With the apparent rise of cellular phones and other wireless communication methods, are telephone landlines now obsolete? The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been directed by the United States Congress to see if a viable all Broadband and IP based communication system is feasible. This system would replace our Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)
Landline phones have fallen more out of use every year as the number of cell phones and Voice Over IP (VoIP) users have increased. With VoIP, Broadband customers can make and receive phone calls through their Internet connection. In some cases using one of these two methods can be cheaper than paying a monthly bill for a Plain Old Telephone System (POTS) connection. That is not to say that there are not drawbacks to the newer systems. The quality of cellular phone service can vary greatly in the area that you live in. Geographical obstructions like mountains cans inhibit your cell phone reception. Voice Over IP connections are run through your Broadband router and as such run on electricity. So if there is a power outage, you will lose your phone service. Traditional phone lines will operate in most situations, unless the lines themselves are destroyed by outside forces. Landlines are also valuable in that your location can be traced to the phone number, which is useful for the police and other emergency services. You may not always be able to tell them where you are.
The cost of effectively running two networks will eventually end, but who knows for sure when that will be. The factors will be the tradeoffs between costs and performance. The new systems have become more convenient for consumers when the systems are fully functional. The Landline is losing favor, but isn’t without it’s merits. The FCC is supposed to report back to Congress this February with a Broadband plan, so we shall see what happens.
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