[BC] Telephone--what's a telephone?

[Ira Wilner]

Well, the Telecoms have been asking that the, old world, last resort 
reliability rules for them be removed so they could compete with the newer 
boys on the block who do not have to meet those standards.  And now it's 
happening.  For example, with FioS or similar fiber to the home, the Telecom 
no longer is in the power business.  No CO battery to maintain that also 
powers the CPE, like a desk set.  No more can you rely upon the dial light 
from your phone to give you something to see in the dark during a power 
outage.  If you don't provide your own emergency power you will be cut off 
from the rest of the world.  But so many folks have already dropped their 
land lines for cellular, having dial tone over copper is a moot issue.

In some ways we've come full circle from the days of the Rural 
Electrification Administration and the must serve rules for telephony to 
insure the last mile was run,  back to you're on your own again.  The one 
exception is the rural broadband initiative which seems to parallel the REA 
but in the 21st century.  Welcome to the world of ones and zeros on the ever 
expanding information highway.  Either jump on the train or get left behind.

--Ira

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-----Original Message----- 
From: Tom Taggart

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