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The End of Analog Cellular
This year most cellular carriers will discontinue
analog cellular service ("AMPS"),
the "analog sunset". Here is a
report on who is affected and excerpts of
what is expected to happen, as reported by
the FCC, wireless carriers and network users.
The excerpt from Plateau Wireless is included as an example of a carrier that
is NOT discontinuing analog cellular in the
foreseeable future.
The FCC Sunset Rule:
In its Year 2000 Biennial Regulatory
Review,
the (Federal Communications) Commission
established
a five-year sunset period (February
18, 2003
through February 18, 2008) after which
cellular
service licensees will no longer be
required to provide analog service. While the Commission
concluded that the original goals of the
analog requirement had been largely accomplished,
it set out a transition period because it
recognized that certain consumers, specifically
persons with hearing disabilities and consumers
that exclusively use their phones to access
911 emergency services, might not have readily
available alternatives to analog service,
and would be unduly affected by the immediate
elimination of the analog requirement. In
order to monitor the development of hearing
aid-compatible devices, and to ensure that
wireless services are continuing to be made
available to persons with hearing disabilities
as well as 911-only consumers, the Commission
required nationwide cellular carriers to
file reports in February 2006 and February
2007.
-reference: http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=about_cellular_reports&id=cellular
Alltel message to customers, 12/2007:
Beginning in 2008, Alltel will begin the
process of transitioning analog and TDMA
network resources. This will be done in three
phases:
1) The phase one turndown is scheduled
to
be completed by March 31, 2008, in
AR, FL,
GA, LA, MI, MS, NC, OH, SC, and VA.
2) The phase two turndown is schedule
to
be completed by June 2008 in AL, AZ,
CO,
IA, KS, MN, NE, OK, SD, TX and WI.
3) Phase three turndown is scheduled
to be
completed by September 2008 in CA,
CT, ID,
IL, KY, MO, MT, NV, NM, ND, TN, UT,
WV and
WY.
source: Alltel FAQ
From AT&T Report, Feb 26, 2007:
-reference: http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=cellular_reports&id=cellular&filer_name_sort=ASC&filer_name_result=&date_start_result=&date_end_result=
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From Verizon Wireless report, March 2, 2007:
-reference: http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=cellular_reports&id=cellular&filer_name_sort=ASC&filer_name_result=&date_start_result=&date_end_result=
From Plateau Wireless Report, February 22, 2006:
-reference: http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=cellular_reports&id=cellular&filer_name_sort=ASC&filer_name_result=&date_start_result=&date_end_result=
From OnStar report, Jan 17, 2007:
Important Information about the Analog-to-Digital
Transition
OnStar service was launched in 1996 using
proven analog technology, which had the broadest
geographic coverage of the available cellular
network alternatives at the time. Usage of
analog technology enabled us to evolve into
the most comprehensive in-vehicle communications
provider offering safety, security and peace
of mind to millions of vehicle owners.
However, based on a Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) ruling, cellular carriers
will not be required to support the analog
cellular network beginning in early 2008.
Without the analog network, we can't ensure
the coverage that will allow us to provide
subscribers, with analog equipment, the services
they expect from us. As a result, beginning
January 1, 2008, OnStar service in the United
States and Canada will be available only
through vehicles that are capable of operating
on the digital cellular network.
We at OnStar sincerely regret that we will
not be able to provide OnStar service to
vehicles with analog equipment after December
31, 2007. All OnStar subscribers affected
by this change will receive a letter from
OnStar that outlines how this affects their
service.
-reference: http://www.onstar.com/us_english/jsp/digital_transition.jsp
From the FCC Response to Objections, June
15, 2007:
| B. |
An Extension of the Analog Sunset Date Would
not Serve the Public Interest |
| 9. |
For the reasons stated below, we find that
an extension of the analog service
requirement
would not serve the public interest.
The
record demonstrates that the alarm
industry
had ample notice and opportunity to
prepare
for the eventual sunset of the analog
service
requirement, yet made insubstantial
efforts
to address subscribers' needs. The
industry's
claim that it does not have sufficient
equipment
or personnel to timely address the
needs
of its existing subscribers is unfounded.
Members of the alarm industry admittedly
have opted to install more than 19,000
digital
alarm radios monthly for new users,
rather
than upgrade the analog radio equipment
of
existing subscribers. Members of the
alarm
industry also continued to install
new analog
alarm radios long after the Commission
announced
the analog sunset date, including within
the past year. |
| 10. |
Before addressing the merits of the Petition
in greater detail, we first reject
the argument
made in a Motion to Dismiss, filed
by Alltel
Corporation, Dobson Communications
Corporation,
and Verizon Wireless (collectively,
ADV)-that
the Commission lacks authority to address
the Petition and extend the analog
sunset
date. We next explain why the analog
service
mandate is no longer necessary to ensure
that persons with hearing disabilities
have
access to mobile telephony services,
which
was the Commission's principal rationale
for phasing out, rather than immediately
eliminating, the requirement in 2002.
We
then discuss why an extension of the
mandate
could impede Phase II E911 deployment,
as
well as the deployment of advanced
services
to the public, particularly consumers
in
rural America. |
-reference: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-103A1.DOC
The Analog Cellular Sunset and Who Is Affected
As of midnight on February 18, 2008, cellular
telephone companies were no longer required
to provide analog service. While most wireless
telephone users will not be affected by this
transition (often called the “analog cellular
sunset”), some users may be affected. In
addition, the transition could affect some
alarm systems and some users of OnStar in-vehicle
communications service.
You will not be affected by the transition
if you:
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use a digital handset; or
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subscribe to wireless service from Sprint/Nextel
or T-Mobile.
You may be affected by the transition if
you:
-use an analog-only handset (there are very
few of these left in service); and
-receive service from a cellular telephone
company, including AT&T Mobility, Verizon
Wireless, Alltel, US Cellular, or Cellular
One; or if you
use service that may rely on analog cellular
radio equipment, such as an alarm system
with a wireless radio link or OnStar service
in an older vehicle.
Wireless Telephone Customers
All cellular telephone companies must notify
their analog customers at least four months
before discontinuing analog service, and
again at least 30 days before discontinuing
analog service.
If you use an analog-only or dual-mode analog-digital
handset and “roam” into another provider’s
service area (for example, when traveling),
your roaming coverage may be affected by
the transition. To determine how your roaming
service may be affected by the transition,
ask your wireless telephone company if any
of its roaming partners will discontinue
their analog service after February 18, 2008.
How to Tell Whether Your Handset Is Digital
or Analog
If you don’t know whether your current handset
is digital or analog, there are several ways
to find out. If your wireless phone has advanced
features such as text or instant messaging,
Internet browsing, an MP3 player, or an integrated
camera, it is digital. If your wireless phone
uses a SIM card (a small, removable card
that can be found under your phone’s battery),
it is digital. Some wireless phones display
an icon indicating that they have digital
capabilities. If you have an older model
“bag” phone, it is probably analog. Many
wireless telephone companies have helpful
information about their analog-to-digital
transition plans on their Web sites. If you
have any questions about the type of handset
you have, contact your wireless telephone
company or the retailer where you bought
it.
Alarm System Users
The majority of alarm systems installed in
homes and businesses do not use a wireless
radio signal to connect to a central monitoring
station. Some alarm systems, however, use
analog radio equipment and send a wireless
signal – provided by a wireless telephone
company – using the 800 MHz spectrum. These
systems are affected by the transition. According
to the alarm industry, out of a total 26
million installed alarm systems, there are
approximately one million systems that use
analog radio equipment. Wireless alarm systems
installed before Spring 2006 generally used
analog equipment.
There are several ways to tell if your alarm
system will be affected by the analog-to-digital
transition. Most alarm companies are contacting
their affected customers by letter, bill
insert, and/or telephone to arrange for replacement
installation of a digital alarm radio. In
many cases, if you have an analog alarm radio
that has not been replaced and the analog
wireless network stops operating, the radio
will emit a “beep” or warning tone. If you
believe your alarm system relies on an analog
wireless radio and you haven’t heard from
your alarm company, or if you’re unsure about
what type of alarm system you have, contact
the company to determine your options for
maintaining service.
OnStar Subscribers
If you drive an OnStar-equipped vehicle,
your OnStar service may be affected by the
analog-to-digital transition. OnStar is a
mobile, in-vehicle communications service
that provides telephone service, navigation
information, and emergency services if you
are involved in an accident. OnStar partners
with a wireless telephone company to offer
this service, which is currently analog-based.
OnStar has informed the FCC that it will
stop providing analog-based OnStar service
as of midnight December 31, 2007. OnStar
will then provide a digital-based service.
OnStar-equipped vehicles have one of three
types of equipment: analog-only, analog/digital-ready,
and dual-mode (analog and digital). OnStar
advises that analog-only equipped vehicles
(generally, cars older than 2003 models)
cannot be upgraded and that OnStar service
in such vehicles will not work after December
31, 2007. Analog/digital-ready equipped vehicles
must be upgraded in order to work after December
31, 2007. Dual-mode equipped vehicles will
continue to work after December 31, 2007.
To determine the type of OnStar equipment
in your vehicle and whether your OnStar service
will work after December 31, 2007, contact
OnStar. You can contact OnStar by pressing
the blue OnStar button in your vehicle, calling
OnStar toll-free at 1-866-579-7726 (have
your OnStar account number or your vehicle
identification number available), or visiting
OnStar’s Web site at https://myonstar.com/adt.os.
Enter your vehicle identification number
to determine if the transition affects your
vehicle.
Wireless Telephone Users with Hearing Aids
The FCC has taken steps to ensure that digital
handsets are available that can be used with
hearing aids. The FCC has imposed requirements
and deadlines on handset manufacturers and
wireless telephone companies to offer hearing-aid
compatible digital handsets. See our consumer
fact sheet on these requirements at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/hac.html.
