Watch CBS News

Lawmaker Wants To Save The Landlines

LANSING (WWJ) - There's a push in Lansing to make sure those who still have a phone in their homes do not lose them.

Utility companies are losing money on their landlines because nearly half of their customers who were paying for the old telephone technology have dropped off.

WWJ's Lansing Bureau Chief Tim Skubick reports the state is now stepping in so the landlines can be preserved.

Republican Senator Mike Nofs said landlines are used beyond powering home telephones.

"Everyday it's still losing and losing, but you need that backbone in those switches to be able to complete those wireless call," Nofs said. "If we didn't have landlines, we wouldn't have wireless service."

The importance of landlines stretches beyond cell phones: in case of a power outage, your landline will still work; when you call 911 from a landline, operators receive your exact location automatically; plus, your landline phone number can be listed in your local phone book.

Nofs said he will rewrite the communications act to protect the utilities and to keep those existing landlines in use.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.