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COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The economic squeeze is taking a hold at the University of Maryland as students ditch landline phones for cell phones, but the university doesn't plan on getting rid of landline phones anytime soon.

University of Maryland student Anthony Coburger says he never bothered to bring a landline phone with him when he moved into his dorm since he's mobile. "I just use my cell phone whenever I need to call anyone."

Landline phones are becoming almost obsolete as more students choose to go wireless. "I don't own a landline phone, I don't ever use it, none of my friends do either," said one student. Another student said, "I didn't even know we had landline phones, so I mean nobody really uses them here. We all have cell phones and that's the easiest way to contact us anyways."

But students who decide to live on campus are required to pay a telecommunications fee that includes the cost of operating and maintaining a phone line. "It's not a separate line item for telephone or for data. Telephone charge is, per month, on the order of $12 or so," said Jan Davidson, university official.

Many on-campus residents don't understand why they have to foot the bill when they're not placing any calls. "I think it's unnecessary. I think they should get rid of it, because I don't know anybody that uses it, so I think it's a waste of money," said one student.

But the university doesn't think it is a waste of money. In case of an emergency, officials say landline phones can reduce response times. "Should you dial 911 from your university phone, you're speaking directly to a dispatcher with the University of Maryland police. That's not the case calling 911 with a cellular phone," said Davidson.

Plus, the university doesn't want to assume everyone has a cell phone. "I think for the next several years we're not likely to see changes. The point at which we make a change I think will be driven by a new technology that becomes available," said Davidson.

The campus is looking into developing the infrastructure to deliver voice data and cable over fiber optics. When the technology is fine-tuned, it could replace the current system, meaning the elimination of land lines.

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