Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about AT&T copper retirement and what it means for your building.
What happens when AT&T retires copper in my area?
AT&T sends advance notice (typically 180 days) and requires customers to migrate to an alternative service. If you don't act, your POTS service is disconnected. For fire alarms, elevators, and other life-safety systems, this means the device loses its phone connection - which may violate local codes and insurance requirements.
What are my compliance obligations when POTS is retired?
Fire alarm panels must maintain a monitored connection to a central station or fire department - this is required by NFPA 72 and local codes. Elevator emergency phones must connect to a live operator per ASME A17.1. When POTS is retired, building owners must replace these connections with a compliant alternative before the retirement date.
How do I know if my wire center is scheduled for retirement?
AT&T publishes retirement notices on clec.att.com. We scrape these filings nightly and make them searchable by state. Browse your state on this site to see which wire centers are affected. You can also look up a specific phone number using our POTSAudit tool.
What is a wire center (CLLI code)?
A wire center is AT&T's basic geographic unit for copper service - it's the central office that physically serves your address. CLLI codes (Common Language Location Identifier) identify each wire center with an 8-character code: 4 characters for city, 2 for state, 2 for building. For example, DLLSTXAD = Dallas, TX, building AD.
What's the best POTS replacement for fire alarm panels?
Cellular POTS replacers like Ooma AirDial are the most drop-in compatible option - they plug into the existing RJ-11 jack and connect via cellular, so no rewiring is needed. They're UL-listed for fire alarm monitoring. VoIP alternatives require careful evaluation for fire alarm use since NFPA 72 has specific requirements.
How long do I have before my service is disconnected?
AT&T typically provides 180 days notice before disconnecting service. However, some wire centers have already had retirement dates set for 2025-2026. Check your state page to see specific retirement dates.
Does this affect all phone providers or just AT&T?
This tracker focuses on AT&T since they are the largest incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) and have been the most aggressive in filing copper retirement notices. Other carriers like Lumen (CenturyLink) and Frontier have similar programs in their service areas.
What if my address is not in a listed wire center?
A wire center not appearing in our list means AT&T has not filed a retirement notice for it yet - not that it's safe forever. We recommend checking back periodically as AT&T continues to expand their retirement program.
What did the FCC rule about copper retirement?
In 2024, the FCC granted AT&T significant relief from legacy copper network regulations, effectively clearing the path for AT&T to accelerate its copper retirement program. The ruling reduces regulatory obligations that previously required AT&T to maintain copper infrastructure, making the retirement timeline more aggressive. You can read the official FCC release at fcc.gov.
Do I need a UL-listed POTS replacement for my fire alarm panel?
Yes. NFPA 72 (National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code) requires that the phone path between a fire alarm panel and its monitoring station use listed equipment. Cellular POTS replacers must carry a UL listing specifically covering fire alarm use (typically UL 60950 or UL 2050). Non-listed devices — including standard VoIP adapters — do not satisfy this requirement and will fail inspection.
Can I use a VoIP line for fire alarm monitoring?
Only under very specific conditions. Standard VoIP (over broadband internet) is generally not acceptable for NFPA 72 fire alarm monitoring because it lacks the supervision, call priority, and reliability guarantees required by code. Cellular POTS replacers are the preferred solution because they operate independently of your internet connection and carry the necessary UL listing.
What happens if my elevator emergency phone stops working?
Under ASME A17.1 (Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators), a non-functional emergency phone is a code violation. Elevators with inoperable emergency phones can be ordered out of service by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). Building owners face liability exposure if someone is trapped in an elevator without a working phone. Replace the POTS line before the wire center retirement date.
How much does POTS replacement cost?
Cellular POTS replacers typically cost $25–50 per line per month depending on the vendor and number of lines. Some vendors include hardware in the monthly fee; others charge a one-time device cost of $200–400 per unit. There are no installation fees for drop-in replacers — they plug into the existing RJ-11 jack. Compare current pricing at POTSAudit.com/marketplace.
What is the difference between Ooma AirDial and a standard VoIP adapter?
Ooma AirDial is a purpose-built cellular POTS replacer, not a VoIP device. It connects over cellular rather than your internet connection, provides 24-hour battery backup, and carries a UL listing for life-safety applications including NFPA 72 fire alarms and ASME A17.1 elevator phones. A standard VoIP adapter (like an ATA from Grandstream or Cisco) routes calls over your internet connection, has no battery backup, and is not UL-listed for fire or elevator use.
Is cellular POTS replacement reliable enough for life-safety systems?
UL-listed cellular POTS replacers are designed specifically for life-safety reliability. They include supervisory monitoring (alerts if the cellular connection is lost), 24-hour battery backup (maintains operation during power outages), and multi-carrier SIM support (failover between carriers if one goes down). AT&T's copper network — which they are retiring — has its own outage rate; cellular networks are often more reliable for this use case today.
What is NFPA 72 and why does it matter for POTS replacement?
NFPA 72 is the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code published by the National Fire Protection Association. It governs the installation, testing, and maintenance of fire alarm systems in the US. Section 26 of NFPA 72 specifies requirements for the communications path between a fire alarm panel and the monitoring station — including that the path must use listed equipment. When AT&T retires your copper line, you must replace it with a solution that satisfies NFPA 72 Section 26 requirements. Cellular POTS replacers with the appropriate UL listing do so.
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