US Prevalence of Landline Telephones in US Homes

[Joe]

Ok, this is a little embarrassing. I commented somewhere on what I had read about the prevalence of landline telephones in US homes. I thought I had read it was about 25 percent. This was in connection with a discussion of political polling, and how accurate it could be if only a minority of US homes have landlines (since pollsters presumably do not have the information to poll people who only have cellphones, or non-landline phones). But now I cannot find the thread where these comments were made, so I guess I have to start a new thread.

Someone responded to my post with other information suggesting that 43 percent of US homes have landlines. This was from a survey conducted by the Center for Disease Control (or some CDC-related entity). Sadly, I cannot remember the name of the person who posted this.

At any rate, Bob Rankin has published two recent columns about the decline of landline telephones in US homes. He cites figures from the FCC saying:

Only 27 percent of U.S. households were still using landlines at the end of 2013, according to data from the FCC. By the end of 2015, households relying exclusively or primarily on landlines will shrink to just 11 percent of total households.

Do You Still Have a Landline?

In another recent column he wrote:

Forty-three percent of U.S. adults lived in households served only by cell phones as of June, 2014. The chart below (courtesy of Pew Research) shows how the wireless-only trend has accelerated since 2008. But that’s only part of the story.

Are Landlines Doomed to Extinction?

I am not sure how all these numbers can be reconciled, but the thrust of what Rankin is saying is that landline households are rapidly becoming the minority, if they are not already.

 

[Chryssie]

I personally have not had a landline in about 5 years. Most people I know use cell phones exclusively.

 

[Blobbenstein]

surely there will be some people who don't have wireless coverage, for a long while.

My mobile coverage comes and goes, in my flat....I don't see what is wrong with landlines.

 

[Chryssie]

I do not think there is anything "wrong" with landlines and there are no doubt many areas in the world where there is no cell phone coverage. In fact where Jeremy is from, is an example of very spotty wireless coverage.

 

[Joe]

I personally have not had a landline in about 5 years. Most people I know use cell phones exclusively.

I, too, have only had a cellphone for the past four years or so. But this wasn't because I was opposed to landlines; it was because ATT decided to try to screw me over. So I basically said "f*@k you." I got disconnected, but to hell with them.

I did have a friend who moved to Oregon from Nashville. He tried to call me at the old number and when he got the recording saying that number had been disconnected, he thought I had died! (He had my e-mail address, but never tried to e-mail me. Also, he could have called several mutual friends, etc. But whatever.)

At any rate, all this data does call into question the accuracy of the polling data if the pollsters are only polling people who have landlines.

 

[Blobbenstein]

I commented somewhere on what I had read about the prevalence of landline telephones in US homes. I thought I had read it was about 25 percent. This was in connection with a discussion of political polling, and how accurate it could be if only a minority of US homes have landlines (since pollsters presumably do not have the information to poll people who only have cellphones, or non-landline phones). But now I cannot find the thread where these comments were made, so I guess I have to start a new thread.

this thread?

US - 30% of Republicans support bombing of Agrabah

 

[Naturebound1]

I have a landline and a cell phone. We are thinking of getting rid of the landline, but it only costs us $25 per month. My cell service is costing me an ungodly amount.

 

[Chryssie]

I couldn't see paying 2 bills for basically the same thing. And cell phones are free long distance. I can remember having to wait until after 9 PM to get long distance for free with AT&T.

 

[Joe]

this thread?

US - 30% of Republicans support bombing of Agrabah

YES! You are exactly right! Thank you!

My interlocutor was Mischief, who cited this article:

40% of homes now without a landline

 

[Joe]

My mobile coverage comes and goes, in my flat....I don't see what is wrong with landlines.

There is nothing inherently wrong with landlines. And I suspect the situation regarding them may be different in the UK than here in the US.

In the US the landline infrastructure is based on copper wires, which may be 50 to 75 years old. If this infrastructure were to be maintained, it would require a lot of maintenance work, which would cost ATT money. So ATT would prefer to get out of the landline business, to pursue more profitable venues. And the more the neglected landlines give inferior service, the more people will switch to cell phones, Voip, etc.

I hope you have more socially responsible telephone companies in the UK.

ATT truly sucks, sucks, sucks!!!

 

[Blobbenstein]

yes, I think a lot of the network is now fibre optic...only the last bit to the houses are still copper.

 

[Blobbenstein]

well I know there is a fibre optic option......BT infinity......I'm not with BT anyway any longer.

You can get broadband in a most(a lot?) of placed though......

 

[Capstan]

Before I retired, I used a cell phone, because I needed it for my work. I traveled for a living, and had to stay in touch with clients, etc. When I stopped working, 3-years ago, I switched to a landline, simply because line service is less expensive than cellular. I make very few calls. Now, about 2-months ago, a federal agency, because I am so poor, said I 'qualified' for free cell service. Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I took them up on it. They sent me a low-end phone, and I get 300-minutes free per month, far more than I'll ever use. So I save $30 or so each month.

It makes sense that cell phones will be more popular than landlines. Once a month I drive to a larger city to do my vegan shopping, and I feel better knowing that, if my car should break down, I can call for help, without having to flag down strangers. If I'm not mistaken, cell phones have more clarity too than wired phones. I read a while back that landlines actually deliver only about 80% of the signal. Cell phones have better vocal fidelity. They sound better.

On the other hand, my internet service is still provided through a landline.

 

[KLS52]

I have a landline and a cell phone. I much prefer talking on the landline. I hate using the cell phone for calls. I use it for texting, email and Internet. I am not a "phone" person...I hate talking on the phone.

My landline is included in a triple plan, through my cable company, Internet, phone and tv. I'm not sure it would be much cheaper if I dropped the phone. I should check it out. For the amount of time I spend on the phone it probably wouldn't matter since I don't "talk" on the phone much, anyway.

 

[Moll Flanders]

We were thinking of getting rid of our landline but my husband doesn't always (or ever) leave his mobile phone on and charged. We kept it in case of an emergency if someone needs to contact us and they don't know our mobile numbers off by heart. It costs us about £15 a month.

 

[Chryssie]

I get that free government phone too but it is really basic so I got a smart phone also. Now that freebie is Jeremy's phone because I wouldn't want him to be without a phone at home when I am at work. I am not a big phone person either but I like having the mobile phone while out and about. It makes me feel safer and there are some nice conveniences as well, like taking pictures of things.

 

[shyvas]

I have a landline and a cell phone. I much prefer talking on the landline. I hate using the cell phone for calls. I use it for texting, email and Internet. I am not a "phone" person...I hate talking on the phone.

My landline is included in a triple plan, through my cable company, Internet, phone and tv. I'm not sure it would be much cheaper if I dropped the phone. I should check it out. For the amount of time I spend on the phone it probably wouldn't matter since I don't "talk" on the phone much, anyway.

How much does your internet and phone cost per month ? I have an a unlimited internet and phone plan for € 19.99.
I also have a cell phone with Virgin ; a 2 hour and unlimited sms plan for €2.99.

I also think that it's not convenient to just rely on a cell if the network goes down or if you lose it. Furthermore, I also don't like having long conversations on a cell as the quality isn't as good as a landline phone.

 

[ledboots]

How much does your internet and phone cost per month ? I have an a unlimited internet and phone plan for € 19.99.
I also have a cell phone with Virgin ; a 2 hour and unlimited sms plan for €2.99.

I also think that it's not convenient to just rely on a cell if the network goes down or if you lose it. Furthermore, I also don't like having long conversations on a cell as the quality isn't as good as a landline phone.

Cellphone service in the US is ridiculously expensive.

 

[Chryssie]

Yeah cell phone service is rather pricey but there is now a lot of competition and you can find some pretty good deals with the smaller carriers. I went with WalMart's Straight Talk even though I hate WalMart. I pay $48 and some change for unlimited everything and of course no contract. The phone is not the newest on the market but does what I need it to do and more.

 

[ledboots]

Yeah cell phone service is rather pricey but there is now a lot of competition and you can find some pretty good deals with the smaller carriers. I went with WalMart's Straight Talk even though I hate WalMart. I pay $48 and some change for unlimited everything and of course no contract. The phone is not the newest on the market but does what I need it to do and more.

My sprint contract is over next month, so we have been researching other carriers.