Letter to the Editor - In the shadows of progress: Montana seniors and the landline shutdown

Editor,

In Montana, telecom companies have been given the green light by the FCC (https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-grants-relief-outdated-burdensome-phone-industry-regulations) to discontinue their copper wire landline phone service and replace it with internet-based phone service.

The FCC argues that the expensive maintenance of landline infrastructure prevents the transition to the next generation of communication technology. However, this deregulation affects vulnerable groups in Montana, including the elderly, rural communities, and those with poor internet connectivity.

It’s concerning th...