If your organization still relies on traditional analog phone lines—commonly known as POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service)—you’ve likely noticed a disturbing trend: skyrocketing costs. What was once a predictable utility expense has become an outsized line item in your monthly budget. So, what changed?
The FCC Deregulated Fire-life safety Lines (POTS)—and Prices Exploded
In 2019, the FCC issued Order 19-72, a landmark ruling that lifted key regulations on copper-based telephone services. This move allowed telecom providers to begin phasing out aging POTS infrastructure—and to do so without the pricing restrictions that had kept these services affordable for decades.
The result? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average cost of Fire-life safety lines has risen by 31.4% annually since the deregulation began. In many cases, organizations are now paying hundreds of dollars per line, per month, just to maintain legacy connections.
Still Needed for Critical Systems
Despite the rising costs, many businesses still depend on POTS lines to support mission-critical systems, including:
- Fire and life safety alarms
- Elevator emergency phones
- Pool emergency phones
- Fax lines for legal and medical compliance
- Security and intrusion monitoring systems
These systems often require analog connectivity—or have yet to be modernized—forcing organizations to bear the cost of outdated service.
Redpoint Connect Has the Solution
At Redpoint Connect, we specialize in helping organizations modernize their infrastructure without compromising reliability or compliance. Our Fire-life safety Lines (POTS) replacement solution is a fully managed, drop-in service that mimics analog line behavior while running on more efficient and affordable technology.
With Redpoint Connect, you can:
- Cut your POTS costs by 75% or more
- Keep existing fire and security systems in place
- Avoid surprises as telecom providers retire copper lines
- Scale your savings across multiple locations
For businesses managing multiple properties, the savings add up fast—often paying for themselves in just a few billing cycles.
The Clock Is Ticking
The deregulation of POTS lines isn’t just a future issue—it’s happening now. Carriers are aggressively retiring copper networks with little notice, and prices will only continue to rise.
If you’re still relying on traditional POTS, now is the time to explore a smarter, future-proof solution.
