Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request
From: SYSMATT@ukcc.uky.edu (Matt Simpson)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Fiber Optics and ESS??
Message-ID: <2075@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 11 Dec 89 19:56:24 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 9, Issue 568, message 13 of 13


 
My local CO has just switched over to ESS (I don't know what model),
which means subscribers have been deluged with mail and phone calls
from the LD carriers telling us that equal access is coming, and we
have to select a default carrier. This much I can understand. What I
can't understand is all the propaganda from the local BOC (South
Central Bell), in the form of bill inserts, news releases, speeches to
civic clubs, etc.

They keep talking about their new fiber-optic network, and how it
makes all this new neat stuff possible. The miracle of fiber-optics
will allow us to have call-forwarding, call-waiting, etc.  I thought
all that stuff was done in the switch -- what does the transmission
media have to do with it. Also, where is this amazing new fiber-optics
network? I don't think I have glass fibers running into my house, it
looks like copper wire to me.

Has anyone heard of fiber being used anywhere in the local system,
other than inter-office trunks? Is there any connection at all between
fiber-optic cables and the availability of all these new features, or
does SCB just think we're so dumb they can throw all this gee-whiz
hype at us and expect us to be suitably amazed?