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* My Crain’s Chicago Business column…
If you’ve ever had problems with your phone or cable service, you’re in luck.
Well, maybe not in luck, but you do have the perfect opportunity to exact some revenge and maybe even force your service providers to do a much better job.
AT&T is ramping up to spend big bucks this year in Springfield to once again try to get out of the state requirement that it provide everyone with a copper wire phone line. I haven’t had one of those in years. But lots of people still do, particularly older folks.
In the past, groups like the Citizens Utility Board and AARP have blocked AT&T’s efforts in the General Assembly. David Kolata at Chicago-based CUB tells me his group has “serious concerns” about what dropping that requirement would mean “for less populated and low-income portions of the state in particular.”
Even so, as hard-wired phone lines continue to dwindle, the company may have a better shot this year. That’s where you come in.
What AT&T wants will be controversial. So it stands to reason that it will have to give up something in return. Last year, Exelon wanted a bailout for its nuclear power plants. In return, it had to agree to stop opposing programs benefiting alternative energy like wind and solar, among other things. Groups like the Sierra Club ended up as big winners.
CUB has a list of things it would like to happen. For instance, it wants to
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posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 8:32 am
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Universal broadband sounds a lot more useful these days, and no, cellular broadband or satellite with their ridiculously low caps don’t count. It’s pretty easy to add a VoIP system to a broadband connection.
Like many I’ve given up my landline phone, but I did it knowing I gave up reliability that only exists in a plain old telephone system. A lot of people don’t know they made that bargain. Some with cable provided VoIP systems think they have a landline when they don’t.
Comment by AC Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 8:47 am
The state law may state 200K, but the FCC says broadband is 6M or higher - I would think the FCC rule would take precedence.
Comment by DGD Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 9:35 am
I second your point on equalized volume.
Comment by Norseman Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 10:05 am
Rich, In our area those old copper lines are the only source of internet. We can buy it from Verizon but if you are on the web at all it cost way to much. Some older folks are not users of cell phones and rely on landlines. Our copper was installed in 1960 and has never been upgraded. More towers would be a must in Southern Illinois where signal is still spotty.
Comment by Nieva Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 10:09 am
It is true there are places in the state with bad (no signal!) cell service.
Comment by NoGifts Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 11:33 am
Rich, the Hearing Impaired still need land-lines when we have to call businesses, etc.. Doctor offices, police, stores, etc. do not text, and most serve hearing-impared people can not hear on a cell phone. That is one of many the reasons people still need landlines.
Comment by MAMA Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 4:53 pm
>> The state law may state 200K, but the FCC says broadband is 6M or higher - I would think the FCC rule would take precedence.
I live in a rural part of Illinois and Frontier only provides 768 KB internet service (which is equivalent to 0.7 MB). So the 6 MB “minimum” isn’t really a minimum at all. Providers can still provide slower service and they just can’t include that in their statistics for broadband internet.
Comment by Dan Monday, Jan 9, 17 @ 6:38 pm