Life with Chronic Conditions: Don’t Give Up Your Landline

This past week we had an emergency for a couple who are quite compromised. In an effort to save money they opted for one of the cable/Internet/Phone services. These combined services, offered by companies like Comcast, have what is called “voice over Internet protocol phone” or a VoIP line. Basically, the phone line transmit over the same cables and wires used for the Internet.

Landlines use copper wires that connect to switch boxes and transit calls between phones plugged directly into the wall. The benefit of these copper wired connections is that the phone company is supplying power through the copper wires, and that’s what keeps the lines up and running. Even when the power goes, there’s still a dial tone when you pick up the phone.

Unfortunately, when our neighbors lost power, they were unable to call for help as their phone line was operating on a VoIP line.

I’m sensitive to this topic since I live in an area that deals with major storms and power failure happens more than most of us would care to think about. Yes, many have generators and almost everyone has cell service of some type. However, time and again, we’ve seen where a landline made a difference.

Consider the following:

• When you opt for a three in one service from carriers like Comcast, recognize that even though you keep the same number, your telephone is now being powered by Internet and if your power goes, you loose your phone.

• Landlines should work even when you experience an outage. In the event of an emergency that requires a call to 911, the operator will quickly track a call from a landline, but a cellular device cannot necessarily be traced. This may seem absurd in the era of GPS technology, but, emergency call centers can only track a cellular call to the nearest cell site.

• The sound quality is much better with a landline than a cell phone. This is very important if you have any type of hearing deficit.

• Landlines can be cheaper than cell service

• Home security systems use your telephone line to connect to an emergency call center. Although there are more options for wireless security services, these present similar challenges that cell phones do during storms or in areas with bad signal.

• Many phone service providers offer landline service without a contract.