FCC's landline shutdown prioritizes profit over people
Dear Editor:
It has come to my attention that the FCC has passed a deregulation (https://www.fcc.gov/ document/fcc-grants-reliefoutdated-burdensomephone-industry-regulations) that permits telecom companies to replace their copper wire landline phone service with internet-based phone service. This decision has dire consequences for vulnerable communities in Kissimmee. If the federal government fails to protect their interests, then it falls to the state government to intervene.
The FCC order contends that landline service is expensive to maintain, hindering the transition to the next generation of communication technology. However, try explaining this to the 3.3 million seniors in Florida (https://www.communityphone. org/landline/fl#landlineusage- statistics) who still depend on landline service or my parents, who struggle to use their cell phones and often have issues with internet connectivity at home. It’s alarming to consider relying on an unreliable internet connection as the primary mode of communication, particularly when internet access is lost entirely during power outages.
The FCC’s decision prioritizes the profit of telecom giants over the needs of rural communities, elderly folks, and regions with inadequate internet connectivity. As such, the Florida state legislature has a duty to advocate for those most likely to be left behind in the name of progress. It’s time to take action to ensure that vulnerable groups have access to dependable and effective communication technology.
Kaleb Brooks
Kissimmee
Want to write a letter to the editor? Email it to Editor Ken Jackson at editor@osceolanewsgazette.com.
