In article uVeQf.811988$x96.651673@attbi_s72,
"mgarvie" wrote:

I wouldn't just pigtail all the phone lines in my house
together and then tie it into the phone company?

That is EXACTLY what you should do, whether at a an official NID (Network
Interface Device) or old protector. Since your service is provided over a
single, copper pair, all station wiring is "commoned" at some point.
--

JR