The FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau says the delayed parts of its rules on retiring copper phone lines and ending landline service take effect 14 days after the Federal Register publishes its notice. The public-inspection copy says it is scheduled to be published October 1, 2026; by this desk's count, that makes the effective date October 15.
What takes effect
The notice sets the start date for parts of an order adopted March 26 (WC Docket Nos. 25-208 and 25-209; FCC 26-19). The April 20 Federal Register summary held them back until the Office of Management and Budget approved their paperwork, which it did on September 21 and September 25.
What a landline customer gets
A carrier that wants to end retail voice service must apply to the FCC. The April 20 summary says carriers must notify customers of the application "no later than the date they file their applications," and give replacement options. For a technology transition, meaning legacy wireline voice replaced by internet-based, wireless or another newer technology, the notice must say how to object, including a docket number the Bureau sets up. The standard text says to file comments "no later than 15 days after the Commission releases public notice of the proposed discontinuance."
The application is granted automatically on the 31st day after that public notice, unless the FCC says otherwise. The 31 days now cover all carriers; the FCC says dominant carriers had 60 days. To be granted automatically, a technology-transition application must certify that a replacement service, such as facilities-based mobile service of at least 5 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload, is available throughout the affected area.
Alarm and medical-alert lines
The FCC said its approach "will not impede access to critical applications such as home security alarms and medical monitoring devices" given internet-based alternatives. It declined an alarm-industry committee's proposed condition on alarm-monitoring calls and added: "we encourage carriers to ensure their IP networks are appropriately configured so as to prevent alarm signaling failures." It said internet-based voice service works in a power outage "if internet service is operational and the end user maintains a backup power supply."
What it does not do
- Copper-retirement notice goes to carriers. Direct notice is due at least 90 days ahead (15 if no customer uses the copper) to connecting phone companies and 911 providers. The FCC says: "Neither Section 251(c)(5) nor our implementing rules impose end-user notice obligations. Rather, carriers provide such notices to end users as a matter of practice."
- No ban on retirements. The FCC says it has "no authority to prohibit copper retirements."
- No outreach rules. The FCC declined to adopt "any specific consumer outreach and education requirements" in this order.
- No comment period on the rules. Only paperwork-burden comments are invited. Fax lines are not mentioned in the documents read.
- The full order carries three separate commissioner statements.