery back up unit which TAKES 12 D Cells, (not provided) and will last about a day AFTER it is turned on. They don't have anything that plugs in, like a small UPS that will come on AUTOMATICALLY if the power goes out. And as usual where the phone enters the house and where all this must be is in a fairly inaccessible location, so it's going to be a pain to turn it on when the power goes out.

Now I might dedicate a small UPS to it at my expense, but we are just as likely to cancel Verizon TOTALLY.

Are other phone companies like this?

 

[EddieWalker]

Why do you have a landline?

 

[MossRoad]

Why do you have a landline?

Because we old! :laughing:

At least that's my reason.

 

[ovrszd]

Why do you have a landline?

At my location it's the only way I can get Internet on my Home Computer.

 

[sixdogs]

While we didn't have the same issue, we cancelled our land line yesterday. All that it was used for was telemarketers calling and violating my "do not call request". The company tried pretty hard to talk me out of it and I almost said if they would give me free caller ID I would keep it. As I was waiting, I looked at my $33 bill and learned it was nearly $20 in taxes. No thanks, I cancelled... and will await the electromagnetic pulse that will take out my cell phone.

 

[4570Man]

We canceled our landline years ago. What is the point of having one? We also canceled cable TV.

 

[JBourquin]

At my location it's the only way I can get Internet on my Home Computer.

Are you required to have a landline phone to have an Internet account? I thought we did. I paid almost $70 a month for a landline phone before my internet was installed. I now pay $29.99 a month for Internet and told them to stuff the landline phone, our cell phones work just fine.

 

[ovrszd]

Are you required to have a landline phone to have an Internet account? I thought we did. I paid almost $70 a month for a landline phone before my internet was installed. I now pay $29.99 a month for Internet and told them to stuff the landline phone, our cell phones work just fine.

As far as I know we are. So,,,, you are saying your landline company allowed you to cancel your landline and still provide you with Internet service for $30 p/month???

Cell phones have NOTHING to do with your landline. They function off towers.

 

[Stimw]

I switched to Verizon Wireless Home phone and could not be happier!
It costs me $20. a month, I have caller ID, unlimited local and long distance plus other features that I don't use so I don't know what they are.
The REALLY COOL THING?
I can take the wireless box with me and have my home phone anywhere there is Verizon service! Vacation, anywhere!
The box has a battery back up and plugs into AC, can plug into your home wiring.

 

[/pine]

Why do you have a landline?

No cell service here...