Telecom & Y2k

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FYI - This from this morning's Denver Rocky Mountain News (June 17, 1999), pg. 38A. Can't find link at RMN news site.

TELECOM ON TRACK FOR Y2K

But rural companies lack plans, group says

By Jerd Smith, News Staff Writer

VAIL-Major telecommunications companies that control 90 percent of the country's phone access lines are likely to meet their Year 2000 compliance deadlines. But the nation's 1,300 rural phone companies are behind the curve, according to a federal Y2K watchdog.

"We know that the nine companies that cover 90 percent of the access lines in the United States are on track. But an area we know less about are the 1,200 to 1,300 small telecom companies throughout the country," Federal Communications Commissioner Michael Powell told Western utility regulators Wednesday.

"Most small companies report they don't have a formal (Y2K) compliance plan. That gives us concern," Powell said.

Powell, who represents the FCC on President Clinton's Council on Year 2000 Conversaion, said a major update on the phone industry's Y2K readiness will be released July 14.

Powell said the federal government is also deeply concerned about local public safety and the ability of 911 systems to operate through the transition.

"Because these systems are so decentralized, and because their budgets are (often limited), many are farther behind than they should be. 911 is a problem, "Powell said."

But he said the FCC and major phone companies are immersed in contingency planning and in developing mutual assistance plans. The FCC, for instance, will operate a national assistance center through the transition to help local governments and utilites cope with problems as they arise.

The FCC also will host a series of meetings nationwide this summer to help communities prepare for Y2K. "We need to let people know, for instance, that ther is another phone number that will still call the police department if 911 fails," Powell said.

"But most people don't have it taped to their refrigerator."

Powell said utility companies and public officials need to work now to offset the panic likely to set in this fall as Y2K nears. "It's time to interface more directly with the public."

Rural telecom providers at the Western States Public Servgice Commissioners Confernece took exception to the FCC's criticism of their Y2K work.

"We are taking this seriously," said Scott Reiter, a senior telecommunications specialist for the National Telephone Cooperative Association. The group represents 500 rural phone companies and co-ops.

"We expect Jan. 1, 2000, to be a fairly quiet day."

-- kalani & katiuska (kalani_hanohano@hotmail.com), June 17, 1999

Answers

We heard this all before. One point worth noting, all telecomms interfaces are regulated and are currently Y2K compliant. If a telecomm changes the interface, they are no longer compliant. Doubtful they will change the interface just for the hell of it. Also another good point, these telecos handle very few (less than 10%) of nation's customers. Manual operations is a very reasonable undertaking.

-- No (one@cares.anymore), June 17, 1999.

NO,

NO is the answer to end to end testing in the telecommunication world. No end to end testing.

-- y2k dave (xsdaa111@hotmail.com), June 17, 1999.


"We know that the nine companies that cover 90 percent of the access lines in the United States are on track. But an area we know less about are the 1,200 to 1,300 small telecom companies throughout the country," Federal Communications Commissioner Michael Powell told Western utility regulators Wednesday.

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1200 to 1300. That sounds like every local company across the country. The other 9 are National companies. To get to those 9 you have to go through 1 of the 1200-1300. And the government thought monopolies were a bad idea.

DJ

-- DJ (reality@check.com), June 17, 1999.


No DJ, you have it wrong. The 1200 or so are the bells in the small rural areas (and according to other info out there, they only need to replace some equipment to become complaint, an overnight event). Customers do not need to go through these bells to get to the big 8 (or 9). These 8 include ones that you are probably using right now: US West, Southern, Atlantic Bell and others. 90% of the population goes through these companies for their phone service. The remaining 1200 are the ma and pa companies that support very few customers. Hope that clears it up.

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), June 17, 1999.

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