POTS stands for "plain old telephone service": an analog phone line on a copper pair from the local phone company. For a century it was the phone line. Today most businesses have moved their main numbers to VoIP or cell, but copper lines often survive in the background, running the fire alarm, the elevator phone, the fax machine, the gate or the card terminal.
Those lines are being retired. This guide explains what POTS is, why it's going away, what the FCC changed in 2026, and how to replace each line without leaving an alarm or an elevator phone dead. This is general information, not legal or fire-code advice.
What makes a POTS line different
- It carries its own power: The phone company sends a small current down the copper, so a basic corded phone keeps working in a power cut. Cordless phones need wall power and don't.
- It is analog: The line carries sound as an electrical signal, which is why modems, fax machines and alarm dialers that "talk" in tones were designed around it.
- It is tied to an address: The line ends at your building, which made 911 location automatic.
What still uses POTS lines
| Device | Why it used copper | What to ask before replacing |
|---|---|---|
| Fire alarm and security panels | Dial the monitoring center when triggered | Your alarm company and local fire authority: which communicators are approved? |
| Elevator emergency phones | Must work in a power cut | Your elevator contractor and inspector: what local code requires |
| Fax machines | Send tones the line carries cleanly | Whether to move to online fax or an adapter that supports fax |
| Card terminals and ATMs | Older models dial out to process | Whether to switch the terminal to internet or cellular |
| Gate and door entry systems | Call a resident or the office | Whether a cellular kit is available for your model |
| Emergency and courtesy phones | Simple, power-independent | Battery backup on the replacement |
| Main business lines | History | Port the number to VoIP or cell |
Why POTS lines are being retired
Copper networks are old and expensive to keep up, and few customers still use them. In his statement on the FCC's March 2026 order, Chairman Carr said one provider reports spending about $6 billion a year maintaining copper lines (Chairman Carr's statement, checked October 19, 2026). AT&T executives told investors in December 2024 that the company plans to essentially retire its copper network by 2029 (Telecompetitor, December 4, 2024, checked October 19, 2026).
What the FCC changed in March 2026
On March 26, 2026 the FCC adopted a Report and Order titled "Reducing Barriers to Network Improvements and Service Changes; Accelerating Network Modernization" (FCC 26-19, checked October 19, 2026). According to the order, it:
- Eliminates the filing requirements under the FCC's network change disclosure rules for incumbent carriers.
- Adopts one consolidated rule for applications to discontinue a service as part of a technology transition.
- Grants carriers blanket authority to "grandfather" legacy voice, lower-speed data and VoIP over copper, meaning they can stop selling it to new customers.
- Applies a 31-day automatic grant period to all discontinuance applications.
- Keeps or adds safeguards for public safety and 911 continuity.
- Finds that state and local requirements that conflict with these federal authorizations are subject to preemption.
For businesses, the practical effect is that copper service can be stopped faster than before. Treat any carrier letter about "grandfathering," "discontinuance" or "network changes" as a deadline to plan around.
Replacement options
- VoIP service: For main business lines: port the number to a VoIP or cloud phone provider. See what VoIP is and how to port a number.
- Analog adapter (ATA) on VoIP: Lets an old phone or fax plug into VoIP. Fine for simple phones; fax and alarm tones can be unreliable, so test.
- Cellular POTS replacement units: A box that presents an analog line to the device and sends it over a cell network, usually with battery backup. Common for alarms, elevators and gates.
- Carrier voice over fiber or fixed wireless: Your carrier's own replacement voice service. Ask how it is powered and how long the battery lasts.
- Native internet or cellular devices: Upgrade the device itself: an alarm communicator that reports over IP or cellular, a card terminal that runs on internet.
A step-by-step plan
- 1. Find every line: Pull your phone bills and list every number and line, including ones nobody remembers. Call each from a cell phone and see what answers.
- 2. Label what each line does: Phone, fax, alarm, elevator, gate, terminal or unknown. Unknown lines are often alarms.
- 3. Talk to the device owners: The alarm company, elevator contractor and payment processor know which replacements they support.
- 4. Plan power: Life-safety devices need to work in a power cut. Ask how many hours of battery the replacement provides.
- 5. Replace and test one line at a time: Run the replacement in parallel, test it (trigger a test alarm with the monitoring center, test the elevator phone), then cancel the copper line.
- 6. Update 911 addresses: Make sure each replacement voice service has the right registered address.
- 7. Keep records: Note what replaced each line, who to call and when it was tested, for your inspector and insurer.
Questions to ask your carrier
- Which of our lines are on copper, and are any already grandfathered?
- Have you filed, or do you plan to file, to discontinue service in our area? When?
- What replacement service do you offer at our address, and at what price?
- How is the replacement powered, and how long does its battery last in an outage?
- Will it work with our alarm panel, elevator phone and fax machine? Has anyone tested those models?
- Can we keep our numbers, and is there a fee to move them to the replacement or to another provider?
What to budget for
Replacement costs depend on the device and the vendor, so get quotes. The pieces to price for each line:
- The replacement service: a VoIP plan, a cellular line or the carrier's new voice service, monthly.
- Hardware: an adapter, a cellular unit or a new communicator for the device, one-time.
- Installation and testing by the device's contractor (alarm, elevator), one-time.
- Battery backup and its replacement every few years.
- Monitoring or service contract changes, if the device vendor charges for the new connection.
For main business lines, our VoIP cost guide lists published plan prices and a quote worksheet.
How Chargezen helps
Chargezen doesn't replace alarm, elevator or fax lines; use the replacements above for those. Where it fits is your main customer line: bring that number over and let Concierge answer it.
- One US number for calls and texts: Get a toll-free or local US number in Chargezen, search open numbers by area code on phone numbers, or bring the number you already have. Chargezen files the carrier registration texting needs. See a business phone number.
- Concierge answers every call and text: Day and night, with the opening line you write, answering from the information you give it. It recognizes returning callers by their number. See the AI receptionist and the phone channel.
- Teammates join from Finn or the browser: When a customer needs a person, Concierge alerts your team in the Finn app and the browser, and emails or texts the teammates you pick. Listen in with your microphone off, tap Join the call, and Concierge tells the caller you're there. From the Finn app on iPhone or Mac you can transfer the call to a teammate, with a note. See phone calls.
- One thread per customer: Calls, texts and the rest of the customer's history sit together in the team inbox, so whoever picks up next can see what was said.
To be plain about what Chargezen is not: it doesn't sell VoIP lines, desk phones or a PBX. It has no extensions, phone menu, ring groups, call forwarding, simultaneous ring or business-hours routing, and it offers US (+1) numbers only. If you need those, buy a phone system built for them. Chargezen answers the calls and texts on your business number, and your team works the same conversations from there.
Concierge Starter is $20 a month with 20,000 credits. Pro is $199 a month with 199,000 credits, or $1,990 a year. Phone and text charges are billed as used, with no per-user fees. See pricing.
Related terms: number porting, VoIP and letter of authorization. Related guides: the PSTN explained, business phone system cost and how to port a phone number.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still get a new POTS line?
In many areas, carriers have stopped selling new copper service ("grandfathered" it). Ask your carrier; expect to be offered a fiber, wireless or VoIP replacement.
Will my alarm work on VoIP?
Sometimes, but alarm tones don't always survive VoIP. Ask your monitoring company which communicators it supports, and test before cancelling the copper line.
What happens if I ignore a discontinuance notice?
The line can stop working on the date in the notice, taking any device on it down with it. Plan replacements as soon as you receive one.
Can I keep my number when the copper line goes?
Usually, yes. Port it to a new provider before the line is disconnected. Once the number is disconnected, it can be hard to get back.
