From How About the Telco as a “DC” Utility? Here’s a Revolutionary Idea Suggesting Telcos Should Offer Consumers a Source of Direct Current and Voltage, by Russ Gundrum, Telephone Engineer & Management
published on February 1, 1983.
“This author pointed out in an article in the Sept. 1, 1981 TE&M magazine, that there really is a revolution occurring in the subscriber loop. The purpose of that article was to emphasize the types of problems that might occur on customer-owned-and-maintained (COAM) equipment connected to a telephone line that had an excessive AC induced voltage resulting from paralleling power lines, and what and who would be required to remove it.”
“The advent of competition in the telecommunication market is upon us and the wide variety of services and equipment and vendors providing both is increasing rapidly.”
“What will we do when this happens? Now is the time to start preparing for this potential occurrence and plan to make our present investment a valid asset.”
“Since most telcos will be providing basic network distribution services, they will mainly be concerned with outside plant facilities and assuring their maximum utilization. Quality of service (QoS) constraints will become increasingly important—more so than in the past, since the loop will no longer be used for just POTS services, but for data and video services as well.”
“Based on the economics of the situation and the customer’s evaluation of his grade of service, he may well begin to consider other alternatives! In the event we lose this customer’s business, what are we going to do with our tremendous investment in copper plant that is not being fully utilized?”
“Even though noise and transmission may be a problem from time to time and lightning or power surges may temporarily knock out sensitive electronic central office, line repeater or terminal equipment, the telephone pair usually remains intact and our battery supply continues uninterrupted! In this regard, we are much like the power companies, which are regulated ‘AC’ utilities. Although the power companies may utilize their network by applying carrier signals for communication purposes or signaling functions such as load management, their primary function is to provide a dependable source of alternating current and voltage to the customer.”
“You would no longer need load coils, repeaters, station sets or switching equipment! Only a good supply of batteries and a metallic wire to deliver the power from the source would be required. Of course the customer is only paying for DC, so you’ll still need induction neutralizing transformers to suppress induced AC voltages and currents on the metallic conductors, but you won’t be concerned with the quality of transmission or noise levels.”
“What’s in all of this for the customer? How many of us can properly maintain the battery in our cars, much less the backup batteries for all of our electronic devices such as calculators, computer terminals, alarm circuits, etc. that are necessary in the case of an AC power failure? Many manufacturers of the newer types of telecommunication station equipment are not providing battery backup due to its additional expense in such a competitive terminal equipment market. If the customer experiences problems due to a power failure, then a battery supply may well be purchased as an after the fact add-on, but why shouldn’t the telco offer this service at a reasonable rate?” (Heck, what about the battery in the Optical Network Terminal (ONT) on the side of the house that’s been provided fiber optic cabling by the CSP? Why does the customer have to be responsible for maintaining their battery?)
“What’s in all of this for the telephone industry? Regardless of your feelings concerning the subscriber loop revolution and the many factors which have brought it into existence, the message of this article may be considered to be premature. However, the likelihood of these events occurring in your company are increasing daily. Now is the time to get a handle on the situation and turn it into an opportunity for additional revenue and continued public service.”