Dear Ms. Lyons,

I accidentally clicked the "send" button, and dispatched my most recent
e-mail to you prematurely. Here is the complete story. Please excuse the
duplication.

1. At present telephone service to my house at 174 School Street,
Belmont MA 02478 is provided
a) by a wireless cell phone (617-548-5768) and
b) by a copper wire connection which transmits
    i) the analog voice (40V) and ringer (90V) signals. (617-489-1043)
       I believe this is referred to as POTS
       This voice connection has been non-functioning since April 26, 2017
   ii) the digital DSL Internet connection (ernstmeyer@earthlink.net)
       which I have purchased from Earthlink for many years,
       I value highly and wish to keep.
       During the protracted outage of POTS this DSL connection has functioned 
       flawlessly with only one brief interruption.

2. I am informed that the existing POTS connection is 100 years old, 
   is constituted of bare copper wires wrapped with paper and encased
   in a water permeable lead conduit. In inclement whether, because of 
   current leakage to ground, the 40V DC "dial tone" voltage drops to 
   3V DC (measured by me), and dial tone is lost. At the same time, 
   the 90V AC ringer voltage is so attenuated that the phone no longer
   rings and the caller receives a busy signal. Whether this defective
   POTS line will continue to carry DSL and/or VoIP signals indefinitely,
   and if not, what happens thereafter, remains to be seen. 

3. I have been repeatedly urged by Verizon officals to abandon POTS and
   Earthlink in favor of Verizon FIOS telephone and Internet service
   with the explanation that Verizon had no plans to replace the antique 
   copper conduits with modern plastic insulated cables. I have consistently
   refused, because I believe Verizon is attempting to renege on a legal 
   obligation to both Earthlink and myself.

4. With respect to the VoIP connection, I ask please assign a new telephone
   number to this VoIP connection. Please DO NOT PORT 617-489-1043, inasmuch
   as transferring this number might relieve Verizon of the legal obligation 
   to provide the copper line.
   
5. Thank you for your help (and for your patience).

Sincerely,
Ernst Meyer