The FCC has stopped Verizon’s plan to retire traditional copper landline service in Virginia and eight other states from being approved automatically. On 25-Sep-2026, one day before the application would have been granted by default, the Commission pulled it from the automatic-grant process and sent it for further review.
What the FCC did
Verizon had asked to discontinue legacy copper (TDM) telephone service in Arizona, Delaware, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah and Virginia. Broadband Breakfast reported that the affected network could reach about 12 million locations, although only about 277,000 actively subscribe to the service.
Under the streamlined process, the application would have been granted if the FCC did nothing by 26-Sep-2026. Instead, the Commission said the request is not automatically granted, and that this is not a final decision on the merits. No deadline for a ruling has been announced.
Why Virginia pushed back
Opposition from Virginia played a big part. Shore Daily News reported that Eastern Shore county officials and the Virginia Association of Counties raised concerns, and Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA) urged the FCC to look closely at the plan. Inside Towers reported that Cline pointed to cellular dead zones in his district and warned that satellite alternatives that look fine on paper often do not work at specific addresses.
The worry is practical. Copper landlines draw power from the phone company’s central office, so they keep working in a power outage. For rural households without reliable cell service, that line can be the only dependable way to reach 911. Verizon argues that fiber, cable and wireless are reliable alternatives. It has also said that if no Commission-approved replacement is available at a customer’s location, it will take no action and keep serving that customer over copper, Inside Towers reported.
What this means if you live in Virginia
Nothing changes yet for Verizon landline customers: copper service stays on while the FCC reviews the plan. If you depend on a copper line, especially in an area with weak cell coverage, keep any notices Verizon sends you. Before you agree to switch, check that the replacement actually works at your address, including during a power outage.
If you are shopping for home internet anyway, availability varies by address. Cable providers such as Xfinity and satellite options such as Starlink serve parts of the state, but coverage and performance differ from one location to the next.