Major telecommunications companies are moving to retire traditional copper landline networks across Ohio, raising concerns among rural and elderly residents who depend on the service for emergency and daily communication.

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According to a report from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, approximately 270,000 Ohio households still maintain traditional landline telephone connections. The FCC earlier approved a modernization order that reduced paperwork and regulatory steps, making it easier for providers such as Verizon and AT&T to decommission aging copper systems and invest in modern high-speed infrastructure.

Phone providers say maintaining the network has become increasingly unsustainable. Verizon spokesperson Lauren Peterson noted that sections of the copper infrastructure are 100 years old and very expensive to upkeep. In addition to weather damage, copper theft has grown as the material’s market value doubled in a single year. In response, AT&T has offered a $10,000 reward in Ohio for information leading to arrests and convictions related to cable theft. Verizon estimates that less than 3% of its nationwide customers still use copper connections.

However, in parts of rural Ohio, including Appalachian areas, residents say reliable alternatives remain scarce. In Carroll County, where hills frequently disrupt cell and satellite coverage, some residents have already received letters from providers warning that their landlines will be shut off. Carroll County Commissioner Chris Modranski expressed concern that service decisions might fail to account for local terrain that leaves residents without dependable wireless service.

Advocates also warn that the regulatory changes place new burdens on vulnerable populations. Hoomen Hedayati, a researcher with the Communications Workers of America union, said the FCC’s updated rules make it the customer’s responsibility to object if no reliable alternative exists. Jenny Westfall with Buckeye Hills Regional Council, an organization serving older residents in southeast Ohio, described the transition as a serious safety and health risk for seniors who rely on landlines to reach doctors and call 911.

Telecom providers state they are taking steps to avoid leaving customers disconnected. Peterson said Verizon is conducting location-by-location testing to confirm alternatives are available, adding that customers will remain on copper if they have no fiber or wireless access. AT&T spokesperson Kyle Loomis stated that their transition is a year-long process intended to ensure that no customer loses voice or emergency 911 service during upgrades to newer technologies.

Source: WOSU — Original report

Wararka Af-Soomaaliga

Joojinta Khadadka Taleefanka Guryaha oo Walaac Ku Abuurtay Reer Miyiga Ohio

Shirkadaha waaweyn ee isgaarsiinta dalka Mareykanka, oo ay ku jiraan Verizon iyo AT&T, ayaa wada qorshe ay ku joojinayaan adeegsigii khadadka taleefanka guryaha ee xargaha naxaasta ah ku shaqeynayay. Arrintan ayaa dhalisay walaac xooggan oo soo food saaray dadka ku nool deegaannada miyiga ah iyo dadka da’da ah ee gobolka Ohio, kuwaas oo ka cabsi qaba inay lumiyaan xiriirkoodii xaaladaha degdegga ah iyo inay go’doon noqdaan.

Warbixin ay soo saartay hay’adda federaalka u qaabilsan isgaarsiinta Mareykanka ee U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ayaa muujisay in ku dhowaad 270,000 oo qoys oo ku nool gobolka Ohio ay weli ku tiirsan yihiin xargaha taleefannada dhulka ee naxaasta ka samaysan. Hay’adda FCC ayaa hore u ansaxisay amar casriyeyn ah oo meesha ka saaraya shuruudihii sharci ee adkaa, si shirkadaha loogu fududeeyo inay joojiyaan adeegyada duugoobay oo ay maalgelin ugu sameeyaan kaabayaasha xawaaraha sarreeya ee casriga ah sida xargaha fiber-ka.

Shirkadaha taleefannada ayaa sheegaya in dayactirka shabakadda naxaastu uu noqday mid aad qaali u ah. Afhayeenka shirkadda Verizon, Lauren Peterson, ayaa sheegtay in meelaha qaarkood xargahaasi ay jiraan ilaa 100 sano, ayna aad ugu nugul yihiin cimilada daran iyo tuugada xada xargaha naxaasta. Qiimaha naxaasta ee suuqa ayaa labanlaabmay hal sano gudaheed, taasoo keentay in shirkadda AT&T ay gobolka Ohio ka ballanqaaddo abaalmarin dhan $10,000 qofkii bixiya xog horseedda in la xiro laguna xukumo shakhsiyaadka xada xargaha taleefannada. Shirkadda Verizon waxay sidoo kale qiyaastay in wax ka yar 3% macaamiisheeda dalka oo dhan ay weli adeegsadaan nidaamkaas duugoobay.

Hase yeeshee, qaybo badan oo ka mid ah miyiga Ohio, gaar ahaan aagga Appalachian Ohio iyo Carroll County, adeegga taleefannada gacanta ama kan satellite-ka midna si fiican uma shaqeeyo dhulka buuraleyda ah dartiis. Paul Feezel oo deggan meel u dhow Carrollton ayaa sheegay inuu xaraf ka helay shirkadda Frontier, oo ay leedahay Verizon, kaas oo lagu wargelinayo in mustaqbalka dhow adeeggiisa la damin doono. Guddoomiyaha degmada Carroll County, Chris Modranski, ayaa sheegay in go’aannada la gaarayo aan lagu saleynin xaaladda dadka ku nool dhulka adag ee aan heli karin adeeg taleefan gacmeed oo lagu kalsoonaan karo.

U doodayaasha arrimaha bulshada ayaa sidoo kale ka digaya culeyska isbeddelkan ku keenayo dadka jilicsan. Hoomen Hedayati oo ah cilmi-baare ka tirsan ururka shaqaalaha ee Communications Workers of America ayaa sheegay in shuruucda cusub ay culeyska u wareejiyeen macaamiisha, kuwaas oo looga baahan yahay inay diidmo muujiyaan haddii aysan haysan adeeg kale oo la isku halleyn karo oo beddela koodii hore. Jenny Westfall oo ka tirsan ururka Buckeye Hills Regional Council, oo u adeega dadka da’da ah ee koonfur-bari Ohio, ayaa caddeysay in arrintani ay tahay khatar weyn oo dhanka badbaadada iyo caafimaadka ah, iyadoo dad badan oo waayeel ahi ay isweydiinayaan sida ay u wici doonaan lambarka degdegga ah ee 911 ama dhakhaatiirtooda haddii khadadka laga jaro.

Shirkadaha bixiya adeegga ayaa sheegaya inay qaadayaan tallaabooyin lagu hubinayo inaan dadka looga tagin adeeg la’aan. Peterson ayaa sheegtay in Verizon ay samaynayso tijaabooyin goob kasta ah si loo xaqiijiyo inay jiraan fursado kale, iyadoo xustay in macaamiisha aan haysan adeeg fiber ama wireless ah aysan ka jari doonin khadka naxaasta. Afhayeenka AT&T, Kyle Loomis, ayaa isna sheegay in hawshooda kala-guurka ay tahay geeddi-socod qaadanaya muddo hal sano ah, isla markaana macaamiisha lala shaqaynayo si loogu wareejiyo adeegyo casri ah iyada oo la dhowrayo inaan marnaba qofna laga goyn adeegga wicitaanka codka iyo kan 911.

Xigasho: WOSU