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The Decline of the Landline

Posted by timothy on from the daddy-what-were-buggywhips? dept.

Death Metal writes "The phone network is thus not just a technical infrastructure, but a socioeconomic one. The more Americans abandon it to go mobile-only or make phone calls over the Internet, the more fragile it becomes: its high fixed costs have to be spread over ever fewer subscribers. If the telephone network in New York State were a stand-alone business, it would already be in bankruptcy. In recent years it has lost 40% of its landlines and revenues have dropped by more than 30%."

1 of 435 comments (clear)

  1. Re:why would you ... by Cro+Magnon · · Score: 5, Informative

    Why do I keep my landline?

    DSL
    My security alarm needs it
    The sound quality is far better than any cell I've ever had
    During my 5 day power outage, my landline still worked

    --
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