Copper wire phone service being phased out; applications require FCC approval
Iowa has a disproportionate number of telecommunication carriers for the size of the state, with the third-highest number of exchanges in the country. Today the telephone industry is in a nationwide transition with some providers beginning to discontinue traditional copper landline service and move to newer technologies such as wireless and voice over internet protocol services (VoIP).
What this means for customers
If your provider discontinues your copper-based landlines (sometimes called POTS, for “plain old telecommunications services”), you will need to select a new method of service.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which regulates telecommunications services, adopted an order on March 26, 2026, with rules aimed at speeding up the transition from traditional POTS to newer technologies. These changes include:
reducing the filing requirements associated with FCC rules for network change disclosures,
streamlining rules for discontinuance applications under 47 U.S.C. § 214, and
granting blanket § 214(a) authority for carriers to grandfather legacy voice services, meaning the provider will maintain service to existing customers, but cease to offer that service to new customers.
The order also explicitly preempts any state or local laws that would require telecommunication providers to maintain copper infrastructure after the FCC has approved the provider’s application to discontinue telephone services.
Explore options for change in service
Since the FCC issued that order, the IUC has seen an increasing trend of customers receiving notifications from their providers that these traditional telephone services are being discontinued. The IUC anticipates this trend will continue.
You can check whether your provider has announced plans to discontinue landline service in your area by reaching out to your provider or searching the notices listed on the FCC’s website.
If you, as a customer, have traditional telephone services and receive notification from your provider that those services are being discontinued, you will likely need to change the type of service you receive or find a new provider.
The IUC has no legal authority to prevent a telecommunications carrier from discontinuing its landline service after the FCC has approved a provider’s application.
Resources
To view a map of available service providers, review the FCC’s National Broadband Map and search your location.
Providers have begun filing applications with the FCC to discontinue service to copper-based landlines in Iowa communities. The applications require FCC approval and dates of decommissioning are estimates requested by the company at the time of filing.
Here are two recent applications affecting Iowa communities:
CenturyLink's applicationto discontinue "legacy voice service" in 20 Iowa cities effective October 8, 2026
AT&T application to discontinue service throughout Iowa and more than 30 other states beginning October 30, 2026
You can search the FCC's electronic comment filing system for future filings.