Copper Phone Lines Are Being Phased Out. Here’s Why + What to Do About It

If your business still relies on copper phone lines, there’s a good chance they’re already on borrowed time.

In fact, major carriers like AT&T, Verizon, CenturyLink/Lumen, Frontier, and others have already retired tens of millions of copper lines.

We’ve seen it again and again: a fire alarm fails inspection or an elevator help phone goes dead, only to find the copper line it depended on was quietly shut off or damaged with no notice. Businesses are scrambling to catch up after years of “we’ll deal with it later.” That time is up.

In this post, we’ll break down exactly why copper phone lines are being phased out, what that means for your essential systems, and how to replace them with a modern, compliant, and cost-effective solution like Atlantech’s all-in-one POTS replacement.

Why Are Copper Phone Lines Going Away?

Copper phone lines, also called POTS, or Plain Old Telephone Service, have been the backbone of business communications and safety systems for over a century. They power everything from fax machines to elevator phones to fire panel alarms.

But over the past few years, that backbone has become brittle.

In 2019, the FCC issued Order 19-72, eliminating the requirement for carriers to maintain copper line infrastructure. Since then, major telecom companies have been rapidly decommissioning their copper networks. And because copper maintenance is expensive and inefficient, many providers are shifting their attention (and budgets) toward broadband and fiber infrastructure instead.

“The biggest misconception businesses have is that copper lines are here to stay. They’re not. If you haven’t already been notified of a shutdown, it’s only a matter of time.”

— Ed Fineran, President, Atlantech Online

Some carriers now issue shutdown notices with little warning, leaving essential systems offline without a backup.

Get Your Custom POTS Replacement Quote Today

What Systems Are Still Using Copper Lines Today?

Many businesses don’t realize how many of their most critical systems still rely on analog infrastructure. Here are the biggest ones at risk:

Fire Panels

NFPA 72 requires functional voice or alarm connectivity. If your fire panel fails due to a dropped copper line, it could mean an automatic inspection failure—or worse, a shutdown order.

Elevator Emergency Phones

These phones must work during emergencies, including power outages. A non-functional elevator phone can create serious liability risks during tenant entrapments or inspections.

Security Systems and Entry Gates

Alarm triggers, access buzzers, and intercoms are often still wired to copper lines.

Fax Machines

In industries like healthcare or finance, fax is still required for HIPAA and compliance, even though it may be operating over a degraded phone line.

“We’ve seen properties where everything looked fine—until someone tested the elevator phone or fire panel and found out the copper line had quietly failed weeks ago.”

— Ed Fineran, President, Atlantech Online

What Happens If You Don’t Replace Your Copper Lines?

Failing to act on copper replacement can have serious consequences:

• Unexpected Outages: static, dropped calls, and silent failures become more frequent as copper lines age.
• Skyrocketing Costs: some POTS lines now cost 5-10x more than they did just a few years ago, with little-to-no service reliability in return.
• Failed Inspections and Regulatory Fines: NFPA 72, ADA, and local safety codes all require fully functional lines for life-safety systems. One failed inspection could lead to delayed occupancy or shutdown orders.
  
  

Copper Line Alternatives: What to Use Instead

There are three main alternatives to traditional copper:

1. VoIP (Voice over IP)

• Best for: Voice-only systems like desk phones or conference rooms
• Pros: Affordable, internet-based, easy to deploy
• Cons: Often not compliant with fire or elevator systems, dependent on stable internet

2. Cellular (LTE/5G)

• Best for: Life safety systems, elevators, alarms, and intercoms
• Pros: Secure, doesn’t rely on broadband, works during power outages with battery backup
• Cons: Requires on-site hardware installation

3. Cloud-Managed POTS Replacement

• Best for: Digitally mature businesses or those with reliable broadband
• Pros: Remote access, centralized monitoring
• Cons: May still require analog conversion hardware for certain systems
  
  

What Makes atlantech|POTS Different

Atlantech’s POTS replacement solution is purpose-built to replace copper lines for all your critical systems. It combines the reliability of LTE and broadband connectivity with the safety features required for modern compliance.

Key Features:

• Plug-and-play device with analog-to-digital conversion
• Redundant LTE + broadband failover
• Battery backup with up to 24 hours of power
• Remote monitoring and alerts
• Fully compliant with NFPA 72, ADA, and AHJ standards

“We built Atlantech |POTS to eliminate every common failure point. No rewiring, no complicated installs, just a box that works—reliably and compliantly.”

— Ed Fineran, President, Atlantech Online

Who Needs to Take Action Now

If your organization still relies on copper, you're at risk. Here's who should prioritize replacement:

• Property Managers: To ensure elevator phones, fire alarms, and building access systems pass inspection.
• Schools & Universities: To maintain operational emergency systems across large campuses.
• Government Agencies: Where compliance with federal mandates like ADA is non-negotiable.
• Healthcare Facilities: Where emergency response and life-safety systems must never go offline.
• Mid-Sized Businesses: Who risk both compliance penalties and operational downtime if they wait too long.
  
  

Don’t Wait Until You Fail an Inspection

There’s no “national shutoff date” for copper. That’s part of what makes it dangerous. Carriers are phasing out lines quietly, and by the time you notice, it may be too late.

The good news? You don’t have to wait for a failure to act.

Modern POTS replacement solutions are available, affordable, and fully compliant.

Get Your Custom POTS Replacement Quote Today