Minnesota Commerce Department reports…

Most Minnesota residents, businesses and city governments that still use landline telephones report being highly satisfied, and the vast majority say they’re unlikely to drop their service, according to survey findings released today by the Department of Commerce.

Commerce’s survey found that 82 percent of residents and 89 percent of businesses that currently use landlines expect to continue. Landlines are viewed as critical for safety and emergencies, with 60 percent of residents and 78 percent of city governments citing that as an important reason for maintaining service.

More detail…

Minnesota has 400,000 residential landlines and 400,000 landlines that serve businesses or governments. The survey, conducted by Wilder Research, attracted 2,015 responses from residents, city governments, and businesses. High satisfaction levels were found across rural, small town, large town, and urban populations.

The survey covered all regions of the state, which is served by more than 100 landline providers. Despite the high levels of satisfaction reported generally, Commerce still regularly receives and investigates complaints about service failures from customers.

Respondents with landlines do not discount the utility of cell phones. Among residential respondents, 79 percent said they also see cell phones as very important.

Other findings from Commerce’s survey:

• More than 8 in 10 business and city government users said their operations would be impacted if they stopped using landline phone service. The majority reported the impacts would be significant.

• Nearly 1 in 5 residential respondents do not have broadband internet. Many believe it is unnecessary or too expensive.

• Residents, businesses, and city governments all reported being more satisfied with their landline service than with their cell phone service.