AT&T Files Updated Tech Plan at FCC

As it begins moving customers off legacy networks to next-generation technology, AT&T filed at the FCC last week a test plan for its new AT&T Phone for Business -- Advanced (APB-A) technology, “an IP-based voice product that provides substantially similar performance” to the legacy service. The new technology is based on the company's AT&T Phone -- Advanced (AP-A) technology, said an undocketed filing by AT&T. It noted that AT&T's proposal to initially stop new sales and then discontinue residential local service in nine Oklahoma wire centers was based on the AP-A test plan. The FCC approved that move in December (see 2412230066). “The methodology set forth in this APB-A test plan is substantively identical to the methodology set forth in the AP-A test plan that AT&T employed in that successful discontinuance application,” the filing said.