Greetings,
I agree with the drop check first, take a phone to the pedestal and after hooking direct you will have your answer on the condition of the drop. Next, I am only guessing, if the line is incredibly full of harsh static it is usually moisture popping through the twisted pair. There is a chance you have some old lines between you and the MCC, or Master Control, (wharever they are calling their switch sheds today) and this old line is pressurized, you have seen those big tanks chained to telephone poles before, right? With the line going right into the phone cable, usually these were lead lines and they kept pressure in them to keep moisture out, Whenever the lines are struck or damaged releasing the pressure inside then they would begin to suck moisture and water. Almost always, if you have loud static and popping going on over a phone line it is moisture. Another idea is to check with people up and down the road from you to see if they are experiencing the same problems. I hope you find it, or you may be very stressed by the time the 17th gets here.
Petergunn
