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[ron thigpen <ron AT fuzzsonic.com>]

Calvin Powers wrote:

> But the last thing in my house that still needs that phone line is the 
> security system. If someone breaks in, it uses the phone line to call 
> the security company.

As an alternative, you might look into the lowest cost options for a 
POTS line.  I don't know if it is still the case, but there used to be 
regulations that required the providers to make a bare line available at 
a minimal charge.  By bare, I mean a pay-as-you-go local calling plan, 
no long distance plan, no special features, etc.  The idea was to make 
service available as widely as possible.  Low income homes, the elderly 
etc. would be able to make 911 calls and be checked on by family.  You 
may not find these rates advertised on the provider websites, but they 
may be out there.  Worth a call to their customer service line.

If you find out anything, please post.  I've been thinking about VOIP 
but would like to know my options for keeping one line-powered phone 
hooked up via POTS if only for 911 and power-outage situations.

--rt