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Sqwertz[_53_]

On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 18:52:47 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

> On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 7:28:32 PM UTC-5, Sqwertz wrote:

>> If anybody is still charging for long distance, they need to be
>> dumped. All companies are offering the same VoIP which includes
>> unlimited local and long distance for $10/mo or less(*). The only
>> thing that might be extra is any NEW copper phone lines which are
>> already hooked up in Gary's place.
>>
> Here, copper wiring is no more. Everything now is digital and copper
> wiring is no longer installed or even maintained.

The Bells (and AT&T) have not shut down their copper services yet
and are still required to maintain them for grandfathered
neighborhoods in areas where they have no yet converted to fiber.
Which is why Gary was paying $45/mo for phone. He doesn't have
AT&T/Bell fiber options.

> The downside to
> digital service is when electrical power is lost so is the phone service
> and no internet service, either.

I have a battery backup from the DSL router which SBCglobal gave me
for free and didn't require my returning it when I cut the service
It's never been plugged in until recently during the "Big Texas
Freeze" exactly 2 months ago. I charged it and converted the output
polarity to match my current router and it holds a charge and powers
the router for almost 6 hours. So I would have still had landline
through my Google fiber VoIP service when I chose to use it. It also
has a USB jack, but I'm not sure why or even if it ouputs the
optional .5A of power.

But I was somehow in the 8% of the city that still had power, heat,
phone, Internet, and food the whole 4-6 days (**** you Ted Cruz!).
But I did run out of booze for 3 days.

And my cellphones have plenty of extra batteries since I have
several of the same phone with pre-charged batteries. When I start
to leave the house and see I'm below 30%, I just swap out the
batteries. They each last almost a week with my usage.

And while there is a car in the driveway with a charged battery, I
don't have a USB cigarette butt plug for it. Don't need the damned
car to charge a phone. Hrmpf.

> Gary says he no longer
> or soon will no longer have a vehicle. I can't see him sitting in a
> restaurant for a few hours charging his phone.

I can. But they may not have broccoli pizza or Swanson TV dinners,
is the real problem.

Not having a car is not a problem for those of us without cars (or
vans).

-sw