Analog Cell-Phone Users Won't Be Able to Call 911

Durham, N.C. — More than 1 million analog cell-phone users nationwide will lose service – including the ability to dial 911 – when service providers move entirely to digital signals in less than two weeks, Durham police warned.

On Feb. 19, the federal government will require that all cell-phone service providers stop using analog signals and switch to digital signals. Analog cell phones, most of which are more than 5 years old, will no longer work.

“We have been advised that AT&T Mobility, Alltel, Cellular One, Verizon Wireless and other cellular providers will be turning off their analog networks on Feb. 19 due to a change in Federal Communications Commission requirements,” said James Soukup, director of Durham Emergency Communications Center.

“This means that our residents who use analog cell phones, which include most cell phones that are more than five years old, will be unable to dial 911 for emergency assistance.”

U.S. Cellular plans to provide analog service until late 2008.

Analog cell-phone users should go to their provider's retail store for an upgrade.

For more information about the national analog cell phone system shutdown, click here.

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Latest Comments

dh1964 - Actually, you won't be able to. The towers won't be listening any more, nor will they be able to transmit on the analog frequencies. The spectrum is being 'reposessed' by the government for reallocation to other uses. It's more than deactivation, its actual disablement and removal of the underlying support infrastructure needed to make them work.

MoroccoMole
February 8, 2008 6:55 p.m.

With the government helping individuals by converter boxes with the switch from analog to digital TV wonder if the government doing the same thing in this situation?

colliedave
February 8, 2008 6:48 p.m.

Someone said: "I love the boo scary headline! ... The good news is that they won't be receiving a bill anymore either."

Actually, the law requires that wireless operators accept 911 calls even from inactivated phones. So, presuming that your battery was charged, you could make a 911 call for free from your old analog phone.

dh1964
February 8, 2008 6:39 p.m.

And not just phones. A fair number of older cars with OnStar are not upgradable to digital. Solution - buy a new car! (My folks just had to do this.)

MoroccoMole
February 8, 2008 5:42 p.m.

I love the boo scary headline! "Analog Cell-Phone Users Won't Be Able to Call 911" (or their mother, or anybody else for that matter).

The good news is that they won't be receiving a bill anymore either.

smitty
February 8, 2008 5:42 p.m.