Jud Hardcastle wrote:

> Static because Verizon doesn't own/operate many AMPS towers in rural
> Texas--they're roaming on other carrier's systems MOST of which are
> ALREADY digital--but GSM/TDMA not CDMA. AMPS (and TDMA) *can* be turned
> off by those carriers on the shutdown date--no need to "turn up" digital
> because it's already done.

As long as the GSM coverage is equal to the AMPS coverage that they are
turning off, then this is true. However in many areas of the country,
including the area I live in, there are large areas that presently have
AT&T AMPS coverage but that lack AT&T GSM coverage. Similarly, there are
areas that have Verizon AMPS coverage but that lack Verizon CDMA
coverage (I suspect that the same is true for Alltel, though I have no
personal experience with this). If the carriers are complying with the
FCC rules, then they'll have to leave some portions of their AMPS
network up and running until they can install a lot more digital towers.

Fortunately, many of the small carriers moved from TDMA/AMPS to
CDMA/AMPS, which helped coverage for both Verizon subscribers, and those
Cingular and AT&T subscribers with GAIT phones. They chose CDMA because
it has greater range per tower than GSM (yeah, I know about the one
person in the U.S. that insists that he has Extended GSM coverage!).

> The rural carrier's MAY add a few more towers
> to cover areas where high-power AMPS reached and digital doesn't but
> they're under no obligation to ADD CDMA.

This is true. Fortunately many of these rural carriers moved to CDMA
because they wanted to keep AMPS coverage. They chose CDMA because of
the lack of GSM/AMPS handsets. In my area, Golden State Cellular is a
prime example. Unfortunately, the rural carriers that were AT&T
affiliates mostly went the route of AT&T and went to GSM while keeping
TDMA/AMPS up for the time being.

> Verizon has been taking
> advantage of analog roaming to tout their "more coverage" than ATT--and
> correctly for those with dual mode phones (although no larger than my
> GAIT phone/plan)--but the advantage is about to end.

Unlikely to end any time soon. All the news reports about the AMPS
mandate ending always have statements by the rural carriers that they
will keep AMPS operating for the foreseeable future (they really have no
choice but to do so both for legal and practical reasons). Similarly, if
AT&T, Verizon, and Alltel intend to comply with the FCC rules, then they
will have to leave their fringe area AMPS network up, even if they don't
want to talk about doing so.

Will the FCC enforce their own rules is the real question. If they
don't, I'll lose coverage in the East Bay Hills, western Marin county,
much of the southern San Mateo coast and northern Santa Cruz coast, much
of the Santa Cruz mountains, much of the north coast area south of
Crescent City, much of San Benito County (down to the Pinnacles), much
of the Florida Everglades, the list goes on and on.

Is the FCC going to accept 100% overlay of existing AMPS towers with
digital, even though this means much less coverage?

In any case, the bottom line is that the original poster is incorrect.
Portions of the AMPS system will be shut down in February, but much of
it will remain operational if you believe what the rural carriers are
all saying.