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AT&T wants the FCC's blessing to shut down PSTN
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AT&T has asked the FCC to create a timetable that would allow the company to shut down its analog public switched telephone network (PSTN). AT&T said doing so is the only way to meet Congress' goal of covering all Americans with broadband services as more investment would flow to its IP-based initiatives.
"That transition is under way already," AT&T wrote to the FCC. "With each passing day, more and more communications services migrate to broadband and IP-based services, leaving the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and plain-old telephone service (POTS) as relics of a bygone era."
AT&T argues that having to maintain and invest in two networks--broadband and the PSTN--means Congress' goal won't be met efficiently or timely. The company said that while 90 percent of Americans have access to broadband services, reaching that last 10 percent would require an investment of about $350 billion. Meanwhile, AT&T continues to struggle with its own 3G network because of data hungry smartphone users.
"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 wrote to the FCC.
AT&T also said that less than 20 percent of Americans rely exclusively on POTS for voice service, while 25 percent of households have abandoned POTS. It noted that some 700,000 lines are being turned off each month.
AT&T outlined steps for shutting down the PSTN and wants the FCC to swiftly follow them. AT&T's letter was in response to a public query from the FCC seeking comment on how the nation should migrate from circuit-switched networks to all-IP voice networks.
For more:
- see this eWeek article
Related articles:
AT&T CTO defends mobile broadband network
AT&T: HSPA coming to six markets by year end
AT&T: 3G network plan no longer includes HSPA+
AT&T outlines plans for increasing HSPA data speeds and bandwidth
Comments
Posted by Anonymous | January 4, 2010 - 2:33pm
You talk about ripping the ground up. I think the FCC should take them up on that request. They are looking for a reason to cut off those old lines and bolster their U-Verse offering, but it is an interesting idea that I would call them on.
Posted by Anonymous | January 5, 2010 - 12:07pm
POTS or Plain Ol' Telephone System cables would remain in place (until the mining begins), but that digital signal to your house or business in a lot of places needs to get there via wireline anyway. The employment levels at AT&T would drop dramatically if this gets pushed through and AT&T gets another blank check w/ empty promises.
"... the question is when, not if, POTS service and the PSTN over which it is provided will become obsolete," AT&T wrote to the FCC."
Sounds like they are going to do what they want to do anyway. That's how the ship runs now.
THAT'S the New AT&T! - Keep it up, Randall & crew. You are the Taliban fightin' the Workin' Man! (and woman)
Posted by Anonymous | January 5, 2010 - 6:13pm
I think it's reasonable and appropriate to start working on legislation that would allow the sunsetting of POTS service. It must however come with VoIP service assurances so that the basic tenants of the POTS network are supported. Ideas like everyone in the US should have access and no one is blocked from using their access to reach anyone else. Quality standards need to be adopted too. That doesn't by the way mean everyone should have access to all services, but at least to a basic set of services. Then we can have all kinds of fun determining what "basic services" should be.
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