On 3/20/2023 9:05, Steven Fleckenstein, N2UBP wrote:
Frontier is not a very progressive telco. I haven't worked there for several years, but I've never heard of someone being pushed off of
their service for fiber. It sounds like a marketing ploy to push
people to *buy* new service. I find it very unlikely that they
are shutting down copper POTS.
Note Verizon *is* engaged in an aggressive campaign to migrate POTS
users in FIOS-fed neighborhoods over. Their catch phrase is "Fiber is
the only Fix." I was forced off two years ago.
The reason, as told to me by a recent ex-employee, is money. Not just
their decaying, East Germany-ish, level of outside copper plant, but the
5ESS's feeding those POTS users. They may be a sunk cost, but they have {significant} ongoing license fees on their software aka "Generic".
And as the number of POTS users declines, the $$/user goes up and up.
If/when you get VZ phone service over FIOS, which I call "FOPS", no 5E
is needed. I was told all FIOS calls in the extended DC region go via a Ribbon/Genband switch in Reston VA. That's a lot of bits.
(Note there are two flavors of FOPS. One is regulated, tariffed,
service. The other is from some {allegedly} arms-length VZ subsidiary
called "Digital Voice" I believe. Or you can just buy data-only FIOS,
and port your number to Callcentric or another VOIP carrier. That's the
route I went.)
The unanswered question is what shall VZ do about neighborhoods lacking
FIOS? In Maryland at least, they ARE required to provide service. Other
states, they have escaped from that commitment.
We see they are deploying FIOS in some new areas, but I wonder how long
before they start claiming 5-GeeWhiz cellular service, with VZ's
cell-phone box screwed to your wall, shall be your only choice. I'm
aware of someone in central Virginia already so served.
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