"Bruce L. Bergman" wrote:

Thanks for the warning - if they ever try this on us, I get it in
writing that they leave us one line coming in on good old Copper, and
going straight back to the C.O. with no pair gain in the middle that
doesn't have permanently installed generator backup.


Good luck! They will stop maintaining the old copper where fiber is
available at some point in time, and you'll have no choice but to
switch when it becomes unusable. As far as the guaranteed speed, it
only has to apply to ONE type of service, which will be the new
technology.

Do you think that wen they went from separate wires on separate
insulators for each pair, (and phantom circuits) that you could demand
that they leave a pair up and maintain it, just for you?

How about when they switched from lead jacketed (and paper) aerial
cable to flooded direct burial wiring plant?

They will do what they want to do unless you buy the company, and
freeze its technology in time. Even that won't last long, as supplies of
spares run out.

I was told that Embarq (Sprint) is trying to buy up more of their
competition. If you remember, they were the ones that started the
transition to fiber instead of Microwave relay towers for long distance,
and to reduce the installation costs to isolated areas. Not only does
it reduce their repair costs, but the amount of equipment in a CO sub
office. The local exchange has about 25,000 numbers, and is about the
size of a two car garage. That is connected by fiber to large pedestals
around the area, which serve a thousand or so lines. Their inter CO
backbone is all fiber, as well. That was switched from copper to fiber,
starting in 1990.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida