Patent ID: 7187946

Claim:
A method for use of local loop telephone lines that normally extend between a telephone company switch and multiple different customer premises, including a first local loop telephone line extending between the telephone company switch and a first customer premises, and a second local loop telephone line normally extending between the telephone company switch and a second customer premises, wherein the telephone company switch provides connectivity with a transport network, and wherein the telephone company switch resides at a telephone company central office, the method comprising the following steps: at the telephone company central office, interfacing each of the local loop telephone lines with a respective wireless transceiver between the telephone company switch and the customer premises to which the local loop telephone line extends; and operating each wireless transceiver to communicate with a wireless access network that provides connectivity with the transport network, so as to communicatively connect each local loop telephone line with the transport network without use of the telephone company switch, whereby (i) communications then flow between the first customer premises and the transport network via a first communication path comprising the first local loop telephone line, a first wireless transceiver, and the wireless access network, and (ii) communications then flow between the second customer premises and the transport network via a second communication path comprising the second local loop telephone line, a second wireless transceiver, and the wireless access network.