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Could PSTN Go Away By 2018?

Posted by timothy on from the hullo-operator dept.

An anonymous reader writes "If current rates hold, only 6% of the U.S. population will still be served by the public switched telephone network by the end of 2018. Tom Evslin reports that the 'Technical Advisory Council (TAC) to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recommended last week that the FCC set a date certain for the sunset of the PSTN rather than let the service fade slowly into oblivion as it is doing now.' Since doing 'nothing' isn't really possible, he suggests: (possibly) end(ing) the Universal Service Fund subsidies, ensuring PSTN-dependent services like E911 work on new technologies, and assuring that everyone who now has PSTN service has access to either a broadband or cellular communication alternative."

2 of 305 comments (clear)

  1. Just try to switch it off by geekrule · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Sure few user use it, but remaining users are pure Luddutes.
    Just look what happened when analog broadcasting was switched off.

  2. Just try to switch it off by geekrule · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Sure few user use it, but remaining users are pure Luddutes.
    Just look what happened when analog broadcasting was switched off.