Madison County residents relying on a landline telephone are being encouraged to contact the county administrator’s office after Verizon applies to end its copper-based service.
Earlier this month, county residents began receiving letters from Verizon notifying them the communications provider is planning to cease operation of its plain old telephone service (POTS) served via copper wire. The company has filed an application with the FCC to discontinue the service.
In its application, Verizon officials state POTS is available in nine states and could serve more than 12 million locations, but only approximately 277,000 residential and business legacy voice lines remain in operation, less than 2.25%. According to the application, copper infrastructure is too slow to meet modern needs, is costly to maintain and vulnerable to damage and theft. Verizon officials state they seek to discontinue the service in areas where customers can obtain Voice Over Internet Protocol or wireless service. However, some of those who have received letters communicating the discontinuance have neither.
“Folks who are in Etlan, that’s going to be zero cell service as well as in other parts of the county,” Madison County Administrator Jonathon Weakley said.
Supervisor Carty Yowell, who lives in the Etlan area, said he was recently stopped by multiple neighbors asking about the issue during a walk with his dog. He said Verizon estimates that 70% of the county could be served by other means of communication.
Weakley said it isn’t just about making regular phone calls and staying connected. Many residents rely on traditional landline telephones during power outages and for their medical alert or alarm systems and even 911.
Supervisor Jud Buchanan recently had his own issue with a lack of cell service. He said he went over the bank on his zero turn mower and was unable to call for help.
“We need cell service,” Buchanan said. “It’s dangerous. Someone is going to get really hurt.”
So far, no cell service providers have opted to colocate on the communications tower near Etlan. Much of the area remains in a no service hole.
Anyone relying on landline telephone service is asked to contact the county administrator’s office.
“We want to know what your cell service is like,” Weakley said. “Do you have fiber right now?”
Weakley said the county will file an official letter to the FCC in the Verizon case. Verizon is expecting approval of its application on or after Oct. 23. To contact the administrator’s office, call (540) 948-6700 or email Kim Turner at kturner@madisonco.virginia.gov.
Residents will also be able to file comments directly with the FCC once the government agency issues an official public notice. As of Wednesday, that had not yet occurred. To view the application, visit https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/26110070306/1.
Update: The FCC has opened the public comment period for the application, which has been named WC Docket No. 26-227. Comments objecting to the application listed in the Appendix must be filed with the Commission on or before September 10, 2026. Comments should refer to the specific WC Docket No. and Comp. Pol. File No. listed in the Appendix for the Section 214 Discontinuance Application. Comments should include specific information about the impact of the proposed discontinuance on the commenter,
including any inability to acquire reasonable substitute service. Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs. Filers should follow the instructions provided on the website for submitting comments. In completing the transmittal screen, filers should include their full
name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket number.
Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each
filing. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial courier, or by the U.S. Postal Service. All filings must be addressed to the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. Hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary are accepted between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. by the FCC’s mailing contractor at 9050 Junction Drive, AnnapolisJunction, MD 20701. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be disposed of before entering the building. Commercial courier deliveries (any deliveries not by the U.S. Postal Service) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. Filings sent by U.S. Postal Service First-Class Mail, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express must be sent to 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.
