Analog - How much longer?

[Underwriter]

How much longer will VZW have analog service? I currently have a Motorola T730 phone. I will need a new phone shortly, but have concerns with getting a digital only model. Coverage is VERY important to me due to traveling extensively in semi-rural and rural areas.

I was shocked last month when I was in Newport, RI because I was on analog VZW coverage for a short period of time (not exactly what I consider a backwater area).

[DarrylLeeOHS30]

I'm not sure about just vzw, but i've heard around here that everyone has to have it down by sometime in 2008 I'm pretty sure that's what i've read here before.

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by DarrylLeeOHS30

I'm not sure about just vzw, but i've heard around here that everyone has to have it down by sometime in 2008 I'm pretty sure that's what i've read here before.

The FCC has setup Shutting down Analog at the end of 2008, but some companies have put in request's to keep it on longer, I am not sure of which companies have put in the request & if they were approved, but I am sure if you do a search on the FCC's web site the information should be available.

[Scrumhalf]

It's actually the opposite. The FCC has mandated that analog be maintained till 2008, not that it must be shut down by that time.

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by Scrumhalf

It's actually the opposite. The FCC has mandated that analog be maintained till 2008, not that it must be shut down by that time.

I didn't mean to sound like that & sorry if it came over wrong.
I basically meant what you said, that "They were going to allow if to be shut down in 2008" I believe alot of the bigger companies wanted it sooner for the bandwidth, but the FCC decided there wasn't enough CDMA or GSM coverage in the rural area's that still use & need Analog.

Page 8 of this document from the FCC's site goes into more about it for anyone interested. It was Adopted 9-10-2002, and they say in it about the 5 years from the effective date.

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_publi...C-02-247A1.pdf

And here is another more indepth article on Part 22.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_publi...C-02-229A1.pdf

[Scrumhalf]

Sorry Fire14, I was responding to Darryl's message. Both of us must have been typing at the same time and you must have pressed the Post button a second before I did because I never saw your post when I responded... lol.....

I would never be curt or brusque on WA - this isn't HoFo after all

Also, responding to the original poster's question, since Verizon really sells AC as having the biggest footprint countrywide, I doubt that they would shut off analog until they can make sure they have CDMA overlaid on the analog areas. I don't think they would want total coverage to decline since that is a key selling point of AC in my observation as a non-Verizon customer. That's my opinion of course... don't have any insights into what will really transpire.

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by Scrumhalf

Sorry Fire14, I was responding to Darryl's message. Both of us must have been typing at the same time and you must have pressed the Post button a second before I did because I never saw your post when I responded... lol.....

I would never be curt or brusque on WA - this isn't HoFo after all

Also, responding to the original poster's question, since Verizon really sells AC as having the biggest footprint countrywide, I doubt that they would shut off analog until they can make sure they have CDMA overlaid on the analog areas. I don't think they would want total coverage to decline since that is a key selling point of AC in my observation as a non-Verizon customer. That's my opinion of course... don't have any insights into what will really transpire.

Oh, ok I guess your right on both of us typing at the same time, (it's all good) and I would never be like that either, don't want to bring this place to HoFo level.

[Scrumhalf]

Originally Posted by Fire14

Oh, ok I guess your right on both of us typing at the same time, (it's all good) and I would never be like that either, don't want to bring this place to HoFo level.

All is cool....

[RJB]

I would just get an all digital phone unless you get on analog alot. I say this because digital is almost anywhere now a days.

[Scrumhalf]

I agree with you in general, but out West, having analog is still crucial in some areas of Oregon.

[jones]

Originally Posted by Scrumhalf

I agree with you in general, but out West, having analog is still crucial in some areas of Oregon.

agreed, the west is still in THE DARK AGES.
While in the EAST the Analog dead zones has Digital Coverage,
the rural areas has Digital coverage.