How Your Life Safety Devices are Impacted by Landline Technology Phaseout

Have you ever played the telephone game? You know, it’s where you sit in a circle and one person starts by whispering something in their neighbor’s ear, and by the time the message gets around to the last person in the circle it doesn’t really resemble the original? That’s kind of what’s happening in the telecom industry with FCC Order 10-72a1. In my world, there’s been a lot of chatter about the “FCC mandate” and how it is impacting copper/analog/plain old telephone service (POTS) phone lines. It’s interesting what information people hold on to (and what they don’t) so let’s talk about what the FCC actually said. 

In August of 2019, the FCC issued an order removing the burden of complying with two regulations passed in 1996 and allowed certain telecom companies the opportunity to no longer service traditional phone lines. So while there was no actual, “you have to stop servicing POTS lines” decree, there is an impact to those using copper lines. One of the most immediate, since telecom companies are no longer maintaining the lines, is deteriorating service. The second would be significantly higher phone line costs. In fact, we’ve seen up to $1,200 on California customers’ phone bills. And then of course there’s always the (highly likely) possibility that one day your phone could just stop working altogether. So, while not a mandate, landline replacement is very much a timely issue warranting your attention, with special care given to your emergency phone lines.  

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What’s next for your emergency phones?

So what are the best options since now more than ever we need reliable communication? Voiceover Internet Protocol (VoIP) is the most common option we hear discussed. VoIP is great for general telephony in your building but when it comes to emergency communications it’s not usually code-compliant. Issues like caller identification, being able to call back into an elevator cab and battery backup cause most VoIP systems to fail emergency elevator phone inspection. Not to mention most IT teams aren’t in favor of others having access to their internal network.

Cellular as a solution 

We’ve all become so dependent on that little mobile device we carry in our pocket, and that same cellular technology is a perfect solution for emergency communication, especially in your elevator. Not only does it leverage the mobile network, but it is also a completely code-compliant solution for both the International Building Code (IBC) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). 

Kings III’s Skyline cellular solution 

Another advantage to cellular with Kings III over other options is access to FirstNet®; the only nationwide high-speed broadband communications platform built with and for first responders. It’s a communications fast lane with a dedicated network capacity and resilient hardened connection and the FirstNet network reaches locations where coverage is often spotty or difficult. 

Old habits are hard to break but while the old technology is no longer being supported, there are better options with even greater benefits and newer technologies are creating opportunities that will enable you to:

• Increase safety and reliability
• Mitigate risk and liability exposure
• Improve tenant experience
• Reduce costs

All cellular emergency phone solutions are not created equal. You need a solution specifically designed for emergency use, especially if you want a consistently dependable response. Our Skyline cellular solution completely eliminates dependency on POTS lines by leveraging the nationwide VoLTE mobile network, to provide a reliable code-compliant solution for your emergency phones. Connect with an expert at Kings III today to find out more on how to improve safety and reduce costs at your property utilizing our cellular solution here.