Refusing to cut the cord

By TEDDYE SNELL

TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS — “Argh! I was sent directly to voice mail! Doesn’t that kid know I need to talk to her?”

In the cell phone age, this is a parent’s common lament, despite the relative newness of the technology. How in the world did we ever get by without portable phones?

According to a recent report by the Associated Press, almost three in 10 U.S. households now rely solely on cell phones to communicate.

The National Health Interview Survey, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control, held in-person interviews with people in 13,083 households from July through December 2007. Survey statistics indicate while 13 percent of households have both cell phones and land lines, nearly all participants rely solely on their cell phones for communication. Land lines were used primarily for Internet service.

The Daily Press conducted a quick, informal poll of local residents, with 15 respondents participating. Eleven of the 15 respondents said they have both cell service and land lines; one relies solely on a land line; and two have only cell services.

THS English teacher Shannon Jolliff made the decision to cut the ties to land line services several years ago.

“When we moved to our new house, we weren’t able to get Internet via [the cable company] because there is no cable in our area, so we got satellite instead,” said Jolliff. “So, since our TV and Internet are on the same bill, we consolidated even more and got rid of our land line phones. For us, there is really no need for a home phone, so why pay the $70 per month for something that is never used? We did that for a few months, and it seemed pretty foolish.”

Olga Trammel became frustrated with her land line service and has used cell service ever since.

“I had both a land line and cell phones for my family,” she said. “I took out the land line when the phone company cut off my phone for three weeks and couldn’t get it back on because someone at the company gave my number away by accident to a person who wanted to keep their phone number. The person at the phone company transposed numbers, cut me off, and gave the other person my number. So, I now use only cell phones, and my Internet is through the cable company.”

Sandra Gail Hutchins lives “in the sticks” where there are no cell towers. While she relies on a land line, she misses being “mobile.”

“Both my husband and I had cell phones way back in the days when cell phones were huge, as big as bricks!” she said. “We lived in the metro Oklahoma City area, and used our cell phones a lot. Over the years, we purchased cell phones that were smaller and smaller as newer technology evolved. Now that we have retired and moved out in the hills north of Tahlequah, we are in an area that has limited cell coverage, at best. Until a company can provide adequate coverage out here in the sticks, we will be using our land line for all calls.”

While the majority of respondents indicated they still have both land lines and cell phones, the reasons for doing so are varied.

Luke Foster, math instructor at Northeastern State University and Tahlequah Public Schools board member, uses his land lines for other technology.

“We use cell phones the majority of the time,” he said. “If we didn’t need the land line for Internet or TiVo, we wouldn’t have it.”

Jimmy London also keeps his land line for technological convenience, but he enjoys the security cell phone service provides.

“The two cells are necessary because of my 95-year-old mother who is restricted to the house,” he said. “Although the signals are not the best, we have to have them. We use the land line almost exclusively for the computer, as we cannot get DSL where we live.”

Cell phone “family plans” are gaining popularity, particularly in families with teenagers.

“We have a land line and cell phones,” said Denise Deason-Toyne. “At our home location, the cell reception is iffy, so we maintain the land line. We have a family plan, so we have four cell phones. The use is mixed. One does a lot of texting, one is limited to emergency-type situations [like] school field trips, etc., to let us know when to pick him up.”

Zac Edwards, sales representative for Russell Cellular, has lived without a land line for quite a while, and empathizes with those who have spotty service.

“We have so many people who live in outlying areas around here,” said Edwards. “I keep telling them that as demand increases, the company will build more and more towers. It’s just a matter of time.”

While most people enjoy the instant gratification cell phone service provides, some pointed out it’s a “love-hate relationship.”

“I do think a lot of people are too dependent on their cell phones,” said Deason-Toyne. “I find it not only extremely bizarre, but also rude when someone takes a call while in the ladies’ – or gents’ - room. While it’s nice to have the convenience, there are times when I want to be left alone, and I turn off my phone.”

Pam Moore agrees.

“I am hooked on my cell phone for its convenience,” she said. “Now I am training myself to not answer it every time. I keep reminding myself that it is for my convenience.”

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