[MarinTeams] Loss of "twisted-pair" POTS telephone subscription service

[Michael Gold]

Hi, Bill and all. The FCC order does not mandate that customers must
transition on Aug 2, and it would not be possible for all the security
systems and fire alarms anyway. Not to mention doctors' offices and
clinics, plus deaf terminals. Yes a price rise will have many of these
systems switching to VoIP, fax-over-IP, and whatever those security systems
are using (x.25?), and it's wise to be on the alert for this. But the VoIP
companies are exaggerating what the FCC actually said. Here's another
perspective
https://www.nojitter.com/consultant-perspectives/death-pots-not-quite-heres-why

Unfortunately ditching POTS raises a new problem - if power is not
available on your end, you won't have voice/fax/whatever over IP.

As I recall, POTS was not especially reliable after the 1989 earthquake
anyway--because overloaded--and I don't expect cellular will be resilient
if it were to happen tomorrow. So let's all stay ready on 2 meters.

-MG, AJ6RZ

On Mon, Jul 25, 2022 at 2:14 PM Bill <wbs at hbco2.com> wrote:

> From Radio World (edited) and http://thepotsreplacement.com/ (edited)
>
> It's the end of POTS and ISDN as we know it.
>
> When the FCC 19-72A1 order takes effect from August 2nd, 2022, the shutdown
> of remaining POTS and ISDN services in the US will commence and become
> real.
>
> Implications
>
> What does this mean you may ask? Well, you will be affected if you:
>
> .       Still use a POTS codec, fax or modem that uses "twisted pair"
> telephone service.
> .       Have any analog Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) "twisted pair"
> subscriptions (e.g. a plain old wired Bell Telephone).
>
> The Sunset of Copper POTS ("Plain Old Telephone Service") Lines FCC order
> 19-72A1 (issued August 2, 2019) has officially granted telecommunications
> carriers permission to abandon copper POTs lines. Per the order, carriers
> are not only released from maintaining this critical part of the
> communications infrastructure - they also are no longer required to make
> this important element of telecommunications service available to
> consumers.
> The change has already begun. As a result of the Order, carriers are
> [reportedly] increasing pricing for existing POTS lines by 75% - 150% in a
> concerted effort to force customer migration off of the POTS line
> infrastructure. Some customers are receiving communication from their
> carriers informing them that their current POTS line services will no
> longer
> be available after "X" date. In any case, the FCC Order mandates that
> customers and resellers of POTS line services must transition to an
> alternative service on or before August 2, 2022.
>
> From what I understand, requests for new twisted-pair (copper) telephone
> service will no longer be available after August 2, 2022.  All future
> telephone service will be VIOP over fiber.  Existing subscriptions may be
> honored (though as mentioned above, possibly at higher subscription fees)
> until they are eventually phased out.
>
> Note for emergency purposes, when using VOIP (voice over Internet): "911"
> calls may be affected, and also telephone service in general is likely to
> be
> dependent upon availability of utility power.
>
> 73 de Bill, AB6MT
>
>
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