Across the United States, traditional phone lines—known as POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service)—are quietly vanishing. Once the backbone of voice communication, these copper-wire systems are being rapidly decommissioned in favor of digital and wireless alternatives. But this shift isn’t just a story of technological evolution—it’s one with very real, and potentially dangerous, consequences for businesses, schools, and institutions that still rely on these legacy lines.
The Vanishing Lifeline
For decades, POTS lines have provided critical services such as:
- Elevator emergency phones
- Fire alarm and security systems
- Emergency call boxes in parking lots and campuses
- Fax lines for healthcare and legal use
- Building entry and intercom systems
- Security lines for schools and childcare centers
As carriers decommission copper infrastructure, many of these services are now at risk. The FCC no longer requires telecom providers to maintain or support POTS lines as of August 2022. That has fast-tracked the retirement of this legacy system—and businesses are feeling the impact.
The Cost is Climbing—Fast
Telecom carriers are increasing the cost of maintaining POTS lines dramatically—often charging 2–3 times what they did just a few years ago. A line that once cost $30–$40 per month may now exceed $100, and in many cases, service reliability has decreased even as prices have soared.
This puts critical systems at risk of failure—not just from outdated infrastructure, but from being priced out entirely.
Real-World Impact
- Elevators: Emergency elevator phones that don’t function due to dead POTS lines can lead to code violations or life-threatening situations.
- Healthcare: Clinics, pharmacies, and hospitals that rely on fax lines for prescriptions, referrals, and records can experience service disruptions that compromise patient care.
- Schools & Childcare Centers: These facilities often use POTS lines for fire alarms, paging systems, and emergency communications. A failed line can delay response in an emergency and may even lead to a loss of licensure.
- Security & Safety Systems: From fire panels and burglar alarms to parking garage call boxes, many systems still depend on analog lines that are now considered unreliable and unsupportable.
Modern POTS Replacement Alternatives
Thankfully, modern, code-compliant POTS replacement solutions are now available—offering far greater reliability, flexibility, and visibility than the analog lines they replace. Here are the most trusted alternatives:
- POTS-in-a-Box Devices (Turnkey Replacement)
These purpose-built units emulate the analog behavior of a POTS line using modern networks such as LTE or IP. They are especially designed for critical life-safety applications and include key features like:
- ? 24-hour battery backup to ensure continued operation during power outages
- ? Line health monitoring via a cloud dashboard or local display—alerts staff to outages or degraded performance
- ? Compliant with fire code (UL 864, NFPA 72) and suitable for elevators, alarms, and emergency systems
- ? Plug-and-play compatibility with existing legacy systems
- ? Redundant network support (LTE/fiber) to maximize uptime
These solutions are widely used in hospitals, schools, office buildings, and industrial facilities.
- VoIP (Voice over IP)
VoIP sends voice signals over broadband internet. It’s cost-effective and ideal for general phone communications, but not always appropriate for fire alarms, elevators, or fax unless paired with specialized adapters or gateways.
- ? Best for standard desk phones
- ?? May lack reliability or compliance for life-safety systems without add-ons
- Cellular/LTE-Based Alarm Communicators
Fire alarm and security vendors now offer LTE-based transmitters that connect directly to alarm panels—bypassing the need for POTS lines entirely.
- ? Wireless, resilient, and monitored
- ? Fire code compliant (if UL-listed)
- ? Ideal for remote sites and backup communications
- Digital Fax (eFax)
For regulated environments like healthcare and legal, secure digital faxing over internet (via HIPAA-compliant platforms) offers a modern alternative to faxing over POTS.
- ? Improves speed and security
- ? Easily integrates with EHR and document systems
The Bottom Line
POTS lines aren’t just aging—they’re being aggressively retired. Ignoring this shift puts your organization’s communications, safety, and compliance at serious risk. Modern replacements don’t just restore functionality—they improve it, offering visibility, reliability, and long-term savings.
Whether you manage a school, business, hospital, or childcare center, don’t wait until the line goes dead. Schedule a POTS Replacement Assessment with the veteran technology advisors at My Resource Partners. We’ll audit your current systems to assist you in crafting a strategy to prioritize your high-risk lines and ensure round-the-clock performance. Then we’ll quickly connect you with the leading POTS Replacement providers in the nation.
The best part – through My Resource Partners’ national wholesale network, you can expect to save 35% versus going direct.
