In 2003, 90% of American’s had an analog landline phone.  These phones communicated using a twisted pair of copper wire that required no external  power source to operate.  Today, only 26% of homes use this type of landline.  Most phone service now is digital over the internet, cable system or wireless cellular network.  The FCC  has basically declare that the old system is dead and will be phased out.

This decision was all but inevitable given the trends.  However, there is a big downside.  The phone system is highly reliant on the internet.  If the internet goes down, the phones won’t work.  And, all of it is reliant on the power grid.  I certainly remember times in the past when we’ve lost power but rarely did the phones stop working.  Now your phones will work as long as your back batteries last.

On the plus side, this will require reliable internet service be brought to every nook and cranny of the country.