In a nutshell, a lot of medical alert devices, alarm systems, school bus tracking systems and even breathalyzers communicate over 3G to their
host systems. Due to the pandemic a lot of people are not allowing
technicians to come change devices out. Many of these people are
elderly and/or low income.
As of 2018, near 20% of Americans were still on 3G (article cites a
study by marketing firm OpenSignal).
Various groups lobbying FCC to mandate a delay until at least the end of
2022. TelCo's pushing back as maintaining 3G has costs v. low revenue
as well as spectrum management issues.
Shutdown dates cited:
T-Mobile's Sprint network: March 31, 2022.
Verizon: Dec 31, 2022.
AT&T: Feb 2022.
Article:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/11/13/3g-service-ending-fcc/
(Paywall might block that, here's a "gift" link, not sure if more than
one person can use it:
https://wapo.st/3ChsT0T ).
--
"...there are many humorous things in this world; among them the white
man's notion that he is less savage than the other savages."
-Samuel Clemens
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