Verizon has asked the FCC for permission to discontinue its Alert Transport Service throughout its service territories, another step in its ongoing effort to transition from legacy services.
The telco said in an FCC filing that it has not had any Alert Transport Service customers or requests for the service since at least January 2015.
“Given the lack of demand for this outdated offering, we plan to discontinue Alert Transport Service on or after February 26, 2018,” Verizon said in the FCC filing (PDF).
After getting the FCC’s authorization, Verizon will discontinue the Alert Transport Service in four Northeastern U.S. states: Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Alert Transport Service provides for the passing of signals via dedicated links which are used to report alert messages (e.g., fire, burglary) from a customer’s line when ordered for use in conjunction with Verizon’s recently discontinued intrastate local exchange PULSENET Alert Transport Service.
The dedicated links provide for two-way transmission from the telephone company host processor to the customer-designated premises. A dedicated link is provided with transmission capability in the nominal frequency range of 300 to 3000 Hz.
Since Verizon does not have any current Alert Transport Service customers, the telco won’t have to issue any customer notices.
Like other services it has requested to discontinue like DSO and other related copper-based services, Verizon points out that customers use several IP-based alternatives to conduct alerts.
“Customers today have already adopted other services to report alert messages, including Internet, VoIP or wireless applications, as evidenced by the fact that no customers have used or sought this service in almost three years,” Verizon said.