December 23, 2024 \u00a0– \u00a0By Kelcee Griffis<\/p>\n
(Bloomberg) — The Federal Communications Commission gave AT&T Inc. an early Christmas present: permission to replace old copper home-phone lines with a new wireless landline technology.<\/p>\n
The regulatory step is narrow, affecting only a smattering of Oklahoma residences where AT&T is seeking to retire the older and expensive technology. But it\u2019s also a vote of confidence in the company\u2019s new home-phone technology and could open the door for transitioning more communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe FCC\u2019s approval of our application is a significant step forward in our path to modernize our network,\u201d Rhonda Johnson, AT&T\u2019s executive vice president for federal regulatory relations, said in a statement Monday. \u201cThis allows us to replace traditional landline service for a small number of our customers with AT&T Phone \u2013 Advanced (AP-A). No customers will be left without voice or 911 service.\u201d<\/p>\n
The company introduced a landline alternative a year and a half ago that\u2019s compatible with home handsets and services like alarms and medical alerts. The system utilizes the company\u2019s wireless phone network, with the internet as a backup. The additional capabilities helped it overcome long-standing criticism that customers would be cut off from vital services in the switch to alternative networks.<\/p>\n
While the FCC decision does set a precedent helpful to AT&T\u2019s future copper-replacement efforts, it must still secure the regulator\u2019s go-ahead to retire the networks in markets where it wants to do so.<\/p>\n
source : \u00a0\u00a0https:\/\/www.bnnbloomberg.ca\/business\/company-news\/2024\/12\/23\/att-can-substitute-wireless-home-phone-for-copper-fcc-says\/<\/a><\/p>\n