Cherokee County Officials Share Information on Verizon/Frontier Planned Phase-Out of Copper Landline Service

Cherokee County local government is alerting residents and businesses about the planned discontinuation of certain traditional copper landline telephone services by Verizon and Frontier Communications. The Federal Communications Commission approved the companies’ application in August, setting an effective discontinuance date of November 16, 2026—though officials emphasize that most customers will not see immediate changes and that copper service will continue where no approved modern alternative exists.

Frontier Communications of the Carolinas LLC (a Verizon company serving as the incumbent local exchange carrier in parts of North Carolina) and Verizon South Inc. filed an application with the FCC on July 7, 2026, under Section 214(a) of the Communications Act and FCC rules to discontinue residential and business legacy voice service provided over copper facilities. The FCC approved the application on August 21, 2026. This filing is part of a broader multi-state effort to shift away from aging copper infrastructure toward fiber and wireless options as consumer demand has moved elsewhere.

Nationally, nearly four out of five U.S. adults rely solely on wireless for voice service, and more than 83% of voice connections are wireless. In North Carolina, the FCC reports that only about 5% of households still use legacy voice services. Copper networks, many of which are decades old, are described as costly to maintain, vulnerable to damage and theft, and too slow for modern needs. Maintaining them diverts resources from building fiber and wireless networks.

The discontinuance applies only in locations within the companies’ North Carolina territory where customers can already obtain a replacement voice service over Verizon/Frontier fiber or Verizon’s wireless network. Alternatives include:

• Voice service over high-speed Verizon/Frontier fiber.

• Reliable Verizon wireless coverage sufficient for a standard mobile phone or Verizon’s fixed wireless home phone replacement device.

If neither is available at a specific location, copper voice service will not be discontinued there. Verizon has stated a “no customer left behind” approach: it will verify on a case-by-case basis that a reliable modern alternative exists before transitioning any customer off copper. Customers without an approved option can remain on copper until one becomes available.

In early July, Verizon sent an informational advance notice letter to copper-served customers in North Carolina as required by the FCC. That letter stated that no action was needed at the time and that there would be no change or interruption to service. The November 16 date is the point after which Verizon is authorized to discontinue service where alternatives exist; the company expects it will take additional time before it begins contacting individual North Carolina customers with migration details and instructions. Not every copper customer who received the initial letter will be migrated.

Verizon’s wireless home phone replacement is a fixed wireless device that allows customers to plug in existing corded or cordless analog telephones and route calls over Verizon’s mobile network. It supports standard features such as caller ID, call waiting, and three-way calling. The device includes battery backup using standard AA batteries or commercially available rechargeable batteries. Under normal conditions, a fully charged battery provides up to 24 hours of standby power and 3–4 hours of talk time, so a corded phone can still reach 911 during a commercial power outage. Cordless systems that require wall power will not function during an outage even with the backup.

Customers remain free to choose other options, including mobile service from Verizon or another provider, or competitive fiber, cable, or other services available in their area.

Cherokee County is sharing the information, which was provided through the North Carolina Department of Information Technology, so residents understand the process. Officials note there is nothing customers need to do right now until they hear directly from Verizon. Those with questions can review details at frontier.com/resources/copper-discontinuance or verizon.com/copper/.

The transition reflects long-term shifts in telecommunications technology and usage. For rural and mountain communities in Cherokee County, the key assurances are that copper service continues where fiber or adequate Verizon wireless coverage is not yet available, and that customers will receive individualized notice before any change to their specific line.