@tvd, you’ve made an interesting point. The brass put out their 5 year plan, in 2015, but the playbook may have changed. Don’t misunderstand, we’re still being phased out, surplussed, Rif’d, call it what you want but though it started as a 2020 plan it may not really be set in stone.
Call Centers are being be closed, or reduced in its existing workforce, and a few cheaper “employee” hires pop up in countries “far, far away.” It fits their need, reduces the workforce and pension equation and lets them eventually eliminate the expense of healthcare, and building upkeep. Union locations are condensed and reduced, in manpower, for similar reasons.
Their plan has become fluid and perhaps not as solid an edict as they once pronounced. They won’t mind the people jumping ship, subscribers dropping DTV. T is finding ways to cut corners, have their Surpluses, and adjust as they go.....the presumption they will suddenly eliminate 75K jobs between now and 2020 (as being unlikely) is right on the money, the Surplus routine will continue, as needed, for a long time, but certainly beyond their mandate......just my opinion.