AT&T to FCC - Kill the PSTN

AT&T has an answer to the FCC's questions about moving to an all-IP network: Kill the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and do it sooner rather than later so we can get on with it.

AT&T has asked the FCC to set a firm deadline much like the deadline given to television broadcasters to switch from analog to digital transmission so that telephone companies can stop supporting legacy voice systems and focus their efforts on building and supporting the new IP network. Since VoIP was the industry of the decade, this latest move could truly spell the end for Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS).

AT&T's language did not mince words: "with each passing day, more and more communications services migrate to broadband and IP-based services, leaving the PSTN and POTS as relics of a by-gone era." Ouch. Looks like what's next for IP-communications is that the VoIP industry will be the voice provider of the very near future.

For more:
- read this article from PCWorld [1]

Related articles
FCC looking to an all IP communications future [2]
FCC probes Google Voice iPhone app removal [3]
FCC: VoIP companies must give 'reasonable notice' before shutdown [4]