Finding a landline in someone's home or business can feel like finding a Blockbuster video nowadays, but the people who spoke with us said that they still have their purpose, and can even save lives.
AT&T recently announced that they would stop working on landlines in California. They declined our request for an interview, but said that change was because customers are shifting towards cell phones and other mobile devices.
There's been no announcement about a similar move in Wisconsin, but like some customers in California, Carl Drake says he doesn't use his landline very often.
Drake said, "The only way it really gets used is if the health system, which has that number, needs to notify me for some reason. And that's really the only reason, other than scam calls."
Bruce Thurs doesn't have a landline, but says that they shouldn't be done away with because sometimes, that's the only line people have.
Thurs said, "For some people I do, like the people out in the rural areas more, I think they have a harder time to using cell phones. Their reception isn't very good."
Vilas County is one of many rural counties in our area, and cell phone service there is known to be spotty. Sheriff Joseph Fath says that their dispatch center received nearly three times as many call from landlines than from cell phones last year.
Fath said, "In our area, it's probably important because if the power goes out, the landlines still work. They're not contingent on having electricity like a cordless phone."
If any changes were made to the state's landlines, Fath said there would be plenty of time to adjust. He said, "I think if they announce something like that, we know it's not going to happen tomorrow. It's probably going to take many years to transition away from hard wired lines."
All of them agreed, that even in 2024, it's not time to hang up on landlines just yett.
Story Source: WXOW or CLICK HERE
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