Republican bill threatens traditional PA phone service

[Number9Dream]

Snip> "Phone companies could be freed of PUC oversight in urban and suburban areas, and in rural areas with at least two alternative voice service providers. As a result, the phone companies could:
• Raise rates without PUC oversight.
• Replace land lines with wireless technology.
• Abandon land lines altogether after 2018 where the cost of maintaining them is high."

Snip> "I cannot find a single thing in this bill that benefits consumers," said PUC Commissioner James Cawley, who has taken an unusually vocal stand.

Snip> "Of particular concern to the AARP is the impact on seniors, who are far more likely than younger people to rely on the traditional land lines — of either the older copper or newer fiber optic variety — connected to their homes."

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-telephone-deregulation-bill-20131116,0,7163106.story?page=2

[HockeyMom]

1. When Sandy hit

none of our cell phones worked but my daughter's land line did. Useless land lines?

[Number9Dream]

3. Same thing in the Lehigh Valley

We were without electricity for four days, cell towers were down all over, but our land line worked the entire time. We'll never give up our land line voluntarily.

[Curmudgeoness]

6. Same thing when I lived in Houston

and went through a hurricane. I never lost phone service, but lost everything else....electricity, water, no cell phones worked.

I swore I would never be without a landline. Right now, my extreme basic service is affordable, but who knows what they would do if they could.

[SamKnause]

2. Phone

If they ever do that in my area, I would lose my internet connection.

My only option would be internet via satellite.

I have no cable in my area and only one service provider for landline phones.

Radio reception in non existent in my home.

I need an outside tower antenna.

Cell phone service is rather spotty as well.

It is a small price to pay for my tranquil rural lifestyle.

[mrmpa]

4. My 83 year old Pennsylvania mother.................

lives with me in Western PA. She has a cell phone and is quite the texting grandmother. However she has a defibrillator and if she has the need for emergency care in the middle of the night I don't want her scrambling for her (small) cell phone, I want her to grab that landline, which immediately tells 911 where she is & they can send help immediately.

[PADemD]

5. When I signed up for DirecTV, a land line was a requirement. n/t

[Curmudgeoness]

7. PUC Commissioner Cawley ought to be vocal!

I see that as his job....to sound the alarms.