Madison County officials are alerting residents that Verizon has given notice it plans to discontinue traditional copper-based landline phone service, with the company expecting Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval on or after October 23, 2026, according to an August 14, 2026 press release from the Madison County Board of Supervisors and County Administration.
The press release states that Verizon intends to transition customers from copper-based landlines to either fiber-based phone service or mobile wireless phone devices. County officials outline several concerns about this change for Madison County residents.
According to the release, many parts of the county experience very weak or no cell service signal. In addition, fiber-to-the-home connections do not currently exist in all areas of Verizon’s existing copper-based landline service area, which the county notes could leave some citizens without options before copper-based service is discontinued.
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The county also raises public safety concerns. The press release notes that current copper-based landline service continues to function during power outages, while alternative devices rely on battery backup that typically lasts 24 hours or less. It further states that legacy medical alert units and alarm systems may not work over wireless units.
The FCC will allow residents and local governments to submit comments on the proposed phase-out of copper-based landline service, according to the document. Comments must be filed within 15 days of the FCC issuing public notice, which the county notes has not yet occurred. Residents are advised in the release to watch the county website for additional details, including the Verizon Discontinuance Docket Number when it is assigned.
The press release explains that citizens will be able to submit comments through the FCC’s Electronic Filing System at www.fcc.gov/ecfs, referencing the appropriate docket number and describing their specific situation, such as lack of cell phone coverage or signal, frequency of power outages, and any medical device or alert concerns.
For residents who rely solely on copper-based landline phone service because of a lack of cell coverage at their location, the county asks that they contact the County Administration Office at 540-948-6700 or email Kim Turner at kturner@madisonco.virginia.gov so the county can document coverage gaps as part of an official filing with the FCC, according to the press release.
This brief was generated from a public document. Source: https://www.madisonco.virginia.gov/DocumentCenter/View/52827
