[Hidden-tech] AT&T vs Verizon vs T-Mobile

[Robert Heller]

I know it took some non-trivial "arm twisting" by the Wendell Selectboard to
get Verizon to replace the batteries in their concentrator in Wendell (Verizon
would never have replaced them on their own). New Salem's concentrator is
*currently* lacking batteries because Verizon said they could not replace them
due to lack of replacement parts. This is what I understand Verizon told the
New Salem Selectboard. The phone lines in many small rural towns are
*notorious* for being unreliable. People would lose phone service merely
because it was raining (the cables would fill with water). There was a case
where a Shutesbury mother had to pack up both of her kids when one broke his
arm and then drive to the center of town to call 911 on her cell phone because
her land line was not working. At one point the AG's office issued a long
laundry list of problems relating to Verizon's phone system. And yes, the
state regulators did issue fines and Verizon just paid them. With most of the
small hilltowns now with fiber to the home service I believe Verizon is
relieved to not have to deal with the copper system as much.

Copper is definately going away (and it looks like it will be gone in some 
areas very soon):

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=verizon+discontinuing+support+of+copper+lines




At Mon, 24 Oct 2022 16:22:19 -0400 Deborah Chandler <debchandler411 at gmail.com> wrote:

> 
> I hear you, Robert.
> 
> First, I am curious the source of that data. I don't question YOU
> personally, I just seriously question the propaganda Verizon spews at every
> turn.
> 
> Secondly, I cannot readily compare/contrast the state of the copper-wired
> phone service infrastructure state-to-state, but I do know there is very
> good reason why Cece Doucette, founder of the MA for Safe Tech group, (see
> www.ma4safetech.org) of which I am a part, has finally given up trying to
> submit bills to our legislators on Beacon Hill, after her ten year
> Herculean efforts to do so, and instead has been working with the
> legislators in New Hampshire and shows up at their hearings and promotes
> EMF safety up there.
> 
> NH leads the nation in creating a state-level commission who last year
> published the *Final Report of the Commission to Study The Environmental
> and Health Effects of Evolving 5G Technology* (HB 522, Chapter 260, Laws of
> 2019, RSA 12-K:12–14. You can see all 390 pages of the report here:
> http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/statstudcomm/committees/1474/reports/5G%20final%20report.pdf
> (The first 17 pages cover the key facts) The committee proposed a bill, HR
> 1644, (see https://legiscan.com/NH/text/HB1644/id/2462354) pertaining to
> cell tower setback requirements, which has expired and a revised one will
> be proposed early next year. This is a big reason why I am focused on
> moving up to NH from my native MA, as I see the state of MA just isn't
> moving the needle on protecting us from these harms. And I am too old to
> expect this to change in my lifetime. I have testified at all of 3
> statehouses, MA, NH and VT about my personal experiences and perspectives.
> I do my best to show up and do my part. And yes, I am aware that we are
> seen by some as "tin foil hat wearers". So be it. I know I will be on the
> right side of history on this one. :-)
> 
> Best,
> Deb
> 
> On Mon, Oct 24, 2022 at 3:56 PM Robert Heller <heller at deepsoft.com> wrote:
> 
> > Actually, copper land-lines *might not* work during power failures at some
> > future time: the copper system depends on backup batteries located in rural
> > concentrators and *Verizon* probably won't be replacing those batteries
> > when
> > then "die" (they are lead-acid batteries good for about 5 years). A lot of
> > the
> > copper system depends on older tech, some of which is no longer made (and
> > Verizon would really, really, want to permanently retire it). It is
> > expected
> > that once fiber-to-the-premisis becomes ubiquitious, that Verizon may
> > petition
> > the state to be "let off the hook" as the Commonwealth's ILEC carrier.
> > Verizon
> > is *already* very *lax* about maintaining the copper, this is despite the
> > state regulatory agency leving fines -- it is actually *cheaper* for
> > Verizon
> > to just pay the fines than fix the copper -- the Commonwealth of Mass has
> > no
> > real authority over Verizon. Verizon's corporate *policy* is to not string
> > new
> > copper. They will splice forever and given enough people moving to fiber or
> > cable VOIP, will re-use the newly freed up copper pairs for the few
> > remaining
> > copper customers, but this is a losing situation.
> >
> > All of the recently built town-owned fiber-to-the-premisis system are
> > equiped
> > with backup generators.  This means that the fiber itself will survive the
> > power outage (the internet won't go down when the power fails).
> >
> > At Mon, 24 Oct 2022 15:27:56 -0400 Deborah Chandler <
> > debchandler411 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > Folks, to follow up from my previous reply, please consider getting
> > > yourselves an old-fashioned copper-wire landline phone service and an
> > > old-fashioned hardwired phone (harder and harder to find).
> > >
> > > There are several reasons to use these services:
> > > 1) They will still work if the electricity, internet or cell service goes
> > > out.
> > > (whereas wireless, Fios, DSL and coax cable-reliant services will go out)
> > > 2) As folks have shared about spotty wireless coverage lately, the
> > > copper-wired service will not drop due to spotty coverage
> > > 3) They are much more secure than wireless
> > > 4) They are 100% safe for your health. There are no EMFs/wireless
> > > radiation.
> > > 5) Call quality, crispness of sound is very good (with rare exceptions)
> > > 6) Wireless communication uses ten times the energy of hard-wired
> > solutions
> > >
> > > Sure, some newer buildings do not have the copper-wired infrastructure,
> > and
> > > I don't know if it can be added. And yes, Verizon and other providers are
> > > charging way too much money for these copper-wired services, and
> > > discouraging their use. A bundle of unlimited calls, voicemail, caller
> > ID,
> > > last I checked is over $100/mo where I live. I have basic Verizon
> > landline
> > > phone service, which only includes calls to the contingent towns, and
> > then
> > > I have a third party provider for long distance, and pay-per-call, no
> > > monthly fees. I got an answering machine for voicemails.
> > >
> > > Hope that's helpful,
> > > Deb
> > >
> > > On Mon, Oct 24, 2022 at 3:05 PM Aaron Taylor-Waldman via Hidden-discuss <
> > > hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Some of this *is* new, for folks (myself included) who have previously
> > had
> > > > adequate service and now do not.
> > > >
> > > > I was unable to connect on a voice call with a business based in Hadley
> > > > (also a verizon customer) last week—we were texting each other in
> > between
> > > > phone call attempts, "hey, I'm just called you three times and nothing
> > > > happened".
> > > > Both of us in our respective offices where we've had many conversations
> > > > before, for the past three years.
> > > >
> > > > Cheers,
> > > > Aaron
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On Mon, Oct 24, 2022 at 2:02 PM David Ruderman via Hidden-discuss <
> > > > hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net> wrote:
> > > >
> > > >> None of this is new. Verizon Wireless service is not good in South
> > > >> Amherst. This was acknowledged by VW which offers a free device to
> > connect
> > > >> to your home internet, but doesn't quite help 200 feet from your
> > home. VW
> > > >> service is bad in Hadley at the Malls and at Home Depot too which is
> > > >> directly across from the VW store :-(
> > > >>
> > > >> -dave
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> *Dave Ruderman (he/him)*
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> *david.ruderman at gmail.com <david.ruderman at gmail.com>*
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> On Sun, Oct 23, 2022 at 5:19 PM Todd Felton via Hidden-discuss <
> > > >> hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net> wrote:
> > > >>
> > > >>> I am wondering if there are other Verizon customers out there that
> > have
> > > >>> noticed a significant decline over the last 6 months. We used to
> > regularly
> > > >>> get 4-5 bars and now are lucky to get 2.
> > > >>>
> > > >>> No recent change in our house or phones.
> > > >>>
> > > >>> Todd
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>> Todd Felton
> > > >>> 413.320.3923
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>> my pronouns: he, him, his
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>> On Thu, Oct 20, 2022 at 10:45 AM Denise Batalha via Hidden-discuss <
> > > >>> hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net> wrote:
> > > >>>
> > > >>>> Thanks so much for this information. I'm sure you'll get many haters
> > > >>>> telling you to "take off the tin foil hat". EMF affects my
> > homeopathics. So
> > > >>>> much so, my specialist is up in arms about how much further they're
> > going
> > > >>>> to go with data and how he will be unable to continue his work if
> > the
> > > >>>> remedies are compromised and he can't do anything about it. People
> > no
> > > >>>> longer question a thing... it's as if we're going back to the 30s
> > and
> > > >>>> people are falling in line with the lies out of communists faces
> > (sorry,
> > > >>>> been on a Peaky Blinders binge for the 3rd time LOL).
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> On Wed, Oct 19, 2022 at 9:19 PM Deborah Chandler via Hidden-discuss
> > <
> > > >>>> hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net> wrote:
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>>> Hi Mik and all,
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> First, please read this and see if you feel that WhistleOut is
> > truly
> > > >>>>> unbiased:
> > > >>>>> https://www.whistleout.com/Service-Promise
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> Secondly, the coverage maps are hugely inaccurate. Big Telecom lies
> > > >>>>> about everything they do. If you choose a plan with a place like
> > Red
> > > >>>>> Pocket, you can change carriers if one doesn't work out.
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> Thirdly, as someone who has EMF sensitivity from exposure to all
> > the
> > > >>>>> wireless tech they have us marinating in, I request that as much as
> > > >>>>> possible, we go back to reliance on WIRED products and spend less
> > time
> > > >>>>> using a cellphone or other wireless tech. I know some people
> > travel for
> > > >>>>> their work, and need to use a cellphone or laptop on the road, but
> > please
> > > >>>>> remember back in the day, we did not have all this wireless tech.
> > We waited
> > > >>>>> until we were back home or at the office. Are we really more
> > advanced,
> > > >>>>> using wireless when it is NOT even secure, it is slower than wired
> > tech, it
> > > >>>>> takes TEN TIMES the energy of wired devices (yes, it's true), in a
> > time
> > > >>>>> when the media screams about how we must take climate change
> > seriously? And
> > > >>>>> as of January they are banning the sale of incandescent lightbulbs
> > > >>>>> allegedly due to their energy consumption; I have them stockpiled
> > now, I
> > > >>>>> cannot use LED bulbs. And then there's my friend who died twice on
> > the way
> > > >>>>> to the hospital in June after being hit head on by a truck whose
> > driver
> > > >>>>> admitted he was texting and driving. She was very seriously hurt,
> > but thank
> > > >>>>> God is recovering and will be okay. Do we *really* need cell
> > coverage
> > > >>>>> EVERYWHERE we go? Or has Big Telecom brainwashed us into thinking
> > we do?
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> The number of people developing EMF sensitivity is skyrocketing
> > daily.
> > > >>>>> One day you're fine, next day you're no longer able to tolerate
> > being near
> > > >>>>> a cellphone or wireless router. I can no longer make one trip to a
> > big box
> > > >>>>> store without getting sick. I have to rush the trip, getting out
> > as quickly
> > > >>>>> as possible. And I can do very little of my beloved graphic design.
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> You can find lots and lots of information on this topic at
> > > >>>>> https://www.ma4safetech.org, MA for Safe Technology. We just had
> > our
> > > >>>>> monthly Zoom meeting today at noon.
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> Sorry if this was not welcomed information. But cognitive
> > > >>>>> dissonance be damned. There is really never a good time to bring
> > it up. It
> > > >>>>> must be interjected.
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> To those who have endured, thanks for listening. Feel free to write
> > > >>>>> me, I can tell you about recently testifying at the NH statehouse
> > and how
> > > >>>>> the Big Telecom attempted to send in their Good Squad of lobbyists
> > > >>>>> pretending to be there for personal reasons, until my colleague
> > ratted them
> > > >>>>> out. I was elated at her testicular fortitude.
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> Best,
> > > >>>>> Deb
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> On Wed, Oct 19, 2022 at 1:17 PM Michael Muller via Hidden-discuss <
> > > >>>>> hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net> wrote:
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>>> Hey hidden folks,
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> I are considering moving my cell service off Verizon to AT&T,
> > partly
> > > >>>>>> because we now go to Warwick a lot and have zero Verizon service
> > out there.
> > > >>>>>> We've seen people getting texts and calls out near Moore's Pond,
> > while we
> > > >>>>>> can't.
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> Anyone currently have AT&T or Sprint/T-Mobile and have comparative
> > > >>>>>> stories to tell about coverage in the "fringe" towns of Western
> > Mass?
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> I don't want to say price is not important, but I'm nervous about
> > > >>>>>> using a sub-carrier/MVNO that rides on someone else's network.
> > Especially
> > > >>>>>> because those services sometimes have less data available, and we
> > use a lot
> > > >>>>>> of data.
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> This website, below, seems to show coverage maps, and declares:
> > "AT&T
> > > >>>>>> has the widest network reach in Massachusetts for both 4G LTE and
> > 5G
> > > >>>>>> coverage, and takes the title for the best network in the state.
> > Verizon
> > > >>>>>> comes in second for 4G LTE coverage, with T-Mobile following very
> > closely
> > > >>>>>> behind in third place—though the Un-carrier's 5G coverage is
> > almost neck
> > > >>>>>> and neck with AT&T's state-best network."
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>    -
> > > >>>>>>
> > https://www.whistleout.com/CellPhones/Guides/Best-Coverage-in-Massachusetts-USA
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> Is that everyone's experience?
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> Does anyone use Boost Mobile, Metro or Cricket Wireless, and
> > what's
> > > >>>>>> your experience?
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> Thanks,
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> Mik
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> --
> > > >>>>>> Mik Muller, president
> > > >>>>>> Montague WebWorks
> > > >>>>>> 20 River Street, Greenfield, MA
> > > >>>>>> 413-320-5336http://MontagueWebWorks.com
> > > >>>>>> Powered by ROCKETFUSION
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> _______________________________________________
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> > --
> > Robert Heller             -- Cell: 413-658-7953 GV: 978-633-5364
> > Deepwoods Software        -- Custom Software Services
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> >
> >
> 
> 

-- 
Robert Heller             -- Cell: 413-658-7953 GV: 978-633-5364
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