Are phone lines underground ?

I was wondering if the "main" phone line is underground or on a pole of some sort. How does that work?

I moved into a older house but I don't see a outside phone box or phone cable of any sort. I do see some black cable that was cut but it looks like it might belong to a cable tv company.

My phone service has been activated but no dial tone in either jack.

I just would like to know what to look for to see if maybe a line was cut outside as someone has obviously tried cutting down this huge tree outside.

Like everyone says look for the green "B" boxes. About 2 feet tall by 6" to 8". They gather several phone lines together then head for a larger box somewhere.

Look on the outside of your house for an entrance box about 4" by 8" it may be in the wall with only the cover visible or mounted on the wall. I do not think it will be sealed (the little wire and lead seal) like your electric meter. That is where the phone company wire comes to your house. From there to the inside you own the wiring and are responsible unless you pay extra. Does a wire come down the side of the house to the box or seem to come up to the bottom of the box? The wiring into your house should go out the back of the box. could be underground .. this site has pictures and more!

If you have underground phone wiring in your neighborhood, as opposed to phone wiring that runs in the air on poles, then you will frequently see these little boxes all over your neighborhood -- one for every two or three houses or so. A typical box in the southeastern United States might look like this: Look for some small greenish (most of the time) boxes near the curb. That is where the main fibre optic cable comes into the neighborhood and then is transferred to the copper that is used inside residential homes. the cable should be underground in most circumstances It is most likely buried, but it depends on how old the house is. Most lines are aerial, but can be made burial by calling the phone company.

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