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Analog "POTS" Phone Service - US Copper Shutdown Imminent

Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2022 6:32 am
by mediatechnology
Analog "POTS" Phone Service - US Copper Shutdown Imminent

The following article from Tieline is targeted to broadcasters regarding the coming shut-down of all non-IP-based voice networks.
It’s the end of POTS and ISDN as we know it…

When the FCC 19-72A1 order takes effect from August 2nd, 2022, the shutdown of remaining POTS and ISDN services in the US will commence and become real for many broadcasters.

More: https://tieline.com/us-copper-shutdown-imminent/
I haven't had analog copper-based phone service in years.
At "Rancho Rosado" I use analog service internally for DECT 6 cordless and two multi-line desk phones.

Until recently my internal POTS service was provided by a Verizon 3G/4G LTE modem with an analog POTS port.
The device, a Novatel T1114, also had an Ethernet port I used for emergency internet access for the LAN when both fiber and cable were down.
Fortunately that scenario has not occurred.

3G is also being sunsetted by Verizon and although the T1114 is 4G LTE, still supported, it does not support IP voice.
Because of this I'm having to decommission the T1114.

It is IP voice that is driving the shutdown of legacy analog copper, 3G and 4G voice networks.

The FCC's "Shaken and Stirred" caller ID verification requires IP voice.

My solution for IP voice came from an Oklahoma-based provider named 1-voip.com
1voip use the Grandstream GT-802 interface which provides two lines.
Each line, at $8.97 US/month plus taxes, costs a fraction of the $26/month I was paying Verizon and far less than the $35/month AT&T wants to activate the voice port on the fiber modem.
The GT-802's voice quality is excellent and network interfacing was simple.

My WAN operates over two carriers and can use two widely different IP addresses.
Since it takes about 10 minutes for the GT-802 to be discovered by the host PBX (1-voip) after an IP address change I had to nail up a route to one specific carrier.
That was about it for setup.
It took about a week to port a 75-year old family phone number from Verizon to 1-voip but it went smoothly.

1-voip.com uses a service called "NOMOROBO" as in No Mo Robo-calls to filter out spam.
Spam calls have dropped to zero.
I've also enabled the FCC's Shaken and Stirred database to authenticate caller ID data.
No MO spoofed caller ID.

In terms of phone calls its been definitely quiet.

Re: Analog "POTS" Phone Service - US Copper Shutdown Imminent

Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2022 8:27 am
by emrr

Re: Analog "POTS" Phone Service - US Copper Shutdown Imminent

Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2022 10:02 am
by mediatechnology
The existing POTS lines are grandfathered.
Thanks for that clarification.
VZW was serious about dropping the non-IP 3G and 4G link.

AT&T stopped maintaining the copper facilities around here.

Are you still able to order ISDN?

FWIW I'm super happy with the VOIP service.
I may ditch the analog wired and analog/DECT cordless phones and go with full IP handsets.

Re: Analog "POTS" Phone Service - US Copper Shutdown Imminent

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2022 3:09 pm
by emrr
I don't know about ISDN, I would imagine they aren't taking orders. I haven't had a copper line in a dozen years or more.

Re: Analog "POTS" Phone Service - US Copper Shutdown Imminent

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2022 5:59 am
by mediatechnology
I'm probably going to install IP-based handsets in the coming year.
A single line IP-based phone is about $40 at Amazon.
The only IP to analog loop will be for the DECT 6 cordless phone base station.