FREE PHONE SYSTEM CHECK

THE MUMBLE TEST.

Free phone system check for NE Indiana businesses: landline shutdown and 911 compliance.

Up to 13 questions. No signup. Find out if your phones are ready for what's coming, or already mumbling.

Your answers stay in your browser. You get a printable report with sources. If you want help, send it to me.

YOUR LINES

Frontier, now a Verizon company, and AT&T have both filed with the FCC to end older copper phone services in parts of NE Indiana starting in November 2026.

Does your business still have landlines from the phone company?

Traditional copper lines, often listed as "business line" or "POTS" on the bill.

Which of these use a phone line at your business?

Include anything that dials out on its own, like an alarm panel.

YOUR 911 SETUP

Federal rules set how multi-line business phone systems handle 911 calls.

Does your phone system have extensions?

More than one line, and calls can be transferred.

YOUR CALLS

This is the mumble: calls that ring into nothing.

What happens to calls after hours?
When a call is missed during the day, how do you find out?
How do calls reach the right person?

Answered 0 of 6

THE RULES

WHAT THE 911 RULES REQUIRE

Kari's Law

Multi-line phone systems manufactured, imported, offered for first sale or lease, first sold or leased, or installed after February 16, 2020 must let anyone dial 911 directly, with no prefix like 9. They must also notify a central location, on site or off site, where someone is likely to see or hear it, when a 911 call is placed.

RAY BAUM'S Act

Section 506 of RAY BAUM'S Act requires a dispatchable location to go with 911 calls: the street address plus details like floor or room when needed to find the caller. For multi-line systems, fixed on-premises devices had to comply by January 6, 2021. Non-fixed on-premises devices and off-premises devices had to comply by January 6, 2022, sending automated dispatchable location when technically feasible. Otherwise, non-fixed on-premises devices may rely on manual updates by the user or alternative location information, and off-premises devices on manual updates by the user or enhanced location information.

Last verified October 24, 2026.

THE SHUTDOWN

WHAT'S CHANGING WITH COPPER LINES

The FCC adopted its Network and Services Modernization Order on March 26, 2026. It cut the paperwork phone companies file to retire copper, but carriers still need FCC approval before they discontinue a service.

Source: FCC 26-19, adopted March 26, 2026

On August 7, 2026, Frontier, now a Verizon company, gave notice that it will retire copper at all remaining locations in 224 Indiana wire centers on or after November 6, 2026. The list includes Fort Wayne, New Haven, Huntertown, Leo, Angola, Fremont, Butler, Garrett, Waterloo, Albion, and Churubusco.

Source: Verizon notice 2026-03-A-IN, August 7, 2026

Verizon's FCC application ends legacy copper business services in Indiana, including Centrex, PBX trunks, ISDN BRI, and key system service, on or after November 16, 2026.

Source: FCC Public Notice DA 26-764, July 21, 2026

AT&T's FCC application ends its traditional home and business landline service in parts of the Auburn, Kendallville, and Spencerville areas on or after November 15, 2026.

Source: FCC Public Notice DA 25-1043, December 12, 2025

Last verified October 24, 2026.

SOURCES

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