More Change Coming

Recently we have read about devastation from wildfires and strong storms. Climate scientists say we will see more as a result of climate change.

To reduce air pollution that causes climate change we must reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Senator Lindsey Graham said, “CO2 emissions generated by man is creating our greenhouse gas effect that traps heat, and the planet is warming.” 

Our government needs to do much more to promote clean energy, such as wind, solar and geothermal, and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. This includes restoring tax credits for clean energy – not reducing them.

I encourage readers to email their U.S. senators and representative/s. Joining Citizens’ Climate Lobby and similar groups is another great way to fight climate change.

Make Earth great again. There is no planet B.

When our grandchildren ask what we did about climate change, let’s have an answer.

Gary Jump
Itasca, Illinois

Preparing for Change in Phone Service

AT&T is going to discontinue the existing local phone service that uses the copper wires. This is a economical decision. The maintenance of the equipment and outside infrastructure is very costly. All of the switching equipment in Pacific Bell, SBC had been replaced by about [the year] 2000. It is now at least 25 years old. That is why most of us have been receiving flyers in the mail to change to the new service. They say it will be the same service and will even cost less. What they do not say is what the reliability will be. On the back page, in small print, there is a note that the service will be powered by electricity from your home. The equipment that AT&T will provide [provides] backup battery power for 24 hours to that equipment only. Current projected cost to replace the battery is $90.

[Regarding] cordless home phones – that is a separate issue. The wired phone on your desk, table or wall receives its power from the serving (Central) office over the same copper wires as the voice or data signals. The backup power requirements for all telephone services were four (4) hours of battery and three (3) days of fuel (at 75% capacity) for the standby generator set. In most cases, if a standby genset was not onsite, the battery capacity was supposed to be 24 hours. 

Now, I want to note that this affects the copper landline service only. The cell towers and their service is a separate issue. But note that the cell sites do not seem to have back up gensets or large amounts of batteries. There are minimum requirements set by the regulators but anything over that is up to the individual service providers. 

Fiber to the home is powered by the household AC power too. I have un-interrupted power systems (UPS) in my home and during the last AC failure I was able to stay online for four (4) hours before the batteries quit. During the Eaton Fire I had enough time to get my generator out and powered my phone and data networks and [I kept] the refrigerator powered. 

The bottom line is that if there is a extended power outage you probably will lose all ability to call anyone – and that includes 9-1-1 unless you provide your own backup power system(s).

Tom Suter
La Crescenta