What Are POTS lines?

Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) Lines have been used to connect things like elevators, fax machines, analog phones, fire alarms, medical devices, security alarms, and more. This “technology” has been used for over 100 years and has become egregiously outdated. Limited visibility, lack of support, and rapidly rising costs are among the top reasons why traditional POTS lines are no longer the best solution for connecting devices.

In the digital age cloud and cellular-based technologies have enabled features like remote monitoring, real-time visibility, and 24/7/365 remote technical support. Plus, the FCC has set a copper line retirement date of August 2nd, when providers will no longer be forced to issue new lines or service existing lines.

Weaknesses of Traditional POTS Lines

Rising Costs

Due to the FCC mandate that allows providers to stop supporting copper lines after August 2nd, prices are rising rapidly. Across the United States customers are seeing prices skyrocket due to providers wanting to price out customers who have yet to transition to a digital solution. The average monthly price of just one traditional line has risen 36% over the past few years to an average ranging between $100-$150. By switching to RTech’s solution, customers can expect to see an average monthly bill of $26-$30 per line.

Reduced Visibility

Traditional POTS Lines severely limit visibility, as the only way to verify operational status is to physically inspect each line at the point of installation. If providers won’t send out technicians, organizations may be required to self-inspect their POTS lines.

Limited Support

Copper lines are losing support fast. As the FCC-mandated sunset date gets closer, providers become less and less likely to provide truck rolls or send technicians to install sites. After August 2nd providers will be released from all legal responsibility, which means they could choose not to service existing lines even if they are causing an outage for customers.