Is it legal that i can only get one company of home phone service?

Question

where i live there is on;y one home phone service company to go through. But 8 miles down the road you can pick and choose who you want service with. Is that legal?? The company that i'm going trough is SOOO expensive. But they don't offer unlimited long distance. I want o be able to pick and choose my own comapny. but it looks like i can't. Does anyone know who i would have to speak to to voice my opinon??

Answer 1

For local residential landline service (plain old telephone service as we know it), there's only one player.



Your options involve nontraditional services. There's VoIP via open or proprietary networks and standards. They include your cable modem or DSL carrier or 3rd party carriers such as Vonage and Skype. There's cellular.



But don't expect to find competition at the local level. Companies such as AT&T and MCI tried that battle by forcing Verizon and SBC and others to open up their local exchanges to allow other carriers to serve and bill using those facilities. But there simply isn't enough money to be made in that realm, so they pulled out, leaving the local carriers big and small to provide that last mile service.

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

If you use broadband internet, switch your home phone to VOIP. I use vonage and love it. Many of the broadband providers are offering VOIP now too. Comcast Cable, SBC DSL offers a similar service.



VOIP is no longer a pipe dream, it is the future of land based communication. It has so many more features than a typical land line for less than 1/2 the price.

Answer 4

I would start by contacting your local government - they may have an ordinance about this or have locked in the "best" price they could get an guaranteed the service in that area to that company - more than likely however it's a matter of other companies not seeing the profit in moving into that market - if you want to voice your concerns - don't start with the fcc - start at the lowest level - contact your town / county gov't

Answer 5

sounds like you live in a verizon area! it's legal. i don't really understand how but it is. i've been told that other providers CANNOT get into verizon markets. have you doublechecked to make sure your cable company doesn't offer phone service? otherwise you might consider looking into vonage or skype that's what i did for the same reasons you describe. contact your mayors office and senator to complain. if enough people speak up they will do some legislation.

Answer 6

It's not a monopoly situation.



It's simple-- other providers don't deem your area/street as profitable and haven't offered their services yet.



Try VOIP.

Answer 7

Unfortunately there isn't much you can do about this. You may want to switch to cell phones (if you can get coverage). However, you can always try contacting the FCC (http://www.fcc.gov/) about this.

Answer 8

Yes, I would switch to cell if you get good reception

Answer 9

Yep, it's legal. Monopoly, monopoly. It was like that at my old house.