This seems like an old thread, but it looks to be revived.
Phone service can be supported over coax cable if your phone provider is your cable company (Cox, Comcast, Time Warner, etc.).
My house was new construction when I bought it last year and Qwest was supposed to come out and bury a cable from the box to my NID. They never did it, so I don't have any twisted-pair cable running to my house. Fortunately, I have my phone service through my cable provider (VoIP), so it is a non-issue.
However, I may have to "disclose" the fact that my house doesn't have this wire when it comes time for me to sell. It depends on what the local disclosure laws are here... still not sure.
Then again, I would think that Qwest would come out now and put the cable in if they ever hope to get any service from this household!
~Hans
