Re:Somebody has to maintain the networks (Score 1)

I believe that traditional POTS is so much more expensive due to several reasons: 1. Hardware that service providers use to support Pots lines are more expensive, take up more space, consume more power and generate more heat than their IP counterparts. 2. When you make a call on a Pots line you basically have a point to point circuit consuming a full DS0s worth of bandwidth, whether or not you are using all that bandwidth, where with VOIP depending on the codex being used (and other features like silence supression) you will most likely be using less bandwidth. 3. VOIP is not regulated and does not have the uptime requirements that Pots lines do (adds to equipment and support costs.) I'm sure there are other factors as well but those are probably the major ones.