Quick Answer
The telephone company that owns the line removes a phone drop wire from the pole to your house. The aerial drop up to the network interface device (NID) on your exterior wall usually belongs to the provider, such as AT&T, Verizon, Frontier, Lumen, or a local telco. Call its repair or service line, request removal of an unused or damaged drop, and never cut or climb to the pole yourself.
Key Takeaways
- The provider owns the drop wire and the NID; the homeowner typically owns the wiring inside the house beyond the NID.
- Find the owner by the name on the NID box, a tag on the pole, or your old phone bill.
- Downed or sagging lines are a priority repair; treat any wire on the ground as if it were energized and call the power utility first if unsure.
- Do not cut the drop at the pole; utility poles also carry high-voltage power lines.
- Before digging up a buried phone line, call 811 so all underground utilities are marked.
Many homes still have a copper phone line running from a utility pole to the side of the house long after the landline was canceled. Those drops can sag over driveways, rub against gutters, get tangled in trees, or simply look cluttered. Removing one is a job for the line owner, and getting it done is mostly a matter of contacting the right company the right way.
Who Is Responsible for the Telephone Line From the Pole to the House?
In most of the United States, the phone company owns the drop wire that runs from the pole terminal to your house, plus the network interface device, the gray box where the line connects to your home. This NID is the demarcation point: everything on the street side is the provider’s equipment, and inside wiring after the NID is typically the property owner’s responsibility.
| Part of the line | Who usually owns it | Who removes or repairs it |
|---|---|---|
| Pole and pole terminal | Utility or phone company | Pole owner only |
| Aerial drop wire (pole to house) | Phone company | Phone company technician |
| NID box on exterior wall | Phone company | Phone company |
| Inside wiring and jacks | Homeowner | Homeowner or a low-voltage electrician |
| Buried drop in your yard | Usually the phone company | Phone company; call 811 before any digging |
Cable TV and fiber internet lines follow a similar arrangement, but each belongs to its own provider. Make sure you know which wire is which before calling, because a cable company cannot remove a telephone drop, and vice versa.
How Do You Tell a Phone Line From Power or Cable Lines?
Utility poles carry several kinds of wire at different heights. Power lines sit at the top, while communication lines (phone, cable TV, fiber) run lower on the pole.
- Power service drop: usually heavier twisted cable running to a weatherhead and electric meter on your house. Never touch it.
- Telephone drop: a thin, flat or round black wire ending at a small gray NID box, often labeled with the phone company’s name.
- Cable TV drop: a round coaxial cable ending at a grounding block or small box, often near the cable company’s equipment.
- Fiber drop: a thin cable ending at a fiber terminal or optical network terminal box.
How to Get a Telephone Line Removed From Pole to House
Step 1: Identify the Line Owner
Look at the NID box on your house; most are stamped with the provider’s name or logo. You can also check an old phone bill, ask neighbors which company served the street, or look for a metal tag on the pole terminal. If the line is not yours or you do not recognize it, still note its route and attachment point.
Step 2: Document the Line
Take photos of the drop from the ground, showing where it attaches to the house, any sagging or damage, and the pole it connects to. Note the pole number if it is displayed on a tag. Clear photos make the service request faster and help if you need to follow up.
Step 3: Contact the Provider
Call the provider’s repair or customer service line, or use its online support. Explain that the drop is unused and you want it removed, or that it is damaged and hazardous. Ask for a ticket number and an estimated timeframe. Policies on removal and any fees vary by provider and region, so ask directly.
Step 4: Prepare for the Technician
Give the technician clear access to the side of the house and the path to the pole, unlock gates, and secure pets. If the line passes through trees that need trimming, ask whether the provider handles that or whether you need an arborist. The technician will typically detach the drop at the pole terminal first, then at the house.
Step 5: Follow Up and Patch the Siding
If the line is still up after the promised date, call back with your ticket number. Once it is gone, fill old screw holes or the wire entry hole in the siding with exterior caulk or a matching plug to keep water and insects out. If the NID is left behind, ask whether the company wants it removed or abandoned in place.
What Should You Do About a Downed or Sagging Phone Line?
A wire on the ground or hanging low over a driveway is a safety hazard and usually gets priority service. Because it can be hard to tell a phone wire from a power line, treat any downed wire as dangerous.
Safety: Stay at least 30 feet away from any downed wire and keep children and pets away. If there is any chance it is a power line, or it is sparking or touching a power line, call 911 and your electric utility immediately. Never move a wire with a stick, ladder, or rake.
- Sagging over a driveway: report it to the phone company as a hazard and avoid driving tall vehicles under it.
- Tangled in trees: do not prune around it yourself; ask the provider to reroute or remove it.
- Pulled off the house: report it so a technician can reattach or remove the drop.
Can You Remove an Unused Phone Line Yourself?
Not legally or safely in most cases. The drop is the provider’s property, and it is attached to a pole that also carries power lines that can carry thousands of volts. Cutting the line at the house can leave a live, swinging wire and a damaged terminal that affects neighbors’ service. Only qualified utility workers should work on poles.
What you can do yourself is work on the inside wiring you own: removing old jacks, capping unused wiring, or running new low-voltage cable. Turn off any connected service first, and if you are unsure which wires are which, hire a licensed low-voltage or electrical contractor.
What About Buried Telephone Lines?
Many newer neighborhoods have buried drops that run from a pedestal box to the house. The same ownership rules apply, but the risk shifts to digging. Call 811 at least a few business days before any digging project; the free service notifies utilities to mark buried lines. Hitting a buried line can disrupt service and, if a power line is nearby, cause serious injury.
Will Removing the Line Affect Internet or Other Services?
If you have DSL internet through the phone company, the same copper drop carries it, so removal will end that service. Fiber, cable, fixed wireless, and satellite internet do not use the old copper drop. Confirm with the provider that the line is truly inactive, especially if alarm systems, medical alert devices, or fax lines might still depend on it.
If you are setting up a new connection afterward, guides such as this one on fixing an LG TV that says Wi-Fi is turned off can help with the device side of the switch.
Before You Sell or Renovate
Old drop wires can show up in inspection photos and complicate siding, roofing, or gutter projects. Request removal several weeks before a renovation or listing. If you are preparing to sell, tidying exterior wiring is part of the same checklist covered in this guide on the best time to sell your house.
Tip: If the provider cannot help or you cannot identify the owner, ask your electric utility or local public utility commission which communications companies are attached to that pole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the phone company responsible for the line to my house?
Usually yes. In most areas the phone company owns the drop wire from the pole to your house and the network interface device on your wall. You are responsible for the inside wiring and jacks past that box. Check your provider terms if you are unsure.
Can I cut an old phone line to my house?
You should not. The drop belongs to the provider, and it connects to a pole that also carries high-voltage power lines. Cutting it can leave a hazardous loose wire and damage equipment serving neighbors. Ask the provider to remove it instead.
Does it cost money to remove a phone line from the pole?
It depends on the provider and situation. Damaged or hazardous lines are typically handled as repairs, while removing an unused drop at your request may be handled differently. Ask the provider when you call so you know about any charge before scheduling.
How do I know if a wire on my house is a phone line?
A phone drop is usually a thin black wire ending at a small gray box labeled with the phone company name. Power drops are heavier and go to a weatherhead and electric meter. Cable lines are round coax that ends at a grounding block.
Who do I call for a downed telephone line?
If there is any chance it is a power line, call 911 and your electric utility first and stay at least 30 feet away. If you are sure it is a phone line, call the phone company repair line to report a downed drop so a technician can secure or remove it.
