While the FCC's accelerated copper retirement represents an historic opportunity to sunset obsolete technology and advance into the future, in the near-term it presents emergency-level challenges for business disruption, spiraling costs and compliance violations. Business communication lifelines could get stranded on a proverbial desert island with no support not if, but when they go down. And central stations could be shut down anywhere from 180 down to as little as 90 days’ notice.
This shift demands immediate action from businesses and government to ensure the continued operation of critical infrastructure. Facilities managers, building managers, and IT professionals, particularly in industries that still rely on copper connectivity including healthcare, retail, and government must lead this transformation, ensuring a more reliable and cost-effective future.
For years, plain old telephone service (POTS) lines have been the official, customer-facing voice channel of many businesses. Less recognized, they support myriad systems critical to the health, safe and operations of operations such as elevator communication, fire and burglar alarm lines, emergency/911 and FAX connectivity, point of sale systems and more.
But these outdated copper-based physical networks are becoming increasingly expensive and unreliable. Monthly bills can easily top $1,500 – and that's just the beginning. While the FCC first signaled this shift back in 2016, recent decisions and aggressive rate hikes by carriers like AT&T, Lumen and others show that this process is winding down and the time to secure and upgrade critical communications infrastructure is now.
The regulatory landscape is shifting
The FCC's decision to prioritize next-gen networks like fiber and 5G means the copper infrastructure we have known for more than a century is finally coming an end.
In March 2025, the FCC significantly relaxed four key regulations surrounding copper retirement, paving the way for a faster transition to next-generation networks. This includes waiving the requirement for providers to offer standalone voice service alternatives when retiring copper, allowing them to offer bundled options instead.
Costly notice requirements have also been waived, further expediting the process. Carriers are not only raising rates but also issuing 'grandfathering notices,' meaning existing copper lines cannot be added to, changed, or modified – a clear signal that complete disconnection is imminent. Once copper service is discontinued in an area, businesses will have as little as 90 days to transition systems, according to the FCC. Without a plan, they risk being left stranded.
Beyond voice: The hidden risks of being stranded
The impact of copper retirement extends far beyond basic phone lines. Many businesses, particularly in sectors like healthcare, retail, and the federal government, rely on copper for essential systems mentioned earlier. For example, a hospital relying on copper-based fax lines could face significant delays in transmitting patient records – which require secure/private communications to comply with HIPAA laws – potentially impacting patient care. Downtime of these mission-critical systems can leave a business vulnerable to security risks, non-compliance (hefty fines) and disruptions to facility accessibility and POS systems.
For example, a lack of fire system compliance could result in costly hourly fees ($200 - $1,000/hour) from fire marshals, leaving them not only stranded without resources, but losing blood as well.
Businesses may not be able to simply contact their carrier and have those systems converted due to the complexity of installation and incompatibility of alarm systems from a wide range of device manufacturers. Choosing the wrong approach can deliver a failed, yet expensive, rescue attempt leading to further costly delays, disruptions and compliance violations.
Copper retirement presents an opportunity for businesses to embrace practical digital modernization and upgrade to more reliable and cost-effective solutions. Navigating this transition requires expert guidance to ensure compatibility, compliance and minimal disruption, helping save enterprises from the desert isle.
Beyond mitigating risks, copper retirement offers a chance to modernize infrastructure and improve efficiency. To avoid being stranded, businesses should seize this opportunity to assess their copper dependencies and develop a migration plan that leverages advanced digital solutions that will not only keep their business flowing today but will future proof it for whatever lays ahead.
Sean Sullivan is the VP of Product Management & Regulatory Affairs at MetTel. With decades of telecom experience, he is responsible for the strategic direction of MetTel's product and service portfolio as well as advising clients on government policy changes.
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