I am betting that both enterprises and individuals will use both Internet and PSTN for their communication needs. In other words, they will communicate ’Äúin multiple media via data, for authorized, authenticated partners and one via PSTN, for an unknown, untrusted public.’Äù Once we devise a method for the end-points to authenticate between themselves, there is no need for IP communications service providers. This will also address the ’Äúfear factor’Äù issue.

I didn’Äôt know that POTS lines buzz during rain, but the data portion of the same line stays calm.