Still Using a Landline? (Raleigh: home security, gated, FIOS)

[rfb]

Originally Posted by Bull City Rising

If copper goes, it will not automatically be replaced with fiber in many to most places.

In plenty of places, wireless (cell) phones will be expected to be the replacement.

That's great for urban areas (well, maybe), but not for rural areas. Where our vacation home is, there's only cell signal for US Cellular including VZW roaming. No landline? No 911, no ambulance, no sheriff, no nothing.

We have a mechanism through the Universal Service Fund to subsidize service in rural areas, but will it be enough?

Folks impacted by Sandy a few years back in communities where VZ and others don't want to rebuild have been through this already....

AT&T has (or at least had) a VoiP device you could deploy to provide a local node for your wireless phone to connect to. I had a friend in Chatham County with no mobile service who used it on his property. It won't work without power, of course, but it sounds like fiber land-line service won't, either.

[h2ohzrd]

I gave up both my landline and clothesline. Don't miss either.

[Bull City Rising]

Originally Posted by rfb

AT&T has (or at least had) a VoiP device you could deploy to provide a local node for your wireless phone to connect to. I had a friend in Chatham County with no mobile service who used it on his property. It won't work without power, of course, but it sounds like fiber land-line service won't, either.

Yep, a microcell or femtocell.

That lets your DSL or cable modem service back haul your wireless carrier service if you are not in a served area.

On the other hand, there are some people for whom landline is their only Internet option, via dial up or DSL. If the ILEC is allowed to kill copper service and not backfill with fiber, the resident is stuck with essentially cellular pricing and service for Internet -- if they even have wireless service.

[rfb]

Originally Posted by Bull City Rising

Yep, a microcell or femtocell.

That lets your DSL or cable modem service back haul your wireless carrier service if you are not in a served area.

On the other hand, there are some people for whom landline is their only Internet option, via dial up or DSL. If the ILEC is allowed to kill copper service and not backfill with fiber, the resident is stuck with essentially cellular pricing and service for Internet -- if they even have wireless service.

That sounds right. He used satellite for his service, but it is a bit limiting IMO.

[Bull City Rising]

Originally Posted by rfb

That sounds right. He used satellite for his service, but it is a bit limiting IMO.

Correct, satellite can be an option -- but it is very expensive, and comes with tiny data caps and high latencies. No online streaming or video, no Netflix, no YouTube, and you're paying multiples of what it would cost for a DSL or cable modem that could do all those things.

[don6170]

Originally Posted by frankpc

So your home could lose power, but the phone service would still work.

Unless, as many discovered with Hurricane Fran, you were served off a remote (SLC-96, Nortel OPM, etc). Those were typically only sized for 8-hour battery back-up. BellSouth tried putting out generators at the remotes, but some/many of those were stolen.

[rfb]

Originally Posted by Bull City Rising

Correct, satellite can be an option -- but it is very expensive, and comes with tiny data caps and high latencies. No online streaming or video, no Netflix, no YouTube, and you're paying multiples of what it would cost for a DSL or cable modem that could do all those things.

He was far enough in the country that cable or DSL weren't options, so satellite was the best (only) option. No doubt he would jump at the other alternatives.

[frankpc]

Originally Posted by don6170

Unless, as many discovered with Hurricane Fran, you were served off a remote (SLC-96, Nortel OPM, etc). Those were typically only sized for 8-hour battery back-up. BellSouth tried putting out generators at the remotes, but some/many of those were stolen.

Even Central Office based lines are powered via equipment tied to batteries with diesel generator backups. But the generators still have to start, the fuel for the generators must be replenished, etc. So none of it provides absolute reliability.

But it sorta proves the point - the traditional POTS network was reliable enough that the move to local power is causing concerns. Even if those concerns are readily fixed.

Frank

[frankpc]

The FCC voted on this yesterday. Highlights of the FCC dialogue:

- "However, carriers will retain the flexibility to retire their copper networks in favor of fiber without prior Commission approval—as long as no service is discontinued, reduced, or impaired,"
- "for the first time requires providers to directly notify retail customers—including consumers and businesses—of plans to retire copper networks at least three months in advance,"
-"Fiber brings great cost savings, great efficiencies, and great opportunities for new services. But it does not bring the opportunity to walk away from the responsibilities that govern the relationship between those who build and those who use the facilities."

The FCC also adopted a new rule for local powering of phone service when network power is not provided.

http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Rele...C-334755A1.pdf

Essentially stating that Service Providers must offer an optional, for purchase, local power option sufficient for 8 hours (in three years that changes to 24 hours). The SPs must also inform customers of the power issue so that they may make informed decisions.

Frank

[RaleighLass]

Originally Posted by Poggly Woggly

Landline been gone for some time. Got tired of telemarketers and answer machines. Got a cabinet full of shotguns

Same here! I was paying for it so that telemarketers could call. Now they've started calling my cell