hmphd

When was this?

I didn't have a cell phone for years after they were available and popular(I'm talking about iphone era and all) due to incarceration among other issues, I've spent more time than the average bear on a variety of phones. Pay or otherwise.

I have never had that problem on a landline. Maybe some mild static with a cordless phone but from mid 90's on what you're describing was not a big deal at all.