FCC Modernizes Rules to Encourage Technology Transitions, Protect Consumers and Competition - Washington, D.C. (August 6, 2015) – The Federal Communications Commission today took steps to encourage the ongoing transition to next-generation communications networks by giving consumers a larger voice in the process, giving providers the certainty they need to invest, and protecting competition.For the first time, the item adopted today requires providers to directly notify consumers of plans to retire copper networks at least three months in advance. And it increases the notice period for non-residential retail customers and interconnecting carriers from three months to at least six months. Rest of story here
Here is one the few news or opinion pieces about this latest ruling from the FCC.
This is not being widely reported and many business owners are unaware that their old copper phone lines could be retired. And retired now with as few as 180 days notice for business class POTS subscribers. If this should occur in an area where fiber or facilities based VoIP exists, no problem, as these type services will typically provide compatible dialtone for alarm systems and they will function as usual.
Bosch Security Systems and Chesapeake & Midlantic Marketing can help you with a solution. Iin most cases we can design a faster and more secure alarm communications systems while saving the client money by eliminating the cost of those POTS lines.
We've done some posts concerning this issue in the past if you need to catch up on the progress of the POTS saga...
- Are POTS lines really going away?
- Eliminate phone lines for alarm communications
- Sunsetting of PSTN: Business opportunity for security companies
Alarm and Life Safety Systems end users should be educated now. Save downtime outages of critical systems due to loss of phone service.
Solution resources: