MONTICELLO, NY – Sullivan County has launched a short survey to gauge how many residents and businesses continue to utilize traditional copper-based landline service.

“Verizon has applied to the Federal Communications Commission to retire what’s known as plain old telephone service (POTS),” explained District 3 Legislator Brian McPhillips, who was involved in creating the survey. “Our concern – and that of other counties, towns and villages – is that there are still a significant amount of people who rely on their landlines for not just personal and business calls but medical and emergency needs. The loss of that service could be a real problem, especially if they live in areas not well-served by cell or Internet offerings.”

The survey can be found and filled out at https://tinyurl.com/SullivanCountyLandlineSurvey. Paper copies can be obtained at and returned to the County Manager’s Office in the Government Center, 100 North Street, Monticello. Results will be used to inform County, State and Federal officials about the need for landline service locally.

“We also encourage residents and businesspeople to tell the FCC about their concerns with a potential loss of landlines,” added Legislature Chair Nadia Rajsz. “Visit the FCC docket at www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/docket-detail/26-252 and select ‘Submit an Express Filing’ to give a written comment, or ‘Submit a Standard Filing’ to send documents. Be sure to reference FCC Docket No. 26-252 so your comment becomes part of the official record.”