[GTALUG] Landline and Bell revisited.

[James Knott]

On 2023-09-07 10:35, Karen Lewellen wrote:
> may I ask what method of suicide will be best then?
> From what you say, in spite of the aquired brain injury I currently 
> experience, and its medical documentation, my being able to use analog 
> phone service until less than a year ago,  and the like, my body is 
> too much trouble to keep alive, no longer can communicate with the 
> outside world safely, do my job, etc without the seizures all VOIp 
> services cause me..with tests to support this.
> Seems like a fine time to go according to you,  since according to 
> you,  I cannot achieve what I have done just fine, even with the 
> physical resources for it here in my house, or existing analog 
> customers being around 

First off, I cannot comment on your health issues.  However, I can 
comment on telecom issues, having worked in the field for over half a 
century.  The world is moving to IP for just about everything and that 
over fibre.  Carriers, such as Bell or Rogers, run fibre out into the 
community, in some cases converting to copper in the neighbourhood and 
more and more often directly in the consumer's home or office.
Second, I first came across digital audio, for phone service in 1975 and 
it's been growing ever since.  A bit about me, I started working in 
telecom in 1972.  I spent 23 years working for CN Telecommunications, 
CNCP and Unitel, as the company ownership changed.  Most of that time I 
worked as a technician, but for my last 5 years, I was in planning, 
where I planned the installation of telecom equipment, both in the 
office at 151 Front St. W. as well as customer sites in downtown 
Toronto.  Even back then, everything I worked on was 100% digital.  That 
was almost 30 years ago.  Since then, my work has been largely services 
provided over IP, including voice.  It been years since I've seen voice 
provided over anything other than IP.  Even some of the old Time 
Division Multiplex (TDM) services were emulated over IP.

As someone with all that experience, I cannot conceive of anything that 
would contribute to your issues, other than possibly getting a CODEC 
that tries to minimize bandwidth to the point that it causes noticeable 
distortion.  With the bandwidth available now, there's no reason for 
such CODECs to be used.

Regardless, I wouldn't be surprised if Bell is unable to provide what 
you want.  I know Rogers can't.  Even if Bell were able to provide it, 
your calls would be analog only as far as their office, if that far.  
Everything beyond would be digital, likely over IP.