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comment

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Ken,

Dusan’s comments are always on point. He must have a lot of experience in our industry. But on his struggle to get Verizon to provide ‘plain phone lines that work’ I can’t tell whether he really believes technology should be available anywhere and everywhere on demand or lamenting large corporations, often with a monopoly, that don’t care. We are all used to the latter.

As we discuss the waning of POTS lines and the flaws in the new technology, just remember this has all been said before. And re-lived. The old-timers will remember when we went from direct lines from a Central Station to McCullough circuits and the constant clashed signals and line faults that came with change. Yet we endured. This will happen again as we transition. Only from the diligent and difficult work by a few will this get done. I’ll join those, including Dusan I’m sure, that are appreciative of their efforts and hope they succeed.

On the other hand, we should all be thankful for Big Bumbling Corporations. Elsewise we would have valid, long-term competitors in our own industry.

Zeke Lay

Comtec

Oklahoma

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Response

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To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of the demise of POTS is greatly exaggerated. It's not dead yet, and dispite the advances in VoIP and some acceptance for alarm transmission, POTS is still the preferred communication pathway. Radio and cellular, in most areas, are reliable. Rest assured, no matter what communication pathway you choose, unless you know for sure it doesn't work, the Standard Form Contracts will provide the best contractual protection available, especially when used in conjunction with the Disclaimer Notice.