My parents were changing ISPs and we were told by the guys doing the connection that a cell phone number was necessary. We have been with this ISP a few times before and a cell was never required (we change when the other company has a sale).

I was the only one in the family with a cell at the time.

This happened a short time after I started degoogling so I had no problem saying no when someone asks me for personally identifiable information. I asked the tech “I just got home from work, what would you do if I wasn’t here?” and “Not everyone has a cell phone, you must have a procedure for those people” He seemed dumbfounded by my questions and refusal to hand over a cell number.

Bud kept insisting, I kept saying no. He caved and used Dad’s email address.