Dial F for Finished
The city Department of Education is planning to phase out traditional landlines at its 1,800 schools. They are seeking bids from companies to install a fully online telecommunications system.
A DOE representative mentioned, “As our schools, city, and world evolve, we are exploring telecommunications alternatives to reduce our reliance on outdated landlines.”
The DOE is focusing on creating a resilient and reliable system that can withstand disruptions and reduce service restoration times,” the representative added.
They have sent out an information request to potential bidders for a new telecommunications system.

The DOE aims to transition to a unified, resilient, and cost-effective Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) system across its schools and administrative sites.
The new system must support 150,000 staff members and 900,000 students, with multilingual features to facilitate communication with parents.
This telecom overhaul is expected to take place under Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s administration.
Additionally, New York schools have banned the use of personal cell phones during class periods, as approved by Governor Kathy Hochul.
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

