What is a POTS Line?

POTS stands for Plain Old Telephone Service - the analog copper wire phone lines that have powered businesses, fire alarms, and elevators for over 100 years. They're being retired by AT&T and other carriers starting now.

What devices use POTS lines?

Many critical systems in commercial buildings rely on POTS lines that their owners don't even realize are there:

• •Fire alarm panels - Required by code to have a monitored phone connection to the fire department or central station
• •Elevator emergency phones - Required by ADA and building codes to connect passengers to a live operator
• •Security systems - Many alarm panels dial out over copper
• •Fax machines - Still common in healthcare, legal, and government
• •Gate entry systems - Intercoms that dial a tenant's phone number
• •Point-of-sale terminals - Older payment systems that use dial-up connections

Why are POTS lines being retired?

AT&T and other incumbent carriers have been seeking regulatory permission to retire copper infrastructure for years. The copper network is expensive to maintain, and carriers want to shift customers to fiber, VoIP, and cellular alternatives.

In 2022, the FCC gave carriers broad permission to retire copper in areas where they offer an alternative service. In March 2026, the FCC eliminated the requirement for carriers to file Section 214 applications before grandfathering POTS service - they now just have to post retirement notices on their websites.

What happens when copper is retired in your area?

When AT&T retires copper in a wire center (a geographic area served by a central office), they give existing customers advance notice and require them to migrate. If you don't migrate, your service is disconnected.

For a fire alarm panel, an elevator phone, or a security system, this means the device stops working - creating potential life-safety and code-compliance issues.

What are the replacement options?

• •Cellular POTS replacers (e.g., Ooma AirDial, Alarm.com CopperLink) - plug-in devices that connect to the cellular network and present a standard RJ-11 jack to existing equipment. No rewiring needed.
• •VoIP adapters - route calls over internet. Requires reliable internet and often needs battery backup to maintain uptime during power outages.
• •Fiber voice lines - AT&T and other fiber providers offer analog voice over fiber to some addresses.