AT&T wants out of Illinois-wide mandate to run landline phones

[Paula Sims]

A longstanding rule requiring AT&T to provide landline service to many Illinois residents could be going away, but watchdogs say the proposal needs more safeguards to protect rural and low-income customers.

An Illinois Senate committee gave an early OK last Thursday to a bill that would free AT&T from a legal obligation to blanket the state with landline coverage — technology AT&T says nearly 90 percent of consumers have abandoned in favor of wireless or internet-based calling services.

If passed by the full Illinois General Assembly, the Federal Communications Commission would need to sign off before AT&T could discontinue the copper landline service.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/bluesky/originals/ct-illinois-telecom-bill-att-bsi-20170321-story.html

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I know this has been voted on before but more and more it looks like a reality. We don't get reliable cell service in my area and ATT doesn't realize that if we have to cut the landline cord, I'm dropping their DSL (have to go with Comcast) and then will drop DishNetwork for Comcast to get better combo rates. I don't want to do it but they're forcing my hand.

Anyone know how much of a reality this might be?