Death knell for landlines - RANT

[newbury]

They were assisting the poor with land lines long before cell phones. 1984, to be exact. It's called the Lifeline program. Read about it here...

https://www.fcc.gov/general/lifeline-program-low-income-consumers

And debunk the myth here....

Free 'ObamaPhones' for Welfare Recipients : snopes.com

Everyone seems to forget that it started in 1984. Cell phones are cheaper to pay for than land lines. The only reason it seems extravagant is that when those of us 40 and over were growing up, telephones were expensive. Long distance was a luxury. If grandma called at the holidays you had to say "I love you grandma, Merry Christmas!" as fast as you could and hand the phone back to your parents because it cost so much. And when cell phones first arrived, they were extremely expensive. As has been discussed in this entire thread, cell phones are now much cheaper and way more economical than land lines.

So which one would you rather have the government doing; Land line assistance for the poor or cell phone assistance for the poor?

Let me guess... neither, right?

That's not fair, your going to confuse everyone with facts. Let them believe the rumor.

 

[MossRoad]

That's not fair, your going to confuse everyone with facts. Let them believe the rumor.

Google "Who was president in 1984?". Hey! That's Ronny!

 

[Ken]

They were assisting the poor with land lines long before cell phones. 1984, to be exact. It's called the Lifeline program. Read about it here...

https://www.fcc.gov/general/lifeline-program-low-income-consumers

And debunk the myth here....

Free 'ObamaPhones' for Welfare Recipients : snopes.com

Everyone seems to forget that it started in 1984. Cell phones are cheaper to pay for than land lines. The only reason it seems extravagant is that when those of us 40 and over were growing up, telephones were expensive. Long distance was a luxury. If grandma called at the holidays you had to say "I love you grandma, Merry Christmas!" as fast as you could and hand the phone back to your parents because it cost so much. And when cell phones first arrived, they were extremely expensive. As has been discussed in this entire thread, cell phones are now much cheaper and way more economical than land lines.

So which one would you rather have the government doing; Land line assistance for the poor or cell phone assistance for the poor?

Let me guess... neither, right?

Moss. Used to live in area where there was over 20 phones to the pair of wires . So that when calling neighbor and no answer some one would pick up there phone and explain they saw him driving toward town .
or maybe if who was being called but visiting another neighbor would answer.
think I was referring to the high cost of "Tax" on a phone service and there is no government service that doesn't require more each time there is a review of expenses. We are still paying for the luxury tax since WW 1 or maybe 11 all of my life any way's.
so when will the phone users finally finish paying for the war.


Used to drive cattle truck and the owner riding in right side seat would get a call and talk for 30 minutes or more buying or selling cattle. upon putting up the bag phone would comment there went 100 bucks.
loaned him my cell that I paid extra for coast to coast service and had to call ahead if traveling Wisconsin to Texas for reprogram. Next trip he had a cell phone and bag phone was forgotten.

No one has ever offered for my use a free phone with latest service and whistles and bells. included with the magic card for what ever they wanted to purchase refilled first of every month. and never look for a job.

But this morning went to town and had tax preparer fill out the 4th and final estimated tax for last year.
this may be the reason of my comment of free loaders needing funding "TAX" to continue there free phone service.
Government assistance is always the most expensive form of free help
A program where ever used and most feared by Farmers is" I am from the government and came to help you."
ken

 

[bcp]

A program where ever used and most feared by Farmers is" I am from the government and came to help you."
ken

Correct answer:

"Well, OK. Behind the barn there are about 3 cords of wood that needs to be split and stacked. The fence on the north 40 needs most of the posts replaced. The farm truck over there needs two flats fixed. Ma's garden needs to be weeded. The equipment shed needs a new roof and paint. A tree fell on the hen house and it needs rebuilt. When can you start?"

Bruce

 

[JerryK]

Personally, I am waiting for the low-cost government fiber cable being trenched to my house. Cell service here is not too bad, but the call quality is not that great sometimes. If I want clear communication, I use the landline. But if the other end is cell, you never know what you will hear. No Comcast within miles, not that I want it. Have great electricity out here in the boonies, they keep the trees wacked way back. All the phone lines are underground. And have sat TV. Would get sat internet, but too expensive and they limit you. But, if the government wants to trench in that fiber, I'm game..... They can call it Obamafiber, Clintonfiber, or whatever......

 

[newbury]

Google "Who was president in 1984?". Hey! That's Ronny!

SHHHH! Don't tell the others, they'll get mad.

Besides, he was the first to warn us about the killer trees.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

We have to have a land line because there is no cell service at my house. In December, weather took down the power lines for 24 hours, and the telephone went down shortly thereafter. It turns out they no longer supply power to their equipment, and battery backup only lasts 4 hours. The phone stayed out for 10 days, even though the power was back up. After multiple calls to Frontier to fix it, and missing important prescriptions because my doctor and pharmacy could not call me, I filed a complaint with the Public Utilities Commission. We had phone service back in 6 hours.

Now our DSL line has deteriorated and it drops the internet connection at random times, once this morning already. Just like the phone line, Frontier has no interest in fixing it.

 

[ultrarunner]

Seems the PUC is only interested in land lines when it comes to phones and then it is only for voice.

 

[kcflhrc]

Seems the PUC is only interested in land lines when it comes to phones and then it is only for voice.

That's because Broadband isn't regulated in any way. Phone service is.

 

[CalG]

Last night I ordered out the phone from "Republic".
My eldest son researched the service, and advised it would be a good option. We get very poor cell service at the house, so have always maintained a land line "to talk with family", or any business calls.

The Republic service makes use of VOIP from any available Wi-Fi. The internet service at the house comes in on a cable, so mechanically, the mobile phone should work like the present land line. (reliability wise) And if the cable is hit by a tree or the like, there is still the cell towers even if I might need to stand on the back deck in winter.

$10 a month for phone Cell service, unlimited data if it comes in on Wi-Fi. Data access is sold at $7 per GB. With rebate for unused on a bite for $ basis.

My wife has had her phone with Republic for several months. We wanted to try before throwning the baby out with the bath water. No different than Verizon except the price.

I'll give up the present cell service ($120/mo) and the land line ($30-40/mo)
I think I'll keep the land line #, We have had it for over 30 years now. I just got it memorized! ;-) I hope it all works out