Update: About 911 and "disconnected" landlines

As some of you have pointed out in our recent post, Using your cell phone as your home phone comes with a risk, some states do require local carriers to maintain a "soft" or "warm" dial tone, which allows you to call 911 on a line that has been disconnected or is otherwise inactive.

An up-to-date-list of affected states is elusive; we struck out in obtaining one from the FCC and some industry groups. However, the following are likely states for some form of soft-tone requirement; we assembled the list from data in an FCC report published in 2000 (Adobe Acrobat software required) and a North American Numbering Council (NANCE) report published in 2002 (link requires Microsoft Word or compatible word processing software).

Here they are:

• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Iowa
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Montana
• New York
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• South Dakota
• Utah
• Vermont
• Washington
• Wyoming

However, we can't confirm that coverage is in effect in all those states today. Also, some soft-tone coverage is limited, in time or other respects. For example, according to the NANCE report, emergency service in Oklahoma is mandated for only 30 days following the suspension of service. In Ohio, the period is only 14 days.

Conversely, some carriers may provide service that isn't mandated by law, according to Rick Jones, Operations Issues Director for the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), an advocacy organization for the 911 emergency telephone number system. Mr. Jones says many larger carriers provide soft-dial-tone 911 coverage even in states that don't require it.

Mr. Jones advises prospective cord cutters to check with their carrier about what 911 coverage, if any, might be available with their landline before canceling service. What if you move into a new house or apartment where you're weighing not getting a landline? Use the fact that a soft-tone line should also reach the phone company to test it out. Plug in a phone and call the carrier's business number, typically 611. (Such a test might also be wise after you discontinue service, as a check that you in fact received accurate information about soft-tone service.)

The NENA web site has additional helpful info and safety tips regarding 911— including 911 on cell phones. For more information about 911 and Voice-over-IP (VoIP) services, see: http://www.911voip.org. —Mike Gikas

Comments

[Kathryn in PA]

Just to help update your list, Pennsylvania does not require that a soft dial tone be maintained.

[Elaine]

Another reason to keep a landline telephone is in the event of an emergency. During ice storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, or other natural or man-made disasters, power can be out for an extended period of time. Cell phone towers cannot transmit or receive data when they have no power. Last winter, some parts of Kentucky were without power for nearly two weeks. Traditional land-line phones will work as long as the telephone lines aren't down.

[Derrick G]

In some states now, even if there is dialtone, the incumbent company's business office is still blocked. However, a recorded announcement should say if 911 can still be reached. Also, to expound on what Eric said, in addition to stealing these "Will Serve" or "Quickserve" pairs to fix existing service or provision new service, if the pair goes bad, the local company is not going to fix it.

Another thing: in some areas dial tone is put on "naked" DSL lines in order to enable identifying the pair, but 911 is not available on those lines.

Lastly, where I work the service rep determines whether dialtone will be left on or not. If the customer says they're just disconnecting service, dialtone will be taken out. Only if they say they're moving, and therefore there's a good chance of another customer moving in soon, will the order be coded to assign a new number with restricted dial tone. Also, even if the customer says they're moving, if the line has DSL, dial tone will most likely be removed to reclaim the DSLAM port or channel unit.

[Jim from NoVA]

I recently upgraded to Verizon FIOS in Northern Virginia. They say our street is all-fiber; I don't think I have copper anymore between my house and the local switch so the circa 2000 info in the article may not apply to your situation. Some comments presume copper pairs of wires that have been there for all time are still in place. It's something to ask about when you are switching to fiber or buying a home that has been converted from copper.

[moneill]

Actually, with regard to home security, you should probably have a cellular backup on your monitoring system. Some burglars have been cutting the phone lines and then breaking and entering.

[SDreamer]

I think another good reason to keep a landline is for home security. I believe the home security systems require a landlind to dial through to their centers to report when your house alarm has gone off. My parents have used one forever, and if it wasn't for that as well, we wouldn't have a landline anymore as that's all it's really used for.

[Eric]

While "soft" dialtone is great for 911, the phone company has no obligation to keep the line active to your home after you discontinue service. Often the copper pair will need to be reclaimed in order to provider service to another neighbor. Unless you are checking, often, there is no guarantee that the dialtone has not stopped and therefore no 911 service.