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mixdup
join:2003-06-28
Alpharetta, GA

1 recommendation

mixdup

Member

matter of time

If the "IP transition" that Verizon and AT&T want to see happen results in widespread rollout of FiOS, then I think people shouldn't complain. There are wide swaths of ATT/VZ areas who are stuck on old, legacy DSL and those are the areas that they want to drop completely.

TO expect the old, copper, PSTN to live on forever is silly. However, they should be held to the same universal service standards (and internet access of a minimum speed should be added to universal service requirements) and wireless should not be considered a suitable replacement as long as there are draconian data caps in place.

However, to get FiOS instead of just dumped onto wireless or abandoned completely would be a dream come true to many people.

Imathrowaway
@172.242.86.x

1 recommendation

Imathrowaway

Anon

You do understand that FiOS can do copper loop replacement, right? Like, not "digital voice", but deliver a circuit switched, landline loop over fiber, right?

The implication that the PSTN is incompatible with fiber is largely a load of crap. As is their forcing FiOS customers to switch to that - this is a recent development; they've run individual users over fiber right onto the POTS switches since FiOS first came out.

fg8578
join:2009-04-26
San Antonio, TX

fg8578 to mixdup

Member

to mixdup
Right now there is no "universal service" obligation for broadband in the law. Universal service applies to POTS only.

But if ISPs want subsidies in order to deploy broadband, then I agree that universal service obligations should apply.

mixdup
join:2003-06-28
Alpharetta, GA

mixdup to Imathrowaway

Member

to Imathrowaway
said by Imathrowaway :

You do understand that FiOS can do copper loop replacement, right? Like, not "digital voice", but deliver a circuit switched, landline loop over fiber, right?

The implication that the PSTN is incompatible with fiber is largely a load of crap. As is their forcing FiOS customers to switch to that - this is a recent development; they've run individual users over fiber right onto the POTS switches since FiOS first came out.

Then what is the complaint, that they are being forced on VoIP instead of a circuit switched voice product delivered over fiber?

There should be a transition period, heavily advertised, and worked through with all the various stakeholders, but just like AMPS eventually died, circuit switched voice will go away. They can't be expected to keep up old analog technology just for alarm companies to never upgrade their equipment.

That said, wireless should never be acceptable as a replacement, and broadband should be added to universal service requirements.
WhatNow
Premium Member
join:2009-05-06
Charlotte, NC

WhatNow

Premium Member

Leaving them on switched circuits is redundant and expensive. I guess Verizon could charge extra for people to keep the POTS service over FiOS. The VoIP does the same thing over IP that POTS does. The other problem is it is getting harder and harder to get parts for the switches. The best switch service is in the same place in history that horse and buggies were when Ford came out with the Model T. The Telcos no longer have the monopoly to support the system that POTS lived under. How can the telcos support an old system when 2/3 of those customers have dropped that type of service.

That said almost every customer that is connected to the power grid should also have or be getting FTTH soon.

Cmon
@verizon.net

Cmon

Anon

Pots is government regulated (price fixed). The fiber network is not. Vz is conning many into switching onto their FIOS network for voice only without telling them they are giving up their rights to regulated copper service. They are also telling them it is not "FIOS" just upgraded fiber lines. They are also not told their new fiber line may not work if they have a power failure (after the battery backup dies). For some people this is important information. How important would it be for a disabled or elderly person with a medical device (such as a medic alert type) to know that when a power outage occurs they may lose their ability to get emergency services?

mixdup
join:2003-06-28
Alpharetta, GA

mixdup

Member

said by Cmon :

Pots is government regulated (price fixed). The fiber network is not. Vz is conning many into switching onto their FIOS network for voice only without telling them they are giving up their rights to regulated copper service. They are also telling them it is not "FIOS" just upgraded fiber lines. They are also not told their new fiber line may not work if they have a power failure (after the battery backup dies). For some people this is important information. How important would it be for a disabled or elderly person with a medical device (such as a medic alert type) to know that when a power outage occurs they may lose their ability to get emergency services?

Then those things are what need to be fixed, not an endless continuation of the old analog PSTN. We want broadband expansion but we want them to keep supporting old copper. We bitch about not expanding fiber, and then bitch when they do. I agree that new regulatory systems need to be put into place on things like FiOS and U-Verse, but that shouldn't include supporting the PSTN forever.

fg8578
join:2009-04-26
San Antonio, TX

fg8578

Member

I should amend this to say that the FCC did recently modify the universal service fund rules so that subsidies can now (as of November, 2011) be applied to broadband. But those subsidies are for telcos only, not cable companies.