AT&T Inc told U.S. telecoms regulators that it should set plans for phasing out older telephone networks if the government wants to make high-speed Internet access available across the country.
AT&T, the original U.S. phone operator, described older voice-based “circuit switched” telephone systems and service as “relics of a by-gone era” in a filing with the Federal Communications Commission dated Dec. 21.
It said that the government’s goal of 100 percent broadband Internet access is in reach only if resources are moved away from “plain-old telephone service”, known in the industry as POTS and the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
Otherwise “Congress’s goal of universal access to broadband will not be met in a timely or efficient manner if providers are forced to continue to invest in and to maintain two networks,” AT&T said in the filing.
“Due to technological advances, changes in consumer preference, and market forces, the question is when, not if, POTS service and the PSTN over which it is provided will become obsolete,” AT&T said.
More than 90 percent of the population has access to broadband, according to AT&T the country’s biggest operator with expected 2009 revenue of about $123 billion. It said that phone companies will continue to work to cover the rest of the country, but will need some encouragement from regulators.
AT&T was created in the late 19th century to build a communications network that would stretch across the United States, and became the dominant U.S. phone company.
It has gone through multiple changes since then, including a breakup in the 1980s, but remains the largest U.S. telephone company by revenue.
Source Reuters
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March 7th, 2010 at 01:28
The dismantling of the 911 landline system will cost many lives. How will AT&T handle the blame and will it be worth it to them? When AT&T bought this network, it became their responsibility to maintain it. Just because it is not as profitable as other areas in the Company is not sufficient reason to dismantle it. The Company has many departments that are making significant profits. I think billions a year in profits gives the Company plenty of money to offset any loss from the landlines. There are many people who rely on our landlines, especially our senior and disabled customers. If landlines are discontinued, AT&T will be leaving the majority of those people with no telephone service. It is immoral to take this service away from the people who need it the most. It is up to AT&T to walk their talk and show some integrity and responsibility by maintaining these lines. They bought the network and this obligation came with it. I think it is inappropriate for AT&T to act like a carpetbagger and strip away the parts of the Company that are not pure profit without regard for the consequences of its actions.
March 7th, 2010 at 01:21
When the Company filed with the FCC to eliminate landlines, it conveyed a total lack of integrity since it was done is secret, without anyone knowing anything about it. AT&T also demonstrated a complete lack of respect by not notifying the employees who are going to be affected by this change. My colleagues and I will be out of a job because of this change. We get notified about everything that the Company does, from mergers to cell phones, to television service. But the Company files to eliminate landlines and feels no need to notify its employees? Wouldn’t common courtesy, respect and integrity require that the Company notify us of such news? I think so.
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March 7th, 2010 at 01:22
The Central Office has backup power that can be used to maintain the telephone lines in emergencies. We have several days’ worth of backup power at every Central Office. If there is an earthquake or some other disaster that causes a loss of commercial power, people will still have telephone service available to them if they have a landline. On the other hand, most cell sites and VoIP run on commercial power, so if there were no landlines, that means that not only would people be in potential danger, they would likely have no phone service and be unable to contact anyone. Just because a technology is old doesn’t mean that it’s no good anymore. I often used to wonder why AT&T never bothered to advertise the advantages of having a landline, such as having access to a phone after a disaster or after commercial power has gone out. I guess that I have my answer now.
March 7th, 2010 at 01:25
There is no suitable substitute for the 911 landline system. When a person’s life is at risk, seconds count and they could mean the difference between life and death. The current 911 landline system allows a 911 operator to immediately identify the location of the caller and to send help without delay. The dismantling of the current landline system will leave a caller who is in shock, in trouble, distressed or dying the responsibility of giving their address to a 911 operator and this could cause significant delays in receiving the help they need. Have you heard about 911 calls where the operator sends help just in the nick of time when several seconds made the difference in someone surviving or not? I have. When I was six years old, my mother was dying of acute appendicitis and I called the operator for help. The operator knew where we were when I called. If she wouldn’t have had that information available to her, my mother would have died. How many deaths are acceptable in the struggle to make money and corporate profits? Are you willing to risk your life? How about the lives of your family?
March 7th, 2010 at 01:28
When AT&T bought this network, it became their responsibility to maintain it. Just because it is not as profitable as other areas in the Company is not sufficient reason to dismantle it. The Company has many departments that are making significant profits. I think 12.8 Billion a year in profits gives the Company plenty of money to offset any loss from the landlines. There are many people who rely on our landlines, especially our senior and disabled customers. If landlines are discontinued, AT&T will be leaving the majority of those people with no telephone service. It is immoral to take this service away from the people who need it the most. It is up to AT&T to walk their talk and show some integrity and responsibility by maintaining these lines. They bought the network and this obligation came with it. I think it is inappropriate for AT&T to act like a carpetbagger and strip away the parts of the Company that are not pure profit without regard for the consequences of its actions.