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House advances bill to require notice, monitoring as phone networks shift from copper to fiber
Summary
The Vermont House advanced H 8 98, a bill that would require telecommunications carriers to give staggered written notice before copper-to-fiber transitions, coordinate with public safety agencies, and report on backup-power uptake and 911 incidents beginning November 2026; third reading was ordered.
Representative Sebelia, the member from Dover, presented H 8 98 as a consumer-protection measure aimed at preventing loss of reliable phone service when carriers transition from copper landlines to fiber-based networks. "H 8 98 is about making sure Vermonters do not lose reliable phone service as telephone companies transition from copper landlines to fiber based networks," Sebelia said, summarizing that fiber-based voice service relies on customer-powered equipment and can fail during power outages without charged backup power.
The bill would add notice requirements and staged reports: carriers must provide written notice to affected customers,…
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