We’ve spent the last several years figuring out how to implement STIR/SHAKEN on IP networks, all while knowing that there was no agreement in place for how to do the same thing on TDM networks… a rather significant flaw in the plan. The FCC’s position on this problem has been that service providers could have… Continue Reading
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Never ask the same question twice
When I was twenty years old I got a summer internship at a little software company named Data Connection, where I worked on their “MeetingServer” product. This basically had the same features as Zoom but 20 years earlier, and with more of an emphasis on collaboration (screen-sharing and whiteboards) rather than video chat. Data Connection… Continue Reading
How redundant should our network be?
The telecoms network has high standards in terms of availability. For years we’ve talked about “five nines” reliability, meaning that service is available 99.999% of the time – equivalent to about 5 minutes of downtime per year. I wish my internet service was that good. The only way to attain such a high standard of… Continue Reading
Robocall Mitigation and STIR/SHAKEN Last-Minute Checklist
It’s less than two weeks until the FCC’s STIR/SHAKEN deadline on June 30. If you have any lingering doubts about the requirements, then we’ve prepared this checklist to help make sure you didn’t miss anything. (Be warned: We are not lawyers, this is not legal advice, it’s possible we missed something.) #1: Do you qualify… Continue Reading
How to make your customers mad
Good customer service is an opportunity to strengthen a relationship with a customer despite an initial problem. On the other hand, bad customer service can turn a minor frustration into raging fury… as I discovered recently. Hopefully we can all learn some lessons from my pain. If you’re worried about catching a virus, then there’s… Continue Reading
Should I hire a coach?
I just registered to run a 50K (31 mile) race in the mountains of central Oregon – in celebration of my vaccination and a hoped-for return to normal life. I have 4 months to prepare, and a pretty good idea of what will be required in terms of training, and yet… I’m considering the idea… Continue Reading