Path: utzoo!mnetor!tmsoft!torsqnt!hybrid!scifi!bywater!uunet!bu.edu!telecom-request From: slr@tybalt.caltech.edu (Steve L. Rhoades) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Cable TV Companies Enter the Telephone Business Message-ID: Date: 3 Mar 91 22:33:42 GMT Sender: news@bu.edu.bu.edu Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena Lines: 31 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 177, Message 5 of 9 In article bulick@comanche.uswest.com (Stephen Bulick) writes: > I read in the Business Section of the {New York Times} for 3/1/91 that > the FCC is allowing cable television companies to test what seems to > be a microcellular telephone system as a prelude for entry into the > local exchange carrier business. [...] The system is called PCS - Personal Communications Service. In a nutshell, here's how it works: In a service area, there are several small "cells" located atop existing telephone poles. The cell communicates back to a MTSO (probably at the cable compnay's headend) and places the call over a POTS line. The communication from the cell back to the MTSO is done over unused bandwidth on the existing cable system. (Usually in the T-Channel range of between 2 Mhz and 50 Mhz and possibly above 500 Mhz). A few conpanies were given permission by the FCC to test the system. One of the companies is Continental Cablevision. Here in California, they'll be testing it on their Fresno system within two years. (Why does Fresno always get the new toys first ?) I just read an in-depth article about the system but, of course, I can't find it when I need it :-). Internet: slr@caltech.edu | Voice-mail: (818) 794-6004 UUCP: elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!tybalt!slr | USmail: Box 1000, Mt. Wilson, Ca. 91023