Verizon to Cut Off Old Copper Phone Lines in 9 States

Verizon has asked the FCC for permission to end traditional landline service in parts of Arizona, Delaware, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah and Virginia, covering about 277,000 lines. The request is approved automatically on September 26 unless the FCC intervenes, with service cuts starting on or after October 23; a second filing covers nine more states plus Washington, D.C., affecting 750,000 more lines.

• Request covers 277,000 home and business lines across 9 states
• FCC auto-approval on September 26, cuts from October 23
• Second filing adds 9 states plus D.C., 750,000 more lines
• US landline subscriptions fell 81% between 2014 and 2024