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FCC Preparing Transition To VoIP Telephone Network

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the only-a-matter-of-time dept.

mantis2009 writes "The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published a request for public comment (PDF) on an upcoming transition from the decades-old circuit-based Public Switched Telephone Network to a new system run entirely with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology. This is perhaps the most serious indication to date that the legacy telephone system will, in the near future, reach the end of its life. This public commenting phase represents a very early stage in what will undoubtedly be a very complex transition that makes this year's bumpy switch from analog to digital television look relatively easy."

4 of 250 comments (clear)

  1. Dial-up is all there is some places... by BubbaDave · · Score: 5, Informative

    The death of dial-up has been greatly exaggerated. No broadband available where I am in NY, within 50 miles of Syracuse.

    Dave

    1. Re:Dial-up is all there is some places... by DrPepper · · Score: 5, Informative

      I think a lot of people have missed the point on this. As I read it, the proposal is to replace the core infrastructure with VoIP based technology - ie. the circuits between exchanges. Existing POTS lines will still be used back to users to terminate calls. This is already in progress in the UK - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BT_21CN.

  2. Re:How unfortunate... by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 4, Informative

    POTS is pretty reliable; but secure? Really?

    You can tap a POTS line with a couple of alligator clips and a speaker, and almost no standard telephones have even the most primitive encryption or obfuscation support, much less anything standardized.

  3. Re:So we don't anticipate any blackouts, ever? by ByOhTek · · Score: 4, Informative

    It doesn't specify that the IP based service has to start in home. As far as I can tell, it could be a standard RJ11/single-twisted pair to the base station where it then gets routed via IP.

    A home user wouldn't notice the difference.

    --
    Self proclaimed typo king, and inventor of the bear destroying coffee table (patent not pending).