Posted on 03/03/2014 10:30:55 AM PST by chessplayer
The Walker County town of Carbon Hill has been selected by AT&T for a national technology trial that will help the telecommunications giant determine the best way to move all of its customers to internet-based phone services and away from traditional copper-wire landlines.
(Excerpt) Read more at al.com ...
I wouldn’t have a problem ditching the landline but cell service is pretty much non existent here. To use my cell I have to go out to the middle of the lake.
Kinda like Green Acres.
>> Landlines still work in power outages in case of emergencies. Cell phones don’t.
Not necessarily. In fact after Francis, Jean, and Wilma the cell phone worked days before the landline and power were restored.
What does that have to do with anything being discussed?
When I switched my internet to Uverse about 2 years ago ATT tried like hell to switch my land line too, but I refused. But I’m going to make it easy for them since I’m about to cancel my phone service after having the same number for over 40 years.
I ended my landline phone service a decade ago. I don’t miss it one iota.
Believe it or not, that occurred to me too
ATT employee here. So what am I saying? Company is just trying to make a buck. I never cared for the bozos running the company but my paycheck arrived every 2 weeks for 30 years and the stock always did well. So what am I saying? This is about phone service, not horse and buggy issues.
I have a bundled package ( cable TV, internet, and landline ) with BrightHouse. I was considering dropping the phone, as I hardly ever use it, but when I called to inquire, the price differential would have been only about $15/month less. I figured for that price..stay with it. It would seem that they want you to keep the landline..it's like free $$ for them.
Will we ever have the technology that lets you have a cell hone and land line with the SAME number? I'd love that. I've been told ( not sure if it's true) that they could do it today..the technology's there, but the problem is the 911 system....if you had the same # the 911 systems can't as yet identify where you're calling from..and it would cost local governments a lot to upgrade.
Comments??
What about VOIP? How are you getting to FR?
“Landlines still work in power outages in case of emergencies”
This is the key point that people need to understand. The conventional landline telephone system is a CENTRALIZED system, which was designed for complete independence from the power grid. (No phone had to be plugged-in other than to light up the dial). But more importantly, the CENTRAL OFFICE had a large bank of batteries that could keep the entire system running regardless of whether power was on or not. There was a large diesel generator that could keep the batteries charged and run the central office switching gear as long as you could keep the fuel supplied to it.
None of this is true with wireless, DSL, VoIP, or fiber. The system was never designed to operate independently of grid power and it will not do so. First, most phones are electronic and require power in the home. Second. the network is DE-CENTRALIZED with amplifiers, repeaters, routers, bridges, and other electronic devices scattered all along the network. None of which have back-up power capable of sustained operation. Even if the central office does, it makes no difference because none of the fiber or copper lines will be active.
Some time ago the FCC tried to force the telcom companies to provide 24 hours of backup power for each cellphone tower. The Cellular Telephone Industry Association (CTIA) lobbied to get this killed because their member companies said they could not afford it. Then after Katrina, the FCC acted anyway, and the CTIA is using all it’s power and influence to fight this requirement in court.
So next time you’re in an emergency situation and your cellphone won’t work, thank the CTIA and your cellphone provider who paid them to make sure this is the case.
And thank the FCC if you have a medical condition or other reason to have a fully-reliable 24/7/365 telephone available if they continue to allow telecom providers to remove the option of POTS landline service.
Mtns....my first thought too.
I am about to shut ours off soon. The only reason we still have it is for the occasional outgoing fax.
Maybe that’s because we both have top-of-the-line tin-foil hats...
http://www.gigapixel.com/image/gigapan-canucks-g7.html
BEFORE THE RIOT version 1 - The Vancouver Canucks Fan Zone along Georgia St. for Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final was captured at 5:46 pm on June 15, 2011. It is made up of 216 photos (12 across by 18 down) stitched together, taken over a 15-minute span, and is not supposed to represent a single moment in time. The final hi-res file is 69,394 X 30,420 pixels or 2,110 megapixels. Special thanks to Bonita Howard and CBC Real Estate. | View Version 2
**To use my cell I have to go out to the middle of the lake.**
That is when you lose all your guns in boating accidents too. <~:)
Switched over before Christmas. The device has a power pack much like a laptop. And is Aa portable. Has much better signal than a cell. Know at leader one truck driver that adapted it to stay inside his rig
Seems like a dumb move. They already have the lines strung. Sure there is some maintenance involved but if ATT isn’t any different than Magic Jack who needs them. Mandatory Internet service?
As cable and telephone are both monopoly based services, and further that higher capacity cables are usable by both, why aren’t they mandated to share a common cable in all future infrastructure?
Melding old with new would not pose much of a challenge.
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