A.T.&T. links breakdown to failure to do routine check

Article Abstract:

AT&T reports to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), explaining the disruption of telephone services in the New York City area on Sep 17, 1991. The breakdown not only prevented telephone calls from being completed but also stopped air traffic in the area. According to AT&T, one of its supervisors failed to send a technician to do a routine inspection. AT&T maintains that its procedures are good ones, saying that the Sep 17 incident is a result of 'a combination of highly unusual circumstances.' But this is the third major disruption of telephone services in New York City in less than two years. Both the FCC and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) indicate that they would prefer 'additional diversity' in telephone services. Congress is also concerned. Rep Edward J. Markey (D-MA), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance, is investigating.

Regulation, admin. of utilities, United States. Federal Communications Commission, Investigations, Science and technology policy, United States. Federal Aviation Administration, Markey, Edward J., United States. Congress. House. Subcommittee on Telecommunications

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Electronic switching is blamed as culprit in phone breakdown

Article Abstract:

AT&T's long-distance telephone services for Manhattan were disrupted Sep 17, 1991 due to an unidentified problem with AT&T's 4-ESS telecommunications switch. The 4-ESS resides in a major switching station in Manhattan and is used to route calls between AT&T's long-distance network and local telephone company-operated telecommunication networks. Company officials claim a power supply problem disabled the 4-ESS switch and electricity was unable to reach the equipment. AT&T stresses the redundancy and back-up capabilities of its systems, but the recent failure illustrates the extent to which telephone networks depend on select pieces of equipment. The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) held an extensive closed-door meeting in early Sep with telephone industry executives on the reliability of telecommunications networks and will no doubt investigate the incident.

Analysis, Telecommunication switching equipment, Telecommunications switching equipment, System failures (Engineering), Long-Distance Telephone Service, System Crash, AT and T 4ESS (Telecommunication switching system)

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