Are landline telephones still useful to have?

Dear John: You recently wrote about landline telephones and how they have become obsolete.

In an electrical blackout, cell phones and internet phones won’t work, But landlines likely will. So they are still an extra safety net for those who need them.

In one blackout, we were able to keep my widowed mom connected through the landline.

Of course, as time goes on, those with a landline will have fewer people to connect with as more people go to cell and internet phones only. W.P.

Dear W.P.: Thanks for bringing that up.

Also, some alarm systems do require a landline if your phone service is through a cable TV company.

So put that all together, and a landline telephone is only slightly more useful than my waffle iron.