The Federal Communications Commission says it wants to do something about telephone companies' failure to
complete long-distance calls in rural areas. In a notice seeking comment on its proposed rulemaking, the FCC said rural
long-distance callers get false busy
signals, can't hear each other or simply have long periods of "dead air."
"This causes rural businesses to lose customers, cuts families off from
their relatives in rural areas, and creates potential for dangerous
delays in public safety communications in rural areas," the commission said. The proposed rulemaking is open for comment until March 9.
UPDATE, Feb. 9: The chair of the Oregon Public Utility Commission writes in the Statesman Journal of Salem, "Many rural Oregon landline telephone customers no longer take the ability to make and receive telephone calls for granted. . . . These problems are generally caused by the route a rural call takes when transported by the network of either the caller’s long distance company or wireless telephone company." (Read more)
UPDATE, Feb. 9: The chair of the Oregon Public Utility Commission writes in the Statesman Journal of Salem, "Many rural Oregon landline telephone customers no longer take the ability to make and receive telephone calls for granted. . . . These problems are generally caused by the route a rural call takes when transported by the network of either the caller’s long distance company or wireless telephone company." (Read more)
I had to do away with my landline because of such problems here in Kentucky. I went with a wireless provider and signed the mandatory 2 year contract, but it was bad even with the wireless carrier. Because of the severe (and ultimately fatal) illness of a close relative, and the need for contact as her primary care giver and after numerous attempts and countless hours spent trying to explain the importance of communication with hospitals, doctors and other facilities, I had to switch to another wireless carrier. Now the first wireless provider is suing to collecgt $1500 plus interest on the remainder of the contract ... ! I hope the FCC can assist others in this nightmare, and I plan to comment ... if only they will listen.
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