Kansas and Missouri Landline Service to End in 2026
AT&T will retire copper infrastructure in 175 communities, requiring customers to transition services by November 15, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Telecommunications
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The Federal Communications Commission has authorized AT&T to discontinue copper landline services across 175 total communities in Kansas and Missouri. Affected residents must transition to replacement services by November 15, 2026.
Why it matters
This shutdown reflects a broader industry shift away from aging copper telecommunications infrastructure toward modern, IP-based networks. It forces a technical migration for local residents who still rely on legacy hardware that may not be compatible with newer delivery methods.
The plan impacts 89 communities in Kansas and 86 in Missouri. These represent a portion of the 1,060 local calling areas across 18 states that AT&T is targeting for copper network decommissioning.
The players
AT&T
A major telecommunications provider managing legacy PSTN infrastructure and fiber network rollouts in the United States.
Federal Communications Commission
The United States federal agency responsible for regulating interstate and international communications by wire and radio.
The details
Copper landline service uses traditional public switched telephone networks (PSTN), which rely on analog electrical signals transmitted over copper wires. As the network transitions to modern internet protocol (IP) systems, hardware such as older alarm panels, medical alert systems, and fax machines may require upgrades to maintain functionality. Users must verify equipment compatibility directly with their device manufacturers and service providers to ensure connectivity after the transition.
Timeline
January 12, 2026: The Federal Communications Commission approved the copper retirement plan.
November 15, 2026: Copper service shutoff begins.
The Tech Race
This transition marks a departure from the mid-20th-century analog copper standard that has served as the backbone of United States telephony for decades. It aligns with the telecommunications industry's race to fully transition consumer services to fiber and wireless IP networks to reduce maintenance overhead.
Residents in the affected Kansas and Missouri communities will receive direct notices from AT&T detailing their specific service replacement options. Users should contact their service provider and test specialized devices like medical alert systems before the November 15, 2026 deadline to ensure service continuity.
The takeaway
Legacy copper infrastructure is being phased out as carriers accelerate the migration to fiber and IP-based platforms. Residents in the impacted states should contact AT&T immediately to confirm if their existing hardware requires a replacement to maintain service after November 15, 2026.
What happens next
Customers must complete their transition to replacement services by the November 15, 2026 deadline.
Further reading
For more on the national shift toward modern network architecture, see our Telecommunications coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kctv5.
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