Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

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."

13 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 jibster · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I don't think you need to have BB to do VOIP, afterall if you have enough bandwidth to do voice, you have enough bandwidth to do voice (over ip.) I think your mistake is in assuming they mean any change in the physical infrastructure when in actual fact they only intend to change the protocall operating on that infrastructure.

    2. Re:Dial-up is all there is some places... by TimeElf1 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      With only 60% of the US having access to broadband I'm thinking opposition is going to come from everywhere.

      --
      Cannot find REALITY.SYS. Universe halted.
    3. Re:Dial-up is all there is some places... by _xeno_ · · Score: 4, Insightful

      But can you do dial-up over VOIP?

      I mean, sure, you'd think that if the phone network was IP-based, you'd be able to get general Internet access through it, too. Is that really the case, though?

      First issue, is this VOIP-to-the-home, or just VOIP-to-the-switch-box? A logical first step would be to switch over to VOIP just before the last-mile, to allow people to keep their existing phones - which (I think) would kill dial-up and faxes. A later second step would be to move the final transition point to the telephone box at the house.

      And even if it is running VOIP all the way to the home, you have to assume that the telco will allow people to connect to the Internet via their network. This is something regulation can solve (by forcing the issue), but still, that means new equipment. And most likely new fees. And quite possibly a loss of choice over ISP.

      So there will have to be some concession to people still using dial-up - especially if they're not planning on moving the entire network to VOIP all at once.

      --
      You are in a maze of twisty little relative jumps, all alike.
    4. 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.

    5. Re:Dial-up is all there is some places... by commodore64_love · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I have broadband but I oppose disconnecting the old phone system for the following reasons:

      - When my DSL stopped working a few weeks ago (DSLAM needed replacement) I then used dialup to access the internet. 50k is slow but still useful for emailing, listening to online radio, or even watching youtube.

      - Dialup is portable. I can use it any place and any hotel that has a phone line. No need to pay the outrageous $5-10/night the hotel charges for wireless or wired access.

      - If a three strike law happens, my DSL or Cable ISP might pull the plug, but my dialup will still be there for backup.

      - This morning when the electricity died, the wired phone was the only thing that still worked. Good to have for emergency.

      --
      "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
  2. The nice thing about POTS... by Peter+Simpson · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...is that the user terminal (the phone) is totally passive - no power needed, it's a totally dumb terminal, and very robust (at least, if it's a Western Electric product!). The POTS system is the result of some careful design and decades of improvements to increase reliability. That's not to say that there aren't benefits to be had from VOIP, just that we should think carefully before deciding that everyone will be converted to VOIP.

    Disclaimer: In addition to my nifty 2.4G multiple handset cordless phones with built-in caller ID and voicemail, I have two POTS phones which work fine when the power goes out.

    1. Re:The nice thing about POTS... by tverbeek · · Score: 5, Insightful

      POTS is a mature, robust technology that provides remarkably clear and reliable voice service throughout the country (nearly the globe) at an affordable cost.

      Of course we're going to replace it.

      --
      http://alternatives.rzero.com/
  3. 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.

  4. I'm No ure VO p is Rea y by sycodon · · Score: 5, Funny

    My compa y has VOIP an it see t have pro le wit cu out.

    --
    When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
  5. POTS is Powered! by mcrbids · · Score: 4, Insightful

    POTS works over low voltage DC. As I recall, it's somewhere in the vicinity of 48 volts, but don't quote me on that. It's entirely feasible to have a cheap, dedicated VOIP chip that runs on 48 volts and draws perhaps 50 to 100 miliamps of current - well within the normal range of today's POTS power draw.

    VOIP doesn't have to be VOInternet. They coul just as easily have a dedicated IP network for telephony, then run something like PPPOÈ or VPN to gateway to the public Internet and do away with separate SL MODEMs.

    You'd still probably need a long distance plan, even though the point of one is technically idiotic.

    --
    I have no problem with your religion until you decide it's reason to deprive others of the truth.
  6. 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).
  7. Re:How unfortunate... by Sandbags · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Do NOT confuse Voice over internet with Voice over IP. They are not necessarily the same.

    Your existing POTS lines today ARE running VOIP under the covers. The last mile is all that's really still a traditional POTS service in most cities. Once the calls hit central hubs, most of it is packetized traffic.

    Your home VoIP service likely sucks because either your internet connection is spotty, you're too far from reasonable servers, your VoIP modem is not properly installed and QoS (likely because it;s begind a router in your home instead of being directly connected to your modem), your modem is old and doesn't properly recognize and prioritize VoIP traffic, your ISP is purposefully degrading your ViOP service, or your VoIP provider (Vonage likely) is using a poor protocol and providing poor service quality themselves.

    I've been installing VoIP systems since 2001. MAJOR firms use tens of throusands of VoIP lines between offices worldwide with far superior call quality, routing capabilities, and redundancy, and for less money, than using PRIs and POTS lines.

    Having your local telcom switch to VOIP as a core solution has NOTHING TO DO with the VOIP service you are used to over the internet ala Centrex style.

    --
    There is no contest in life for which the unprepared have the advantage.