Almost everyone has a cell phone nowadays, especially college students. That's why the University of Illinois at Springfield is choosing to eliminate land line service in its student housing.
Housing Director John Ringle says starting over the Christmas break land line service will be disconnected.
"By cutting off that particular monthly expense for the 1,100 residents that are living on campus, that comes out to a pretty significant savings on the course of a fiscal year," Ringle said.
Ringle says the jack will remain, but if you plug a phone into it, you won't have service unless you request it.
"Students can plug a phone in, let us know they want to activate it as a line and then we will charge them accordingly next fiscal year. For those that still want it this fiscal year, we think because it's mid-year, we should work with them and give them the opportunity to keep it if they want to," Ringle said.
Ringle says it will be a savings of about $125,000 a year. Ringle says that savings will help pay for carpet replacement and new furniture.
The story was featured by WICS-TV 20 on October 28, 2010.
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