Have you ever wondered how elevators, fire alarms, and building security systems communicate with the outside world? Many of them use underground copper wires, like how water pipes bring water to your house. These special copper lines are called POTS lines, which stands for "Plain Old Telephone Service." They've been around for more than 100 years and connect all sorts of essential equipment!
But here's the big news: AT&T announced that starting in the middle of October 2025, they won't be doing adds, moves, or changes to copper lines in almost 20 states. If you're a building owner, run a business, or manage a property, this change is important for you to understand.
Why Does This Matter?
You might be thinking, "Who even uses old phone lines anymore? Everyone has cell phones!" That's a great question! While most people do use cell phones now, many buildings still depend on these copper lines for things you might not even think about.
Imagine you're stuck in an elevator. There's usually a special phone button you can press to call for help, right? That emergency phone often uses a copper line. Fire alarms in buildings also need to signal the fire department when something goes wrong. Security systems, door buzzers, and even some store credit card machines use these old copper lines, too.
What Needs Your Attention?
If you own or manage a building, it's time to play detective. You need to figure out everywhere these copper lines are hiding. Walk through your building and make a list. Check the elevator, look at the fire alarm system, and see if there are any fax machines still being used. Some buildings even have these lines connected to pool gates, parking garage systems, or security cameras.
Think of it like checking all the batteries in your smoke detectors. You want to know what you have before something stops working.
What Are Your Choices?
The good news is that there are newer, better ways to connect all these important systems. It's kind of like how we went from sending letters in the mail to sending emails – faster and more modern!
One option is fiber-optic cables. These use light instead of electricity to send information, and they're super-fast. Another choice is using cell phone technology, where devices connect through the same towers your phone uses.
The important thing is making sure whatever you pick works just as well as the old copper lines, especially for safety equipment.
The Safety Question
Here's something important: some equipment must work even when the power goes out. Imagine if there were a storm and the electricity shut off. The elevator emergency phone still needs to work so people can call for help. Fire alarms need to keep working as well.
Old copper phone lines can work without electricity. Some newer systems need backup batteries or special power supplies to keep running during blackouts. When choosing a replacement, ask: "Will this keep my building safe even when the lights go out?"
Don't Wait Until It's Too Late
The biggest mistake would be waiting until something breaks. Imagine if your elevator emergency phone stopped working and someone really needed help. That would be scary and dangerous!
Starting your planning now gives you time to do things right. You can research different options, get price quotes from multiple companies, and ensure everything is installed correctly. Rushing at the last minute usually means spending more money and making mistakes.
Taking the First Steps
If you're responsible for a building or business, here's what to do this week. First, make a list of everything that uses copper lines. Second, see what replacement options are available. Third, make a plan and replace those old lines!
Change can feel overwhelming, but this is actually a chance to upgrade to something better. Modern systems are often less expensive and can do more cool things than the old copper lines could ever do.
The phone lines that helped connect the world for over a century are retiring. Now it's time to bring your building into the future – one connection at a time!