I love the pervasive myth that you don't need electricity to use a landline phone in 2012. You're more likely to have a working cell phone (generator @ the tower) than a working phone line in an area with FTTH (say, Verizon FIOS deployments, or cable co. VOIP deployments). Sure, the PON and gear has a battery backup, but it doesn't last anywhere near as long as the generator at the cell tower, or the battery in my cellphone.

In the Bay Area, I think most homes still have POTS lines. I wasn't aware most lines weren't already. Where are POTS lines no longer available?

By law, they're available everywhere if you specifically request them.

Verizon, when they install FIOS, will rip out the copper, by default. If you switch to another CLEC at a later date, you (or they) will have to pay to have copper put back in. You can request Verizon not remove the copper though, but you have to be aware of the need beforehand.

Interesting... I'm actually in Europe, and the phone line is on the back of the cable modem, so if there is a combined power failure we are out of luck...

My cable modem has an internal battery backup (Comcast Business in California); if you unplug your modem does the phone still work?