Brightlio Blog

Recent changes to US regulations mean that carriers are gradually sunsetting copper lines. This has brought rise to a solution called POTS in a box.

The following is an overview of the upcoming changes, what you can expect to see if you are still using traditional POTS lines, and your options for a POTS line replacement.

If you have questions or are interested in exploring POTS line replacements further, contact Brightlio today.  We would love to assist.

A Brief History of Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS)

If you have been in the technology space for a couple of decades or more, you probably remember the dominance of Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS).

The public switched telephone network (PSTN) grew out of the first commercial telephone exchanges that appeared in the late 1870s and 1880s, after Alexander Graham Bell’s 1876 telephone patent. Over time it became a vast network of mostly copper pairs that carried the bulk of the world’s fixed-line telephone traffic. A copper cable, or “line,” connected a subscriber’s telephone to the local exchange. That line connected back into a carrier’s network, and the customer paid a monthly bill in exchange for access and for the carrier to maintain the line and related equipment.

Because copper local loops were expensive to deploy and maintain at scale, the company that owned this infrastructure typically held a monopoly in each local calling area. In U.S. regulatory terms, that company is the incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC). To open local markets to competition, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 required ILECs to give competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) access to key parts of their networks. This included unbundled copper loops and certain retail services offered for resale at regulated wholesale discounts, so CLECs could provide POTS or similar services over the ILEC’s physical plant.

Since then, access technology has shifted. Copper is no longer the only way to deliver phone or internet service. Modern networks increasingly use fiber, cable systems, and fixed wireless, often running voice as VoIP rather than as traditional analog POTS. At the same time, many households have “cut the cord” and rely entirely on mobile service, so the share of lines that still ride copper loops keeps shrinking.

Legacy obligations tied to analog copper loops became harder to justify as customers moved to mobile and IP networks, yet ILECs still carried significant cost for upkeep of aging copper plant in many areas. In August 2019, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted an order that granted ILECs relief from specific 1996-era duties to provide certain unbundled analog copper loops and related resale offerings to competitors. 

That relief took effect after a transition period that ended on August 2, 2022. The order did not create a single nationwide shutoff date for all POTS lines, but it reduced federal requirements that had previously kept copper-based POTS offerings available in their traditional form.

Are POTS Lines Going Away?

No.  POTS lines are not going away anytime soon. A full phase out may take decades. Many urban areas with access to faster and cheaper connectivity options have already seen their services transition from traditional POTS. More rural areas should expect a slower transition from copper loops.

There is some confusion that the FCC’s mandate eliminated POTS lines as of August 22nd, 2022.  This is not the case.  The FCC only allowed carriers to stop copper line service when they choose.

And ILECs can’t turn off service that quickly.  Millions of customers still use copper lines, and there are many communities where copper is the only connectivity medium. 

So, while this does not mean the immediate end of POTS lines, it does mean that carriers are phasing out copper services as quickly as they can where they can. 

For instance, AT&T announced they will decommission 50% of their POTS network by 2025.  Verizon, Lumen, and other providers are also sunsetting services in specific geographies.  They are moving customers to broadband services like AT&T fiber and Verizon FIOS as a POTS replacement.

What if I don’t want to move?

If you don’t want to move off existing POTS phone lines, be prepared for some sticker shock.  Prices for POTS services are getting way more expensive.  In some cases, prices are increasing by 100% or more.  We’ve seen prices of $1,500 per POTS line or more.

So what’s the problem?  I can move my POTS services over to fiber, right?

Not so fast.  Many technologies rely on copper for connectivity.  Upgrading these systems is expensive and complicated.  Door alarms, fire alarms, E-911 systems, fax machines, and elevators are all systems that depend on copper connectivity.  Many of these systems must comply with municipal codes and require certification, making replacing copper lines even more complex.

Also, copper services don’t need power, unlike fiber or other services requiring a powered router.  This makes copper an ideal transport medium for mission-critical services.

So how do we fill the gap left by copper?  This is where POTS in a box comes in.

What is POTS in a Box?

POTS in a box is an enterprise-grade LTE router with WAN and LAN ports.  The POTS in a box unit connects directly to your internet service provider.  It then has copper RJ-11 ports (the traditional four-pin connector for terminating telephone lines and wires) to connect to your devices that require copper.

Additionally, the unit has a slot for a SIM card which connects the unit via internet protocol and to the LTE network.  If the internet service provider goes down, the service is switched to the LTE network.  Many units support dual SIM cards for multi-carrier redundancy.

And, while I’ve heard it called “POTS over LTE,” that’s not entirely correct.  Most of the time, the traffic traverses a wired internet connection.  The LTE service is used as a backup.

What if the power goes out?  POTS in a box units have a backup battery to provide 24 hours of backup power.

POTS in a box addresses all the concerns of moving away from copper lines.  Legacy systems can still connect to the network via analog lines.  Backup is provided via LTE in the event of an internet circuit failure.

Battery backup powers the unit in the event of a power failure.

How do I buy POTS in a Box?

POTS in a box solutions are typically sold as a monthly service.  Rather than paying for the POTS lines, you purchase a broadband internet service with a POTS in a box appliance.  The service includes:

• A POTS in a box appliance
• Professional configuration and installation
• Remote monitoring and management

Ooma Networks POTS Replacement

A fantastic option for POTS line replacements is Ooma Networks AirDial. Ooma AirDial is an all-in-one POTS replacement the comes with a dedicated wireless internet connection, hardware, and software at a single monthly cost. Each unit supports up to four life safety system devices and comes with a battery backup that keeps the AirDial working for at least 8-hours after power failure.

Ooma AirDial also helps meets a host of compliance standards. These include PCI, HIPAA, FNP 72, UL 2054, UL 864, UL 62368-1, NFPA 72, and more. Finally, it is MFVN-compliant ensuring network traffic never traverses the insecure public internet. These features makes AirDial a great fit for fire safety, elevator safety, and other use cases.

AirDial allows you to migrate your POTS lines easily using your existing safety systems. The solution is easy to self install. Alternatively, Ooma offers an installation service.

If you are interested in the costs for Ooma AirDial, please get in touch with Brightlio.

Why Brightlio for POTS in a box?

Are you interested in learning more about POTS in a box solutions for your business?  Brightlio can help.

We partner with the best service and telecom providers in the POTS in a box space and can provide solutions for customers anywhere in North America.  We help you design and quote the solution free of charge.  As a telecommunications broker, our services are free to you.  We receive a commission from the service providers without impacting your pricing.

In addition to POTS replacement solutions, we offer a wealth of network connectivity, unified communications, colocation, cloud, and advisory services.  We welcome to opportunity to partner with you.

Get started with Brightlio today!

If you enjoyed this article, you might also enjoy our comparison between Ooma and Vonage.

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