Peters, Colleagues Urge Support for Landline Services in Rural Areas

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) this week joined 15 of his colleagues in a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) raising concerns about a proposed rule that could harm rural consumers by undermining existing protections for landline service. Many Michiganders in rural areas – particularly elderly residents – utilize landline services for telephone and DSL broadband internet service, alarm systems, fax machines, and medical monitoring devices. The proposed FCC rule jeopardizes this service by eliminating advance notice of landline service changes and weakening rules designed to protect consumers’ access to communication services.

“Households and businesses in our states, and across the country, cannot afford the disruption of having service altered without adequate advance notice, the assurance that an equivalent replacement exists, and a clear understanding of how to obtain and use the replacement,” the Senators wrote. “We need a reliable service standard in place to ensure that services people depend on will continue to work, and that rural Americans will not be left behind during this technology upgrade, furthering the digital divide.”

According to a 2016 Center for Disease Control (CDC) study, a significant majority of seniors use landline services, with only 23.5% of seniors residing in wireless-only service households. In Michigan, 16.5% of residents rely mostly or entirely on landline services.

The letter was also signed by Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Edward Markey (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Al Franken (D-MN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).

The text of the letter is below and available here.

Dear Chairman Pai:

We encourage the Federal Communications Commission’s efforts to accelerate the deployment of advanced networks to all Americans. However, we have concerns that the Commission will vote on an item this week that could harm consumers. It is critical that as we work to enhance networks across the country, we protect existing service for consumers during and after technology transitions.

As currently drafted, the Accelerating Wireline Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure and Investment Report and Order lessens notifications to consumers about changes to their landline service (virtually eliminating advance notice of copper retirement to retail customers), eliminates the “de facto” retirement rule, and changes the definition of “service” to reduce access to critical communications for consumers in an attempt to lessen regulatory barriers on phone service providers. These changes cause serious concern for rural Americans including the elderly, low-income, and consumers living with disabilities who rely on landline phone service.

As you know, millions of people and businesses, not to mention critical U.S. government operations, across the nation rely on legacy landline phone service. Individuals in rural America, particularly those living where cell phone service is poor, utilize these landlines to conduct business, reach emergency responders, and stay in touch with loved ones. Households and businesses in our states, and across the country, cannot afford the disruption of having service altered without adequate advance notice, the assurance that an equivalent replacement exists, and a clear understanding of how to obtain and use the replacement.

Furthermore, this order would affect more than landline phone service. Alarm systems, fax machines, and medical monitoring devices frequently depend on access to landline service. DSL broadband service also relies on landline phone service. If phone lines are not maintained, all of these services could be put in jeopardy. We need a reliable service standard in place to ensure that services people depend on will continue to work, and that rural Americans will not be left behind during this technology upgrade, furthering the digital divide.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We hope to work with you to further advance the benefits of next generation technology to all Americans.