That's why a Durham man, Martin Pifer, says he was concerned after receiving a notice that his traditional landline service could soon be discontinued. Pifer says his family has had the same phone number for generations.
"My grandfather started the business, so we've had that same number since 1920." However, Pifer recently received a letter from Frontier, which is owned by Verizon, notifying him that his traditional copper-based home phone service would be discontinued.
The letter says the company plans to transition customers to modern fiber or wireless technology where available.
Pifer says he understands technology is changing, but he is concerned about what the change could mean for people who depend on traditional landlines.
"It's disturbing because they're not telling us what the resolution is," Pifer said. "Many people could still depend on their landlines because my brother's disabled, and elderly people depend on them."
One of the biggest concerns Pifer says he has is what happens when the power goes out. Traditional copper landlines can continue operating during certain power outages because the phone line itself provides power to the telephone.
"The one thing about the landlines if we have storms, the landlines are the only thing that's still existing."
Hooman Hedayati with the Communications Workers of America Union says, "It used to be a company's job to prove that a reliable, replacement service exists before discontinuing its service, but now it's the customer's job to object if a reliable alternative does not exist."
He says customers should pay attention to whether the replacement technology being offered actually meets their needs.
"If people are living in areas that they're not able to get good wireless service or don't have an alternative wireline service, they need to file the objection with the FCC and also with the North Carolina Utilities Commission," Hedayati adds.
Pifer says he tried to get answers from his provider but had difficulty finding someone who could explain what was happening. "I got five different people, and none of them knew what was going on," he said. "So that's frustrating."
A Verizon representative told ABC11 Troubleshooter Diane Wilson, "We are committed to ensuring that customers remain connected as we transition from a 100-year-old copper network to the faster, more reliable technologies of the 21st century.
For the very small percentage of impacted customers, we are providing seamless transitions to ultra-fast fiber or an alternative service that offers a traditional landline experience - including the use of existing handsets and battery backups - powered by our award-winning wireless network.
Our goal is to provide every community with the resilient, high-speed infrastructure required for today's world while maintaining the essential safety features that our customers rely on." Their statement adds, "As we transition from legacy copper to modern networks, we are committed to ensuring no customer is left behind. If a suitable replacement is not yet available, we will not discontinue the customer's copper voice service at this time."
Verizon says customers should contact them at the number on the letter they received, and they will have these three options:
Fiber: Where available, customers can transition to ultra-fast fiber.
VoiceConnect: In non-fiber areas, this service provides a familiar landline experience using our reliable wireless network. It works with existing handsets, includes battery backup for power outages, supports E911 functionality, and allows customers to keep their phone numbers. VoiceConnect is installed and serviced by the same reliable technicians who work on our networks today.
Wireless Broadband: To replace slow DSL, we offer high-speed wireless home internet capable of supporting modern streaming and video conferencing.
Pifer hopes he can find a solution that works for his family. If you still have a landline, pay attention to letters, emails, and other notices from your phone provider. Those notices should explain whether your service is affected and what replacement options are available.
If you are concerned that the replacement service will not work for your household, experts recommend asking questions before agreeing to the change.