Senate Finance hears H898 testimony on copper-to-fiber transitions, battery-backup and outage reporting

The Senate Finance Committee on April 10 took testimony on H898, a bill that would require notice and reporting around planned retirements of traditional copper telephone service as carriers transition customers to fiber-based networks. Department of Public Service witness Hunter said the department supports the technological transition but urged caution about the bill’s data-reporting mandates, arguing the requested reports are not granular enough to support some of the bill’s conclusions.

"The department is in favor of the transition from copper fiber technology," Hunter said, while noting the bill’s reporting provisions and a requested battery-backup study may duplicate or misalign with existing programs. Hunter pointed the committee to the Energy Storage Access Program (ESAP), which he described as a state energy office program funded with capital-related revenue that provides battery backups to residential customers; he said he would provide written testimony and links to the committee.

Why it matters: Committee members and witnesses emphasized that the practical risk to residents is loss of phone service during power outages when copper service, which can remain powered, is retired in favor of fiber systems that require local power. Several witnesses said outreach and clear consumer education—particularly for older and rural Vermonters—are central to avoiding harm to people who rely on landlines for medical monitoring or emergency response.

Barbara Neil, executive director of the Enhanced 911 Board, described how outage reporting works today and why that matters to the bill. "Our rule requires voice service providers to notify the 911 board of outages that meet certain thresholds," she said, explaining thresholds (30 minutes and 25 or more affected wireline subscribers for traditional wireline carriers; different thresholds for VoIP and wireless). Neil noted those thresholded reports—599 originating carrier outage reports and 153 electric power company outage reports in 2025—often lack granular root-cause detail and are sent to the board on a monthly or threshold-driven basis, which limits their usefulness for the bill’s proposed reporting regimen.

From the carriers’ perspective, Kimberly Gates, controller at Franklin Telephone Company, said conversion from copper to fiber has been ongoing for more than a decade and that fiber networks can be more reliable in her experience. Gates described the customer-facing equipment: a fiber terminal (ONT) that plugs into a home electrical outlet, and a small battery/UPS unit that can keep that terminal running for several hours during an outage. "If this gets unplugged, your phone's not going to work," she said, estimating a retail battery that provides about eight hours of backup at around $120. Gates said Franklin rarely sells those batteries and that technicians generally explain backup needs when they do installs.

Supporters of the bill, including Brett Bowen of AARP Vermont, urged more active outreach to seniors and community organizations. "This information is critical for older Vermonters," Bowen said, urging the committee to ensure the transition includes clear, accessible steps on how to obtain and install battery backups and how the change affects medical alert devices and other home equipment.

Legal and jurisdictional question: Multiple witnesses flagged a late-March FCC order with strong preemption language. Daniel Berg, staff attorney at the Public Utility Commission, said he had read the order and that it contains "very strong preemption language," though he had not completed a detailed analysis and could not say whether specific notice requirements in H898 would be preempted. Several senators asked for legal review.

Where things stand: The committee did not take a final vote on H898. Committee members asked the department and the state energy office to brief the committee further about ESAP funding, whether ARPA-related deadlines constrain the program, and whether notification language in the bill conflicts with recent FCC directives. Witnesses recommended (1) soliciting written clarifications about ESAP funding and eligibility; (2) legal review of FCC preemption risk; and (3) targeted outreach to senior centers, area agencies on aging and community action organizations so residents understand backup options and what the transition will mean for devices that depend on continuous power.

Ending: The committee signaled it will pursue follow-up briefings from the Department of Public Service, the state energy office and carriers to resolve funding, technical and legal questions before advancing H898.