ACCOMACK CO., Va. - The Federal Communications Commission is taking more time to review Verizon's request to discontinue legacy landline service in portions of Delaware and Virginia.
In a public notice released Sept. 25, the FCC said Verizon's application to discontinue residential and business legacy copper wire voice service would not be automatically granted as previously scheduled.
Verizon’s application was originally filed Aug. 10 and was set to be automatically granted Sept. 26. However, the FCC said it "requires additional time to complete its review."
The FCC emphasized that removing Verizon's application from the automatic grant process is not a final decision on whether the company should be allowed to discontinue the service.
The development comes after WBOC previously reported on concerns in Accomack County over Verizon's planned transition away from its legacy copper network.
Some customers received notices earlier this year informing them that Verizon was seeking FCC approval to discontinue its legacy voice service. The proposal raised concerns among local officials and residents about whether alternative services would be reliable in rural areas where cellular coverage can be limited, particularly during emergencies and power outages.
At the time, Verizon stressed that receiving a notice did not mean a customer's service would immediately be disconnected.
"Our customers' home phone service is not going away," Verizon said in an earlier statement to WBOC. "If a suitable replacement is not yet available, we will not discontinue a customer's copper voice service."
Verizon said customers affected by the transition could be moved to fiber or another service designed to provide a traditional landline experience, including use of existing handsets, battery backup during power outages, and E911 support.
Virginia Delegate Robert Bloxom Jr., who also owns a small business, pointed to areas where cellular service remains unreliable.
"We have certain places, Wachapreague, where the cell service just is nonexistent," Bloxom said. "I think it's the correct decision. I think Verizon will be moving in the direction to get everybody cell service also. I mean, I think it's, when that time comes then I think it might be time to retire copper.”
Jeremy Ellis, who lives in Temperanceville, says the age of the existing copper network is part of the challenge.
"On one hand, it is a viable idea," Ellis said. "You know, you've got existing lines that are in the ground and would take your time, take a lot of time to be replaced at the same time those those lines are aging."
Ellis also says landlines remain an important backup.
"The landlines are a good backup...for cell services. So replacing those lines would be helpful," Ellis said.
Susan Bardsley, who lives in Hallwood, says she supports giving Verizon more time to work through a potential transition.
"It would be better idea to take their time and figure it out," Bardsley said.
Following the FCC's latest action, Verizon told WBOC it remains confident the regulatory review will move forward.
"As always, we are constructively engaged with the FCC as it considers our pending discontinuance applications, and we are confident the FCC will complete its review in a timely manner," Verizon said. "The FCC has recognized the many consumer and economic benefits of moving from legacy copper networks to modern broadband networks. And we are committed to ensuring that no customers lose the ability to connect."
The FCC's latest notice does not explain why additional time is needed to review Verizon's application or provide a new date for a decision.
The application covers portions of Virginia as well as Arizona, Delaware, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Utah. The FCC did not mention a proposed transition in Maryland in its Sept. 25 letter or whether that portion of the project is also paused while the FCC reviews.
