Letter to the Editor — FCC shouldn't end landlines

I recently found out that the FCC has approved the removal of copper wire landline phone service(https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-grants-relief-outdated-burdensome-phone-industry-regulations), allowing telecom companies to replace it with internet-based phone service. This decision will have an impact on vulnerable groups in Garrett County. If the federal government does not prioritize its interests, then the state government should step in.

The FCC Order states that maintaining landline infrastructure is expensive, and it’s preventing the transition to the next generation of communication technology. This decision affects about 780,000 seniors in Maryland (https://www.communityphone.org/landline/md#landline-usage-statistics) who still depend on landline service. My parents can hardly use their cellphones, and their internet connection is unreliable, which makes it difficult to imagine relying on it for their primary means of communication. Not to mention that they will lose internet service completely when there is a power outage.

The FCC’s decision prioritizes telecom companies’ profits over the needs of rural communities, senior and elderly folks, and areas with poor internet connectivity.

The Maryland state Legislature has a responsibility to advocate on behalf of those most likely to be left behind in this rush of “change.”

David Lindon,

Garrett County