Revised Law Preserves the Right to a Landline Phone

Under a revision of the Wyoming Telecommunications Act, state residents will continue to have the right to affordable, reliable landline service, no matter where they live. That right may be particularly important in Wyoming’s vast rural areas where cellular service is spotty. Many Wyomingites rely on landline service as their only means of communication.

AARP Wyoming worked with legislators and industry representatives for two years to pass the revised law, which took effect July 1, when the previous act expired. The law requires carriers to provide landline service to any customer who requests it, including in rural areas where the decision may not be profitable for the company.

The law also continues to protect residents from “slamming”—switching providers without the consumer’s permission—and “cramming,” including unauthorized or misleading charges on a telephone bill.