Woodhaven Police Department issued the following announcement on Dec 3.
The National Association of State 911 Administrators (NASNA) is issuing a warning to consumers that older phones may cease operating in early 2022 due to the retirement of 3G networks and support for phones using 3G service. This may include other devices that use 3G connectivity, such as some medical alert devices, tablets, smart watches, home security systems, and other devices.
The nation’s three major wireless carriers (AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile) have each announced that they plan on discontinuing 3G service in favor of 4G (LTE) and 5G service next year. According to the FCC’s website, AT&T will discontinue service in February, T-Mobile/Sprint will discontinue service between March and July, and Verizon will discontinue service at the end of 2022. This means that affected devices won’t be able to dial 911 if they don’t make necessary upgrades or replacements.
The change will affect all 3G mobile phones and 4G mobile phones that don’t have Voice Over LTE functionality, also known as HD Voice.
This transition might be costly for anyone who needs to upgrade their devices. The FCC’s Lifeline program offers discounts to qualifying low-income consumers. The FCC said that mobile service providers may also offer special deals on new devices.
Replacing a device that cannot access the faster 5G network can be expensive, but there is help. The FCC’s Lifeline program provides a discount on phone service to eligible consumers. The FCC emergency broadband benefit provides a temporary discount of up to $50 per month for broadband service to eligible households during the COVID-19 pandemic. Broadband could be used for audio and video calls over the internet if a person no longer wants a mobile phone. Carriers also may offer discounts, rebates or free upgrades on phones.
https://www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit
https://www.fcc.gov/lifeline-consumers
Original source can be found here.
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