---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-ID: <20171006005111.GA12451@telecom.csail.mit.edu> Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2017 20:51:11 -0400 From: Bill Horne <bill@horneQRM.net> Subject: Verizon to discontinue legacy services across seven-state area U.S. telecom behemoth, Verizon Communications Inc VZ is reportedly seeking permission from the U.S. telecom regulator Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to discontinue four legacy interstate DS0 services across parts of seven states. These legacy voice and low-speed data services are Voice Grade Service, WATS Access Line Service, Digital Data Service and DIGIPATH Digital Service II. The affected states include Delaware, Maryland, New England, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Verizon has about 10 wholesale customers and approximately 67 retail customers for these services in the affected areas. http://www.nasdaq.com/article/verizon-vz-to-shut-down-legacy-voice-services-in-7-states-cm855014 -- Bill Horne (Remove QRM from my email address to write to me directly) ------------------------------ Message-ID: <87y3op2oz2.fsf@bogus.nodomain.nowhere> Date: 05 Oct 2017 19:45:37 -0300 From: Mike Spencer <mds@invalid.telecom-digest.org> Subject: Re: Why Does Verizon Care About Telephone Poles? Bill Horne <bill@horneQRM.net> writes: > Opinion By Sam Liccardo > > SAN JOSE, Calif. - Like every other 8-year-old whom I tutored at a > local school, Omar didn't know anything - and didn't care much - about > high-stakes disputes over net neutrality, free speech and privacy that > have consumed much of the news coverage of the telecommunications > industry in recent years. Yet the inability of Omar's parents to > afford broadband internet access lies at the heart of a battle that > will have a far greater impact on his future: the fight over street > poles. > > Public street poles may not look like much, but to wireless service > providers, they're valuable real estate. Companies like Verizon want > low-cost access to them to install equipment to handle the rapidly > growing demand for mobile data. But poles are owned locally, and > cities and counties aren't eager to give away access at below-market > rates. Doing so would essentially subsidize an already wealthy > industry - nationwide, as much as $2 billion a year, money that could > otherwise go to expanding low-cost broadband access for people like > Omar's family. > > https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/03/opinion/wireless-verizon-telephone-poles.html AFAICT, the pole fees and per-pole installation protocol are a major barrier to getting fast Internet service to rural areas such as mine. Nothing to do with wireless. The powerco owns the poles with existing telco voice lines in place. But the telco and cableco have to pay a 4-figure fee per pole to hang new lines. Reps/techs from all companies using or about to use the pole have to be present at each pole for each new attachment. The small potential subscriber population in a small rural community is enough of a barrier. The per-pole costs is just too much. In my case, ca.1/2 mile from existing cable is 20 poles, guestimate $40K up front. Just eliminating the pole costs would go further to get Internet to rural communities than large, complicated "rural Internet" plans and contracts. But what do I know? I'm not an industry insider. -- Mike Spencer Nova Scotia, Canada ------------------------------ Message-ID: <20171006004715.GA12430@telecom.csail.mit.edu> Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2017 20:47:15 -0400 From: Bill Horne <bill@horneQRM.net> Subject: Verizon to End Legacy Services in Areas Across 6 States, New England Written by Edward Gately In a filing with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Verizon said given the low numbers of subscribers and high costs of supporting the services, it plans to grandfather the services on or after Jan. 31, 2018, in the specified wire centers. At that time, no new customers will be added, but existing customers will be permitted to continue to submit orders for moves, adds and changes. It then plans to stop permitting or accepting orders for moves, adds or changes on or after July 17, 2018, and will discontinue the services entirely on or after Dec. 31, 2018. http://www.channelpartnersonline.com/2017/10/05/verizon-to-end-legacy-services-in-areas-across-6-states-new-england/ -- Bill Horne (Remove QRM from my email address to write to me directly) ------------------------------ ********************************************* End of telecom Digest Fri, 06 Oct 2017