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SCOTTVILLE — AT&T has received federal authorization to begin discontinuing traditional copper landline telephone service in portions of the Scottville, Custer and Fountain areas and 138 other Michigan telephone exchanges beginning Sunday, Nov. 15.
The discontinuation is part of a nationwide effort by AT&T to phase out aging copper telephone networks in favor of newer communications technology, including fiber-optic and wireless services.
The Federal Communications Commission authorized AT&T to discontinue certain residential and business telephone services in portions of 18 states, including Michigan. The authorization became effective Jan. 12, 2026, with the earliest service discontinuation date set for Nov. 15.
However, the authorization does not mean every landline in the affected communities will be disconnected Sunday. The date establishes when AT&T may begin discontinuing designated services. The number of customers affected in Mason County and the actual schedule for terminating service have not been established.
According to a copper retirement tracker published by Metro Colo Advisory, a telecommunications consulting company, 140 Michigan telephone exchanges are included in the upcoming discontinuation.
In Mason County, the list includes Scottville and Fountain, but likely impacts other communities that have been traditionally served by AT&T. Neighboring Manistee County exchanges in Manistee and Onekama are also identified. No Oceana County exchanges are included in this particular list.
The list identifies telephone exchanges, also called wire centers, rather than municipal boundaries. A telephone exchange may serve customers outside the community for which it is named.
The FCC authorization applies to portions of those exchanges, meaning not all customers in the listed locations will necessarily be affected.
Emergency equipment could be impacted
Although many households and businesses have already transitioned to cellular and internet-based telephone services, traditional copper lines remain in use for equipment that may not be immediately visible to property owners.
Fire alarm systems, elevator emergency telephones, security alarms, medical alert devices and other emergency communications equipment may still depend on conventional telephone lines.
Some businesses may have eliminated their traditional office telephone service years ago but continue to maintain copper lines for fire alarm monitoring or other building safety equipment.
If those lines are discontinued without compatible replacements, the equipment could lose its ability to communicate with emergency services or monitoring centers.
James Mercer, principal of Metro Colo Advisory, said business owners should be particularly aware of fire alarm panels, elevator emergency phones, security alarms and gate call boxes that still rely on copper telephone service.
Fire alarm and elevator emergency communications systems must meet applicable safety codes. Although copper lines are not necessarily required, replacement communications equipment must be compatible with existing systems and meet applicable requirements.
Other customers who may be particularly affected include residents who rely on medical alert systems and people living in rural areas where cellular coverage or broadband service may be unreliable.
Traditional copper telephone service has also provided an advantage during electrical outages because many conventional landline telephones receive power directly from the telephone company’s network.
Replacement services that depend on internet connections or cellular equipment may require battery backup to continue functioning during a power outage.
Customers have protections
The Michigan Public Service Commission states that telephone companies cannot discontinue regulated landline service without following state and federal notification requirements.
According to the commission, affected customers should receive at least two notices from their telephone provider advising them of the planned discontinuation.
Michigan law also provides protections for customers who cannot obtain comparable telephone service with reliable access to 911 and emergency services.
Customers who receive a discontinuation notice and cannot find a suitable replacement may request that the Michigan Public Service Commission investigate the availability of alternative service.
If an investigation determines that comparable service is unavailable, the commission may seek another provider. Under certain circumstances, the existing telephone provider can be required to continue service until an alternative becomes available.
The commission recommends that customers receiving discontinuation notices review their available telephone service options and determine whether replacement services will meet their needs.
Businesses and organizations should also review telephone bills and consult their alarm monitoring companies, elevator maintenance contractors and communications providers to determine whether existing equipment depends on copper lines.
What customers should do
Customers in Scottville, Fountain and other listed exchanges who still have AT&T landline service should contact the company to determine whether their telephone service is affected and when any changes are scheduled.
Property owners should also identify any secondary telephone lines used by equipment such as fire alarms, medical alert systems and emergency telephones before discontinuing or replacing their existing service.
The Michigan Public Service Commission can be reached at 800-292-9555. AT&T residential customer service can be reached at 800-288-2020.
The complete list of 140 Michigan telephone exchanges identified for possible discontinuation beginning Nov. 15 is available through Metro Colo Advisory’s copper retirement tracker.
Additional information about customers’ rights and telephone service discontinuation is available at michigan.gov/mpsc.
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