Land lines work when cell phones don't during some natural disasters.

[BigmanPigman]

I have kept my land line phones for this reason. I have two that have cords and two cordless as well as a cell phone. During a power outage years ago my cell phone only neighbors kept coming to use my phone. The phone lines are underground so an earthquake would be a so so situation but for weather disasters more land lines work than cell phones over all. It is something to consider.
https://www.offthegridnews.com/how-to-2/landlines-the-dinosaur-phone-technology-that-could-save-you-in-a-crisis/

[meadowlark5]

1. We have a landline and will keep it indefinitely.

We live in a rural area where it's hilly and cell service is not that great in every spot. So we'll keep the landline if and until it gets better.

[phylny]

5. Same here.

We are fortunate to be able to afford cell and landline service. Many in my area cannot.

[rickford66]

2. Your landline doesn't depend upon electric service.

They use 1840's technology. Batteries.

[mia]

3. I've kept my landline, too, for the same reason.

Miami, FL

[spooky3]

4. unfortunately, as Verizon employees repeatedly told us, they have not maintained the lines for

years and would not guarantee that if we lost service, that they would or could repair it. This was a deliberate choice to drive out landlines, into FIOS or other services. During their strike a couple of years ago, it was absolutely impossible to get service, too.

So keeping the landline simply was not a choice for us and may not be for a lot of people.

[AllaN01Bear]

6. i had learned a valuable lesson from a incident like that .

i keep 2 hardline phones plugged in at all times and use a cordless phone in regular use . many years ago i voulnteered at a train museum. for 3 days we couldnt get hold of 2 of our voullenteers. they only relied on cordless phones and the power in their area. lesson learned.

[Igel]

7. Used to.

Gave it up. Too expensive.

But during the Northridge quake when the westside of LA went dark my cordful phone provided (1) a way to call out, when most of the country was trying to call in and (2) a light source, since the phone had a light so you could see the keypad in the dark. So I called out and had my brother spread the word that I was undamaged and used the keypad to find my shoes, clothes, and figure out where the broken glass was so I didn't step on big chunks of sharp glass with my sneakers.

Where I live now the main disaster is flooding from hurricanes, and I doubt the landline would be much use under water.

[Historic NY]

8. I kept mine too..

in fact FIOS upgraded the line....

[Kaleva]

9. I have cell and landline and will keep both.

[dsc]

10. they are also needed by those with pacemakers

my dad and his wife kept their landline for that reason. When he died in 2012 she got rid of the landline a few months later.

[Major Nikon]

11. The article is pretty ill informed

Much of the copper telecom infrastructure has been replaced by fiber which requires powered repeaters at certain intervals. Even much of the copper has gone digital and has the same issue. Even if you live in an area that has analog copper all the way to the central office, that CO still needs electricity to function, not to mention lines and poles can fail during natural disasters which also leaves you shit out of luck.

[GoCubsGo]

12. That's until they force you onto a digital VOIP service.

As my provider did. I had no choice. The only way you'll have phone service in a power outage is if you buy a battery. The power outage thing is why I hung onto the copper lines until the bitter end. Digital is better quality, I'll give you that. But, without power, it's useless.

[left-of-center2012]

13. some home medical alert systems require a landline n/t

[dalton99a]

14. If you have Wi-Fi and VoIP, make sure you have a battery backup