Received: from delta.eecs.nwu.edu by MINTAKA.LCS.MIT.EDU id aa08543; 22 Sep 95 23:13 EDT Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id PAA09901 for telecomlist-outbound; Fri, 22 Sep 1995 15:51:41 -0500 Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id PAA09893; Fri, 22 Sep 1995 15:51:38 -0500 Date: Fri, 22 Sep 1995 15:51:38 -0500 From: TELECOM Digest (Patrick Townson) Message-Id: <199509222051.PAA09893@delta.eecs.nwu.edu> To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Subject: TELECOM Digest V15 #401 TELECOM Digest Fri, 22 Sep 95 15:51:30 CDT Volume 15 : Issue 401 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Listen to Me on the Radio This Weekend (TELECOM Digest Editor) Microsoft to Speak at IOC '95 Conference (Tom Geldner) Re: FBI Arrests America Online Users (Clifton T. Sharp) Re: AOL and Expectations of Privacy (David B. Hultberg) Re: Dialing 911 Instead of Police's 7D Number (Paul S. Sawyer) Re: Dialing 911 Instead of Police's 7D Number (Jeff Bamford) Re: Dialing 911 Instead of Police's 7D Number (Wes Leatherock) Re: 911 Access/Disconnected Phones (Greg Abbott) 911 Signalling (was Bell Canada Tests "Soft" Dial Tone) (Paul Cook) TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of public service systems and networks including Compuserve and America On Line. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Subscriptions are available to qualified organizations and individual readers. Write and tell us how you qualify: * telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu * The Digest is edited, published and compilation-copyrighted by Patrick Townson of Skokie, Illinois USA. You can reach us by postal mail, fax or phone at: 9457-D Niles Center Road Skokie, IL USA 60076 Phone: 500-677-1616 Fax: 708-329-0572 ** Article submission address only: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu ** Our archives are located at lcs.mit.edu and are available by using anonymous ftp. The archives can also be accessed using our email information service. For a copy of a helpful file explaining how to use the information service, just ask. ************************************************************************* * TELECOM Digest is partially funded by a grant from the * * International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland * * under the aegis of its Telecom Information Exchange Services (TIES) * * project. Views expressed herein should not be construed as represent-* * ing views of the ITU. * ************************************************************************* In addition, TELECOM Digest receives a grant from Microsoft to assist with publication expenses. Editorial content in the Digest is totally independent, and does not necessarily represent the views of Microsoft. ------------------------------------------------------------ Finally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such as yourself who provide funding in amounts deemed appropriate. Your help is important and appreciated. A suggested donation of twenty dollars per year per reader is considered appropriate. See our address above. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 22 Sep 1995 15:11:54 -0500 From: TELECOM Digest Editor Subject: Listen to Me on the Radio This Weekend Fred Goldstein and myself will be guests on the Spectrum show Saturday night. We both hope you will be able to listen and call in with any questions you might have. Emmanuel Goldstein has been the host of this popular program since its inception a few years ago. The topic for the show this week is the recent breakup of AT&T into various separate and distinct parts. Here is how you can listen: On shortwave - WWCR Nashville, TN 5065 Kz On Satellite - Galaxy 6 Channel 14 with Audio at 7.56 wide band New York City - WCNJ 89.3 and/or 91.9 FM and, it may be on other stations in your vicinity. The show is on 10-11 pm Eastern time. Our European readers will need to get up early Sunday morning I guess! Please try and tune in; Fred Goldstein and I will appreciate hearing your comments and questions. Patrick Townson ------------------------------ From: TGeldner@gnn.com Subject: Microsoft to Speak at IOC '95 Conference Date: Fri, 22 Sep 1995 12:00:44 GMT Organization: MFPA Microsoft Added to MFPA Integrated Office Conference '95 Featured Speaker List Presentation to focus on multifunction peripheral connectivity and Windows '95 SAN DIEGO, CA / September 20, 1995 - The Multifunction Peripheral Association (MFPA) today announced that Microsoft Corporation's Kurt Delbene, had been named as a featured presenter for the MFPA's upcoming Integrated Office Conference '95 (IOC '95), September 28 - 29 in Del Mar, CA. Delbene, Group Manager for Microsoft's Personal Systems Division, is scheduled to discuss multifunction peripheral (MFP) connectivity in relation to Windows '95. He will also be presenting Microsoft's Windows '95 Logical Modem Interface (LMI) technology. Targeted toward developers, manufacturers and marketers of printer, fax, scanner, copier and data communications technologies, IOC '95 is expected to draw some 200 senior engineers, researchers, managers and executives to the annual event. Raymond Lutz, MFPA Executive Chair, commented, "We are very pleased that Microsoft is Joining our outstanding list of speakers representing most of the multifunction development community's major players. The momentum and enthusiasm for IOC '95 is highly gratifying and we think it's safe to say that IOC '95 is now the singlemost significant MFP industry event going." For more information about IOC '95, contact the MFPA toll-free at 800-603-MFPA, via fax at 619-447-6872 or by mail at: MFPA, 1010 Old Chase Avenue, Suite B, El Cajon, CA 92020. Information is also available via Internet by sending an e-mail message to "mfpa-request@cognisys.com" with the subject "Send IOC 95 Info" or from the Worldwide Web at "http://www.cognisys.com". The registration fee for the IOC '95 is $595 for MFPA members and $695 for non-members. Admission includes access to all conference sessions including the keynote speech by Michael J. Miller, Vice President and Editor-in-Chief of PC Magazine. Admission also includes continental breakfasts, a hosted luncheon, networking receptions, a "Del Mar-garita" party plus a complete conference binder. Audio transcriptions will be available for most conference sessions. Multiple attendee and other discounts are available. Qualified members of the press wishing to attend should contact Tom Geldner at 619-578-0096 or via fax at 619/578-0828. ------------------- The Multifunction Peripheral Association (MFPA) is a non-profit, industry association established for the promotion and development of multifunction computer peripheral devices and uniform standards for computer-based faxing, data transfer, scanning, printing and copying. MFPA member companies and sponsors of the MFPI / IS-650 standard include Brother International, Canon USA, Cognisys, Danka/Omnifax, Destiny Technology, Fujitsu, IBM, InfoNetwork, Konica Business Machines, Lanier Worldwide, Matsushita Electric, Minolta, Mita Copystar, Motorola, National Semiconductor, Oce Graphics, Peerless Systems, QMS, Ricoh, Rockwell International, Sharp, Torrey Pines Research, Toshiba, Wordcraft International, Xerox and Xionics Document Technologies. Raymond Lutz, MFPA Executive Chairman, is Director of Rearch and Development for Cognisys, Inc., a national contract engineering firm and multifunction product developer. MEDIA CONTACT: Tom Geldner Geldner Associates Bus: (619) 578-1076 Fax: (619) 578-0828 Hm: (619) 578-0096 Internet: 72650.1142@compuserve.com ------------------------------ From: clifto@indep1.chi.il.us (Clifton T. Sharp) Subject: Re: FBI Arrests America Online Users Organization: as little as possible Date: Fri, 22 Sep 1995 17:03:35 GMT In article PAT writes: > Ward Christianson and Randy Suess started the whole concept in 1979 Christensen. > By 1985 or so we were seeing more and more BBS's change to 'read > only access until authenticated' as a result of the increasing vandalism > and harrassment so many suffered. Actually earlier. Seems to me it was around 1982 or 1983 when it started. I recall at that time that I had been "locked out" of one BBS when this started, even though I had been a long-time user (since nearly the time the BBS was started); I was rather miffed, as his logon screen told a story about vandalism etc. being the reason, and I felt that the implication was that I couldn't be trusted after all that time. Another BBS grandfathered all its long-time users, which seemed more reasonable. I didn't mind later giving my address, phone, etc. to the sysop of the latter BBS because of the implicit trust. > New users would often complain, "well I don't know > who this person (the sysop) is; I am not going to give out my name, > phone number and address to a stranger", and my answer always was, but > you expect me to be willing to allow a total stranger to use my > computer and visit electronically with me in my living room ... Well, sorta. With two or three notable exceptions since the early 80's, I've chosen not to use the BBSes unless I knew the sysop (at least by reputation). I don't expect "you" to let me use "your" system at all (is that too reasonable? :-); I just expect not to have to give personal information to a total stranger, even if that means I can't use the total-stranger BBS. > I'd like to see Caller-ID become a routine > thing on all incoming modem lines and no postings allowed Two problems with CNID. One, I don't always call in from my home number, but sometimes from client sites; this requires the sysop to constantly update my records by adding and deleting numbers. Two, a call redirector could cause numerous problems (for a short time) for hundreds of BBSes who relied on CNID alone. > And for those privacy freaks who would complain about their freedom > of speech being chilled and how abused they will become when their > phone and address are on file with the admin, I would respond "thank > you for your gratuitous insults regarding my integrity. Find some > other sucker willing to provide you with a free public toilet." End > of sermon. PAT] Only the abusers of free speech would assert that free speech implies anonymity. Indeed, the whole concept of constitutional protection of same implies that it protects one's ability to safely attach his name to his speech, without repercussions from government; constitutional protection wouldn't be needed if "free speech" meant, or even included, anonymous guerilla attacks. Cliff Sharp WA9PDM clifto@indep1.chi.il.us [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Tell me this Cliff; did you back then ever dream we would be as advanced as we are today in this concept? I am reminded of a message I posted on the Rogers Park Apple BBS (remember that one, at 312-761-ABBS?) sometime around 1982 saying I did not see any need for a 1200 baud modem; that 300 was as fast as I could read text as it scrolled across the screen anyway. When I hooked up my very first modem (a Hayes modem on a card that went in a slot of the Apple ][+) back in 1979, I never would have concieved of things being as they are today. Oh, I also had a Heathkit terminal (actually, they were the Zenith Z-19 terminals, but when you built them from a Heathkit package as I did they were called H-19) with a Hayes 300 baud SmartModem. I was the wonder of my neighborhood. Who would have dreamed it would gotten to where it is today? Regards the use of Caller ID on incoming BBS lines, I would never use it as the sole authenticator. I would use it for advisory purposes only. In other words, all calls are welcome, but I would like to be able to show on my opening banner 'you are calling from xxx-xxxx, and this is being noted in our records.' That would usually do the job I needed it to do. I sure wish we had Caller ID back then ... oh, do I!! PAT] ------------------------------ From: news@news.fmso.navy.mil Subject: Re: AOL and Expectations of Privacy Date: Fri, 22 Sep 95 13:29:03 GMT Organization: C&D Railroad Last week I attended a Network Security Workshop sponsored by a Navy activity. Most of the presentations concerned hardware and software means of keeping systems secure from hackers and other evildoers. One presentation germaine to this thread was presented by a Navy lawyer. The 4th Amendment to the Constitution and the Electronic Communications Privacy Act provide protections against monitoring of private communications but they are not absolute. The 4th Amendment says "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause ..." This sounds good, but the JAG lawyer went on to point out the following exceptions to the amendment: * Consent. If the AOL TOS that you agreed to says that they may monitor your communications and that by signing the TOS you agree to such monitoring, then you are out of luck. * Reasonable Expectation of Privacy. If you don't have a reasonable expection of privacy, then you can't object to being monitored. DOD and many BBS sysops use this exception by displaying a warning banner everytime you logon to the system. * Judicial Warrant The ECPA, the law that allows the cellular phone industry to claim that cell phone calls are private, also has exceptions built into it. * Judicial warrant * 18 usc SECTION 2511(2)(A)(I). SYSOP may monitor "in the normal course of his employment while engaged in any activity which is a necessary incident to the rendition of his service or the protection of the rights or property of the provider". The interpretation given to the above extract from 18USC2511 is that SYSOPs have a wide latitude in administratively monitoring the activity on their systems. It could extend as far as running a keystroke monitor on one of my users to determine what he/she was doing that was causing unusually high consumption of system resources or repeatedly trying to access areas that they weren't supposed to. However, the lawyer emphasized that everything the sysop did should be in a defensive mode. Once a sysop determines that illegal activity may be taking place, he or she should immediately cease any monitoring and notify law enforcement personnel. SYSOPs duties do not include gathering evidence. David B. Hultberg, Director david_b_hultberg@nslc.fmso.navy.mil Information Resources Management dave.hultberg@paonline.com Naval Sea Logistics Center http://www.nslc.fmso.navy.mil P.O. Box 2060 (717) 790-4507 or DSN 430-4507 Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-0795 (717) 790-2915 or DSN 430-2915(FAX) ------------------------------ From: PAUL_SAWYER@unh.edu (Paul S. Sawyer) Subject: Re: Dialing 911 Instead of Police's 7D Number Date: 22 Sep 1995 16:57:34 GMT Organization: University of New Hampshire - Durham, NH In article Martin McCormick writes: > What happened was something that dates back to the 1840's. > The spring-wound mechanism was probably much like that of a music box. > As the spring unwound, a wheel with notches cut in to it rotated past > a switch. The notches were cut so that a code was sent via telegraph > wires to the central fire station. The mechanism probably had a > governor of some kind to make sure that the speed was fairly constant > as the spring unwound. Yes, and setting the timing in each box was an art in itself. Different code wheels had to be set so that the time between strokes was constant, therefore the RPM of the wheel varied greatly from box to box. > I have never been to Boston, but their fire department used > radio frequencies that sometimes propagate in to Oklahoma. I noticed > that they had their street boxes tied directly in to the radio system > so that when somebody pulled a box, one would hear a long tone to get > everyone's attention followed by the box number pulsed out much like a > very slow rotary dial telephone. I seem to remember that the beeps > were about three or four per second so a person could easily count > them to determine the number. This would have been on 33.74 MHz, back when all the fire dispatching for the city fit on one channel! Actually, the dispatcher relayed all the boxes, sometimes using judgment when many boxes came in for a big fire, etc.; the street boxes (on a "box circuit") come in as three or four "rounds" (repetitions), and the dispatcher pulled a card for the box number, set the number on an alarm transmitter, pushed an alert tone button, then started the transmitter which would transmit only two rounds (on "alarm circuits") to the station bells and the radio tones. A second (third, fourth, ...) alarm was indicated by a "2" ("3", "4", ...) then the box number; all out was "2-2; 2-2" then the box number, so monitoring this one channel at the time gave a pretty good idea of eveything going on in the BFD! > After a couple of repeats, the human dispatcher would confirm the box > number and make sure that the correct engines were heading for the fire. After he had read the file card for the box. > The alarm boxes vanished from streets in Tulsa and Oklahoma > City as well as many other places as soon as 911 became the method of > choice to report emergencies. [...] Which is sad, because even if the phones are in place, it was nice to have had the separate, dedicated alarm systems as backup. Paul S. Sawyer Paul.Sawyer@UNH.edu UNH Telecommunications Voice: +1 603 862 3262 50 College Road FAX: +1 603 862 4545 Durham, New Hampshire 03824-3523 ------------------------------ From: jeffb@audiolab.uwaterloo.ca (Jeff Bamford) Subject: Re: Dialing 911 Instead of Police's 7D Number Organization: Audio Research Group, University of Waterloo Date: Fri, 22 Sep 1995 14:39:11 -0400 In article , Mark Brader wrote: >> 911 is put on the front page whereas the seven-digit numbers >> are relegated to alphabetical listings in the middle ... > The emergencies pages at the front used to show 911 (and before that > 361-1111 and before that EM1-1111) for emergencies, all right. But > right below that, in smaller print, they used to give the regular police > number (324-2222, and before that 967-2222). Seems eminently sensible > to me. Anyone know why Bell decided to change it? It's not as if a > call to 324-2222 couldn't be transferred to the dispatchers at 911. Maybe it depends upon the region. In Hamilton-Wentworth (a mere 45 minutes from Toronto) we have all the emergency numbers on the back side of the front cover. Most of them are just 911, but there are a couple of seven digit numbers for one exchange in Niagara region (905-662). Page 1 of the directory lists on the special services numbers (Distress, assualt etc. i.e. social services). Page 2 of the directory has a map of the area with the Police stations marked, each with their own number for rececption & crime stoppers. Across the top of the page is the non-emergency number for the region. Out of all the Bell Canada directories that I've seen this is the best. It has Postal Codes for the region, maps of Hamilton and Burlington. A short tourist guide (lists events for the year) is also included, as well as numbers for the rec. centres, social services, auditoriums - arenas etc. This is all included in the middle between the blue and yellow pages. (As mentioned before, the blue pages are government listings -- these need more work though!) Jeff Bamford Email - jeffb@uwaterloo.ca -- NeXT Mail welcome Office/Lab: +1 519 885 1211 x3814 Fax: +1 519 746 8115 WEB Page: A.R.G. Home Page ------------------------------ From: wes.leatherock@hotelcal.com (Wes Leatherock) Subject: Re: Dialing 911 Instead of Police's 7D Number Date: Fri, 22 Sep 1995 13:43:00 GMT Martin McCormick wrote: > The alarm boxes vanished from streets in Tulsa and Oklahoma > City as well as many other places as soon as 911 became the method of > choice to report emergencies. I also remember that many of the street > boxes had a glass window that one had to break with an attached hammer > to activate the alarm. This always seemed dumb and dangerous to me, > but I am sure there was a good reason for it. I did a story about the fire department dispatchers for {The Daily Oklahoman} in the 1950s, and even then fire alarm boxes were fairly rare. (Expensive, not used very often, especially subject to false alarms, the dispatchers said.) However, there was a theoretical fire alarm box number assigned to every address in the city, and when a fire call came in the dispatcher checked the street and number and the listing gave the fire alarm box number (whether theoretical or real) associated with that address. Then he checked his card file (on 3x5 cards; this was before the days of much computer use) for that fire alarm box number and the card listed all the equipment to be dispatched on first, second and third alarms. Really worked quite well. Schools, hotels and similar buildings had unique box numbers, and were automatically responded to initially as a three-alarm fire. I believe the idea of the glass window and hammer was to reduce the number of false alarms; you had to do something more than just walk by and pull the lever. This was true in most cities I'm familiar with. Wes Leatherock wes.leatherock@hotelcal.com wes.leatherock@oubbs.telecom.uoknor.edu wes.leatherock@f2001.n147.z1.fidonet.org ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 22 Sep 1995 11:05:45 CST From: Greg Abbott Reply-To: gabbott@uiuc.edu Subject: Re: 911 Access/Disconnected Phones stemaat@aol.com (STemaat) writes: > This is very similar to sa service started in the Mississippi service > area of BellSOuth on July 31. All phone jacks now have the "soft" dial > tone -- with only two numbers allowed: 6-1-1 (customer service) and > 9-1-1 (emergency). > As a 9-1-1 dispatcher, I think it's a great thing -- we only have two > small problems with it: (1) the line shows up on the ALI (Automated > Location Indicator) as a business number, which can be misleading to > someone not familiar with an area, or in an area that's mixed > business/residential. (2) the number, although it displays for us, > cannot accept incoming calls. therefore we can't call back if > disconnected. Also, the caller, obviously, won't know the number. > I would prefer to see an indicator (such as NOPR for Non-operative), > in place of the BUSN (Business) designation for these numbers. We > should also have some sort of Operator-override available (as I > believe we should on pay phones that don't accept incoming calls). By > this, I mean we could call the "0" operator, identify ourselves, and > have the operator ring the number back on disconnect. (This is the > same procedure we use for emergency traces when people call on an > administrative line and can't tell us where they are, and their > condition is too bad to trust that they can reconnect through 9-1-1 -- > a process which can take up to ten minutes if they don't know the > number they're at.) Despite the fact that some people may use this method (get a phone, let it be disconnected) to get 9-1-1 access from their homes without paying for it, I think it's a good idea. There are times when people simply forget to pay their bill or misplace it, etc. and if their service is shut off, they should still be able to access emergency services. I think that Bell Canada is on the right track with their two month limit for the continuation of this "free" service. This way, people are not getting something they have no intention of paying for. Now before everyone jumps on me about how people have a right to access 9-1-1, let me just say that unlike some communities, the 9-1-1 system here (and in most places in Illinois) is funded entirely through a surcharge on each telephone line. We do not receive tax-payer dollars from any other source for the 9-1-1 network portion of the service. > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: The problem is, even the operator cannot > ringback to lines which are one-way outgoing only service *unless she > had the call up to start with and has not released it*. Just 'cold > dialing' by the operator into a one-way outgoing line will get her the > same results it gets you: an intercept saying it cannot be reached. Now > if she got the call to start with and has not yet released it, then she > can ring back on the line. What 911 needs obviously is the ability to > hold up a trunk on an incoming call and only release it when they get > ready to do so. PAT] Basic Type III 9-1-1 provides for call trap which allows the 9-1-1 center to hold the call up for as long as they want to. With Enhanced, however, this ability goes away due to the increased computer switching (selective routing) which is available to direct the calls. I am told that the current technology will not allow Enhanced calls to be held up for traces, etc. It sure was a great service in basic though, I don't know how many times I had domestic disturbance calls where one party is trying to hang up the phone on the other. I would start a trace and then just sit there on the line and hope that someone would pick up again. On most occasions the phone would be laid (or thrown) down on the first ring-back and you could hear some pretty nasty arguments, people being beaten, stuff broken, etc. You can not begin to imagine the stress of knowing someone is on the other end of the line who is in dire need of assistance and you have no idea where they are at and, like Scott said, the trace information won't be available for several minutes. Enhanced 9-1-1 is truly a lifesaver in these cases! 99999 11 11 GREG ABBOTT 9 9 1 1 INTERNET: GABBOTT@UIUC.EDU 9-1-1 COORDINATOR 99999 == 1 == 1 COMPUSERVE: 76046,3107 9 1 1 VOICE: 217/333-9889 METCAD 9 1 1 FAX: 217/384-7003 1905 E. MAIN ST. 9 111 111 PAGER: 800/222-6651 URBANA, IL 61801 PIN # 9541 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 22 Sep 95 12:19 EST From: Proctor & Associates <0003991080@mcimail.com> Subject: 911 Signalling (was Bell Canada Tests "Soft" Dial Tone) > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: The problem is, even the operator cannot > ringback to lines which are one-way outgoing only service *unless she > had the call up to start with and has not released it*. Just 'cold dialing' > by the operator into a one-way outgoing line will get her the same results > it gets you: an intercept saying it cannot be reached. Now if she got the > call to start with and has not yet released it, then she can ring back > on the line. What 911 needs obviously is the ability to hold up a trunk > on an incoming call and only release it when they get ready to do so. PAT] Basic 9-1-1 service used to provide this sort of Called Party Control. The trunk was configured like a TSPS or CAMA trunk, going directly from the originating CO to the PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point). When the operator answered, the caller could not go away until the operator released the trunk. If the caller hung up, the operator could flash the trunk and cause the originating trunk to rering the calling party directly, without a new call being set up via the network. With the advent of E911, ALI and Selective Routing, this important feature went away. In most systems now the call goes via a 9-1-1 tandem switch which routes the call to an appropriate PSAP, losing the Called Party Control when it is switched through the tandem. When the operator wants to ring back the calling party, a ringback button will cause the 7 digit number that was grabbed from the ANI to be dialed back on a regular outgoing phone line with an autodialer. If the line is busy, the operator cannot get through. There are a few smaller communities that have both ANI and Called Party Control on 9-1-1 trunks. We make 9-1-1 systems here at Proctor, and some of our trunks are installed in COs in small communities where they ring directly into the PSAP. If the caller hangs up, the operator just does a hookflash, and our 9-1-1 trunk converts the flash to TSPS rering protocol that goes back to the switch. The caller cannot get away from the 9-1-1 operator just as they cannot get away from a persistent TSPS operator. We also now offer a 9-1-1 version of our telephone demonstrator, which is used by police and fire departments for training school children on using 9-1-1. Our demonstrator has that same re-ring feature that the older 9-1-1 systems had where a hookflash rerings the calling party. Paul Cook Proctor & Associates 206-881-7000 Redmond, WA 3991080@mcimail.com ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V15 #401 ****************************** Received: from delta.eecs.nwu.edu by MINTAKA.LCS.MIT.EDU id aa08714; 22 Sep 95 23:15 EDT Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id QAA11059 for telecomlist-outbound; Fri, 22 Sep 1995 16:16:05 -0500 Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id QAA11044; Fri, 22 Sep 1995 16:16:00 -0500 Date: Fri, 22 Sep 1995 16:16:00 -0500 From: TELECOM Digest (Patrick Townson) Message-Id: <199509222116.QAA11044@delta.eecs.nwu.edu> To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Subject: TELECOM Digest V15 #402 TELECOM Digest Fri, 22 Sep 95 16:15:30 CDT Volume 15 : Issue 402 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Re: Beach House Payphone (Atri Indiresan) Re: Beach House Payphone (Steve Bunning) Fire Alarm Telegraphs (was Re: Dialing 911 Instead of 7-D) (Peter Laws) Re: Pole Mounted City Fire Alarm Boxes (Paul S. Sawyer) Re: Pole Mounted City Fire Alarm Boxes (Tony Harminc) Re: Pole Mounted City Fire Alarm Boxes (S.J. Slavin) CFP For March 96 Conference on Telecom Systems (Bezalel Gavish) TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of public service systems and networks including Compuserve and America On Line. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Subscriptions are available to qualified organizations and individual readers. Write and tell us how you qualify: * telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu * The Digest is edited, published and compilation-copyrighted by Patrick Townson of Skokie, Illinois USA. You can reach us by postal mail, fax or phone at: 9457-D Niles Center Road Skokie, IL USA 60076 Phone: 500-677-1616 Fax: 708-329-0572 ** Article submission address only: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu ** Our archives are located at lcs.mit.edu and are available by using anonymous ftp. The archives can also be accessed using our email information service. For a copy of a helpful file explaining how to use the information service, just ask. ************************************************************************* * TELECOM Digest is partially funded by a grant from the * * International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland * * under the aegis of its Telecom Information Exchange Services (TIES) * * project. Views expressed herein should not be construed as represent-* * ing views of the ITU. * ************************************************************************* In addition, TELECOM Digest receives a grant from Microsoft to assist with publication expenses. Editorial content in the Digest is totally independent, and does not necessarily represent the views of Microsoft. ------------------------------------------------------------ Finally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such as yourself who provide funding in amounts deemed appropriate. Your help is important and appreciated. A suggested donation of twenty dollars per year per reader is considered appropriate. See our address above. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: Beach House Payphone Date: Fri, 22 Sep 1995 16:07:20 -0400 From: Atri Indiresan In TELECOM Digest V15 #398, collin@hpjsdivb.kobe.hp.com (Collin Park) said: > The second experience, which is second hand: a friend of mine > lives in a "company dorm" here in Japan. The telephone > "service" there is also very interesting. All phone calls go > thru Axxx telephone service, which charges more for > long-distance calls than NTT or KDD do. This is absolutely > astonishing. Anyway, use of the touch-pad after a call is > completed results in the call's being disconnected!! This > prevents use of some call-back services, as well as preventing > employees from using the company's voice-mail system. > Making use of a particular rip-off telecom carrier a condition ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > of rental is probably illegal in the US, but here in Japan I ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > believe it to be a not uncommon practice. The goverment's > official position seems to have nothing to do with consumer > welfare here, which as an American I find a little annoying. Not exactly. The FCC does allow large aggregators (hotels, universities, companies, prisons etc.) to set their own telephone policies and rates. While 10-XXX-0-NXX-XXXX dialing is available in general (and access to carriers via their 800 numbers or calling cards or to their operators), Dial-1 or 10-XXX-1 access can be restricted legally. This is not as bad as the situation you described, but not the best situation here for people like me who live on University property. You described the accomodation as a "company dorm". Perhaps private companies might have even greater latitude in restricting equal access? Does anyone know the exact legal status? PAT has often described telephone service in prisons which allows only ripoff COCOTs, and so, I guess equal access is not for everyone. Atri Indiresan ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 22 Sep 1995 16:36:29 -0300 From: bunning@acec.com (Steve Bunning) Subject: Re: Beach House Payphone In my original posting on this subject, our Moderator commented: > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Wouldn't it have been easier to just unplug > or bypass the dialer somehow? PAT] and collin@hpjsdivb.kobe.hp.com (Collin Park) added: > A fascinating idea. Is it a foregone conclusion that the dialer had to > be on the premises? In the rental house we used, there was a locked closet > for which we weren't given the key. Could that have been the location > of the mystery dialer? Maybe if we had cut off the main breaker, the > dialer would have automagically just become a straight-thru connect to > the local phone company? I wonder. > The second experience, which is second hand: a friend of mine lives > in a "company dorm" here in Japan. The telephone "service" there is > also very interesting. All phone calls go thru Axxx telephone service, > which charges more for long-distance calls than NTT or KDD do. This > is absolutely astonishing. Anyway, use of the touch-pad after a call > is completed results in the call's being disconnected!! This prevents > use of some call-back services, as well as preventing employees from > using the company's voice-mail system. The dialer used by the operator service provider in this beach house was installed in the locked "owners" portion of the house along with the circuit breakers. I did go out to the back of the house and checked the telco demarc. The demarc was the modern type with an RJ-11 jack that could be used to separate the inside wiring from the outside line. However, the person who installed the dialer bypassed the telco wiring to the RJ-11 jack and rewired the demarc so that the dialer connection was crimped _directly_ onto the incoming telco line. Kind of defeated the whole demarc idea, but made it more difficult to bypass the dialer. I also had an experience like the one mentioned above where a touch-pad caused a call disconnect. Again, I was at a beach house, but this time I was dialing a voice mailbox via an 800 number. The problem seemed to be that the mailbox system gave back a second dialtone which caused the beach house phone to disconnect the call. After much hair pulling, a lot of experimenting, and more than a little practice, I found I could beat the dialtone detect circuit in the phone by quickly hitting a digit on the phone key-pad just as the voice-mail system was giving back dial-tone. The voice-mail system would then remove the dialtone before the local phone could detect it. As the phone allowed free use of the key-pad as long as it didn't detect another dialtone, I was able to access my voice-mail. Steve Bunning | American Computer and Elec. Corp.| 301 258-9850 (voice) Product Manager | 209 Perry Parkway | 301 921-0434 (fax) TEL*COMM Division| Gaithersburg, MD USA 20877 | bunning@acec.com "Your real-time CDR experts." See us at TELECOM '95 [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: What business did the owner have locking up the circuit breakers where you could not get to them? What if you had blown a circuit somehow and had to get in there and reset it? What if there was some emergency and the power had to be turned off quickly for the entire house? In Illinois, owners are NOT permitted to refuse access (via locked closet or whatever) to the circuit breakers or the gas and water meters/cutoffs, etc.) PAT] ------------------------------ From: plaws@comp.uark.edu (Peter Laws) Subject: Fire Alarm Telegraphs (was Re: Dialing 911 Instead of Police 7-D) Date: 22 Sep 1995 16:25:21 GMT Organization: University of Arkansas Martin McCormick writes: > What happened was something that dates back to the 1840's. > credits the city of Boston with having the first alarm box system in > the 1840's. April 29, 1852, actually. I know 'cause I happen to be wearing my Boston Fire Alarm tee-shirt today. :-) To the best of my knowledge, it still continues 'til this day. > that they had their street boxes tied directly in to the radio system > so that when somebody pulled a box, one would hear a long tone to get Actually, the alarms are recieved at the FAO and then retransmitted on the station circuits. That prevents pulls from adjacent boxes from going to the stations and gives the FA Operators some discretion over the level of response. I think this is a Class B fire alarm system, if I remember my NFPA studies correctly (I took the civil service test for Fire Alarm Operator in 1988 :-). A Class A system send the box directly to the stations. BFD stopped multicasting on 33.740 MHz in the late 80's, BTW. I'm trying to compile a list of cities that still use pull boxes (like most in Mass). Please reply privately. Peter Laws| Note: This .sig not Windows95(tm) compatible n5uwy@ka5bml.#nwar.ar.usa.noam |geek All original portions of this posting are Copyright 1995, Peter Laws ------------------------------ From: PAUL_SAWYER@unh.edu (Paul S. Sawyer) Subject: Re: Pole Mounted City Fire Alarm Boxes Date: 22 Sep 1995 16:29:48 GMT Organization: University of New Hampshire - Durham, NH In article Tony Harminc writes: > Toronto lost its pole-mounted fire alarm boxes as recently as 1980, > as I remember. There are still a few poles with strips of red paint > around them to be found. One point that has perhaps not been made > clear is the reason these boxes had clockwork code senders in the > first place: they were all connected in parallel on the same wire. > (Well, there were subsets, of course, but typically all the boxes > that rang in one station were on one line.) Actually, they were in series! Some small towns had a wire that left the fire station in one direction, looped around town, and returned to the station from the other direction (called a "balloon loop"). If the boxes had been in parallel, there would have been no way to have supervised against a wire break in the system. The circuit had a nominal 100mA current flowing normally; an interruption was a "stroke" on a bell, paper punch, or other alarm indicator, and some small towns had the clockwork timed slow enough to operate an outside air horn directly. One stroke by itself indicated a circuit opening, to be tracked down and fixed immediately, although one open in such a system automatically reconfigured the circuit for ground return signalling. The boxes also sensed whether another box on the circuit was signalling, and would wait its turn politely so as not to interfere. > If each box had had a direct wire back to the station there would > have been no need for pulses and clockwork. A direct pair like this was used some places, but I think the 100mA telegraph loop was much more popular. > As I remember, the wires on the Toronto poles were very thick -- perhaps 10 gauge or thicker. These wires were strung on the municipally owned Hydro (electric power) poles and not on telephone poles. I have no idea what voltage was used. Much of the technology was taken from telegraphy, so 10 gauge single iron wire on glass insulators was used, later 10 gauge Copperweld, then paired C-rural 10/12/14 gauge, usually with a red vinyl coating. Underground and in cable, as small as 16 gauge may be used - since current is 0.1 Amp, the size is for mechanical reliability rather than electrical requirements. Voltage is whatever it would take to get 100 mA thru the loop, but usually under 120 VDC. Around here they share space on poles above all other communications (Tel, CATV) and below power. Older systems are typically on insulators on a short, white-painted crossarm, while the newer installations are the red C-wire on J hooks. Many of these systems are still in use, but many others have been driven out of existance by a combination of (perceived) high maintenance, increased municipal non-involvement ("privatization"), and sales pitches by "The Phone Company" that their services are everywhere, so the old boxes are no longer needed. Some time after a city gives up its own alarm box system, "TPC" decides to remove public phones, at least in the "worst" neighborhoods where the fire alarm boxes were needed most ... Oh, well ... Paul S. Sawyer Paul.Sawyer@UNH.edu UNH Telecommunications Voice: +1 603 862 3262 50 College Road FAX: +1 603 862 4545 Durham, New Hampshire 03824-3523 [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I remember once as a child watching them fix one of those boxes which was broken. The repairman took a phone handset with alligator clips and hooked onto the wire and was chatting with someone at the other end which I thought at the time was quite funny. How can you talk over that box, I asked him. PAT] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 21 Sep 95 15:37:04 EDT From: Tony Harminc Subject: Re: Pole Mounted City Fire Alarm Boxes Martin McCormick wrote: [Fire alarms boxes that pulsed out their location] > The alarm boxes vanished from streets in Tulsa and Oklahoma > City as well as many other places as soon as 911 became the method of > choice to report emergencies. I also remember that many of the street > boxes had a glass window that one had to break with an attached hammer > to activate the alarm. This always seemed dumb and dangerous to me, > but I am sure there was a good reason for it. Even today many fire alarm pull handles have a glass strip or other device that doesn't automatically reset itself. It's to ensure that misuse can be punished: there can be no excuses like "I was just looking at it to see how it worked, and I accidently set it off". You have to take a very positive action to give the alarm. It (the dangling handle and/or broken glass) also makes it obvious to the repair/inspection people that the unit has been set off and needs work. Toronto lost its pole-mounted fire alarm boxes as recently as 1980, as I remember. There are still a few poles with strips of red paint around them to be found. One point that has perhaps not been made clear is the reason these boxes had clockwork code senders in the first place: they were all connected in parallel on the same wire. (Well, there were subsets, of course, but typically all the boxes that rang in one station were on one line.) If each box had had a direct wire back to the station there would have been no need for pulses and clockwork. As I remember, the wires on the Toronto poles were very thick - perhaps 10 gauge or thicker. These wires were strung on the municipally owned Hydro (electric power) poles and not on telephone poles. I have no idea what voltage was used. Tony Harminc ------------------------------ From: sjslavin@aol.com (SJSlavin) Subject: Re: Pole Mounted City Fire Alarm Boxes Date: 22 Sep 1995 04:43:55 -0400 Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Reply-To: sjslavin@aol.com (SJSlavin) As Tony covered -- the old boxes were 19th centurt paper tape coded signalling; usually over City lines but sometime telco pairs; maintenance intensive; had to be reset after each use; Current units are narrowband pulsed, or use cellular phones. (California just arrested two guys for stealing 220 cellular units and recoding the ID for L.D> calls). ------------------------------ From: fraser@ccl2.eng.ohio-state.edu Date: Fri, 22 Sep 1995 08:03:31 EDT Subject: CFP for Mar96 conference on telecom systems C A L L for P A P E R S 4th International Conference on Telecommunication Systems Modelling and Analysis March 21-24, 1996 Nashville, TN Sponsored by: Bell South Telecommunications INFORMS Technical Section on Telecommunications INFORMS College of Information Systems Owen Graduate School of Management The 4th International Conference on Telecommunication Systems - Modelling and Analysis will be held in Nashville, Tennessee on March 21-24, 1996. The conference location will be the Bell South Tower in downtown Nashville. The conference will build on the tradition of the earlier conferences with a few changes in format due to the new conference location. The general idea is to limit the number of participants, concentrate on a few topics, present new problems and problem areas, encouraging informal interaction and exchanges of ideas. The objective is to advance the state of the modelling and analysis in telecommunications by stimulating research activity on new and important problems. The conference will be divided into segments with each segment devoted to a specific topic. This will allow for little conflict between segments. All papers will be screened by the program committee to ensure the quality of presentations. A decentralized paper handling process will be used, the Program Committee has been divided along geographical areas with a separate Program Subcommittee assigned to each area. Abstracts and papers should be submitted directly to Program Committee Chair of the appropriate area. It is expected that this will expedite the paper review process. In response to suggestions made by last year's participants, social and cultural activities will be included in the 1996 agenda. Lead Speakers and Keynote speakers include: Leonard Kleinrock, "Nomadic Computing and its Implications for Network Support" Alan Konheim, "A Monitor for Controlling Peak and Average ATM Input Traffic" Bezalel Gavish, "Low Earth Orbit Satellite Based Communication Systems - Research Issues" The Chairmen of the geographic Program Committees are: Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia: Prof. Richard Harris Department of Communication and Electronic Engineering Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology GPO Box 2476V Tel: 61 3660 2457 Melbourne, 3001 FAX: 61 3660 1060 Australia Email: richard@catt.citri.edu.au Europe: Prof. Guy Pujolle Laboratoire PRiSM Universite de Versailles - Saint-Quentin 45, avenue des Etats-Unis Tel: 33 1 39 25 40 61 78 035 Versailles Cedex FAX: 33 1 39 25 40 57 France Email: guy.pujolle@prism.uvsq.fr North America: Prof. Andre Girard INRS-Telecommunications 16, place du Commerce Tel: 514-765-7832 Verdun, Quebec FAX: 514-765-8785 Canada H3E 1H6 Email: andre@inrs-telecom.uquebec.ca North East Asia: Prof. Yutaka Takahashi Department of Applied Mathematics and Physics Faculty of Engineering Kyoto University Tel: 81 757535493 Yoshida-Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606 FAX: Japan Email: yutaka@kuamp.kyoto-u.ac.jp South and Central America: Dr. Ernesto Santibanez-Gonzalez School of Industrial Engineering Catholic University of Valparaiso Tel: 56 32 257331 Av. Brasil 2147 FAX: 56 32 214823 Chile Email: esantiba@aix1.ucv.cl and Prof. Henrique Pacca L. Luna Department of Computer Science Federal University of Minas Gerais Tel: 31270-901 Belo Horizonte - MG FAX: Brazil Email: pacca@dcc.ufmg.br Chairman of the Economics track: Prof. Jeffrey Mackie-Mason Department of Economics Tel: 313-764-7438 University of Michigan FAX: 313-763-9181 Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1220 Email: jmm@umich.edu and Prof. William W. Sharkey All other geographic areas: Prof. Bezalel Gavish Owen Graduate School of Management Vanderbilt University Tel: 615-322-3659 401 21st Avenue South FAX: 615-343-7177 Nashville, TN 37203 Email: gavishb@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu Listed below are some of the potential segments: Configuration of ATM networks Internet and its impact on commerce Topological Design and Network Configuration Problems Design and Analysis of Local Access Networks and Outside Plant Problems Low Earth Orbit Satellite communication systems Cellular Systems and PCS Modelling and Configuration Time Dependent Expansion of Telecommunication Systems Designing Networks for Reliability and Availability Network Design Problems in Gigabit and Terabit Networks LAN, WAN Global Network Interconnection ATM, ISDN, BISDN Modeling and Analysis Issues Artificial Intelligence/Heuristics in Telecommunication Systems Quantitative Methods in Network Management Pricing and Economic Analysis of Telecommunications Impact of Telecommunications on Industrial Organization Performance Evaluation of Telecommunication Systems Distributed Computing and Distributed Data Bases Security and Privacy issues in Telecommunications Virtual reality, Multimedia and their impact The Program Committee is open to any ideas you might have regarding additional topics or format of the conference. The intention is to limit the number of parallel sessions to two. The conference is scheduled over a weekend so as to reduce teaching conflicts for academic participants, take advantage of weekend hotel and airfare rates and of the many events that take place in the downtown area. Due to the limit on the number of participants early registration is recommended. To ensure your participation, please use the following steps: 1. Send to the appropriate Program Committee Chair by October 1, 1995, a paper (preferable), or titles and abstracts for potential presentations to be considered for the conference. Sending more than one abstract is encouraged, enabling the Program Committee to have a wider choice in terms of assigning talks to segments. Use E-mail to expedite the submission of titles and abstracts. 2. Use the form at the end of this message to preregister for the conference. Let us also know if you would like to have a formal duty during the conference as: Session Chair, or Discussant. 3. You will be notified by December 1, 1995, which abstract/s has been selected for the conference. Detailed instructions on how to prepare camera ready copies will be sent to authors of accepted presentations. January 30, 1996, is the deadline for sending a final version of the paper. Participants will receive copies of the collection of papers to be presented. All papers submitted to the conference will be considered for publication in the "Telecommunication Systems" Journal. The Program Committee looks forward to receiving your feedback/ideas. Feel free to volunteer any help you can offer. If you have suggestions for Segment Leaders (i.e., individuals who will have a longer time to give an overview/state of the art talk on their segment subject) please E-mail them to Prof Gavish. Also, if there are individuals whose participation you view as important, please send their names and E-mail addresses to the Program Committee Chairman, or forward to them a copy of this message. I look forward to a very successful conference. Sincerely yours, Bezalel Gavish Cut Here Fourth International Conference on Telecommunication Systems Modelling and Analysis REGISTRATION FORM Date: __________________ Location: Nashville, TN Dates: March 21, 1996 (afternoon) to March 24, 1996 Name: ________________________________________ Title: __________________ Affiliation: __________________________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Phone: ____________________________ FAX: _______________________________ E-mail: __________________________________________________________________ Potential Title of Paper(s): __________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ I would like to Volunteer as Comments A Session Chair : Yes No ________________________________________________ A Discussant : Yes No ________________________________________________ Organize a Session: Yes No ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ REGISTRATION RATES and DEADLINES Last Applicable Participant Type Date Academic Industry ---------------- -------- -------- 1. Preregistration Until Dec. 1, 1996 $ 350 $ 450 2. Registration Until Feb. 1, 1996 $ 400 $ 500 3. Registration After Feb. 1, 1996 $ 450 $ 650 Mail your registration form and check to: Mrs. Dru Lundeng Owen Graduate School of Management Vanderbilt University 401 21st Avenue, South Nashville, TN 37203, USA The check should be addressed to: 4th Int'l. Telecomm Systems Conference Refund Policy: Half refund, for requests received by February 1, 1996. No refund after February 1, 1996. If you have any questions regarding the conference, please contact Dru Lundeng at 615-322-3694 or through E-mail at lundeng@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu. Bezalel Gavish Owen Graduate School of Management Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN, 37203 Bitnet: GAVISHB@VUCTRVAX Internet: GAVISHB@CTRVAX.VANDERBILT.EDU Tel: (615) 322-3659 Home: (615) 370-0813 FAX: (615) 343-7177 ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V15 #402 ****************************** Received: from delta.eecs.nwu.edu by MINTAKA.LCS.MIT.EDU id aa10859; 26 Sep 95 0:02 EDT Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id NAA23203 for telecomlist-outbound; Mon, 25 Sep 1995 13:34:29 -0500 Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id NAA23192; Mon, 25 Sep 1995 13:34:26 -0500 Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 13:34:26 -0500 From: TELECOM Digest (Patrick Townson) Message-Id: <199509251834.NAA23192@delta.eecs.nwu.edu> To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Subject: TELECOM Digest V15 #403 TELECOM Digest Mon, 25 Sep 95 13:34:00 CDT Volume 15 : Issue 403 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Cell One/NY Fraud Control Problems, More ... (Doug Reuben) No Service in Boston for CO/Rhode Island Customers (Doug Reuben) Captive Tele-Consumers (Jim Cantrell) Book Review: How To Access The Federal Government on Internet (Rob Slade) UUNet Drops Access Via Compuserve, Leaves UUCP Customers Hanging (A Boritz) Need Assistance Doing ISP Traffic Analysis (Martin J. Slover) TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of public service systems and networks including Compuserve and America On Line. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Subscriptions are available to qualified organizations and individual readers. Write and tell us how you qualify: * telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu * The Digest is edited, published and compilation-copyrighted by Patrick Townson of Skokie, Illinois USA. You can reach us by postal mail, fax or phone at: 9457-D Niles Center Road Skokie, IL USA 60076 Phone: 500-677-1616 Fax: 708-329-0572 ** Article submission address only: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu ** Our archives are located at lcs.mit.edu and are available by using anonymous ftp. The archives can also be accessed using our email information service. For a copy of a helpful file explaining how to use the information service, just ask. ************************************************************************* * TELECOM Digest is partially funded by a grant from the * * International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland * * under the aegis of its Telecom Information Exchange Services (TIES) * * project. Views expressed herein should not be construed as represent-* * ing views of the ITU. * ************************************************************************* In addition, TELECOM Digest receives a grant from Microsoft to assist with publication expenses. Editorial content in the Digest is totally independent, and does not necessarily represent the views of Microsoft. ------------------------------------------------------------ Finally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such as yourself who provide funding in amounts deemed appropriate. Your help is important and appreciated. A suggested donation of twenty dollars per year per reader is considered appropriate. See our address above. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: dreuben@interpage.net (Doug Reuben) Subject: Cell One/NY Fraud Control Problems, More ... Date: Sun, 24 Sep 1995 02:58:07 EDT Recently, Cell One/NY (00025) announced mandatory use of the *560/*56 Fraud Protection Feature. This feature forces customers to enter *560+PIN (4 digits) after their phone has been off for approximately 25 minutes. By doing so, it is felt that cloning will be reduced as it will be harder to place calls if the cloner does not know the PIN. (Solution: KEEP THE PHONE ON! - If a cloner keeps the phone on, then the fraud protection feature is defeated, as it never 'kicks in'). Despite this obvious flaw, the McCaw/Cell One (now using the silly and hard-to-say "AT&T Wireless" name just so AT&T can be like Sprint) fraud protection feature is vastly superior to the "B" side fraud protection implementation in the Northeast, as on the B side: (a) a PIN code is required for EVERY call, (b) if a number is busy you can NOT hit "END" and then "SEND" to re-dial, since entering the PIN code erases the destination number, (c) you waste extra airtime (which NYNEX actually CHARGED for a few months ago ... they say they have corrected this now ...), (d) and you can't use a cellular modem or a Cellular -> RJ-11 adaptor (HINT: To get them to remove the PIN feature from SNET, NYNEX, or BAMS (B) accounts, just call and firmly state that you signed up so that you could use your cellular modem, and that you expect to be able to do so, BOTH in your home system and while roaming. Don't let them tell you any nonsense about calling your modem manufacturer, just demand (calmly :) ) that it be removed. They will comply, and if they don't, tell them you will immediately cancel your service contract with them and NOT pay a dime in penalty fees, and that you want your monthly "in advance" service fee returned to you.) Anyhow, when Cell One/NY initially offered the Fraud Protection feature to its customers last year, I reported a series of problems with the feature that made it impractical. For example, if you roamed out of NY with the feature "on" (ie, outgoing calls were denied), you would not be able to change call-forwarding on turn call-delivery on or off from visited (roaming) markets, such as Connecticut's and (then) ComCast's EMX-based systems. In other Ericsson based markets, such as Albany and Cantel's eastern Canadian systems, calls were blocked at all times, and in many cases incoming calls would also fail. In all, the system was so unreliable and useless that I had them take it off my phone. It seems that they've made a number of improvements, and that it is now a generally useful and unobtrusive system, except for one problem: In the US Cellular/Poughkeepsie (00503) system, (and perhaps in others), if the fraud protection feature is active (ie, no outgoing calls allowed), if the phone is registered (turned on) within the system, and a CO/NY roamer receives a call, it will be sent up to Poughkeepsie and simply fail. Not message, no fast-busy, just dead air. This is NOT the way the Fraud PF should work -- incoming calls are ALWAYS allowed (unless Do Not Disturb is active, but you should be able to turn Do Not Disturb *350/*35 on and off EVEN with Fraud Protection "on"). Currently, when in the US Cell 00503 system, a CO/NY customer can not receive calls with the feature on, and has no way to know to turn the feature on unless he/she tries to place a call and discovers that service is denied. I've called CO/NY about this, and they are looking into the problem, but so far, nothing has been resolved. I'd like to hear from other McCaw/AT&T customers who have had similar experiences in the instant as well as other markets, especially Canada. Other problems with CO/NY: 1. Most other markets do not have recordings to support the fraud protection feature. So when a CO/NY customer roams into a new market, and discovers that he/she can not place any calls (or receive them as in the case with Poughkeepsie), the recording the roamer receives is of no help, and the roamer has no idea why the calls keep failing. For example, in Poughkeepsie, there is no recording -- the cell site simply hangs up on the caller about 3 seconds after the channel is opened (like Cantel used to). In ComCast (NJ/DE/Philly), the recording states "If you are having trouble with your service feature, please call 611". 611, unfortunately, goes to a roaming operator when the Fraud Protection Feature is active! :( 2. Cell One/NY recently, and quite foolishly, commenced mandatory 1+ dialing for most calls, even in many cases for calls within their own service area. This has been explained to me as a "requirement" since AT&T now owns them, but unless this "requirement" is specific to AT&T-owned properties under the MFJ, I am not aware of any such MFJ, DOJ or other requirement on the Bell-owned carriers. Indeed, most of them do NOT require 1+ dialing in their markets, ever for roamers. The 1+ requirement wastes airtime, control channel overhead, and generally inconveniences customers no end. It is also not the slightest bit necessary (unless the Ericsson switch, which in order to provide for equal access, needs to have 1+ dialing. This still does not explain the requirement that roamers dial 1+ for "local" calls. If it is an Ericsson requirement, I think Ericsson may want to consider a software release to correct this). My cellphone is programmed with mainly 10-digit numbers. In some markets, 10-digit dialing is REQUIRED, and 11 digit will fail. I really don't want to have TWO sets of numbers in memory, one for CO/NY, the rest for eslewhere. This is a really frustrating requirement, and unless this is some scheme by AT&T to get people used to 1+ local dialing because they are dreaming of local equal access some day :), I'd suggest that CO/NY just get rid of it. (Note that NYNEX does not require it ...) 3. As a result on the 1+ requirement, you need to dial *71+1+AC+# to forward a call. However, in most other markets, you can hit *71+AC+# (no extra "1"), and the call will be processed and sent to NY's switch. What happens? When a caller calls your CO/NY number that has been forwarded, they get a recording "Your call can not be completed as dialed". You need to dial "*71-1-AC+#" from roaming markets as well to forward your calls properly. Another pain in the neck with is IMHO unecessary, and will lead to customer confusion. There are so few customers who use their features currently, in part because of the complications involved in roaming and previous frustrating experiences; this new problem makes it even less likely that they will ever want to use their features. 4. CO/NY customers who forwarded their calls in CT (in the Metro Mobile system, not in CO/NY's "country" system in Litchfield, CT, which they got after the local system failed to attract customers. Of course, they were charging 60 cents per minute for HOME customers in an area of CT populated mainly by cows...) were NOT able to unforward them, even though Metro Mobile reported the confirmation tones upon the roamer's request to unforward the call. This led the customer to think that he/she could receive calls, when in fact, they were still being forwarded. After contacting CO/NY, they seem to have swiftly addressed the issue, however, I'd be interested to hear if RI roamers in the ex-Metro Mobile system or Western Mass "A" side roamers continue to experience these problems. (Or am I the only one who drives there? :) ) 5. AT&T 500 service is STILL blocked in CO/NY's system, this after two weeks notification of the problem and a nice letter from AT&T saying "You may now use 0-500 dialing from your carphone..." Is it just me, or have things gotten a bit worse with AT&T 500 access AFTER AT&T managed to take over? Hmmm ... that should about do it for now. I'll post followups as progress is made. Regards, Doug Reuben * dreuben@interpage.net * +1 (203) 499 - 5221 Interpage Network Services -- http://www.interpage.net, telnet interpage.net E-Mail Alpha/Numeric Local/Nationwide Paging, Info., and E-Mail <-> Fax Svcs ------------------------------ From: dreuben@interpage.net (Doug Reuben) Subject: No Service in Boston for CO/Rhode Island Customers Date: Sun, 24 Sep 1995 01:58:40 EDT Recently, Bell Atlantic Metro Mobile's Rhode Island division was sold to Southern New England Telephone, the local Bell company in Connecticut, and the "B" side carrier in CT and (now) all of Western Mass. Around the same time, Southwestern Bell-Cell One/Boston ridded itself of its Motorola EMX switches (except for their "partnership"/dually-owned system in New Hampshire [01485] with Atlantic Cellular-Cell One/VT [00313], which is still served by their EMX), and after a *very* messy and unprofessional transition to an AT&T Autoplex switch which went on for a month or so, has managed to get back to a more or less reliable system. However, something which no one seemed to notice was that a good deal of Metro Mobile (errr ... sorry ... SNET/RI) customers were not able to place or receive ANY calls in the Boston 00007 system. By this, I mean no 611, no 911, no 0+, nothing! Each time a call was placed, the caller would get an EQUIPMENT-generated "fast-busy" (ie, the signal your cellphone makes, NOT the switch). When calling to a RI customer in the Boston system, calls would simply be treated in RI and were never sent to Boston. One of my friends who has been a long time MM/RI customer called me one day in early July to ask me if something was going on. After checking it out with him, and confirming his results, I told him to call MM/RI, and have them fix the problem. So he called, and called, and called, and each time was met by a very polite representative, but no one ever called back, and nothing was done. Moreover, a number of MM/RI customers who we associate with and who travel to Boston frequently (the Boston system starts 10 miles north of RI, so there is a lot of cross-traffic) also reported a similar problem, and after speaking to some of them, learned that they also received no followup to their inquiries and that nothing had been done -- no one was able to place or receive calls in the Boston system. At this point, since we pay for an account with MM/RI for a consultant who travels to Boston a lot, I decided to get involved, and press them to correct the situation. I initially spoke with Todd Palmer (who seems to have a somewhat authoritative position there), who handed me off to Mary Rigiornio in their Warwick, RI office. Both were friendly and expressed an earnest desire to correct the problem. When I inquired as to why this has been going on for *three* months an nothing had been done prior to my calls, they both had no answer, however. In any event, this was three weeks ago. I've called both of them a number of times recently, and neither has returned my calls. The situation is still the same -- many, if not all, RI and Southeastern Mass "A" (00119) customers can not place calls in the Boston system. I know from my own trials that 401-523 and 508-997 do not work at all, and from what I can tell from other customers' reports who have service on other RI/SE MA cellular echanges, their success with placing/receiving calls in Boston has not been any better. At this point, I've more or less given up with the people in MM(CO)/RI, and have already made contact with SNET Mobile in New Haven to see if someone from there can get things moving. If there are any MM/RI customers who are reading this who have experienced similar problems in Boston, could you please drop me a short note and just let me know the area code and prefix of your phone? (I don't need the whole number). If you are reading this from some Web Newsreader, go to "http://www.interpage.net", select to leave mail, and send it with the subject "RI Cell" and I will receive it. I'll post updates as the situation warrants ... Doug Reuben * dreuben@interpage.net * +1 (203) 499 - 5221 Interpage Network Services -- http://www.interpage.net, telnet interpage.net E-Mail Alpha/Numeric Local/Nationwide Paging, Info., and E-Mail <-> Fax Svcs ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 24 Sep 1995 10:09:21 -0700 From: lti@nwlink.com (jim cantrell) Subject: Captive Tele-Consumers jerald@wrs.com (Jerald Pendleton) wrote: > I recently recieved a bill I incurred during a recent vacation. I > made several phone calls from my motel room to numbers within the > state of California. They charged me $9.13 for a four minute call > (apparently four minutes is the minimum) ... The phone was blocked... I've had my own experiences with these types of scams -- perhaps not scams technically, but morally. I have paid innumerable charges from operator assist collect call outfits that survive by taking advantage of the unwary traveler. I've also received innumerable solicitations from these same companies wanting me to sign up pay phones on their service in order to split the $2 or $3 per minute charges. My response when I turn down these opportunities to "TURN THAT PAY PHONE IN TO A PROFIT CENTER!" is that we provide pay phones for the convience of our customer, associates, and employees, all of whom we value to dearly to gouge for nickle and dimes. It is time we initiate legislative action to provide some protection for the consumer. The situation as I see it: 1. The companies do not provide additional value in exchange for higher price. They are not investing in the installation of more phones but rely on switching these services from other, usually cheaper, services and provide only what was already available but at an increased rate. 2. They prey on an almost captive consumer. The market base for these services are primarily people in transit -- customers at motels, truckstops, hospitals, etc. -- who may not have an understanding of the alternatives or the costs they are incurring. In many motels, use of an alternative service is made as difficult as possible. 3. A sound contract requires a knowledgable agreement by both parties of the terms. Although callers undoubtedly realize that they or the called party will be charged for the call, many are unaware that the charge may be double or triple the lowest rates available. Those who accept collect calls made via these companies receive no warning, sometimes the identity of the service provider AFTER the call is accepted. We can't ban these companies from providing service at these preposterous rates or prohibit hotels and motels from gouging their customers, however, it is fitting and proper that we require, through legislative actions at the state and federal levels, that these services provide the information necessary for the consumer to make a knowledgable decision. Every hotel and motel should have rates and alternate carrier instructions readily available to every phone user; every collect call should have the rates available or announced to the caller, the rates and identity of the service provider announced to the recipient of the call. The companies that provide these services will complain about the cost of implementation, but what the heck, were already paying for it. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 12:58:49 EST From: Rob Slade Subject: Book Review: "How to Access the Federal Government on the Internet" BKHAFGOI.RVW 950712 "How to Access the Federal Government on the Internet", Bruce Maxwell, 1995, 1- 56802-034-1, U$22.95 %A Bruce Maxwell bmaxwell@netcom.com %C 1414 22nd Street N.W., Wasington, DC 20037 %D 1995 %G 1-56802-034-1 %I Congressional Quarterly Inc. %O U$22.95 +1-800-638-1710 +1-202-822-1475 fax +1-202-887-6706 %O 202-822-1423 fax 202-822-6583 eashley@cqalert.com %P 402 %S Washington Online %T "How to Access the Federal Government on the Internet" For those interested in (the U.S.) government, and access to its information, Maxwell has provided a very useful compendium of addresses. As he admits, this is not an exhaustive list to U.S. federal government systems available through the Internet, but it definitely gives a good, broad starting field. University and other sites with a specialized interest in the government are listed, although strictly political organizations are rare. For example, the "Queer Resources Directory" is included, but the Electronic Frontier Foundation is not. The reader is expected to be reasonably familiar with the Internet use: the information given in the introduction is too brief to be helpful to a neophyte. The listings themselves, however, give clear "vital statistics" on access methods, and a detailed and useful write-up for each site. All of that would be extremely valuable for those interested in government and access to information, but since the feds have fingers in just about every pie, there is much more. The various departments provide information on agriculture, business, computers, demographics, education, energy, environment, foreign affairs, medicine, history, employment, law, technology, and transportation. Government sites often provide the most informative content to be found in the net. Maxwell has added to this with a very useful index: I didn't really expect to find anything under "Viruses, computer" but was pleasantly surprised to note a pointer to the NIST Computer Security Archive (http://csrc.ncsl.nist.gov). For the avid U.S. government watcher, an essential. For the serious Internet information gatherer, regardless of nationality, a very useful resource. copyright Robert M. Slade, 1995 BKHAFGOI.RVW 950712. Distribution permitted in TELECOM Digest and associated publications. Rob Slade's book reviews are a regular feature in the Digest. ROBERTS@decus.ca rslade@cln.etc.bc.ca rslade@freenet.vancouver.bc.ca ------------------------------ Subject: UUNet Drops Access Via Compuserve, Leaves UUCP Customers Hanging From: drharry!aboritz@uunet.uu.net (Alan Boritz) Date: Sun, 24 Sep 1995 08:08:49 EDT Organization: Harry's Place - Mahwah NJ - +1 201 934 0861 UUNet announced to their customers last week that they were discontinuing access via Compuserve's packet-switched network by 10/1/95, and phasing in a new V.34 rotary (with much fewer POP's). The announcement, written 9/15/95, left their customers a little more than two weeks to change their access arrangements, or find service elsewhere. Also in their announcement to UUNet customers, UUNet staffer Michael Byman announced that they were phasing out uucp service on the older rotaries. The only problem, though, is that both uucp and ip customers are experiencing some severe connect problems through the new V.34 rotary, which appear to be running Ascend Pipeline Terminal Servers. UUNet doesn't appear to be in a hurry to respond to connect problems with this new (and more expensive) access arrangement, or at least not for uucp customers (no doubt Microsoft Net customers will be treated a lot better). Now that UUNet has expanding their customer base, and will be publicly traded, one would think they would have the resources to develop a competent technical support group. Or perhaps this was the area within which UUNet stated they had to hire additional qualified personnel (in their 5/25/95 perspectus). Time will tell if they really mean business, or if this is just one very rude way of getting rid of one class of customer that they may see as less profitable. ------------------------------ From: indigo@crl.com (Martin J. Slover) Subject: Need Assistance Doing ISP Traffic Analysis Date: 24 Sep 1995 16:30:49 -0700 I am hoping that this gets out in time but I need some assistance in doing a report on traffic analysis in regards to setting up an ISP. Specifically I need comments on what grade of service would I specifically want? What demands on the systems cause the most problems with traffic flow? If anyone can give me some info please email me at indigo@crl.com. Thanks... Max Slover Indigo@crl.com ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V15 #403 ****************************** Received: from delta.eecs.nwu.edu by MINTAKA.LCS.MIT.EDU id aa10485; 25 Sep 95 23:55 EDT Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id OAA23974 for telecomlist-outbound; Mon, 25 Sep 1995 14:05:08 -0500 Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id OAA23963; Mon, 25 Sep 1995 14:05:04 -0500 Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 14:05:04 -0500 From: TELECOM Digest (Patrick Townson) Message-Id: <199509251905.OAA23963@delta.eecs.nwu.edu> To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Subject: TELECOM Digest V15 #404 TELECOM Digest Mon, 25 Sep 95 14:05:00 CDT Volume 15 : Issue 404 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson President Clinton Speaks on E.T. (Clinton Speech via M. Troutman) Carribean Hurricane Damage (FEMA Public Affairs via Danny Burstein) GSM Cellular Tariffs For Norway (Markus Schlegel) Need DID Access in NY - NYTel Unresponsive! (Doug Reuben) Announcing TELECOM UPDATE (Ian Angus) Last Laugh! CLID in CA - Alice at the State Bldg! (S.J. Slavin) TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of public service systems and networks including Compuserve and America On Line. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Subscriptions are available to qualified organizations and individual readers. Write and tell us how you qualify: * telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu * The Digest is edited, published and compilation-copyrighted by Patrick Townson of Skokie, Illinois USA. You can reach us by postal mail, fax or phone at: 9457-D Niles Center Road Skokie, IL USA 60076 Phone: 500-677-1616 Fax: 708-329-0572 ** Article submission address only: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu ** Our archives are located at lcs.mit.edu and are available by using anonymous ftp. The archives can also be accessed using our email information service. For a copy of a helpful file explaining how to use the information service, just ask. ************************************************************************* * TELECOM Digest is partially funded by a grant from the * * International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland * * under the aegis of its Telecom Information Exchange Services (TIES) * * project. Views expressed herein should not be construed as represent-* * ing views of the ITU. * ************************************************************************* In addition, TELECOM Digest receives a grant from Microsoft to assist with publication expenses. Editorial content in the Digest is totally independent, and does not necessarily represent the views of Microsoft. ------------------------------------------------------------ Finally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such as yourself who provide funding in amounts deemed appropriate. Your help is important and appreciated. A suggested donation of twenty dollars per year per reader is considered appropriate. See our address above. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: M. Troutman Subject: President Clinton Speaks on E.T. Date: 25 Sep 1995 14:01:12 GMT Organization: PSI Public Usenet Link President Clinton spoke last Thursday to school students in California. Here are his comments. ------------------- Remarks By The President On Education Technology And Connecting Classrooms THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. First of all, I'd like to thank Mr. Delecourt and all of the people who hosted us here. To Mayor Jordan and your outstanding California Commissioner of Education Delaine Eastin and to all of the others who are gathered here today -- thank you very much for being here with us. (Applause.) I want to say to all the students here that the Vice President and I are delighted to see you. Normally, we would not want to be responsible for taking you out of class, but today we think maybe we have a good reason, and we hope we have a chance to shake hands with a lot of you as soon as this brief ceremony is over. I want to say to all of the executives of the information companies that we just met with how very grateful I am to you and I'll say a few words about them in a moment. I came here to San Francisco today to issue a challenge to America to see to it that every classroom in our country -- every classroom in our country is connected to the Information Superhighway. To demonstrate that this is possible, we are all here today to announce a giant step toward that future. By the end of this school year, every school in California, 12,000 of them, will have access to the Internet and its vast world of knowledge. By the end of this school year, fully 20 percent of California's classrooms, 2,500 -- kindergartens, elementary, middle and high schools, from one end of this state to the other, will be connected for computers. If that can be done in California, we can do it in the rest of America. But the key is to have the kind of partnership that we are celebrating here. The job of connecting California schools will be undertaken by a wide alliance of private sector companies -- among them, Sun Microsystems, Apple, Xerox Parc, Oracle, 3Com, Silicon Graphics, Applied Materials, TCI, Cisco Systems and others. Our administration has brought these companies together, we have set goals, but they are doing the rest. Just as the connecting of our classrooms is a model for the 21st century, so is the way we are doing it here today -- with government as a catalyst, not a blank check. So today, I challenge business and industry and local government throughout our country to make a commitment of time and resources so that by the year 2000, every classroom in America will be connected. Tens of millions of parents all across our nation have watched their children play every kind of video game from Mortal Kombat and Primal Rage to Killer Instinct and Super Streetfighter. But the really important new computer game in America is learning. And we are going to put it at the disposal of every child in this country by the end of the century. Last month, I announced a broad initiative to stop our children from being addicted to tobacco because it was bad for them. Today I hope to encourage a good habit -- a lifelong commitment to learning. I want to get the children of America hooked on education through computers. Our country was built on a simple value that we have an obligation to pass better lives and better opportunities on to the next generation. And we see them all here. Education is the way we make this promise real. Today, at the dawn of a new century, in the midst of an information and communications revolution, education depends upon computers. If we make an opportunity for every student, a fact in the world of modems and megabytes, we can go a long way toward making the American Dream a reality for every student. Not virtual reality -- reality for every student. The facts speak for themselves. Children with access to computers learn faster and learn better. Scores on standardized tests for children taught with computers, according to "Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow," a 10-year report that is coming out in a few days, caused scores to go up by 10 to 15 percent. Children mastered basic skills in 30 percent less time than would normally have been the case. Also, they stayed in school. Absenteeism dropped from over eight percent to under five percent. I cannot emphasize how important this is at a time when we want people to stay in school and get as much education as they possibly can. Technology enriches education, it teaches our children how to learn better, as the Vice President and I saw with the young people who walked in with us in their three different exhibitions of learning, and we thank them for that today. We must make technological literacy a standard. Preparing our children for a lifetime of computer use is now just as essential as teaching them to read and write and do math. With this effort, we are also reinforcing the core convictions that have stood us so well for so long. Computers offer a world that lives up to our highest hopes of equal opportunity for all. And look what we need equal opportunity for all for. Computers give us a world where people are judged not by the color of their skin or their gender or their family's income, but by their minds, how well they can express themselves on those screens. If we can teach our children these values, if they can learn to respect themselves and each other, then we can be certain we'll have stronger families, stronger communities, and a stronger America in the 21st century. I could think of no better place for us to begin than here in California -- the state that leads the world in technological innovation. Until now, this leadership too often has stopped at the schoolroom door, for California ranks 45th in the nation in the ration of students to computers. While suburban children often have access to computers in their homes, other children in rural areas and inner cities pass their school years without coming close to the Information Superhighway. The longer they're kept away, the less chance they have of building good lives in a global economy. Well, thanks to the dedicated Americans gathered here today, all that is going to change. These companies who compete vigorously every day in the marketplace have come together in the classroom. We shared with them our vision, and they shared with us their ideas, their resources, and their know-how. Every company represented here today is making a different contribution, but they're all committed to the goal of connecting California because they know the future depends upon it. Sun Microsystems is organizing a coalition of companies and volunteering in Net Day, an effort to install networks in at least 2,000 schools. And the number is growing with each new company joining the effort. In the morning, volunteers will arrive at each school. By noon they will have wired the library, the labs, the classrooms. By nightfall, those schools will have the technology they deserve. Smart Valley, a coalition of Silicon Valley companies, has contributed $15 million to putting technology in our schools. Smart Valley has agreed to develop 500 model technology schools over the next two years. America Online has offered Internet services for a year. Even those phone companies that are always going after each other on TV have joined forces in this cause. AT&T will provide Internet access and voice mail to all California schools. Sprint will help to connect the schools. MCI will provide software for entry into the Internet and help to connect the schools. And Pacific Bell, which has led the way in linking California schools, is accelerating its efforts this school year by hooking them up to high-speech phone lines. I want to thank them all, and I'd like to ask the leaders of these companies here to stand, and I hope the children will give them a hand, because they've done a great thing for your future. Please stand up, all of you who met with me earlier today. Thank you so much. (Applause.) This is an enormous effort. It will take the same spirit and tenacity that built our railroads and highways. It will take leadership and dedication of groups like the advisory council I have appointed on the Information Superhighway. So let us begin. Let today mark the start of our mission to connect every school in America by the year 2000. If we can connect 20 percent of the schools in the largest state in the nation in less than a year, we can surely connect the rest of the country by the end of the decade. In the coming days, I will announce the winners of our Technology Learning Challenge. And over the next several weeks, I will put forward a public-private partnership plan that lays out how we can move our entire nation toward the goal of technological literacy for every young person in America. Here are its guiding principles: Modern computers in every classroom, accessible to every student from kindergarten through 12th grade, networks that connect students to other students, schools to other schools, and both to the world outside. Educational software that is worthy of our children and their best aspirations and, finally, teachers with the training and the assistance they need to make the most of these new technologies. Make no mistake: You can count on us for leadership, but the goal we have set cannot be set and cannot be achieved by government alone. It can only be met the way these companies are doing it -- with communities, businesses, governments, teachers, parents and students all joining together -- a high-tech barn-raising. What we are doing is the equivalent of going to a dusty adobe settlement in early 19th century California and giving every child a slate and a piece of chalk to write with. It's akin to walking into a rough-hewn classroom in the Sierras of the 1860s and wiring it for electricity for the first time. It's like going to the Central Valley in the 1930s to the canvas classrooms of the Dust Bowl refugees and giving every child this book. Chalk boards, electricity, accessible books -- there was a time, believe it or not, when all these were rare. Now, every one is such a familiar part of our lives that we take them for granted. If we stay on course, we'll soon reach a day when children and their parents and their teachers will walk into a classroom filled with computers, and not even give it a second thought. Let's go to work. Our future depends upon it, and these children's lives will be better for it. Thank you very much. (Applause.) ------------------------------ From: dannyb@panix.com (danny burstein) Subject: Carribean Hurricane Damage Date: 25 Sep 1995 12:53:31 -0500 Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway Some reports from FEMA about the hurricane damage in the Virgin Islands. Check out the information given regarding utility damage and repairs. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 12:25:53 -0400 (EDT) From: Emergency Information Public Affairs To: roboaccount@fema.gov Subject: SitRep 16p 9/24/95 (part 2) A Task Force has been established to address fraud, waste, and abuse. This is standard procedure in all disaster responses managed by FEMA under the Stafford Act. The Task Force is intended to stop individuals who are not entitled to assistance from applying, to identify those who are not legally in the country, to counter fraudulent claims, and to prevent fraudulent claims against the Federal Insurance Administration. There will be approximately 120,000 lbs. of food shipped into St. Thomas today for household distribution to all three Virgin Islands tomorrow. An estimated 40,000 of the 50,000 residents on St. Thomas need emergency food at this time. Current information, including press releases, maps, and weather information, regarding the status of the Federal response to Hurricane Marilyn in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands is available on the FEMA Home Page on the Internet at http:\\www.fema.gov . This information is being published and managed by FEMA Public Affairs. Tomorrow (Monday) food will be distributed in bags at all distribution centers. Each bag will provide enough food for 2 people for one day. Larger families may pick up more than one bag, proportionate to the size of their family. As we enter the ninth day of operations in the Virgin Islands, the military has flown 657 sorties of all types bringing in 5.25 million pounds of cargo. We are currently delivering 80,000 gallons of water and 50,000 lbs of ice daily on the islands. We have delivered 12,000 rolls of plastic, approximately 8,000,000 square feet. Federal Responders A total of 2694 federal agency personnel deployed in the field as of today: Federal Emergency Management Agency 332 Emergency Management Specialists 66 MERS/MATTS Communicators Department of Defense 16 Mobile Field Kitchen Support Personnel 225 Mass Care teams 6 Combat Control Team personnel 210 Tanker/Airlift Control Element (TALCE) 112 USACE 4 NCS 186 Various affiliations Federal Law Enforcement 468 Special Agents and Sworn Officers 31 Charleston SC Police Officers Public Health and Related Services 213 USPHS Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATS)/MSU 12 DVA 17 EPA 9 Food and Consumer Service Other Departments and Agencies 282 Incident Management team personnel 3 Department of Interior (DOI) 3 Department of Energy (DOE) 999 American Red Cross (ARC) (not counting PR and USVI volunteers) 2 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ESF #1 (Transportation - Department of Transportation (DOT)) Three plane loads (50 pallets per plane) of plastic sheeting will depart today for St. Thomas from Jacksonville, FL. One or two additional planes will go tomorrow. All plastic sheeting has now arrived in Jacksonville. A flight from Dallas to St. Croix will deliver 50 additional pallets of plastic and is scheduled to arrive at 8:00 pm.. 120,000 pounds of food is being sent from Kansas City to St. Thomas today. Dog and cat food will be sent September 25 from Atlanta. Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) personnel from Florida and Tulsa departed by 11:30 am. American Red Cross (150 people) are being transported from Atlanta to St. Thomas. The ongoing shuttle from San Juan and St. Thomas is carrying approximately 200 people daily. ESF #2 (Communications - NCS) Federal disaster veterans state that, overall, this disaster has created on St. Thomas the most extensive telecommunications and electric power infrastructure damage seen in over 20 years (much worse than Hurricane Andrew in Miami or Hurricane Hugo in VI and South Carolina). While Central Office facilities have basically survived, the island's heavy reliance on aerial distribution plant has crippled interoffice and subscriber connectivity. Initial priority has been directed towards restoring the cellular infrastructure. Two systems operate on island: VITELCO and CellularONE. Off-island communications has been aided by AT&T's restoration of undersea cable connectivity to the Charlotte Amalie area via microwave links. The donated MCI satellite phone banks have been loaded and departed for St. Thomas. Ground transportation and refueling requirements for the MCI phone banks are being coordinated at the Disaster Field Office (DFO). Skypager service is now working on St. Thomas as of 2:15 pm September 24. ESF #2 is coordinating restoration of ten lines to Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) radio station in St. Thomas FEMA, FEMA personnel are assessing providing a laser shot between Disaster Field Office (DFO) and Vitelco Central Office. Vitelco Cellular is on site at Disaster Field Office (DFO) to program cellular phones for federal response workers. Vitelco wireless has a representative on site in Disaster Field Office (DFO) to coordinate federal disaster telecommunications priorities and requirements. Vitelco has been appraised of the requirements for the Disaster Field Office (DFO) and the four Recovery Centers that have been identified, two on St. Thomas, one on St. Croix, and one on St. John. One of the 400 MHZ repeaters has been repaired by the service provider and is operational. The second repeater has been repaired and is providing intermittent service. The service provider will send additional technicians to the site on September 25. The 150 MHZ system ordered by FEMA is operational on a five system portable repeater network and 200 handsets. An additional 200 handsets and 5 full size repeaters are on order and expected delivery to St. Thomas is September 25. ESF #3 (Public Works and Engineering - Army Corp of Engineers) A bottled water contract for delivery of 50,000 gallons per day is in place and will be effective on September 25. FEMA is arranging priority movement of 2,800 rolls (20x100 ft. each) of plastic sheeting from Thomasville and Denton MERS to St. Croix and St. Thomas. Delivery of the plastic sheeting to St. Thomas and St. Croix for the contractor to use in reconstruction work is a pressing issue. Part of the shipment of four Army Corp of Engineers 750kws generators arrived in Puerto Rico on a C-5A and are being barged to St. Thomas. The remaining generators are being prepared for movement via C-17 direct to St. Thomas for use at the hospital. Five FEMA generators (2-550kw, 3-425kw) will be flown from Jackson, MS, to the Virgin Islands for use in high priority areas. ESF #4 (Firefighting - USDA) Two fire stations on St. Thomas are not functional at this time and have been de-activated. Roofing, electricity, communications systems, and fire suppression equipment have been damaged or destroyed. The North Station must be completely rebuilt. Plans for reconstructing the stations on St. Croix and St. John will be delivered by September 24. Fire operations will continue from the Charlotte Amalie Station and Tutu Station until further notice. It should be noted that response times from the remaining stations to unprotected areas is greatly increased due to traffic congestion, debris remaining in roads and increased distances to be traveled. The build up of debris between structures on steeper mid-slopes presents an increased fuel hazard requiring analysis to recommend appropriate strategies for fire suppression and fuel treatment. On St. John, there is minor damage to one fire station and roof damage to a second. Both stations are currently staffed however. Response time to potential incidents is slightly impacted and road debris clean up is proceeding well. ------------------------------ From: Markus Schlegel Subject: GSM Cellular Tariffs For Norway Date: 23 Sep 1995 12:55:25 GMT Organization: Telenor R&D At http://www.unik.no/~markus/norgsm.html you can find a listing of GSM cellular tariffs for Norway. Since this page has been unexpectedly successful, I am thinking about enlarging the view to Europe in general. For this, I would be thankful if oyu could send me information on this subject. Please also see the "request for info" at http://www.unik.no/~markus/gsmhe.html Thanks, Markus Schlegel At UNIK, Center for Technology, University of Oslo (Norway) markus@unik.no ------------------------------ From: dreuben@interpage.net (Doug Reuben) Subject: Need DID Access in NY - NYTel Unresponsive! Date: Sun, 24 Sep 1995 01:11:06 EDT We've recently come to the conclusion that DID *may* be better than adding new phone lines all the time ...:) With that in mind, I called down to the local New York Telephone business center in New York City to inquire about rates, how it would be set up, transition to DID, etc, ie, basic information. I was told by the rep: "Ok, please fax us the questions and we will have someone get back to you next week". Ok, well, maybe they think I'm a vendor or something, so I explain I just want some general information about the service, and the rep goes "Well, write all the questions down and fax it to us, and we will get back to you next week." Errr ... Ok, I thought, maybe I have the wrong office. So once again I tried "Well, all I really need is to ask some basic questions about how DID works, rates, how long it generally takes to set up, etc. So I really don't need to fax anything, 'cause these are sort of general questions, and don't you have anyone somewhere else to take such calls?". NYTel's response: "Fax it to us". (I figured the next thing they would say is "nevermore"! :) ) So before the rep started to break out into a repetitive chorus of "Quoth the Raven", I figured I'd try one last time: "Look, all I want you to do is fax me or mail me some literature on DID so that I can decide if I want to use NYTel, which at this point I am not sure I do!". And of course you know the answer NYTel gave, so rather than waste half an hour faxing things to someone who was so enamored by the concept of faxing that he would probably frame whatever was sent to him, I figured I'd call the NYTel President's Helpline to see what they had to offer. After the usual ten minute wait, I got a rep who at first seemed interested in helping me, but when I explained the problem, ie, that I merely wanted to get some more information about DID and that their business office had been very unhelpful, she quickly lost interest. (Apparently, the President's Helpline is mainly to prevent irate telephone customers from calling the NY Public Service Commission. My complaint really wasn't something you would go to the PSC about, so she wasn't interested.) She did eventually manage to take my name and number, and said that someone would call back. She explained that the people handling DID service have "commitments" to other customers, and thus couldn't take my call right away. Huh?!! Ok, well, maybe I don't know too much about how DID works, but I DO know what poor service is, and THAT is it! It's outrageous that I or someone in my office (we only have a small staff, and we are quite busy) take the time to compose a fax to ask some service rep. at NYTel some basic questions. Moreover, in the event of a failure, I'd hate to have to fax a failure report to them and wait a week or so to have the problem resolved! So ... any other alternatives besides NYTel? We basically need to have maybe 100 DID "numbers" route to 10 or so lines, with expansion as our business grows. We'd like to buy them on a "per-use" basis, ie, we don't want to get a block of 500 and only use 20 or so for the first few months. Signalling to our system is also important, and we'd need an effective and scaleable method for having DID information signalled to our system. Any help or responses from other providers besides NYTel/NYNEX would be appreciated! Thanks, Doug Reuben * dreuben@interpage.net * +1 (203) 499 - 5221 Interpage Network Services -- http://www.interpage.net, telnet interpage.net E-Mail Alpha/Numeric Local/Nationwide Paging, Info., and E-Mail <-> Fax Svcs ------------------------------ From: Ian Angus Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 11:32:07 -0400 Subject: Announcing TELECOM UPDATE Angus TeleManagement Group is pleased to announce the introduction of TELECOM UPDATE, a weekly on-line news bulletin for Canadian telecommun- ications professionals. TELECOM UPDATE is published on the first business day of each week, and is distributed without charge. It is available in two formats: 1. On the World Wide Web: go to http://www.angustel.ca, and select TELECOM UPDATE from the main menu. The current issue and all past issues are available at that location. 2. By electronic mail: send an email message to majordomo@angustel.ca. The body of your message should say only subscribe update . Angus TeleManagement Group is an independent consulting and research firm, specializing in business telecommunications since 1979. We publish the monthly magazine TELEMANAGEMENT, and, together with our suster firm, Angus Dortmans Associates, we provide telecom advisory services to business, government, and supplier organizations. IAN ANGUS Tel: 905-686-5050 ext 222 Angus TeleManagement Group Fax: 905-686-2655 8 Old Kingston Road e-mail: ianangus@angustel.ca Ajax Ontario Canada L1T 2Z7 http://www.angustel.ca ------------------------------ From: sjslavin@aol.com (SJSlavin) Subject: Last Laugh! Status of CLID in CA - Alice at the State Bldg! Date: 25 Sep 1995 00:37:18 -0400 Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Reply-To: sjslavin@aol.com (SJSlavin) The FCC Interstate order for CLID remains due 12-1-95. Pacific wants to offer intrastate at the same time -- makes good sense. But, AHA -- CPUC wants a public education program before they may offer it; Pacific feels they can provide such a program, but CPUC needs to approve it first -- can't trust those rascals in LEC-land to put together a PR campaign, can we? -- and the CPUC won't be able to do that before Spring, 1996. The State's appeal to the 9th Circuit has hearings scheduled for November, so CPUC wants the LEC's to ask the FCC to postpone their nationwide interstate order until California argues that the feds have no right to pre-empt the state. Pretty soon Alice will run into the Mad Hatter, crossing Van Ness Ave going into the State Bldg. One or both must work there on the 5th floor. ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V15 #404 ****************************** Received: from delta.eecs.nwu.edu by MINTAKA.LCS.MIT.EDU id aa10659; 25 Sep 95 23:57 EDT Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id OAA25240 for telecomlist-outbound; Mon, 25 Sep 1995 14:42:07 -0500 Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id OAA25228; Mon, 25 Sep 1995 14:42:01 -0500 Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 14:42:01 -0500 From: TELECOM Digest (Patrick Townson) Message-Id: <199509251942.OAA25228@delta.eecs.nwu.edu> To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Subject: TELECOM Digest V15 #405 TELECOM Digest Mon, 25 Sep 95 14:42:00 CDT Volume 15 : Issue 405 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives (Gary Novosielski) Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives (Robert McMillin) Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives (Clive D.W. Feather) Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives (Clifton T. Sharp) Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives (Ed Ellers) Re: Pole Mounted City Fire Alarm Boxes (Martin McCormick) Re: Pole Mounted City Fire Alarm Boxes (John Nagle) Re: Pole Mounted City Fire Alarm Boxes (Peter Laws) Re: Variable Length Phone Numbers (Juergen Ziegler) Re: Variable Length Phone Numbers (David H. Close) Re: Variable Length Phone Numbers (Wes Leatherock) TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of public service systems and networks including Compuserve and America On Line. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Subscriptions are available to qualified organizations and individual readers. Write and tell us how you qualify: * telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu * The Digest is edited, published and compilation-copyrighted by Patrick Townson of Skokie, Illinois USA. You can reach us by postal mail, fax or phone at: 9457-D Niles Center Road Skokie, IL USA 60076 Phone: 500-677-1616 Fax: 708-329-0572 ** Article submission address only: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu ** Our archives are located at lcs.mit.edu and are available by using anonymous ftp. The archives can also be accessed using our email information service. For a copy of a helpful file explaining how to use the information service, just ask. ************************************************************************* * TELECOM Digest is partially funded by a grant from the * * International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland * * under the aegis of its Telecom Information Exchange Services (TIES) * * project. Views expressed herein should not be construed as represent-* * ing views of the ITU. * ************************************************************************* In addition, TELECOM Digest receives a grant from Microsoft to assist with publication expenses. Editorial content in the Digest is totally independent, and does not necessarily represent the views of Microsoft. ------------------------------------------------------------ Finally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such as yourself who provide funding in amounts deemed appropriate. Your help is important and appreciated. A suggested donation of twenty dollars per year per reader is considered appropriate. See our address above. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: gary.novosielski@sbaonline.gov Organization: Small Business Administration Date: Sun, 24 Sep 95 03:01:43 -0400 Subject: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives johnl@iecc.com (John Levine) writes: > This [inability to dial local calls as 1++] is > only the case in states where short-sighted people have forced the > 1+ = toll nonsense. In New Jersey, the Land of Perfect Dialing, this > is how it's always worked, you can dial all calls with 11 digits > even within your own exchange and it handles them correctly. I > believe it's the case in most areas where you can dial all intra-NPA > calls with 7 digits. Well, "always" is a long time. For the vast bulk of the time since area codes were invented, we (in New Jersey) never had to dial more than 10 digits. It wasn't until NJ Bell was getting ready to introduce the first of the NXX-style central office designations that we were forced to begin any type of call with a 1+. Prior to that time, the CO could tell an NPA from an NNX by format alone, so only 10 digits were needed. But, though a leading 1 was not required, it was tolerated. In fact, the CO would absorb an arbitrarily long string of leading 1 digits without so much as breaking the dial tone. So strictly speaking you *are* correct that it would have "worked" even back then. I guess we really are the Land of Perfect Dialing. :) > Call Trace serves this [unblockable Caller ID] function now. It does > what caller-ID is frequently misrepresented as doing, collecting the > calling number of a call that you need to report to the cops. Don't bet your life on it! Call Trace, it turns out, is often not much better than Caller ID at turning up a number. A friend and client of mine recently had a "need to report" just such a call. He immediately dialed *57 for Call Trace, and got a recording: "We're sorry, the number cannot be traced because it is out of the area." (He reported the call to the cops in any case, of course, and they were as helpful as they could be, but without the Call Trace information, there's not much to go on.) Anyway, I spoke on a three-way with my friend and the folks at Bell Atlantic, and they confirmed that had the call come from as close as just across the Hudson in the 212 NPA, Call Trace would *not* pick it up. Call Trace *will* see past per-line or per-call ID blocking, but if the Caller ID box would have shown "Out-of-Area," the Call Trace would probably fail. In fact, we had reason to believe that the call *did* originate in NYNEX territory, so I asked BA to contact NYNEX. They did so, and said that the response from the NYNEX security department was that they would not supply call detail information without a court order, and that the entity whose outgoing calls were to be scrutinized would have to be identified on the warrant / subpoena / whatever. Without call trace info, where are you going to get a court order? Fortunately, Call Trace is NOT the last word, but the alternatives all require some advance preparation, so they are only effective against repeat offenders. They're all administered by the telco's Annoyance Call Bureau, whose number is available from the phone book or the business offices. Some of the options in their bag of tricks (at least in Bell Atlanticland) are are: 1) they can change your number to an unlisted number. 2) they can temporarily re-translate your line to a fictitious number, and forward your listed directory number to a human intercept operator. The operator will ask anyone calling your LDN what number they're calling from, and will attempt to verify that they're telling the truth. (I had the distinct impression that the ability to verify this in real time was fairly limited, perhaps not even as good as Call Trace) If the caller refuses to supply a number, or supplies a known phoney, he doesn't get through. If he seems okay, the operator will either ring through, or tell the caller the temporary number at which you can be reached. (I forget which). 3) they can institute a "Trap-and-Trace" on your line. This, according to the ACB, requires some additional equipment or other resources to be dedicated to the line. It also requires your written and signed authorization, but this can be done by fax, and the setup time is under two hours. For a period of time which varies from case to case, typically at least two weeks, each and every incoming call to your line is automatically traced, if possible, and the information recorded. According to the ACB rep, the success rate is *much* higher than with normal Call Trace, as it uses a completely different technology. For one thing, it will see past many types of forwarding. Although all calls are traced, only the ones which you identify (by date and exact time) as being suspicious are forwarded to law enforcement authorities. As with Call Trace, you are not provided with the information, only the cops are. The surprising advantage about all three of these options is that, unlike Call Trace, they are at no charge to the customer. Even the change order for the unpublished number is free if it is placed through the ACB rather than the business office. I'm not sure if the recurring charges for unpublished numbers are waived, but, as has been mentioned here I think, the cheaper way to get an "unlisted" number is to change your directory listing to Joe Doaks, or whatever. There's no requirement that the name on your account with telco, or any other business for that matter, has to be your real name. Using a false name is only illegal (in the U.S.) if your purpose is to defraud someone. My free advice (worth every penny, as always) to anyone who has the need to use Call Trace even once, whether it succeeds or not, is to call the cops on the next call, and the Annoyance Call Bureau on the call after that. Don't wait for the cops to suggest it; many of them don't even know it exists. In the case of calls that are merely annoying, rather than threatening or otherwise illegal, you can safely leave the police out of the loop and contact the ACB directly, but absent a police report they might neglect to mention all of the options up front. Knowing what they are is then an advantage. Regards, Gary Novosielski GPN Consulting gnovosielski@mcimail.com ------------------------------ From: rlm@netcom.com (Robert McMillin) Subject: Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives Organization: Charlie Don't CERF Date: Sun, 24 Sep 1995 16:24:30 GMT On 18 Sep 1995 01:44:24 PDT, DYost@Taurus.Apple.com (Dave Yost) said: > Our telephone systems should be straightforward enough that any child > capable of remembering their phone number can be taught how to pick up > any phone and dial their home phone number or 911. > Try it sometime with a five-year-old. You can teach her her phone > number, and you can teach her about 911, but it's really hopeless to > explain what to do in all the various telephone situations: [sundry different situations requiring different telephone dialing sequences deleted] Mr. Yost goes on to suggest that "We should work toward a standard that would allow a child to dial simply 1 + area code + number from any phone ... and get connected to their home." I presume for the moment that Mr. Yost is a concerned parent, or certainly, is looking out for the best interests of some child or children, somewhere. The problem I have with this proposal is simply that it takes a Procrustean approach to child safety, regardless of its effects on adults. By this approach, we should make the world completely and utterly safe for four-year-olds. This is the rallying cry currently used as a justification for censoring adults on the Internet. Adults use cars, airplanes, lathes, pornography, and slaughterhouses, all of which are patently unsafe (or at least, unwise) for four-year-old operation. Not everything can -- or should -- be made child-safe. Robert L. McMillin | rlm@helen.surfcty.com | Netcom: rlm@netcom.com Jail to the Chief! | WWW: ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/rl/rlm/home.html Ein Reich, ein Volk, ein Bubba! ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives Date: Sun, 24 Sep 1995 23:36:03 BST From: Clive D.W. Feather > We should work toward a standard that would allow a child to dial > simply 1 + area code + number from any phone, whether it be a business > phone, a pay-phone, whatever, and get connected to their home. The equivalent works just perfectly in the UK, and has done for a long time. Why can't you lot make it work? > Business and Hotel phones: > Business phones usually require you to dial 9 for an > outside line. Hotels sometimes require 8. There was > a time, back in the old pulse-dial days, when this > made some sense. Now it doesn't. PBX systems with > push-button phones could use the * or # key to access > internal dialing, and allow normal dialing to the > outside without a prefix. Our office has a much simpler system: * 1XXX to 8XXX reach internal extensions or those in other offices on linked PBXs (with a single numbering scheme for the entire system, and extension NXXX having a DDI number of +44 181 371 NXXX). * Outside numbers can be dialled directly if they include a national or international code (which always begins with 0). Or if I want to dial another number in 181, or a service code, I prefix the whole thing with 9. So I can dial extension 2345 on our system by: 2345 9 371 2345 9 0181 371 2345 0181 371 2345 9 141 0181 371 2345 (with CLI withheld) (no pauses are ever required; gaps are for clarity only). Once you fix the area-code-needed/forbidden problem, you could do the same. Clive D.W. Feather | Work: clive@demon.net | Gateway House Senior Manager | Home: clive@stdc.demon.co.uk | 322 Regents Park Road Demon Internet Ltd. | Tel: +44 181 371 1000 | Finchley | Fax: +44 181 371 1281 | London N3 2QQ ------------------------------ From: clifto@indep1.chi.il.us (Clifton T. Sharp) Subject: Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives Organization: as little as possible Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 17:13:23 GMT In article johnl@iecc.com (John Levine) writes: > Call Trace serves this function now. It does what caller-ID is > frequently misrepresented as doing, collecting the calling number of a > call that you need to report to the cops. What can Call Trace get that CNID wouldn't report accurately? The only thing that I've heard about inaccurate CNID so far regards outdial trunks, which would presumably be reported the same way to Call Trace. Cliff Sharp WA9PDM clifto@indep1.chi.il.us ------------------------------ From: Ed Ellers Subject: Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives Date: Sun, 24 Sep 95 19:53:33 -0500 Organization: Delphi (info@delphi.com email, 800-695-4005 voice) James E. Bellaire writes: > Train the child to dial 911. Universal 911 is growing and should be > the most well known way to get help. '0' is another option in areas > where 911 does not work. (Including switchboards with an attendant.) When my area was cut over to a 1A ESS in 1982 -- before we had 911 -- I found out that the switch was set up to pass 911 calls to the "dial-0" operator if no 911 service existed. > If PBX administrators would make 911 (as well as 9-911) work from any > phone it would be helpful too. Not too many people would be > attempting to reach 9-1-1xx-xxx-xxxx numbers (unless they thought they > were dialing 011 for IDDD access). Makes perfect sense. There is a possibility that someone would want to dial 9-10-xxx for a different LD carrier, but not 9-11-xxx. ------------------------------ From: Martin McCormick Subject: Re: Pole Mounted City Fire Alarm Boxes Date: 25 Sep 1995 15:19:42 GMT Organization: Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK In article Tony Harminc writes: > the reason these boxes had clockwork code senders in the > first place: they were all connected in parallel on the same wire. You might say that the old fire alarms used a bus architecture. I wonder if some systems were wired in series with the current serving as a continuous test on the integrity of the wires? This is how some old teletype networks worked with each station able to send to all others by interrupting the loop each time a character was sent. Many fire alarm systems such as might be found in a school or other public building are designed to draw loop current or send some other kind of measurable signal to show that the telephone wires to them are intact. The pannel in the fire station has red, amber, and green lights that let the dispatcher see the system status. The amber light is called a trouble signal and means that the alarm status is unknown because of possible line trouble such as backhow fade, gophers, or water damage. Martin McCormick WB5AGZ Stillwater, OK 36.7N97.4W OSU Center for Computing and Information Services Data Communications Group ------------------------------ From: nagle@netcom.com (John Nagle) Subject: Re: Pole Mounted City Fire Alarm Boxes Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest) Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 17:39:10 GMT Tony Harminc writes: > Martin McCormick wrote: > [Fire alarms boxes that pulsed out their location] Classically, those are clockwork pulsers, all in parallel on the same line. Some versions are "non-interfering"; two boxes won't transmit at the same time. (This is an early precursor of Ethernet collision-detection.) Back in 1978, I visited the dispatch center for the San Francisco Fire Department, and saw how their gear worked. They had a quite advanced dispatch center, but they had kept the clockwork pen and paper-tape registers for the pull box circuits. This was only a backup, though; when a box was pulled, a PDP 11/70 watched the pulses come in, converted it to a box number, and looked up the address. Nevertheless, the pen recorders continued to operate, printing dashes on paper strips, for every box pull. The SFFD had even kept their stationhouse telegraph, with a big brass key and gong mounted on a panel alongside a computer display. It's a very traditional department. John Nagle ------------------------------ From: plaws@comp.uark.edu (Peter Laws) Subject: Re: Pole Mounted City Fire Alarm Boxes Date: 24 Sep 1995 19:12:25 GMT Organization: University of Arkansas PAT writes: > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I remember once as a child watching > them fix one of those boxes which was broken. The repairman took a > phone handset with alligator clips and hooked onto the wire and was > chatting with someone at the other end which I thought at the time > was quite funny. How can you talk over that box, I asked him. PAT] Before radios were common, the deputy/battalion/district chief's aide had a handset with which he could communicate by voice to Fire Alarm. There was a jack in the box for this purpose. Before that, some systems had manual keys that the aide could use to transmit higher alarms, all outs, etc. Peter Laws If your FD still has a Gamewell or other telegraph system, send me mail - I'm working on a Box Alarm WWW page! ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 14:32:00 MET From: juergen@jojo.sub.de (Juergen Ziegler) Subject: Re: Variable Length Phone Numbers Organization: Private UUCP Site, Buehl (Baden), Germany Tony Harminc (EL406045@BROWNVM.BROWN.EDU) wrote: > Easy yes -- but a disaster for planning and orderly growth. This sort > of design ensures that Germany will not have portable numbers for a > long time. I think "disaster" expresses the numbering system in Germany fairly well. You are absolutely right with your assesment. But I dont want to repeat my previous posting to this thread. > Okay -- you are in Germany and you start to dial +1 40 ... > Now with your scheme, the local switch would have to pick up a trunk to > somewhere -- to where ? It isn't even known what country you are calling > yet! Then you dial 3 as the next digit, and the switch in Germany knows > you are calling Canada rather than the USA. But Germany has trunks to > at least two points in the area covered by area code 403 - which one should > it pick up ? The next digit is 9, but still nothing is known - it could > be somewhere near Calgary, or over a thousand miles north in the Northwest > Territories. Only after two more digits (say 79) is it finally known > what local area the called line is in. Well, you should not take digit by digit routing verbatimly. Digit by digit routing does usually not work when calling to a foreign country. Therefore whenever you call a foreign country, that has a predefined numbering scheme (e.g. USA,Canada), the German international gateway switch will pick up the number of neccessary digits to setup the call to the foreign switch. But, when you call a number that is invalid from Germany (e.g. +1800 or +1900 or +1500 ...) the German international gateway switch will prompt you that the number is invalid as soon as this fact can be easily determined. When this happens there should (and hopefully will) not be a connection established to the USA. On the other side, when calling a country that has no predefined numbering scheme, the switch will establish a connection to the foreign switch, as soon as it has enough information. But as the foreign switch has not indicated "number complete" or "number invalid" the German switch will send further digits to its foreign counterpart. Juergen Ziegler * juergen@jojo.sub.de * 77815 Buehl (Baden) * Germany ------------------------------ From: dhclose@alumni.caltech.edu (David H. Close) Subject: Re: Variable Length Phone Numbers Date: 25 Sep 1995 05:27:44 GMT Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena I wrote: > What would it take for an originating switch to accept digits beyond those > it figures are necessary to complete the call, buffer them, and then > transmit them after the call is supervised? johnl@iecc.com (John Levine) writes: > A major hardware and/or software upgrade to every piece of phone > equipment in the U.S. that stores or processes phone numbers, > including everything from central office switches through PBXes to > memory phones. No dice. I also got some private mail that misunderstood my question in the same way, so I thought I should clarify. My suggestion was specifically intended to be fully optional at the switch level, with conforming and non-conforming switches fully interoperable. Thus there would be no need for a change to "every piece of phone equipment in the U.S." in order to try my suggestion. If it didn't work, fine. If it did, then changes could be gradual over many years as other changes were made. The phrase, "digits ... beyond those it figures are necessary to complete the call," was intended to convey the idea of no change at all to the present call routing algorithms. One correspondent did suggest that my idea would require a longer allocation of a "digit register", which could otherwise presumably be allocated to some other call after the last functional digit. Of course, I thought that modern switches did this sort of thing in software, not hardware. Dave Close, Compata, Costa Mesa CA dave@compata.com, +1 714 434 7359 ------------------------------ From: wes.leatherock@hotelcal.com (Wes Leatherock) Subject: Re: Variable Length Phone Numbers Date: Sun, 24 Sep 1995 20:51:00 GMT Tony Harminc wrote: > naddy@mips.pfalz.de (Christian Weisgerber) wrote: [ ... text deleted ... ] > One point remains to be covered, however: >> What is a phone number? For the most part, a phone number is a *route* >> through the network. > This is absolutely not true in North America. One of the fundamental > principles of the NANP long distance network from the earliest days is > that of Destination Code Routing. Each switch in the network is > capable of doing a database lookup on (typically) six digits of the > phone number to determine the action to take to advance the call. The > individual digits of the number in no way specify the route the call > is to take through the network; this is a decision made by each switch > as needed, and is based on much more than the digits in the number. > Currently available trunks, congestion, previous routing history, and > many other factors can be taken into consideration to make routing > decisions. Translations from the first part of the directory number (the "prefix," originally two, later three) digits were a part of Panel-Type (and its IT&T analog, rotary) switches from the beginning of common control offices in the United States ... I believe around 1920, or a little earlier. Crossbar machines typically looked at the first three digits. This goes back to the 1930s or 1940s. All these were used for *local* calling. Later when Direct Distance Dialing came into being, some switches could still get by with three-digit translations (downstream [higher level] switches doing further translations. But many had to be arranged for six-digit translation almost from the start of DDD. Of course, channels were expensive and scarce in those days; routing to a distant tandem and back through the originating office was discouraged or forbidden. Later channels became so relatively inexpensive and abundant that this was no longer much of a factor. [ ... text deleted ... ] > Tying the routing of a call to the digits in the number is the > huge failing of SxS switching systems. In the 1940s and 1950s Oklahoma City (all step-by-step) had a combination of five-digit and six-digit numbers. Tulsa had a combination of four-digit, five-digit and six-digit numbers, all coexisting in a multi-office exchange with all step offices. Dallas and Houston were also all step, and the difficulties there were horrendous. By the time Houston went to seven-digit numbers, there were some (local) routes so impossible with step switches that the dialing instructions from GYpsy (an actual office I was familiar with in the southwest part of Houston) to some offices on the northeast side of town were "Dial operator--no charge." By this time additions and replacements with common control offices in all four of these cities were becoming a torrent. The southern California area (Los Angeles and environs) solved this with senders on most or all step offices, which made the translations and outpulsed probably an entirely different set of numbers (which could, in the step environment, be of different lengths if necessary). (The subscriber line number, the last four digits, was not translated, of course, merely repeated.) Tony Harminc also wrote: > I say "database lookup" advisedly: in the early days the database > consisted of plastic cards read mechanically, and database updates > were made by manually punching new cards. These days, of course, > the database is more what we think of when we use that word in a > computer context: tables in memory or on disk. I believe for the first two or three decades they were actually metal (steel?) cards which had rather large holes punched in them (much larger than what we think of in punched cards). They were read by light beams through them. Wes Leatherock wes.leatherock@hotelcal.com wes.leatherock@oubbs.telecom.uoknor.edu wes.leatherock@f2001.n147.z1.fidonet.org ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V15 #405 ****************************** Received: from delta.eecs.nwu.edu by MINTAKA.LCS.MIT.EDU id aa11734; 26 Sep 95 1:41 EDT Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id QAA27851 for telecomlist-outbound; Mon, 25 Sep 1995 16:08:41 -0500 Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id QAA27843; Mon, 25 Sep 1995 16:08:39 -0500 Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 16:08:39 -0500 From: TELECOM Digest (Patrick Townson) Message-Id: <199509252108.QAA27843@delta.eecs.nwu.edu> To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Subject: TELECOM Digest V15 #406 TELECOM Digest Mon, 25 Sep 95 16:08:00 CDT Volume 15 : Issue 406 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson AT&T Breakup Memo to Employees (Bob Allen to Employees via Paul L. Moses) Book Review: College by Computer (Dan Corrigan) UK City (Geographic) Codes (Richard D.G. Cox) Cellular Support of 500 Numbers (Lynne Gregg) Question on Wireless (Manuel Maese) Book Review: "Creating Cool Web Pages With HTML" by Taylor (Rob Slade) Interchangable NPA / Official Test Numbers (Michael Fumich) Independent Cellular Network (Mark E. Daniel) Cordless Phone Range Extenders (Jeffrey C. Honig) Forbidden? Exchange Prefixes? (Andrew Luck) Canadian Calling Cards in US (Ian Angus) The Unthinkable: Two Area Codes For Bridgeport (David W. Tamkin) TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of public service systems and networks including Compuserve and America On Line. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Subscriptions are available to qualified organizations and individual readers. Write and tell us how you qualify: * telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu * The Digest is edited, published and compilation-copyrighted by Patrick Townson of Skokie, Illinois USA. You can reach us by postal mail, fax or phone at: 9457-D Niles Center Road Skokie, IL USA 60076 Phone: 500-677-1616 Fax: 708-329-0572 ** Article submission address only: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu ** Our archives are located at lcs.mit.edu and are available by using anonymous ftp. The archives can also be accessed using our email information service. For a copy of a helpful file explaining how to use the information service, just ask. ************************************************************************* * TELECOM Digest is partially funded by a grant from the * * International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland * * under the aegis of its Telecom Information Exchange Services (TIES) * * project. Views expressed herein should not be construed as represent-* * ing views of the ITU. * ************************************************************************* In addition, TELECOM Digest receives a grant from Microsoft to assist with publication expenses. Editorial content in the Digest is totally independent, and does not necessarily represent the views of Microsoft. ------------------------------------------------------------ Finally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such as yourself who provide funding in amounts deemed appropriate. Your help is important and appreciated. A suggested donation of twenty dollars per year per reader is considered appropriate. See our address above. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 15:50:30 -0400 From: theseus@dgs.dgsys.com (Paul L. Moses) Subject: AT&T Breakup Memo to Employees Hi Pat, A friend of a friend and so on was the source of this. Though you would be interested. Paul To All AT&T People, In just a few minutes, we will issue a press release to announce that we will restructure AT&T in a way that will allow each of our businesses to be the best and toughest global competitor in its market. Thanks to your hard work, dedication and innovation, AT&T is, without a doubt, at one of the most successful points in our history. It's unusual for a company that is strong and doing well to look at itself and say, it's time to re-engineer for the future. But from my perspective, that's the best time to take bold steps to maximize our opportunities for future success. After listening consistently to our customers, our investors, and you, our associates who work so hard every day to satisfy our customers, we realized that it was time to move to the next stage of evolving AT&T into an even better business. Therefore, we plan to separate AT&T into three publicly-held stand-alone global businesses that will each be focused on serving its market: 1) We will cluster our Communications Services Group, AT&T Wireless Services, AT&T Solutions and AT&T Universal Card Services into a services company that will continue to be called AT&T. We will also create an AT&T Laboratories unit that will continue research and development for this business. It will have at its core the Bell Labs group currently dedicated to that activity and a research group focused on networking and new services innovations. AT&T will be a global company with revenues of $49 billion that will be totally focused on providing the best "anytime, anywhere" communications services in the world. 2) We will bring together our Network Systems Group, Microelectronics, Global Business Communications Systems , Consumer Products and the other businesses in the Multi-Media Products Group into a communications systems and technology company that would immediately be one of the largest companies of its kind in the world -- with revenues in excess of $20 billion. One of our major competitive assets, Bell Laboratories, will be the research and development engine for the new communications systems company. This company will develop a new identity that will build on the reputation for reliability, leadership, technological innovation and customer-responsiveness that each business enjoys in its market. Linked with the power of Bell Labs and its reputation, this company will be a formidable global competitor in the communications equipment arena -- one of the fastest growing markets in the world. 3) Global Information Systems (GIS) is taking decisive action to create a smaller, swifter, more focused business, concentrating on the three industries in which it has a leading position -- retailing, financial and communications. Following this transition, we plan to make it a stand-alone business focused on serving the computer market. Lars Nyberg is the right leader to get this business back on track. His goal is to be world class in a few targeted industry segments and in delivering high quality computer platforms and services. I believe that's not only worth doing but it's do-able. GIS customers and employees can count on AT&T's complete support during this transition. As part of its turnaround effort, GIS will halt manufacture of personal computers. It will continue to offer PCs as part of total solutions through an agreement with an outside supplier that it expects to announce soon. 4) We plan to sell the remaining interest -- more than 80% -- in our highly successful financing business, AT&T Capital Corporation, to the general public or to another company. The proceeds will be used to strengthen the balance sheets of the companies. We hope to complete all of these transactions before January 1, 1997. We also are considering an Initial Public Offering for about 15% of the shares of the equipment business in the first half of 1996. Apart from the shares sold in the public offering, AT&T's three stand-alone businesses will be owned by the current AT&T shareholders. THE RIGHT TIME FOR CHANGE On the one hand, this a very bold move. On the other hand, with the dramatic changes in our industry, we now see it as the next logical turn in our journey since divestiture. But, let me emphasize, unlike divestiture, this is not a change that is being thrust upon us. It is a change more analogous to our move to a business unit structure in 1988. And I credit that restructure with providing the focus on individual markets and customer sets that enabled us to become the $75 billion enterprise we are today. I have spoken to many audiences about the benefits of AT&T being a vertically integrated business that had both services and equipment and computers -- and even in recent years financial services. There have been many advantages to our current structure. And we have reaped those advantages. But the dramatic changes in our markets driven by our customers, new technologies like wireless, and public policy decisions have opened up so many new opportunities that we need to simplify and more sharply focus our businesses to respond swiftly and effectively to those opportunities. It is no secret that our Network Systems business has been affected by the conflicts that our Communication Services Group has been having with the RBOCs both in the public policy arena and increasingly in the marketplace as we entered the intra-LATA market. These conflicts foreshadow similar issues with some PTTs around the world. Network Systems' continued success in this marketplace has been a tribute to the quality of its products and customer responsiveness. In recent months, it has become clear that the advantages of our size and broad, diverse product line are starting to be offset by the amount of time, energy and expense it takes to manage conflicting business strategies and coordinate activities across a large, complex enterprise. No business can afford to waste resources or time in the competitive environments we face today. So, in this spirit, we prepare to launch three strong businesses who come to their markets with a heritage of quality, dedication to the customer, integrity, innovation, teamwork, and of course, respect for the individual. And we provide a structure for those businesses that is less complex and more focused. It is a structure that needs fewer internal meetings and less internal coordination. It means faster decision-making, faster delivery of new products to the marketplace and most importantly, it allows you to focus totally on your customer and your market. And all this pays-off by accelerating our growth. WHAT ABOUT YOU I understand that many -- if not all -- of you are reading this and saying "what about me". Where do I fit in? The restructuring is subject to resolution of a number of issues which we expect will take about 15 months. Let me promise you that we will be spending a lot of time in the coming months making sure that we answer your questions openly, honestly and quickly. I realize that when a change like this is announced, the first concern is job security. This restructuring is driven by the need for strategic focus, not force reduction. Having said that, it is our competitive position that ultimately determines the size of a business. And each of these businesses will be operating in hotly competitive markets. We've already taken billions of dollars of cost out of the business but, as all of you know, there's still more to do. So, while it is too soon to determine an exact impact, it would be safe to say that the combined new businesses will have fewer employees than the current AT&T does today. But let me hasten to point out, that all of these businesses are in growing markets with major opportunities. Our guiding transition principle will be that -- in the main -- each person follows his or her work. I also realize that this change has significance beyond job security. Like you, I am proud of being associated with an organization like AT&T. As one AT&T, we made a major contribution to the world's ability to communicate and share information. It's important that we acknowledge that emotion as well as some sense of loss as we look ahead. But, most importantly, we must carry that sense of pride into our new companies. That's the best way for the heritage of AT&T as a company that stands for quality, reliability, integrity and innovation to live on. For those of you who have been with AT&T since before divestiture, we've seen a great deal of change together. Frankly, even if you joined AT&T in the last two years, you've seen incredible changes in our customers, our competitors and the way in which our industry will be regulated throughout the world. When I reflect on the way we handled change in the past 11 years, it gives me tremendous confidence in the future. Each change has made us a better company, a tougher competitor and more responsive to our customers. HANDLING THE TRANSITION The first and most important element of this transition is that we can not miss a beat on any commitment to our customers. Let's promise ourselves that we will not be distracted by the transition and take our eye off of our most important mission: serving the customer. The reality is that this restructuring should provide more clarity and focus to your day-to-day jobs. And the vast majority of you will continue doing the exact work that you do today in support of your customer. It's inevitable in a transition like this there will be rumors as people feel uncertain about exactly what will happen. We pledge to work very hard to communicate so quickly and completely that we will keep the uncertainty to a minimum. In fact, we will be doing special editions of AT&T TODAY to answer your questions. We will re-double our employee communications and set up employee question lines starting next week. I want to say a few words about the leadership of this business going forward. I am immensely proud of AT&T's leadership. Our business unit presidents and group CEOs -- all of whom are tough competitors heading up multi-million dollar global businesses -- are the best in the industry. Naming the permanent leaders is a job the AT&T Board and I will address at the appropriate time. We have agreed, however, that I will continue as Chairman and CEO of the new AT&T -- a challenge that I look forward to with enthusiasm. My leadership team will continue in their current capacity, focusing on the fundamental job of serving customers while at the same time supporting the transition. In addition to their regular responsibilities, I have asked Rich McGinn and Alex Mandl, as heads of the largest businesses in the new systems company and AT&T respectively, to take charge of the transition for those companies. Dan Stanzione, President of Bell Labs, will work with Rich and Alex to ensure we protect Bell Labs' world class capabilities through the transition and create an exciting framework for the new AT&T Labs. As I said earlier, Lars Nyberg will have my full support as he refocuses and strengthens GIS. Tom Wajnert will continue to lead Capital Corp. Because of all of these changes, the operating challenges for the next 15 months will be very demanding. I am absolutely determined that we will meet all '95 performance commitments. I will look to Vic Pelson as chairman of the GO team to ensure that we maintain focus on delivering our operational results. I have asked Bill Marx, in addition to his operating accountabilities for the Multi-Media Products Group, to work with Vic on the transition from the current regional operating model to a new model more suitable to independent global businesses. Bill will help ensure that commitments to our many joint venture partners and global suppliers are met. And, Dick Bodman will continue in his role as strategic adviser to our team. I will also chair a Steering Committee for the transition composed of Hal Burlingame, Senior Vice President, Human Resources; Marilyn Laurie, Senior Vice President, Public Relations and Employee Communications; Rick Miller, Chief Financial Officer and John Zeglis, Senior Vice President and General Counsel that will supervise the transition, resolve conflicts, and stand accountable for the completion of the restructuring process by the end of 1996. General Transition Principles I am confident that the investment we have made in making the Common Bond values part of the way we do business will pay off as we work through the many issues surrounding the transition. These values are reflected in some basic implementation principles that we feel strongly about and will guide our actions throughout the transition: 1) Our behavior and decisions will be guided by our Common Bond Values; 2) We will approach this restructuring as a team and support each other; 3) Open and frequent communication will be the norm. Customers 4) We are here to serve our customers. The transition should not cause us to miss a beat in any customer relationships. 5) All contracts and commitments -- external and internal -- will be ful- filled. The Business 6) We will meet our 1995 operational financial targets; 7) Globalization remains a priority for each of our newly restructured businesses. Human Resources 8) In the main, people will follow their work; 9) Dedicated functions will generally follow their internal customers. Shared functions will be divided, although some sharing may occur in a few cases for a transition period after the transactions. 10) Employees who may be dislocated as a result of the marketplace issues or the restructuring will have access to opportunities across the enter- prise and every effort will be made to place them in a job. 11) Issues surrounding pension, benefits etc. will be managed in a way to assure equitable, consistent treatment. There will be a news conference today at 2 PM EDT. It will air live in all facilities that have viewing capabilities and be on audio (800-792-8900. The replay number is 800-475-6701. The code is 602744. Outside the U.S., the number is 402-496-9581. The replay number is 612-365-3844. The code is 602744). We will be using AT&T TODAY, AT&T News and special bulletins to keep you up-to-date with every aspect of the transition in the coming months. We will have a live all-employee broadcast within the next week or so at which I will take your questions. Details on the time of the broadcast and how to send your questions in will be found in AT&T TODAY. We have a huge task ahead of us. We owe it to our customers, our shareholders and to ourselves to do the best job we've ever done. Again, I thank you for the hard work and dedication that has enabled AT&T to take this bold step into the future. I have every confidence that each part of today's AT&T has the talent, resources, market position and courage to be the world's leader in its market. Bob Allen ------------------------------ From: Dan Corrigan Subject: Book Review: College by Computer Date: 25 Sep 1995 19:00:38 GMT Organization: Cape Software BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Title: The Internet University - College Courses by Computer Author: Dan Corrigan ISBN: 0-9648112-0-0 Pages: 528, 7.0" X 8.5" Price: $26.95 Publisher: Cape Software Press - P. O. Box 800-5C - Harwich MA 02645 - books@capecod.net COLLEGE COURSES BY MODEM A distillation of the country's most comprehensive database of ONLINE COLLEGE COURSES, this book answers the question, "Now that we've got the Internet, what do we do with it?". It is written for people interested in taking college courses from the convenience of home or jobsite. The Internet University - College Courses by Computer: * Details 30+ Universities and Colleges * Complete Descriptions for 650+ Courses * Lists 1,500+ Internet Sources for FREE Study * Assists Search for Online Financial Aid Sources Four Sections: 1) FUNDAMENTALS - how to get online, with pointers to additional 'how-to' sources; 2) ONLINE COURSES available today, from a catalog of 650+ offered by thirty colleges and universities, 3) LIBRARIES, museums, colleges and universities, etc. available for free study, and 4) EQUIVALENCY courses (CLEP, CEU, high school, etc.), plus hundreds of personal enrichment courses; all available ONLINE. This manual will be the online student's constant companion, providing the 'needed-to-know' for Internet-based college education. It is the most comprehensive list of educational sources available, covering CONNECTIONS, COURSES, STUDY, and PERSONAL ENRICHMENT. This book is available by mail for $26.95 + $3.50 s/h. For orders from Massachusetts please add $1.35 for sales tax. Order from: Cape Software Press P. O. Box 800-5C Harwich MA 02645 ------------------------------ From: richard@mandarin.com Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 11:14:20 -0400 Subject: UK City (Geographic) Codes On Tue, 19 Sep 95 msb@sq.com (Mark Brader) asked: > When are they going to start using city codes in Britain that don't > start with (0)1? Probably in around 18 months time. Until then there will in most cases be too great a risk of a caller dialling a number without the extra "1". Our regulator has recently completed a period of consultation on future numbering changes: to which, surprisingly, the number of responses that were received were significantly greater than the number of responses to previous consultation exercises. There is now little doubt that further changes will be needed, as Reading (area code 1734) has already run out of numbers, and London itself will have run out of its two area codes (171 and 181) within at best three years, possibly as little as two years. There are only a small number of available area codes suitable for large cities: 118 and 119 are readily usable, while 110, 111 and 112 are thought to be at too great risk of being dialled in error to be used at this time. One of the options being considered is that of moving London to an 8-digit scheme, as area code splits are as unpopular here as they are in the USA, and overlay schemes are highly anticompetitive as we now have extensive competition for local dialtone. However the fact that in the UK local numbers outside the major cities have until now not started with the digit "9", means that some codes can be reused before the two year safety period is complete, provided that in the short term all numbers under that code commence with the digit "9". For example, to provide extra capacity in a city like Belfast (which is one of those high up the list of places at risk of running out of numbers) the present area code of 1232 could change to (for example) an area code of 392, with local six digit numbers currently in the range 2xxxxx-8xxxxx moving into the new range 92x xxxx to 98x xxxx: and allowing new numbers to be introduced in the ranges 90x xxxx and 91x xxxx. Although 392 was previously in use as the area code for Exeter, the fact that there were never any Exeter numbers in the range (392) 9xxxxx means that the Telcos can correctly intercept calls intended for Exeter numbers while allowing calls to reach the new Belfast numbers on (392) 9xx xxxx. I have seen proposals in Telecom DIGEST for the introduction of 8-digit local numbers in the NANP, with shorter area codes. This seems to me to be a far better way forward than the alternative of further code splits or overlays, and 8-digit numbers are already in extensive use in Europe (in Copenhagen and Paris), Japan, and elsewhere. Who knows, this could become a world standard! My text in this article is in the public domain. Richard D G Cox Mandarin Technology, PO Box 111, Penarth, South Glamorgan CF64 3YG Telephone: 0973 311111; Fax: 0973 311110; VoiceMail: 0941 151515 ------------------------------ From: Lynne Gregg Subject: Cellular Support of 500 Numbers Date: Mon, 25 Sep 95 11:15:00 PDT Recently, Doug Reuben posted to the Digest describing a recent change in the network that disallowed 0+ 500 number dialing. As another reader suggested, the cause could be attributed to the Equal Access conversion. I can't definitively state that is the case. However, I've asked our New York operations to identify and resolve the matter. I will send another post to the Digest describing the resolution. Although 1+500 number calling may not be supported for a while (billing hooks are the issue), operator-assisted calling should be supported. Regards, Lynne Gregg Product Manager, Personal Services AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. Headquarters 5000 Carillon Point, Kirkland WA 98033 email: lynne.gregg@attws.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 11:55:05 -0500 From: Manuel Maese Subject: Question on Wireless Dear Pat, Everyday I enjoy your e-mails with the latest postings to the digest, even though I'm not an expert in Telco issues and where I'm really interested is in wireless communications. So I'd like to ask you if you, as the moderator of this list, have knowledge of other newsgroups or e-mail dist. lists (unfortunately, I have no direct access to the USENET, and need to receive everything via e-mail) that deal with issues more directly related to wireless comms. (cellular, paging, SMR/ESMR, CT-2, Wireless Local Loop, etc.). Maybe you know of the addresses of other moderators in communications groups that I could contact to see if I could subscribe to their lists also. I do have to admit that your list does feature quite some wireless articles, for wich I'm grateful, and keep me up to date with the situation in India (Techonomist), cellular issues from the consumer's point of view, etc. (I work for Geotek, an digital SMR provider and I recognize that most times, providers forget to look at their networks and services from the eye of the consumer, who's the one paying our salaries). I work in International Bus. Development, so if you know of other dist. lists in other countries that deal with wireless (in english, spanish, italian & portuguese not a problem), please let me know also. Well, thank you very much for your time. I hope you can help me in some way. Thanks again, Manolo Maese Geotek Communications, Inc. [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Perhaps readers will respond direct to Mr. Maese with information about other mailing lists of interest. PAT] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 08:09:09 EST From: Rob Slade Subject: Book Review: "Creating Cool Web Pages With HTML" by Taylor BKCCWPWH.RVW 950711 "Creating Cool Web Pages with HTML", Dave Taylor, 1995, 1-56884-454-9, U$19.99/C$27.99/UK#18.99 %A Dave Taylor %C 155 Bovet Road, Suite 310, San Mateo, CA 94402 %D 1995 %G 1-56884-454-9 %I IDG Books Worldwide, Inc. %O U$19.99/C$27.99/UK#18.99 415-312-0650 fax: 415-286-2740 kaday@aol.com %P 244 %T "Creating Cool Web Pages with HTML" As far as a tutorial on basic HTML (HyperText Markup Language) goes, Taylor runs Lemay's "Teach Yourself Web Publishing with HTML in 21 Days" (cf. BKWPHTML.RVW) a very close second. The material in this book is clear, well organized, and attractively presented. An odd positioning is the early chapter on URLs (Uniform Resource Locators). This could have been included with or after the chapter on linking, but there are arguments to be made for its placement up front. Taylor then covers basic HTML, text styles, lists, pointers, and multimedia additions. There are some solid pointers on common traps for the novice. More advanced topics are touched on lightly. Netscape extensions get a chapter to themselves, but forms design and HTML+ seem to be last-minute add-ons. As for the "coolness" of your Web presentation, that's up to you. Design is mentioned briefly in random places. The best advice is to be found in the rather ironically named "Announcing Your Site" chapter -- which primarily announces a number of existing Web sites on the net. (The sites listed *are* those which link to others around the Web -- sometimes for a fee.) copyright Robert M. Slade, 1995 BKCCWPWH.RVW 950711. Distribution permitted in TELECOM Digest and associated publications. Rob Slade's book reviews are a regular feature in the Digest. Vancouver ROBERTS@decus.ca | "virtual information" Institute for rslade@vanisl.decus.ca | - technical description of Research into Rob.Slade@f733.n153.z1/ | marketing info disguised User .fidonet.org | as technical description Security Canada V7K 2G6 | - Greg Rose ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 24 Sep 95 22:32:00 EST From: Michael Fumich <0003311835@mcimail.com> Subject: Interchangable NPA / Official Test Numbers The following are the official test numbers for the new NPA's coming online: 205 / 334 AL (334) 223-0600 1-15-95 206 / 360 WA (360) 576-0023 1-15-95 WA (360) 532-0023 1-15-95 713 / 281 TX (281) 792-TEST 3-1-95 602 / 520 AZ (520) 782-0100 3-19-95 303 / 970 CO (970) 241-0022 4-2-95 813 / 941 FL (941) 959-1650 5-28-95 703 / 540 VA (540) 829-9910 7-15-95 404 / 770 GA (770) 666-9999 8-1-95 203 / 860 CT (860) 203-0950 8-28-95 213 / 562 CA (562) 317-0317 9-2-95 305 / 954 FL (954) 236-4242 9-11-95 615 / 423 TN (423) 634-1928 (Chattanooga LATA) 9-11-95 TN (423) 594-9040 (Knoxville LATA) 9-11-95 TN (423) 283-4424 (Johnson City LATA) 9-11-95 809 / 441 (441) 295-7606 (Bermuda) 10-1-95 503 / 541 OR (541) 334-0057 11-5-95 OR (541) 276-0192 11-5-95 803 / 864 SC (864) 242-0040 12-3-95 904 / 352 FL 12-3-95 314 / 573 MO (573) 792-TEST 1-7-96 214 / 972 TX 2-1-96 612 / 320 MN (320) 252-0090 3-17-96 Additions to this list are welcome! Michael L. Fumich / E-Mail: <3311835@mcimail.com> / V-Mail: 708-461-5770 ------------------------------ Subject: Independent Cellular Network From: mark@lsi.ald.net (Mark E. Daniel) Date: Mon, 25 Sep 95 02:16:44 EDT Organization: Legendary Systems Incorporated. Mark's Connection to the WORLD.s A new Cellular prefix popped up here in Akron, Ohio. But I can't find anything about them in the phone book. And I'm wondering who they are and where they'll serve and how they'll serve, since we already have an A carrier (Cellular One) and a B carrier (GTE Mobilnet). I am courious to find out who ICN is. Perhaps they have cheap rates. :-). Any info? I suppose I could try Directory Assistance as a last resort. :-). ------------------------------ Subject: Cordless Phone Range Extenders Organization: Information Technologies/Network Resources; Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 12:39:49 -0400 From: Jeffrey C Honig I just received my "Phone Central" catalog (800/437-2160 if you want to order one). In it I see "Cordless Phone Range Extenders" made by Valor. They are nothing more than antennas and coax that attach to the antenna on a 900MHz or 46/49MHz cordless phone base unit to extend the range. Has anyone tried one of these? I have an AT&T 5475 that I can use for a couple hundred feet on my farm, but I'd like a bit more range. Eventually I plan on getting a 900MHz phone, but this looks like a quick $25 solution. Thanks, Jeff [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Quick solution perhaps, but considering that 900 meg phones have come down some in cost, why not just get one and get it over with? Then, watch for 'range extenders' on those to hit the market before long; again mostly being antennas which have been carefully cut and properly loaded to max out the range, etc. PAT] ------------------------------ From: awluck@interramp.com (Andrew Luck) Subject: Forbidden? Exchange Prefixes? Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 16:41:52 GMT Organization: Personal Account w/ PSI , a commercial service provider Reply-To: awluck@interramp.com When my wife and I moved to Maryland (410) about 13 years ago, by pure happenstance we lucked into the 666 telephone exchange (Cockeysville MD). With even greater serendipity (or a service representative with an admirable sense of humor), we were given 5835 for digits 4-7. This made a really easy phone number for friends and others to remember: 666-LUCK . On both counts :-) . Now I am back in the south (Atlanta GA area code 770) and really would like to get that number back. But my younger sister (the cynic) says that in this part of the country there are "rules" against using certain numbers, such as 666. Beyond conflicts with area coding, which appears to be on the way out, are there certain numbers that simply aren't going to be used either nationally or in certain localities? How about 777 (three's a charm?) Or 888 (Dead man's Hand ?) And is 666 available in area code 1-500 ? [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Wait until they sit up area code 666 in some part of the country. '666' is a number presumed by people of some religions to be 'very bad'. At one point it was thought that it would be impossible to find a long distance carrier willing to accept 10666 since it would handicap them in getting new customers (from those religions.) In the past here in the Digest, we have had articles about places in the USA and Canada where 666 is used, as in AC-666-xxxx. In a few cases, which should make everyone feel good, it turned out to be some federal government agency. I think in one case it was the Internal Revenue Service. Here in Chicago, 312-MONroe has been around simply forever. It is one of the oldest exchanges in the city, and a phone district is named for it. PAT] ------------------------------ From: Ian Angus Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 06:49:22 -0400 Subject: Canadian Calling Cards in US Several weeks ago, TELECOM DIGEST carried several letters relating to the use of Canadian telco calling cards in the US. The original writer asserted that AT&T was refusing to validate Canadian cards, presumably because Canada's major telcos are allied with MCI. This surprised many people, including me, because our Canadian callingv cards have always worked in the US in the past. In fact, after the original letter appeared, I used my Bell Canada card without trouble in Georgia and Florida. I have finally tracked down the source of the original writer's conclusion. CANADA DIRECT is a service offered by Canada's telcos, similar to AT&T's USA DIRECT. It allows Canadians travelling abroad to reach a Canadian operator and charge calls to a Canadian calling card at Canadian rates. On September 1, Canada Direct became available from the United States. Callers dial 1-800-555-1111 to use the service. This is unnecessary in most locations, since a Canadian card can be used simply by dialing "0" or using the payphone's swipe reader. The major US long distance carriers all accept Canadian cards. However, some small carriers and private payphone operators don't accept Canadian cards: the Canada Direct Option can be useful in such cases. IAN ANGUS Tel: 905-686-5050 ext 222 Angus TeleManagement Group Fax: 905-686-2655 8 Old Kingston Road e-mail: ianangus@angustel.ca Ajax Ontario Canada L1T 2Z7 http://www.angustel.ca ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 25 Sep 95 18:13 CDT From: dattier@wwa.com (David W. Tamkin) Subject: The Unthinkable: Two Area Codes For Bridgeport Organization: TIPFKAG [World-Wide Access, Chicago, Illinois 60606-2804] Stan Schwartz wrote in in comp.dcom.telecom: > Ameritech Illinois has unveiled its much-anticipated boundary proposal > for two area code zones in Chicago. The shrunken 312 area code in the > city center would be larger than originally announced -- peaking north > of Armitage Avenue and extending to 35th Street on the south, Western > Avenue on the west and the lakefront on the east. Everywhere else > within the city limits would be in a new 773 area code. Apparently the proposed boundary follows exactly that of Chicago Zone 1, comprising the Calumet (Calumet CO), Franklin (Canal West, Franklin, and Lakeshore COs), Monroe (Monroe CO), Superior (Illinois-Dearborn and Superior COs), and Wabash (Canal East and Wabash COs) Exchanges. Zones 2 through 11 will switch to 773 (except for the part of Zone 3 in area code 708, which will remain in 708). You can tell that the mayor no longer lives in the Bridgeport neighbor- hood: the Calumet, Lafayette (Zone 6), and Oakland (Zone 7) districts meet in Bridgeport; many calls within the neighborhood will need to be dialed with eleven digits. Splitting Bridgeport would have been un- thinkable in the past. >... "It will be an inconvenience at first that will cost us some > money to change some forms -- but eventually, everybody will get used > to it," says Steve Larrick, chief executive of Chicago-based Chernin's > Shoes, whose North Halsted Street store would be just north of the 312 > border in the 773 area. It should be explained that Chernin's original store on Roosevelt Road has a Wabash phone number and will remain in 312, so the [still local] call between there and the Halsted Street store (served by the Lakeview CO of Chicago Zone 4) will have to be dialed with eleven digits. Personally, I don't mind that my neighborhood at the city's edge (in Zone 2) will get the new code instead of keeping the old one. I think "773" is grand: it's made up of all odd digits that add up to lucky seventeen. Also, if I have to call downtown from a rotary phone my finger will be less chafed dialing 1312 than 1773. David W. Tamkin dattier@wwa.com MCI Mail: 426-1818 "When lutefisk is outlawed, only outlaws will have lutefisk." -- bumper sticker I saw on a Nova PS: a very happy hatching anniversary to our Fearless Leader and a good, healthy, and prosperous 5756 to us all. TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Indeed, a very happy and prosperous new year is extended to all our Jewish readers. Things are very very quiet here in Skokie today, with all the public (and private) schools closed, most of the small shops closed, and only emergency functions in the Village government in operation. Skokie has a reputation for being 'all Jewish', and that is not true. It is true a sizeable number of residents here are Jewish; certainly many more than would be customarily found 'on average' in other towns across the USA. But an interesting thing about our village history is that there were *no Jews here at all* until about 1950. Prior to that, the village was largely German with a mixture of other northern European stock. The close of the Second World War saw both a name change for our village which previously was known as 'Niles Center, Illinois' to Skokie, and it brought an influx of Jews from Europe, a large number of whom had been in the concentration camps. The first ever Jewish religious services here were in the early 1950's and the small group of people involved met in the high school auditorium, which they rented for several months in the process of building their synagogue. Other synagogues were constructed at a rather rapid pace during the latter years of the 1950's and into the 1960's. Everyone has always been welcome in this little town, Jewish or not. The Jews were the newcomers here forty years ago, and nowdays there are lots of newcomers of many ethic backgrounds and faiths. The sad part though, is that as the older Jews -- the original ones that is, from the 1950's -- pass on, so much of the heritage and history is lost. The kids just are not learning it as they should. One day last summer, I was in the park chatting with a couple of the neighborhood (non-Jewish) teenagers. An old man walked past and sat at the bench near us. The kids looked at him as they tend to check-out any older person around them, and one of them noticed a number tatooed on his arm. "Hey, checkout the dude with the number tatoo on his arm," said the one. "Let's go ask him what it means." We talked about it a few minutes and they were amazed. Of course these kids have been born even since Frank Collin and the 'American Nazi Party' had their infamous march planned for Oakton Avenue. They had never heard of him either. It is sad ... it really is. Indeed, happy New Year, 5756. PAT] ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V15 #406 ****************************** Received: from delta.eecs.nwu.edu by MINTAKA.LCS.MIT.EDU id aa22063; 26 Sep 95 22:17 EDT Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id MAA00504 for telecomlist-outbound; Tue, 26 Sep 1995 12:21:16 -0500 Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id MAA00496; Tue, 26 Sep 1995 12:21:13 -0500 Date: Tue, 26 Sep 1995 12:21:13 -0500 From: TELECOM Digest (Patrick Townson) Message-Id: <199509261721.MAA00496@delta.eecs.nwu.edu> To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Subject: TELECOM Digest V15 #407 TELECOM Digest Tue, 26 Sep 95 12:21:00 CDT Volume 15 : Issue 407 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Why NOT Use 880? Why Not Use 88x? (Toll Free Numbering) (Paul Robinson) New NPA/NXX'S For Ooctober, 1995 (Paula Pettis) New Telephone Numbering Plan in Australia (Mark J. Cuccia) Need Information on 1A2 System Using "Regular Phones" (Les Fairall) Summary of RSA/Cylink Situation (was Re: Speaking of Netscape) (P. Kocher) Re: Netscape Secure Connection Technology Hacked! (Matthew Richardson) French Forum (FRFORUM) Explosion on CompuServe (JeanBernard Condat) Help with Rolm!!!! 9751 Questions (Brian Stoll) Has Anyone Used This Software? (Steve Morrow) Need Information on Latest CDPD Progress (Fardad Vakil) Last Laugh! Free SPAM Program (Carl Bittner) TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of public service systems and networks including Compuserve and America On Line. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Subscriptions are available to qualified organizations and individual readers. Write and tell us how you qualify: * telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu * The Digest is edited, published and compilation-copyrighted by Patrick Townson of Skokie, Illinois USA. You can reach us by postal mail, fax or phone at: 9457-D Niles Center Road Skokie, IL USA 60076 Phone: 500-677-1616 Fax: 708-329-0572 ** Article submission address only: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu ** Our archives are located at lcs.mit.edu and are available by using anonymous ftp. The archives can also be accessed using our email information service. For a copy of a helpful file explaining how to use the information service, just ask. ************************************************************************* * TELECOM Digest is partially funded by a grant from the * * International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland * * under the aegis of its Telecom Information Exchange Services (TIES) * * project. Views expressed herein should not be construed as represent-* * ing views of the ITU. * ************************************************************************* In addition, TELECOM Digest receives a grant from Microsoft to assist with publication expenses. Editorial content in the Digest is totally independent, and does not necessarily represent the views of Microsoft. ------------------------------------------------------------ Finally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such as yourself who provide funding in amounts deemed appropriate. Your help is important and appreciated. A suggested donation of twenty dollars per year per reader is considered appropriate. See our address above. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 26 Sep 1995 02:57:41 EDT From: Paul Robinson Organization: Tansin A. Darcos & Company/TDR, Inc. Silver Spring, MD USA Subject: Why Not Use 880? Why Not Use 88x? (Toll Free Numbering) There was some mentioning here about the use by Australia of the "international area code" 1880 for calls dialed into 1800. I use quotes around that term because, as it should be well aware to readers of this forum, 1880 is not now in use as a dialing code, and it might be confusing, i.e. this was apparently a problem because people expect the number to be 1800. But sometimes solutions to problems come from unusual ideas, as I know from my own business. Why not have it that way for real? Use 880 and 800 as the same "area code"! Why not allow 880 and 800 to both represent the same service code/area code, and no longer state that 800 is the toll free area code? Or even easier, have 88x be assigned as the "Toll free code" system, e.g. "Dial 188 plus the 8-digit toll-free number." when someone is in the U.S., Canada and the North American multinational code 1809. Oh, wait, people will start complaining about loss of their valuable "800 name" trademarks, e.g. 800-FLOWERS, 800-THE-CARD, 800-TDARCOS, and, of course, the famous bumper sticker, "How am I driving? Call 1-800-EAT-S--T". :) Companies could still call their numbers 1-800, and they would still work, but the "technical" number being assigned to callers in 1-800 would actually be 1-880. Give this a very-long overlay, to allow those who have spent money on advertising, brand recognition, stationery, to allow them to change over as new advertising and other such materials are made. Make it, say, ten years, e.g. until December 31, 2005. After January 1, 2006, the 800 code would be removed from service, possibly being used for something else after some period of time, maybe around 2008, e.g. after two years of nonuse. This concept of a single large range of numbers, e.g. "88 plus 8," would simplify the toll-free dialing system since ALL toll-free numbers[1] in World Zone 1 would be under a single set of codes, i.e. 88 plus a single digit from 0 to 9 and the seven-digit number. This would also eliminate the problem of companies despirately wanting to duplicate their number in the new 888 space which is coming up. Because now, they would have to duplicate it in all TEN 88 "supercodes" (a new name I've coined to refer to a block of ten consecutive area codes all beginning with the same two digits.) This would provide advantages, such as allowing an organization to give out an eight-letter toll free number, or a ten letter one if the term they want to use begins with TU-, TV-, UT-, or VU-. Or they can still do something similar to what they are doing now: "Do you buy diskettes? Check our lowest prices. Dial toll-free 1-88-DISKETTE! Additionally, do you have a problem and need ideas to solve it? Call 1880-TDARCOS. From older exchanges dial 1-800-TDARCOS, all numbers toll free from anywhere in North America!" "Do you want to know what's on television? Subscribe to TV Listings now! Call Toll Free 1-TV-SHOWS-4U for our money saving offer! Fifty-six issues, in twelve easy installments of ten dollars, that's only half of three times the cover price! Call Now!" "You're stuck in a supermarket checkout stand when suddenly you realize you have no cash. What will you do? What will you do? Then you remember that your market takes the 'Get InDebt and stay till you die card,' If you don't have it, get it before it gets you. Dial 1-88-2-GET-IN-DEBT for a $10 discount off the usual $20 price for our free application. Don't go anywhere unless you Get InDebt first!" As it is clear, it adds a huge range of new numbers that interexchange companies can now sell to customers, it creates a single, unified supercode for assigning ALL transnational toll-free numbers within the U.S., Canada and the other 1809 countries in the North America dialing area. In fact, this idea is so simple, so clean a design and so lacking of any serious problems in implementing it that I am absolutely certain that it will never be done! It's too bad it's not difficult, hard to install, causes major problems to everyone, and is a pain in the derriere to implement. Then I know it would become {standard} almost before you can blink! Paul Robinson General Manager Tansin A. Darcos & Company/TDR, Inc. Among Other things, we sell and service ideas. Call 1-800-TDARCOS from anywhere in North America if you are interested in buying an idea to solve one of your problems. From Australia, dial the international dialing prefix, then 1-880-TDARCOS. :) Footnotes: [1] The "Enterprise" and "Zenith" pseudo-exchanges are still grandfathered for current customers for local toll-free extended area calls, and the exchange 950 in each area code is reserved for connection to a Feature-Group circuit of either a long-distance company or a customer wanting FG service as a form of Intra-LATA toll-free calling. I do not refer to these as "national" since they have to be set up specially in each LATA that they are to be enabled. Also, the 950 exchange is not accessible in a few areas of the country which have older equipment. ------------------------------ From: stuff@gdi.net Date: Mon, 25 Sep 95 20:37:00 PDT Subject: NEW NPA/NXX'S FOR OCTOBER 1995 NPA/NXX additions for October 1995 Note the following lists additions of NPA's & NXX's to North American Numbering Plan this month. NPA's which have been used in the past but for the first time appear in a new state are also shown here. NEW NPA Count: 1 423 KY NEW NPA-NXX Count: 356 201-287 NJ 201-395 NJ 201-840 NJ 202-235 DC 202-281 DC 202-314 DC 203-513 CT 203-613 CT 203-619 CT 205-214 AL 206-430 WA 207-521 ME 207-851 ME 209-230 CA 209-791 CA 210-473 TX 210-594 TX 210-764 TX 213-637 CA 214-599 TX 214-738 TX 215-255 PA 215-826 PA 215-845 PA 215-863 PA 216-309 OH 216-717 OH 217-265 IL 218-733 MN 301-664 MD 303-205 CO 303-315 CO 303-407 CO 303-501 CO 303-603 CO 303-715 CO 303-716 CO 303-813 CO 303-975 CO 305-604 FL 305-708 FL 305-816 FL 310-227 CA 310-622 CA 310-680 CA 312-361 IL 313-351 MI 313-398 MI 314-207 MO 314-209 MO 314-305 MO 315-814 NY 316-229 KS 317-216 IN 317-519 IN 317-570 IN 318-427 LA 318-789 LA 360-867 WA 360-874 WA 360-934 WA 404-369 GA 404-549 GA 404-647 GA 404-721 GA 404-747 GA 404-821 GA 405-750 OK 405-819 OK 407-230 FL 407-317 FL 407-370 FL 407-418 FL 407-476 FL 408-952 CA 410-738 MD 412-380 PA 412-420 PA 412-425 PA 412-450 PA 412-460 PA 412-467 PA 412-522 PA 412-552 PA 412-650 PA 412-799 PA 412-850 PA 412-876 PA 412-886 PA 412-888 PA 412-891 PA 412-982 PA 413-457 MA 413-493 MA 413-564 MA 413-626 MA 413-821 MA 413-834 MA 414-215 WI 414-219 WI 414-302 WI 414-303 WI 414-304 WI 414-306 WI 415-439 CA 415-633 CA 415-846 CA 415-874 CA 415-932 CA 423-249 KY 423-272 TN 423-397 TN 423-447 TN 423-554 TN 423-701 TN 423-739 TN 423-881 TN 423-907 TN 423-908 TN 423-916 TN 423-921 TN 423-949 TN 501-617 AR 501-917 AR 502-392 KY 504-428 LA 504-477 LA 504-681 LA 504-794 LA 505-726 NM 507-379 MN 508-341 MA 508-353 MA 508-424 MA 508-551 MA 508-581 MA 508-717 MA 508-923 MA 509-323 WA 509-744 WA 510-563 CA 510-780 CA 510-864 CA 512-436 TX 512-437 TX 512-481 TX 512-494 TX 513-215 OH 513-387 OH 515-362 IA 516-814 NY 518-814 NY 562-808 CA 562-817 CA 601-220 MS 601-578 MS 606-385 KY 607-814 NY 609-814 NJ 610-518 PA 610-530 PA 610-894 PA 612-301 MN 612-403 MN 612-407 MN 612-703 MN 612-806 MN 612-901 MN 612-903 MN 612-904 MN 614-359 OH 614-435 OH 614-941 OH 615-701 TN 615-907 TN 615-908 TN 615-916 TN 615-918 TN 616-398 MI 617-358 MA 617-363 MA 617-882 MA 617-883 MA 619-618 CA 619-639 CA 619-671 CA 702-393 NV 702-495 NV 702-682 NV 702-694 NV 702-730 NV 702-850 NV 702-880 NV 703-575 VA 704-618 NC 707-438 CA 713-500 TX 713-510 TX 713-512 TX 713-970 TX 714-430 CA 714-431 CA 714-460 CA 714-623 CA 714-901 CA 715-685 WI 716-240 NY 716-814 NY 717-221 PA 717-260 PA 717-331 PA 717-360 PA 717-603 PA 717-791 PA 718-537 NY 718-814 NY 719-381 CO 770-549 GA 770-647 GA 770-721 GA 770-747 GA 770-821 GA 801-431 UT 801-767 UT 803-719 SC 803-818 SC 803-819 SC 803-902 SC 804-416 VA 804-896 VA 805-276 CA 805-291 CA 805-572 CA 805-827 CA 808-274 HI 808-581 HI 808-974 HI 808-984 HI 810-337 MI 810-393 MI 810-582 MI 810-584 MI 810-780 MI 810-824 MI 810-835 MI 812-488 IN 813-308 FL 813-636 FL 814-343 PA 814-357 PA 814-363 PA 814-471 PA 814-543 PA 814-644 PA 814-686 PA 814-693 PA 814-762 PA 814-884 PA 814-951 PA 816-220 MO 817-820 TX 818-318 CA 818-588 CA 860-513 CT 860-613 CT 860-619 CT 860-701 CT 860-702 CT 860-704 CT 901-282 TN 901-771 TN 903-981 TX 904-210 FL 904-490 FL 904-515 FL 904-609 FL 904-719 FL 904-820 FL 907-761 AK 908-471 NJ 908-630 NJ 908-904 NJ 909-280 CA 909-716 CA 912-223 GA 912-392 GA 912-899 GA 913-248 KS 913-250 KS 913-323 KS 913-324 KS 913-328 KS 913-498 KS 914-814 NY 916-874 CA 916-875 CA 917-221 NY 917-388 NY 917-695 NY 917-814 NY 917-835 NY 941-401 FL 954-242 FL 954-296 FL 954-316 FL 954-321 FL 954-327 FL 954-349 FL 954-384 FL 954-389 FL 954-572 FL 954-581 FL 954-583 FL 954-584 FL 954-587 FL 954-608 FL 954-627 FL 954-704 FL 954-712 FL 954-713 FL 954-741 FL 954-742 FL 954-746 FL 954-747 FL 954-748 FL 954-749 FL 954-765 FL 954-768 FL 954-774 FL 954-779 FL 954-791 FL 954-792 FL 954-797 FL 954-814 FL 954-831 FL 954-832 FL 954-845 FL 954-846 FL 954-847 FL 954-848 FL 954-851 FL 954-855 FL 954-917 FL 954-968 FL 954-969 FL 954-970 FL 954-971 FL 954-972 FL 954-973 FL 954-974 FL 954-975 FL 954-977 FL 954-978 FL 954-979 FL 954-984 FL 970-407 CO Paula Pettis Stuff Software Telecommunications Email: stuff@gdi.net, http://www.gdi.net/stuff/stuff.html ------------------------------ From: Mark J. Cuccia Subject: New Telephone Numbering Plan in Australia Date: 26 Sep 1995 03:49:14 GMT Organization: Tulane University Australia is undergoing a nationwide change to standard eight-digit local numbers and single digit (minus the initial 0) 'super' areacodes. Many locations are having to undergo a two (or even three) stage change of local numbers -- with the intermediary stages being that the first few digits of their current length telephone number are changed, and the final change being that the latter digits of their former areacode are tacked onto the front of their current length number. Except for the major cities, all other locations in Australia are going to have *new* single-digit 'super' areacodes (minus the initial 0). There are some reference documents at the website (and ftp sites) of Australia's TELSTRA (formerly Telecom-Australia) and AUSTEL (the government's regulatory agency which has taken over the numbering administration from Telecom-Australia). SEE: http://www.telstra.com.au/press/info/8-digits/8-digits.htm for Geoff Dyer's (u7910169@keystone.arch.unsw.edu.au) condensed description of the numbering changes. One of his sources was from a large AUSTEL document giving more details on the numbering plan changes. This document can be downloaded from: ftp://ftp.austel.gov.au/pub/reports/numplan.word.zip It is a PKZIP-compressed of 22 individual MS-Word 6.0c formatted documents. The individual 22 filenames when 'unzipped' will in alphabetical order, but the contents.doc file should help to be a guide to the order of the files. (There is NO readme.txt file, unfortunately). There are some graphics in these files which can only be viewed/printed in MW-Word 6.0c or better, but the text should be viewable/printable in MW-Word 6.0 (or maybe even less). This document is dated June 1995, and is the second edition of the new Austalian Numbering Plan. The first edition was April 1993. Other Austel webpages are at: http://www.austel.gov.au MARK J. CUCCIA PHONE/WRITE/WIRE: HOME: (USA) Tel: CHestnut 1-2497 WORK: mcuccia@law.tulane.edu |4710 Wright Road| (+1-504-241-2497) Tel:UNiversity 5-5954(+1-504-865-5954)|New Orleans 28 |fwds on no-answr to Fax:UNiversity 5-5917(+1-504-865-5917)|Louisiana(70128)|cellular/voicemail ------------------------------ From: les@jaguNET.com (Les Fairall) Subject: Need Information on 1A2 System Using "Regular Phones" Date: Tue, 26 Sep 1995 01:49:08 GMT Organization: jaguNET Access Services I have an 1A2 system with several "single line" phones attached to it. The 1A2 is strapped with common ringing (provided by a separate ring generator. Problem is that if someone answers on a non-key phone (i.e. a regular off the shelf store bought phone that has been added w/a single line adapter), the system continues to ring all other phones for about ten seconds. (I believe that is the standard timeout for the 400E KTU cards that are in the system.) I remember years ago seeing a device that you could plug a normal phone into and it would sense it off hook and satsify the A/A1 connection and make the ktu see that line as in use. This would be great as it would (1) stop lines from ringing another ten seconds and (2) actually light the line up in use. Any helpful advice would be appreciated. I hope this message makes sense as I am an amatuer at "antique systems" but still enjoy making them work. [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Use the second (normally unused) pair in the 'regular phone' to short the A/A1 line. Wire them through a relay in the 'regular phone' which would close on the phone going off hook. You will find a spare set of contacts in the phone for that purpose. When you provide the A/A1 supervision you will get what you want. PAT] ------------------------------ From: pck@netcom.com (Paul C. Kocher) Subject: Summary of RSA/Cylink Situation (was Re: Speaking of Netscape) Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest) Date: Tue, 26 Sep 1995 06:58:58 GMT John R Levine wrote: > I got a press release today that said that Cylink had won its patent > suit against RSA, and the court agreed that RSA had infringed Cylink's > patents on public key encryption. It's unfortunately much more complex than this. The dispute went to arbitration, where a ruling was made. Strangely, both parties now claim to have won completely. I've never seen two interrpretations of any legal document that are so different. There are actually two batches of patents involved in the suit, some from work done at MIT and some from Stanford. The MIT patents cover the RSA cryptosystem (a public key encrytion technique discovered by the founders of RSA Data Security, or RSADSI, which is a company), while the Stanford patents include Diffie-Hellman exponential key exchange and the original idea of public key cryptography. There are other ways to do public key cryptography besides RSA, though RSA is simpler and more popular than the other techniques. The Stanford patents, however, appear to cover the whold field of public key cryptography. Before this recent ruling, all the patents were controlled by Public Key Partners (PKP), which was run by Jim Bidzos. PKP was a partnership including Stanford, MIT, Cylink, and RSADSI and was run by Jim Bidzos, president of RSADSI. Cylink wanted to use and license the patents on its own, but was blocked by PKP, which started the whole mess. RSADSI has been selling toolkits that let people use technologies covered in the Stanford patents, and Cylink now claims that RSADSI didn't have rights to do this. Cylink has reportedly threatened to charge RSADSI's customers $50,000 each for using patents that weren't licensed correctly. RSA has now taken to claiming that the Stanford patents are invalid, to prevent Cylink from harrassing their customers. I think RSA is probably right here, since the Stanford patents weren't filed properly. (For example, they were submitted more than a year after the publication of the techniques they cover.) Meanwhile Cylink wants to be able to use the RSA cryptosystem without paying royalties to RSADSI, so they seem to now be claiming that the MIT patents are invalid! These patents actually seem fairly strong to me, so I don't think this claim would be likely to make it very far. Hopefully we'll know more soon about the situation. The outcome will have a big impact on the ability of companies to make and sell products using cryptography in the USA. Anything from encrypted encrypted telephones to secure e-mail to Internet commerce need public key technologies, so the outcome of the lawyering is quite important. Currently the patent licensing situation is a huge expensive mess for anyone trying to bring a product to market, and I'm hopeful that as a result of all this we'll soon have non-patented ways of doing public key cryptography. Cheers, Paul C. Kocher Independent cryptography/data security consultant E-mail: pck@netcom.com Voice/FAX: 415-354-8004 ------------------------------ From: matthew@cix.compulink.co.uk (Matthew Richardson) Subject: Re: Netscape Secure Connection Technology Hacked! Organization: I.T. Consultancy Limited, Jersey Date: Tue, 26 Sep 1995 20:50:40 GMT The details (as described by Netscape) can be found at:- http://home.netscape.com/newsref/std/random_seed_security.htm Basically their random number generator (used to generate the encryption keys) in insufficiently random. Thus the keys are reasonably easy to guess and hence break. ------------------------------ From: JeanBernard_Condat@eMail.FranceNet.fr (JeanBernard Condat) Reply-To: JeanBernard_Condat@eMail.FranceNet.fr Subject: French Forum (FRFORUM) Explosion on CompuServe Date: 26 Sep 1995 18:44:31 GMT Organization: FranceNet Bonjour, Since September 1st, you can access the French Forum (GO FRFORUM) on CompuServe services. The success will be so great that the French Paris' accesses was down during a complete night: too many people in the same forum. More than 4,500 daily users visit this French forum to find French up-to-date conversations on French subject of interest. Don't hesitate to visit this uncredible forum. Jean-Bernard Condat (sysop) 75162.767@CompuServe.com [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: JeanBernard writes to the Digest from time to time on telecom events in France. PAT] ------------------------------ From: bstoll@aol.com Subject: Help With Rolm! 9751 Questions Date: 22 Sep 1995 19:43:54 GMT Organization: Netcom Help!!! I need some help with the configuration of the Rolm 9751 models. I have been told the model 30E is capable of growing to 384 ports. Is that true? Is it still non-blocking? They are telling me that I may need to upgrade to a model 30EX. What is that and why would I need to upgrade? My company is thinking about networking our offices together and we want to use the Coronet software. Does anyone use this stuff? Are the features truely transparent across the network? Can anyone tell me about the data features of the PBX? I want to send data thru the telephone but I believe the only options the Rolm offers is async. Is that true? I was told the highest speeds they handle is 19.2K. If you have any information on the 9751 product I need your help. Please post a follow up. Thanks in advance, Brian ------------------------------ From: smorrow@dotrisc.cfr.usf.edu (Steve Morrow) Subject: Has Anyone Used This Software? Date: 26 Sep 1995 21:16:08 GMT Organization: University of South Florida Hi, As we progress in determining requirements for a new telemanagement system, we've obtained product info from several companies, including: Company Product ----------------- ----------------- Pinnacle Software Axis Telco Research Tru-Server Telemate TMI 5500 Angeles Group Cable Master/Call Master/etc PCR COMIT Do any of you use, or have seen, these products? Any opinions on these or others would be much appreciated! Thanks, Steve Morrow, Coordinator / DBA University of South Florida Internet: smorrow@dotrisc.cfr.usf.edu Voice: (813) 974-6889 ------------------------------ From: Fardad Vakil Subject: Need Information on Latest CDPD Progress Date: Tue, 26 Sep 1995 00:00:00 GMT Organization: Printrak International Hi there, I am looking for information and the latest progress on Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD). Your generous responses would sincerely be appreciated. Also, I would like to know which company has offered the best equipment for this technology. Thanks. ------------------------------ From: cbittner@squeaky.free.org (Carl Bittner) Subject: Last Laugh! Free SPAM Program Date: Tue, 26 Sep 1995 12:32:10 GMT Organization: Spammers 'R Us Reply-To: cbittner@squeaky.free.org HERE IT IS: ABSOLUTELY FREE Spam as many groups as you want with one command. Can post same message to 14,000 groups in just a few hours. Must have UNIX shell account, the attached script, and create two ascii text files called groups.txt and message.txt. The file groups.txt should contain a list of all groups you want to spam, one per line. If you want to hit everything, you can just copy your newsrc file, but you'll have to remove all index numbers and end of line punctuation. The message.txt file is the actual message you want to spam. It must contain the subject header on the first line, ie: Subject: Spamming is Fun. You may add in other headers, such as Organization, Paths, Reply to, etc, but none are required. Do NOT put in a newsgroup header. The script does that automatically. There must be a blank line between the last header and the start of the actual message. Then, download those two files plus the following script (call it spamming.fun) to your home directory on the Unix shell account, type "perl spamming.fun", and sit back to watch the fireworks. -----------------------Cut Here-------------------- #!perl #Assumes both Perl and Inews are accessible through #your home directory. If not, either place them in your path #or adjust the script. #You must also have a ascii text file called groups.txt, which #contains a list of each group you want to spam. One to a line. #No punctuation at end of line. #Your spam message must be called message.txt, and it should #be in ascii. The first line must be your subject header: # For example: Subject: this is spam. # You may add in other headers if you wish, but there must be a #blank line before your actual message begins. #run program by typing "perl spam.pl. # # #!perl print "Running...\n"; $newsrc = "$ENV{'HOME'}/testgrps.txt"; open(GROUPS, "$newsrc"); while($group=) {print "Posting to: $group"; open(NEWS,"|inews -h"); print NEWS "Newsgroups: $group"; open(MESSAGE, "message.txt"); while($line=) { print NEWS $line; } close NEWS; if($?==0) { $success++ } else { $fail++ }}$total = $success + $fail;print "Tried to post to $total groups.\n$success OK, $fail failed.\n"; ------------- cut here ---------------- [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Just a couple notes that the author did not mention. If your groups file includes the names of moderated groups then attempts to post to them will of necessity fail, with your message going instead to the moderator's mailbox. You can eliminate this 'problem' by the addition of a line in the header, but I am not going to tell you which one, or what it says. Also, you should be aware that running this script will bring *lots* of attention to your site, and your postmaster/ sysadmin/news person may be busy for several days afterward cleaning up the mess and responding to hate messages sent threatening to kill him and you. In turn, he may in the worst case scenario try to hurt you, and in the best case scenario, simply cancel your account. People who respond back to you -- probably several thousand users -- will not wish you Happy New Year 5756, and they will probably set up a script of their own to send your spam back to you many times over with their compliments for your thoughtful gesture. PAT] ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V15 #407 ****************************** Received: from delta.eecs.nwu.edu by MINTAKA.LCS.MIT.EDU id aa21893; 26 Sep 95 22:15 EDT Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id NAA02634 for telecomlist-outbound; Tue, 26 Sep 1995 13:12:17 -0500 Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id NAA02625; Tue, 26 Sep 1995 13:12:15 -0500 Date: Tue, 26 Sep 1995 13:12:15 -0500 From: TELECOM Digest (Patrick Townson) Message-Id: <199509261812.NAA02625@delta.eecs.nwu.edu> To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Subject: TELECOM Digest V15 #408 TELECOM Digest Tue, 26 Sep 95 13:12:00 CDT Volume 15 : Issue 408 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Re: Variable Length Phone Numbers (Martin Kealey) Re: Forbidden? Exchange Prefixes? (Jerry Pruett) Re: Forbidden? Exchange Prefixes? (Jack Hamilton) Re: Cordless Phone Range Extenders (Ed Ellers) Re: Interchangable NPA / Official Test Numbers (Scott Robert Dawson) Re: Need DID Access in NY - NYTel Unresponsive! (Chuck Poole) Re: Canadian Calling Cards in US (Mark J. Cuccia) Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives (Daniel Ganek) Re: Need Help To Deal With "Slamming" (Bruce McGuffin) Re: Voice Compression on T1s (Paul O'Nolan) Re: FCC Rules Against Carrier Kickbacks to ESPs (Geoffrey P. Waigh) Re: Pros and Cons About Making One Channel of T1 Data Line (Patton Turner) Re: Listen to Me on the Radio This Weekend (Emmanuel Goldstein) TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of public service systems and networks including Compuserve and America On Line. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Subscriptions are available to qualified organizations and individual readers. Write and tell us how you qualify: * telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu * The Digest is edited, published and compilation-copyrighted by Patrick Townson of Skokie, Illinois USA. You can reach us by postal mail, fax or phone at: 9457-D Niles Center Road Skokie, IL USA 60076 Phone: 500-677-1616 Fax: 708-329-0572 ** Article submission address only: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu ** Our archives are located at lcs.mit.edu and are available by using anonymous ftp. The archives can also be accessed using our email information service. For a copy of a helpful file explaining how to use the information service, just ask. ************************************************************************* * TELECOM Digest is partially funded by a grant from the * * International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland * * under the aegis of its Telecom Information Exchange Services (TIES) * * project. Views expressed herein should not be construed as represent-* * ing views of the ITU. * ************************************************************************* In addition, TELECOM Digest receives a grant from Microsoft to assist with publication expenses. Editorial content in the Digest is totally independent, and does not necessarily represent the views of Microsoft. ------------------------------------------------------------ Finally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such as yourself who provide funding in amounts deemed appropriate. Your help is important and appreciated. A suggested donation of twenty dollars per year per reader is considered appropriate. See our address above. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: martin@kurahaupo.gen.nz (Martin Kealey) Subject: Re: Variable Length Phone Numbers Date: Tue, 26 Sep 95 18:14:10 NZST Tony Harminc wrote on 20 Sep 1995 in article : > Most of this has been dealt with by people pointing out that compelled > signalling is widely used in Germany and other parts of Europe, but > is essentially unknown in North America. > One point remains to be covered, however: > naddy@mips.pfalz.de (Christian Weisgerber) wrote: >> What is a phone number? For the most part, a phone number is a *route* >> through the network. > This is absolutely not true in North America. It seems that you are arguing at cross-purposes ... The term "network" needn't necessarily mean the actual hardware used to carry the call once a circuit is established, although I don't warrant that Herr Weisgerber necessarily made that distinction. Further, the routing for the setup needn't necessarily be along the same path for the actual call. A network is simply a collection of nodes and links between them. So, there is a virtual network in NANP, which can be navigated by taking groups of three digits at a time ... it's just that this network is not isomorphic to the actual phone circuits installed. What is useful though is that this "network" can be easily internalised by a human to whatever level of detail they like. However, viewed in this way, it seems a rather chaotic compared with other countries -- only three levels for a whole continent, and multiple routes to nearby physical locations. For example, we have up to four levels of such a virtual network, in a country only 1% the size. On the subject of internalising rules, I would note also that a hierachical numbering system similarly reduces the number of rules -- if a number looks similar to mine, then it's nearby, and the call should be cheap. For example, numbers in a small town 90 km to the north are all of the form +64-9-42-26-xxx. Numbers in the next calling area are all +64-9-42-xxxxx. Numbers on the northern side of my free calling area are +64-9-4xxxxxx; other sectors can similarly be identified from the first digit and the second digit generally indicates how far from the centre of town. A toll call from one of the northern adjacent calling areas costs more to the southern & eastern suburbs than to other parts of town. Area code "9" selects the northern part of the country. -=@@=- It was noted elsewhere that most countries are moving to uniform length numbers, partly because it also makes numbers easier for people to deal with; however this does not stop the demarcation between area code, prefix and trunk number from varying. For the mnemonic to be effective, all that is needed is that the length of all numbers in each local calling area be the same, or that some very simple rule exists to distinguish them; how they may divided up into area code, prefix or trunk isn't necessary to knowing if you have a complete number. > Tying the routing of a call to the digits in the number is the > huge failing of SxS switching systems. True, but it does lead to a hierachical numbering scheme that makes life easier for the end users, even if you aren't using SxS any more. Here in NZ we have 100% digital exchanges, and redundant network lines all over the place; however, we still have the human advantage of a hierachical numbering scheme. In simple terms, the more digits at the start of a number are the same as mine, the less the call is going to cost. [ Also true, we have yet to see portable numbers, but then we don't even have any dialtone competitors yet... By the way, are land-line numbers portable in NANP yet? ] > > Okay, you dial +49 or within Germany 0. > > Now you're on the long distance level of the German Telekom network. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This is the clue that he isn't necessarily refering to the physical transport network. Each step represents a "level" for decoding the number, rather than necessarily an actual switch, although it may have done originally. >> You dial selects >> - <6> South western Germany. >> - 6<2> The Ludwigshafen/Mannheim area. >> - 62<1> The cities of Ludwigshafen and Mannheim themselves. >> - 621 <5> Ludwigshafen. >> - 621 5<8> The particular part of Ludwigshafen I live in. >> - 621 58<70460> That's my line. My phone is ringing! >> (Actually, the final 0 helps selecting a particular >> device on my ISDN line.) >> Easy, isn't it? > Easy yes -- but a disaster for planning and orderly growth. This sort > of design ensures that Germany will not have portable numbers for a > long time. Whilst this may make portable numbers a little more difficult, they are by no means impossible. On the other hand it seems that "planning and orderly growth" are in fact quite WELL catered for - the upgrade path can be made visible well in advance (possibly decades, but of course it's still possible for politics to hide this information). None of this messing round only getting told 1 year before which new area code you're going to get because which one will depend on how many other areas are in the queue ahead of yours, and on who complains loudest so they don't have to change. Two points: (A) considering Germany (or elsewhere). Once it is decided that local dialtone is considered a commodity service, then it should be detached from the numbering plan, and a separate (singular) entity should provide the core lookup services. I don't think there is anything that stops this working with compelled signalling? (B) considering NANP. What you say makes sense in terms of large and growing cities, but there's more to life than big cities. As I understand it, the reason that NANP needed to switch to NXX area codes was not because it had run out of numbers, but because it had run out of prefixes. If there hadn't been the rigidity that prefixes and area codes be exactly three digits, maybe this would have been alleviated. With the price of connectivity coming down, it is not unreasonable to consider that proxy lookup services would be at least a reasonable, if not better approach, than making each switch do its own database lookup? Indeed, isn't this how 800 number lookup already works? The local switch sees "1800" and then knows "collect 7 more digits and refer them to Bellcore" (or whoever). THEN a decision on routing the CALL is made. If compelled signalling were used, then the reply from Bellcore could come back "collect another four digits and refer to agency XXX for the next routing query". -=@@=- There is an assumption that changing phone numbers is an expensive exercise; well, I'm not trying to say that it's completely painless, but if *all* the numbers in an area change by adding a uniform prefix in front, it's far less expensive than when some numbers change and others don't. Furthermore it is relatively fair, since nobody gets to lobby that they should stay the same while everyone else has to change area codes. This makes it more a matter of public education than a cost to be borne individually. > Okay -- you are in Germany and you start to dial +1 40 ... > Now with your scheme, the local switch would have to pick up a trunk to > somewhere -- to where ? It isn't even known what country you are calling > yet! You note that up to six leading digits may need to be analysed to get a route *for the connected call* to a normal line, and even more may be required in other cases. However I don't think Herr Weisgerber claimed that you had to take the digits one at a time when choosing the next node -- it just you have the option of doing it that way since the numbers are well structured. ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Forbidden? Exchange Prefixes? From: kd4cim@vulcan.com (Jerry Pruett - KD4CIM) Date: Mon, 25 Sep 95 17:34:33 -0500 Organization: Vulcan - Live Long and Prosper! awluck@interramp.com (Andrew Luck) writes: > Now I am back in the south (Atlanta GA area code 770) and really would > like to get that number back. But my younger sister (the cynic) says > that in this part of the country there are "rules" against using > certain numbers, such as 666. Then you need to move to Marrietta - it has 770-666, also Mobile, AL 334-666, Lakeland, FL 941-666. > How about 777 (three's a charm?) 334-777 Deer Park, AL, 407-777 Indian Harbor, FL, 305-777 Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 404-777 Atlanta > Or 888 (Dead man's Hand ?) 404-888 Atlanta 404-222, 404-999 are also in Atlanta; 770-333 is in Smyrna, GA; 404/770-444 and 555 are not in use in GA, but there is a 205-444 in Birmingham, AL. (my office for example) 111 and 555 appear to be the only ones that are off limits - I guess 111 would confuse the switches too much and 555 is reserved for TV shows and Directory Assistance ;-) Note that NNXs (or is it NXX now) for 404 and 770 cannot be duplicated as the permissive dialing period hasn't expired for the 404/770 NPA split. Information obtained from the FCC #4 Tariffs issued by NECA. ------------------------------ From: jfh@acm.org (Jack Hamilton) Subject: Re: Forbidden? Exchange Prefixes? Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 19:22:09 GMT Organization: CRL Dialup Internet Access The TELECOM Digest Editor wrote: > In the past here in the Digest, we have had articles about places in the > USA and Canada where 666 is used, as in AC-666-xxxx. In a few cases, which > should make everyone feel good, it turned out to be some federal government > agency. I think in one case it was the Internal Revenue Service. Here in > Chicago, 312-MONroe has been around simply forever. It is one of the oldest > exchanges in the city, and a phone district is named for it. PAT] In San Francisco, the 666 prefix belongs to the University of San Francisco, a Catholic college (Jesuit, I think). No doubt some heathen at Pacific Bell assigned it to them; I'd be surprised if they requested it, but who knows? Maybe they wanted to prove some point. Jack Hamilton jfh@acm.org Sacramento, California, USA kd6ttl@n0ary PGP Key fingerprint: B90D02076A05ADAF 12C1ECF47C4A39E1 1992 BMW K75RTA co-moderator, sci.med.aids ------------------------------ From: Ed Ellers Subject: Re: Cordless Phone Range Extenders Date: Mon, 25 Sep 95 22:38:08 -0500 Organization: Delphi (info@delphi.com email, 800-695-4005 voice) Jeffrey C Honig writes: > I just received my "Phone Central" catalog (800/437-2160 if you want > to order one). In it I see "Cordless Phone Range Extenders" made by > Valor. They are nothing more than antennas and coax that attach to > the antenna on a 900MHz or 46/49MHz cordless phone base unit to extend > the range. One little problem -- those things are barred by FCC rules, which state not only that cordless telephones' antennas must be no larger than a certain size but that they must be *permanently attached* to the unit, precisely to prevent the antenna from being placed on a rooftop (where it would cause more interference to other users). The reason so many 49 MHz base antennas are available is that they were legal for the older type of cordless phone that used a much lower frequency (around 1600-1700 kHz!) for the base-to-handset link; the outdoor antennas only worked for receiving on those, and were therefore legal. ------------------------------ From: srdawson@interlog.com (Scott Robert Dawson) Subject: Re: Interchangable NPA / Official Test Numbers Date: Tue, 26 Sep 1995 02:38:12 GMT Organization: InterLog Internet Services Michael Fumich <0003311835@mcimail.com> wrote: > The following are the official test numbers for the new NPA's > coming online: > 213 / 562 CA (562) 317-0317 9-2-95 I tried all of the numbers listed, dated as being active, and they all worked... _except_ (562) 317-0317. That one yielded a 'Your call cannot be completed as dialed' message, which did not sound like the Bell Canada message. Maybe that one doesn't work from 905? TTFN, Scott ------------------------------ From: cpoole@magg.net (Chuck Poole) Subject: Re: Need DID Access in NY - NYTel Unresponsive! Date: 25 Sep 1995 22:45:14 GMT Organization: Voiceware Systems, Inc. dreuben@interpage.net (Doug Reuben) writes: > We've recently come to the conclusion that DID *may* be better than > adding new phone lines all the time ...:) > With that in mind, I called down to the local New York Telephone business > center in New York City to inquire about rates, how it would be set up, > transition to DID, etc, ie, basic information. Most sales reps don't understand DID much less the way it is propagated. Furthermore, they don't really know anything technical about the equipment (PBX / Hybrids). Usually, they refer such matters to a Technical Service Rep. This person works with a number of sales reps and answers their questions. This is the most probable reason for doing business this way (asking for a fax). The other problem the LEC is faced with is the fact that you can get DID service just as easily from Teleport, and it's probably cheaper. So therefore, they have cut back on Technical Service reps (and everyone else) because their cost of doing business is relatively high. They know the writing is on the wall ... but they sure are having trouble adjusting to the non-monolopy way of doing business. Chuck Poole Voiceware Systems, Inc West Palm Beach, FL ------------------------------ From: Mark J. Cuccia Subject: Re: Canadian Calling Cards in US Date: 26 Sep 1995 03:21:52 GMT Organization: Tulane University Ian Angus wrote: > Several weeks ago, TELECOM DIGEST carried several letters relating to > the use of Canadian telco calling cards in the US. The original writer > asserted that AT&T was refusing to validate Canadian cards, presumably > because Canada's major telcos are allied with MCI. > This surprised many people, including me, because our Canadian > calling cards have always worked in the US in the past. In fact, > after the original letter appeared, I used my Bell Canada card without > trouble in Georgia and Florida. > I have finally tracked down the source of the original writer's conclusion. > On September 1, Canada Direct became available from the United States. > Callers dial 1-800-555-1111 to use the service. Using Canada Direct's 1-800-555-1111 will help Canadians travelling in the US to avoid many of the problems of COCOTS (private payphones) and their AOSlime operator 'services', if those AOSlimes 'accept' Canadian issued calling cards. But since many of these AOSlimers might not have billing agreements with the local Canadian telcos, they probably don't 'accept' valid Canadian cards. And, what do they mean by 'Canadian Rates' for using Canada Direct? Is it a 'generic' rate from 'anywhere' in the (continental) US? Or is it a Canadian tarriffed rate billed from the originating US NPA-NXX to the destination Canadian NPA-NXX? From what I've seen by researching the toll rates pages in Canadian telephone directories, Canadian rates to the US seem to be *higher* than US rates to Canada. Rates from the US to Canada are also much higher than comparable distance rates within the US domestically (unless you have AT&T's "True World" plan, which I recently 'had' to get). And domestic rates *within* Canada (inter-province) have seemed to be higher than Canada to US rates of comparable distance. Intra-province rates (just like domestic US inter-state rates) are the highest! Could it be that Bell Canada (and other Stentor member telcos) want Canadians travelling in the US to use 1-800-555-1111 since it probably will cost more than using (10-XXX/101-XXXX+)0+the ten digit Canadian number? BTW, I dialed 1-800-555-1111. It only allows you to enter *CANADIAN* destination ten-digit numbers. It rejected any attempts of (continental) US numbers. I don't know if this may change in the future, but I didn't even try to enter a Canadian number, followed by my AT&T and SCBell card numbers, since they would most likely be rejected. MARK J. CUCCIA PHONE/WRITE/WIRE: HOME: (USA) Tel: CHestnut 1-2497 WORK: mcuccia@law.tulane.edu |4710 Wright Road| (+1-504-241-2497) Tel:UNiversity 5-5954(+1-504-865-5954)|New Orleans 28 |fwds on no-answr to Fax:UNiversity 5-5917(+1-504-865-5917)|Louisiana(70128)|cellular/voicemail ------------------------------ From: ganek@apollo.hp.com (Daniel Ganek) Subject: Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives Date: Tue, 26 Sep 1995 13:49:07 GMT Organization: Hewlett-Packard Corporation, Chelmsford, MA In article rlm@netcom.com (Robert McMillin) writes: > On 18 Sep 1995 01:44:24 PDT, DYost@Taurus.Apple.com (Dave Yost) said: >> Our telephone systems should be straightforward enough that any child >> capable of remembering their phone number can be taught how to pick up >> any phone and dial their home phone number or 911. > Mr. Yost goes on to suggest that "We should work toward a standard > that would allow a child to dial simply 1 + area code + number from > any phone ... and get connected to their home." I presume for the > moment that Mr. Yost is a concerned parent, or certainly, is looking > out for the best interests of some child or children, somewhere. The > problem I have with this proposal is simply that it takes a > Procrustean approach to child safety, regardless of its effects on > adults. > By this approach, we should make the world completely and utterly safe > for four-year-olds. This is the rallying cry currently used as a > justification for censoring adults on the Internet. Adults use cars, > airplanes, lathes, pornography, and slaughterhouses, all of which are > patently unsafe (or at least, unwise) for four-year-old operation. > Not everything can -- or should -- be made child-safe. Mr. McMillin is missing the point. We don't propose that 11-digit dialing be REQUIRED in order to make a phone call. We are simply stating that it is be ALLOWED. I certainly don't want to dial a lot a digits when it's not necessary -- but even this 51 year old has been in many situations where I'm not sure whether I should use 7, 10 or 11 digits. My 4 year old is just learning to dial now I and it would be VERY simple if I could tell him to dial 1-508-nnn-xxxx. Just yesterday a cell phone user was compaining that he couldn't program his phone to use 11 digits because some areas don't allow it for local calls. I live is one of those brain-damaged states that say that 1+ is a toll call -- of course with all the dialing plans available that's only true for ONE plan and that's not even the cheapest! dan ------------------------------ From: mcguffin@ll.mit.edu (Bruce McGuffin) Subject: Re: Need Help To Deal With "Slamming" Date: Tue, 26 Sep 95 10:16:54 -0400 Organization: MIT Lincoln Laboratory KBC6891 (KC6891@megaweb.com) wrote: > A friend of mine in Mass was ripped off by some small long distance > company by illegal connection without consent. That person has had > some deep discount package to call with MCI so he/she called abroad > alot unknowing that the line had been slammed to some other company. > That result to a very, very big LD bills with some outrageous charges. Slamming is illegal. There are various tricks that these companies use to get you to agree to be switched over without realizing it, but most do not hold up in court. Both the FCC and the Massachussetts Attorney General have recently developed an interest in slamming, after basically ignoring the problem for years. Your friend probably does not need to sue in civil court. Tell your friend to: 1) call the attorney general and the FCC to complain; 2) call the local phone company, tell them he/she was slammed, and does not intend to pay the outrageous LD charges, and 3) call the old long distance carrier, tell them he/she was slammed and wants to return to their old service right away. With any luck at all, that should take care of the problem. Bruce McGuffin ------------------------------ From: Paul O'Nolan Subject: Re: Voice Compression on T1s Organization: NLnet Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 22:14:00 GMT In article , writes: > I would like to hear from anyone with experience using voice > compression techniques in T1 muxes. I need as much of the bandwidth of > my T1s as possible for data, but had to cost-justify the T1s by > including reductions in voice telco expenses. I will probably be using > Newbridge muxes (3600 & 3624), which seem to support a voice-path at > as low as 8kbps. Although it leaves more for data, I'm concerned about > degraded quality. Of 8, 16 or 32kbps, I'm sure 32 is the least > objectionable for the telemarketing people who will be on the phones, > but what kind of quality might I expect? Are there other mux vendors > who provide better quality at low bandwidths? Mark, I'm using a MICOM with 12kpbs (9.6 was noticeably poor) voice channels. Newbridge was on the shortlist, as was Netrix. There are trade offs between quality of voice compression and adaptive reallocation of bandwidth. Good luck. ------------------------------ From: g9gwaigh@cdf.toronto.edu (Geoffrey P Waigh) Subject: Re: FCC Rules Against Carrier Kickbacks to ESPs Organization: University of Toronto Computing Disciplines Facility Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 18:17:31 GMT Tony Harminc writes: > It seems implausible that the FCC would attempt to tell US carriers > that they may not connect to certain numbers outside the US based > either on the content of certain calls or on the (presumably confidential) > billing arrangements between the non-US carriers and their subscribers. Err, why? The US has a rich history of trying to regulate activities in foreign countries. In particular, not too long ago, one of the US government agencies forced American telco's to block calls to Canadian service providers that permitted people in America to call Cuba. I don't remember how it was resolved, but I think the service providers just shut down rather get into a prolonged battle. So long as the telco's moved quickly to block access to "inappropriate" destinations nodes on the PSTN as they are discovered, I would think that most of the Christian Fundamentalists would tolerate the situation. Geoffrey Waigh Fault-tolerant means you need to drop g9gwaigh@cdf.utoronto.ca two screwdrivers in the power cabinet. ------------------------------ From: pturner@netcom.com (Patton M Turner) Subject: Re: Pros and Cons About Making One Channel of T1 Data Line Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest) Date: Tue, 26 Sep 1995 13:35:31 GMT Lou DeFonzo writes: > rolland@mcs.com (Rolland Suh) wrote: >> We are thinking about getting 56KB dedicated line to the Internet. We >> already have a T1 voice line, and wondering if it would be cost >> effective for us to use one of the channels of existing T1, over >> getting a new dediccated line. Any idea on this? > Assuming that you are not using all 24 DS0s, this would be an > excellent way of gaining internet access. However, this will depend on > who your carrier is for the T1 and who you are planning to use for > your Internet Access Provider. This will require that your CSU is > capable of providing Drop and Insert capability and that it can > support a DSU. Basically a DSU/CSU with Drop and Insert capability. It depends on a number of things: Do you have the space on the T1? If the T1 is going to the IXC and the 56 is an inter LATA circuit, you will save even more. If the T1 terminates on the LECs switch you will save less. As the above poster said you will need a CSU/DSU capabile of doing drop and insert or a D/I channel bank added after the CSU. This assumes you don't already use a channel bank in which case you can drop in a OCUDP or DSUDP card. Patton Turner KB4GRZ FAA Telecommunications pturner@netcom.com ------------------------------ From: emmanuel@2600.com (Emmanuel Goldstein) Subject: Re: Listen to Me on the Radio This Weekend Date: 26 Sep 1995 08:59:01 GMT Organization: 2600 Magazine - The Hacker Quarterly TELECOM Digest (Patrick Townson) (telecom@delta.eecs.nwu.edu) wrote: > Fred Goldstein and myself will be guests on the Spectrum show Saturday > night. We both hope you will be able to listen and call in with any > questions you might have. > Emmanuel Goldstein has been the host of this popular program since > its inception a few years ago. The topic for the show this week is > the recent breakup of AT&T into various separate and distinct parts. No, the popular show I've been host of for several years is "Off The Hook" which airs on WBAI 99.5 FM in New York Wednesdays at 10 pm (moving to Tuesdays at 8 pm starting 10/3). I've gotten a lot of mail from people wanting to know about this "other" show I'm doing. I've gotten a bit curious myself. emmanuel@2600.com [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Ooops! That was my error, sorry. The show I was on Saturday night with Fred Goldstein was Spectrum, not your show. It was an interesting program, and my thanks to those of you who listened or called in with comments. PAT] ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V15 #408 ****************************** Received: from delta.eecs.nwu.edu by MINTAKA.LCS.MIT.EDU id aa24301; 27 Sep 95 3:32 EDT Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id RAA10966 for telecomlist-outbound; Tue, 26 Sep 1995 17:40:33 -0500 Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id RAA10958; Tue, 26 Sep 1995 17:40:31 -0500 Date: Tue, 26 Sep 1995 17:40:31 -0500 From: TELECOM Digest (Patrick Townson) Message-Id: <199509262240.RAA10958@delta.eecs.nwu.edu> To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Subject: TELECOM Digest V15 #409 TELECOM Digest Tue, 26 Sep 95 17:40:00 CDT Volume 15 : Issue 409 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Re: Cell One/NY Fraud Control Problems, More (Jeffrey Rhodes) Re: IS95 Standard (Sona Kapadia) Re: FBI Arrests America Online Users (Ron Bean) Re: FBI Arrests America Online Users (dunscomb@aol.com) Re: Hi-Speed via POTS (Dave Harrison) Re: Area Code Split Dates (Robert McMillin) Re: Help Needed Increasing UTP Segments (John N. Dreystadt) Re: Dialing 911 Instead of Police's 7D Number (Gordon Burditt) Re: Voice Compression on T1s (Gerald Mori) Re: Variable Length Phone Numbers (Dik Winter) Re: War On Payphones (Nude Maid Service) (Ron Bean) TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of public service systems and networks including Compuserve and America On Line. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Subscriptions are available to qualified organizations and individual readers. Write and tell us how you qualify: * telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu * The Digest is edited, published and compilation-copyrighted by Patrick Townson of Skokie, Illinois USA. You can reach us by postal mail, fax or phone at: 9457-D Niles Center Road Skokie, IL USA 60076 Phone: 500-677-1616 Fax: 708-329-0572 ** Article submission address only: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu ** Our archives are located at lcs.mit.edu and are available by using anonymous ftp. The archives can also be accessed using our email information service. For a copy of a helpful file explaining how to use the information service, just ask. ************************************************************************* * TELECOM Digest is partially funded by a grant from the * * International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland * * under the aegis of its Telecom Information Exchange Services (TIES) * * project. Views expressed herein should not be construed as represent-* * ing views of the ITU. * ************************************************************************* In addition, TELECOM Digest receives a grant from Microsoft to assist with publication expenses. Editorial content in the Digest is totally independent, and does not necessarily represent the views of Microsoft. ------------------------------------------------------------ Finally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such as yourself who provide funding in amounts deemed appropriate. Your help is important and appreciated. A suggested donation of twenty dollars per year per reader is considered appropriate. See our address above. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: jcr@creator.nwest.attws.com (Jeffrey Rhodes) Subject: Re: Cell One/NY Fraud Control Problems, More Date: 26 Sep 1995 19:38:03 GMT Organization: AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. Reply-To: jcr@creator.nwest.attws.com In article 1@eecs.nwu.edu, dreuben@interpage.net (Doug Reuben) writes: > Recently, Cell One/NY (00025) announced mandatory use of the *560/*56 > Fraud Protection Feature. Deleted: an excellent discription of the FPF feature and excellent feedback. > 2. Cell One/NY recently, and quite foolishly, commenced mandatory 1+ > dialing for most calls, even in many cases for calls within their own > service area. This has been explained to me as a "requirement" since AT&T > now owns them, but unless this "requirement" is specific to AT&T-owned > properties under the MFJ, I am not aware of any such MFJ, DOJ or other > requirement on the Bell-owned carriers. Indeed, most of them do NOT > require 1+ dialing in their markets, ever for roamers. The 1+ requirement is a result of McCaw's conversion to Equal Access which is required by the 1994 Consent Decree between the DoJ and AT&T. Now that Cell One/NY has been converted to Equal Access, 60% of all McCaw/Cellular One markets are converted, which means the company has the right to call itself AT&T Wireless (which has greater brand name recognition than McCaw Cellular). Basically, 1+ ten digits implies that the call will be charged regular airtime plus maybe something else. Seven or ten digits can imply no extra charge. Depending on the cell of origin and the destination digits dialed, a toll charge is either paid to the mobile subscriber's Preferred Interexchange Carrier (PIC) or the toll is paid to ATTWS who is able to route calls on their own facilities within a Local Calling Service (LCSA). LCSAs are similar to LATAs under the MFJ. ATTWS is able to route 1+ calls to ATT Commericial Long Lines when the mobile's IS41 PIC is not locally supported or because the PIC is not known, eg. not delivered by IS41 or is delivered blank. You also noticed that roamers need to dial 1+tendigits even when the tendigits destination is not charged toll. I guess the "roaming" airtime surcharge is the implied "toll" in this case. > My cellphone is programmed with mainly 10-digit numbers. In some markets, > 10-digit dialing is REQUIRED, and 11 digit will fail. I really don't want > to have TWO sets of numbers in memory, one for CO/NY, the rest for eslewhere. I like the way my Ericsson TDMA cellphone handles this. I can program local seven digit numbers and preprogram 1206 to be prepended to any stored seven digit numbers when the Roaming Lamp is lit on the cellphone. For the case you mentioned I could change 1206 to 206, but my eleven digit entries would be useless. A market that supports ten digit toll dialing and does not support 1+ten digit toll dialing must not be required to meet Equal Access obligations. > What happens? When a caller calls your CO/NY number that has been > forwarded, they get a recording "Your call can not be completed as > dialed". You need to dial "*71-1-AC+#" from roaming markets as well to > forward your calls properly. Another pain in the neck with is IMHO > unecessary, and will lead to customer confusion. There are so few > customers who use their features currently, in part because of the > complications involved in roaming and previous frustrating experiences; > this new problem makes it even less likely that they will ever want to > use their features. You're preaching to the choir. This problem can be minimised by requiring *71+ eleven and rejecting any *71+ < eleven attempts. Personally, I promote *711 + ten, *71 + ten and *71 + seven as acceptable. When a mobile dials *71 + seven, they mean MIN's NPA + seven=ten, so when it comes time to route a forwarded call, they mean 1+ MINNPA + seven=eleven. I also like the feature *71- to reestablish call forwarding to the last established call forward to destination without having to resend the destination. These dialing features are non-uniform. The Equal Access conversion process has spurned an internal drive for Standard Customer dialing translations at all ATTWS switch. > 4. CO/NY customers who forwarded their calls in CT (in the Metro Mobile > system, not in CO/NY's "country" system in Litchfield, CT, which they got > after the local system failed to attract customers. Of course, they were > charging 60 cents per minute for HOME customers in an area of CT populated > mainly by cows...) were NOT able to unforward them, even though Metro > Mobile reported the confirmation tones upon the roamer's request to > unforward the call. This led the customer to think that he/she could > receive calls, when in fact, they were still being forwarded. I hate it when that happens. Personally, I always call my number after confirmation tone, to make sure what I think happens, really has happened. IS41 has some holes to fill. Jeffrey Rhodes at jcr@creator.nwest.attws.com ------------------------------ From: Sona Kapadia Subject: Re: IS95 Standard Date: 26 Sep 1995 19:59:00 GMT Organization: Nokia Group maverick@kom.auc.dk (Hans Peter Oestergaard) wrote: > I am currently writing my Masters thesis on Interference Cancellation > for a DS-CDMA system and therefore need some information to simulate a > real-world realistic system. > Is there anybody who could tell me if Qualcomm's proposed standard > (IS95) are available anywhere on the net or somewhere else where it > could be ordered and delivered fast. None of the libraries around here > (In Denmark) seems to be able to get it and the ftp cite at Qualcomm > doesn't include the main chapters with specific details. IS-95 is published by TIA (Telecommunications Industry Association). Their address and number to call for ordering standards, as listed in my copy of IS-95 is as follows: Telecommunications Industry Association Standards and Technology Department 2500 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, VA 22201 Global Engineering Documents, USA and Canada: 1-800-854-7179 International: 303-397-7956 Sona ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 26 Sep 95 19:04 CDT From: madnix.uucp!zaphod@nicmad.nicolet.com (Ron Bean) Subject: Re: FBI Arrests America Online Users clifto@indep1.chi.il.us (Clifton T. Sharp) writes: > In article PAT writes: >> New users would often complain, "well I don't know >> who this person (the sysop) is; I am not going to give out my name, >> phone number and address to a stranger", and my answer always was, but PAT, I didn't mind giving my address and phone number, but some sysops had a whole laundry list of questions they wanted you to answer -- how old are you, what do you do for a living, what brand of CPU do you have (I always answered "NEC V20", taking the position that "CPU" means the microprocessor chip and not the whole motherboard). I could never figure out what they thought they were going to do with all that other information -- I think some of them were just on a power trip. Interestingly, I only had *one* sysop call to verify my identity. That one was a UUCP site. Once I got access to usenet, I pretty much gave up on BBS's. BTW, back then quite a few sysops still wrote their own software, sometimes on obscure machines (some even ran in interpreted BASIC, with a few key routines in assembler). MSDOS clones were still relatively expensive, and most BBS's had no hard disks (they only lasted about 8000 hours, which is about a year in continuous use). About the time clones with hard disks started getting cheaper, shareware BBS packages were starting to became available, and a lot of non-techies were becoming sysops. This changed the character of the BBS world quite a bit. madnix!zaphod@nicmad.nicolet.com (Ron Bean) [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I know what you are saying is true. The age and occupation questions made sense occassionally when the sysop was trying to run a serious social issues discussion type board (these were the forerunners of let's say, one of the Usenet groups today dealing with social issues.) I had a user profile section on one of my BBSs which users who had contributed to were entitled to review, and because I had such a wide age span (a couple of guys in their fifties -- older than me at the time by far; a couple of younger guys about fifteen and every age in between) it often times helped place their messages in the proper context by having an idea of *who* was writing them. I always left that stuff as optional; all I demanded was some recourse to the user in the event of hassles. Also, for those guys running a so-called 'adult board' or with an 'adult' section, age was critical to insure they were not inadvertently providing the younger 'under-age' guys with stuff that could get the sysop in trouble. I never did run adult stuff so that was not a concern to me. And yes, some of the sysops indeed were on a power trip; they exercised considerable authority over their boards, and yet when inappropriate got posted, they were the first ones to cry and whine about how 'I cannot be held responsible for stuff posted here.' PAT] ------------------------------ From: dunscomb@aol.com (Dunscomb) Subject: Re: FBI Arrests America Online Users Date: 26 Sep 1995 09:06:22 -0400 Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Pat, you're getting "humongous" junk mail on AOL? Must be that your celebrity status makes you a magnet for the stuff. Or maybe you're just unlucky. I get and send a lot of e-mail on AOL, all of it personal and desired, and I see no junk or spam except for a once-a-month "newsletter" that I never read. But then, I'm a dull man. Or, maybe I'm just lucky. Since CIS charges for Internet mail, and AOL doesn't, for me it's the least expensive service around. (Cheap enough to make me put up with the kiddycar mail facilities, even. Maybe with AOL 3.0 they'll get mail facilities as good as those on CIS. Or, maybe 5.0, or 8 ...) ------------------------------ From: west@via.net (Dave Harrison) Subject: Re: Hi-Speed via POTS Date: 26 Sep 1995 04:59:28 GMT Organization: American Tripe Producers Council Robert Ricketts (rkr@pel.com) wrote: > Greetings. I'm looking for a couple of boxes that does the following: > A B C D E (see below) > | | | | | | I think Telebit makes a device to combine multiple dial ups to a single higher speed. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 26 Sep 1995 01:24:44 -0700 From: rlm@netcom.com (Robert McMillin) Subject: Re: Area Code Split Dates On 21 Sep 1995 07:34:13 PDT, lincmad@netcom.com (Linc Madison) said: > The splits are listed in order by the date of the END of permissive > dialing. > NEW OLD START FINAL ST Place/Comment > -- --- ----- ----- --------------------------------------------- > 562 310 02/01/97 08/01/97 CA Los Angeles area; details not finalized Interesting. According to a recent article in the Marina Del Rey {Argonaut}, the cutover is scheduled to start around 06/96, with permissive dialing ending early in 1997 -- a very aggressive schedule. Also, this list doesn't cover the alleged split of the 818 area code into 818 and 626 (?) along geographic lines, with San Fernando Valley cities (Burbank, Pasadena, Studio City, Van Nuys, etc.) retaining the 818 area code, and San Gabriel Valley cities (Azusa, the Covinas, etc.) adopting the new 626 NPA. I heard about this (if I recall, it was a mailing in my Pac*Bell bill) several months back, but have heard nothing since. Am I hallucinating? Trivia question for fellow Angelenos: within the city limits of Los Angeles, how many area codes are there? How many within the County of Los Angeles? ------------------------------ From: johnd@mail.ic.net (John N. Dreystadt) Subject: Re: Help Needed Increasing UTP Segments Date: 23 Sep 1995 15:07:06 GMT Organization: ICNET... Your Link To The Internet... +1.313.998.0090 Reply-To: johnd@mail.ic.net In article , gettings@econnect.net says: > The maximum length of an ethernet UTP segment is said to be 300 feet or 100 > meters. Does anyone know of a low cost repeater or amplifier to allow more > than this length between the hub and the workstation? Check out the FAQ for comp.dcom.cabling or comp.dcom.ethernet. There are several methods for extending the length, but they are going to depend on the configuration of the rest of your network. You have to worry about speed of light delays within a single collision domain so if the rest of your network is large enough, you will have to use a router. More likely, you can just stick another hub halfway between. Another option would be to use 10Base-2 (thinwire) between the hub you need to reach and the workstation as 10Base-2 has about twice the distance. Many hubs have a single 10Base-2 connector on the back. John Dreystadt ------------------------------ From: gordon@sneaky.lonestar.org (Gordon Burditt) Subject: Re: Dialing 911 Instead of Police's 7D Number Slowed Things Down Organization: Gordon Burditt Date: Tue, 26 Sep 1995 04:16:49 GMT > We are to blame for this though, in most cases we do not > take the time to educate the citizens that 9-1-1 is for life > threatening emergencies *ONLY*. Please educate the *POLICE* that 9-1-1 is for life threatening emergencies ONLY. A few years ago I was the victim of a hit-and-run rear-ender accident. I was stopped, waiting to turn left, waiting for oncoming traffic to clear. The police showed up quickly (I did not have to call them; apparently there was a cruiser half a block away.) I had a banged-up arm but nothing that needed medical attention. The car seat back broke. The car was totalled, although it wouldn't have taken much damage (e.g. dirty windshield or empty gas tank) to total this junker car. The police officer told me I'd need a copy of the accident report for insurance and to call 911 in a few days. I ended up asking for a repeat three times because I didn't believe I was hearing correctly. Several days later I called the normal police number. I was told to call 911 for the accident report. I refused. After about five calls I threatened to sue (I was bluffing) using the name of a local lawyer a friend had mentioned once, and reminded the officer that he had the right to remain silent. Finally I got my accident report (well, they sent it direct to the insurance company). They never did catch the guy. But a few months later they added a center-turn-lane to the site of the accident. Gordon L. Burditt sneaky.lerctr.org!gordon ------------------------------ From: gmori@idirect.com (Gerald Mori) Subject: Re: Voice Compression on T1s Organization: ComputerLink Internet Direct. Date: 26 Sep 95 06:54:11 GMT Jim McGrath (Jim_McGrath@gw.pps.com) wrote: > I would like to hear from anyone with experience using voice > compression techniques in T1 muxes. I need as much of the bandwidth of > my T1s as possible for data, but had to cost-justify the T1s by > including reductions in voice telco expenses. I will probably be using > Newbridge muxes (3600 & 3624), which seem to support a voice-path at > as low as 8kbps. Although it leaves more for data, I'm concerned about > degraded quality. Of 8, 16 or 32kbps, I'm sure 32 is the least > objectionable for the telemarketing people who will be on the phones, > but what kind of quality might I expect? Are there other mux vendors > who provide better quality at low bandwidths? The company I used to work for was heavy into Newbridge muxes for both voice and data. I've heard voice calls at 32k and 16k and they were intelligible with 32k obviously better sounding than the 16k. I think 16k is the absolutr minimum you'd want to run at. Although I haven't tried 8k myself I spoke to one of the techs who tested a voice call at 8k and he said it was OK in that you could understand the person on the other end but the total lack of sound quality it was somewhat irritating to deal with, whatever that means. :-) When we first installed a bunch of 3600s engineering thought it would be a good idea to put all our voice customers on 32k channels in order to save money (or make more). Of course, a lot of customers were using their voice channels for data as well and that pretty much put an end to that plan. Jerry Internet Direct Have you heard about our (416)233-2999, 359 lines our Do-It-Yourself Webserver? T1 bandwidth, 300-28,800 bps http://web.idirect.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 26 Sep 1995 01:34:50 GMT From: Dik.Winter@cwi.nl Subject: Re: Variable Length Phone Numbers > One point remains to be covered, however: >> What is a phone number? For the most part, a phone number is a *route* >> through the network. > This is absolutely not true in North America. Nor is it true in the Netherlands. But we manage variable length phone numbers very well. When somebody dials 06 (the start of the free and premium numbers, as well as the equivalent of 911 in the US plus all cellular phones), a connection is made with the central switch for such numbers in Rotterdam. No trunk, only a signalling channel. Based on what follows said switch will tell the asking switch to routine it either to some particular switch (which may be the switch itself if the number translates to a local connection) or to signal that the number is not in use. Moreover, because there is a hierarchical structure amongst switches some things have to go up and down to/from parent/child switches. For instance, I dial 0611 (emergency number). 06 goes to Rotterdam which expects more digits and when it sees the second 1 it decides that the number expands to a local number and hands it back again. If I dial 0632032012 again 06 goes to Rotterdam which at some instance (after 320320) knows where the call should be routed to and signals that the remainder should go to a particular switch. But similar things work with area codes. If I was living in the place were I was born (Warffum) and I were to dial 0206372010, the switch would know at the digit two that it is not for itself and would forward it higher up (Groningen). Groningen can decide routing when the 0 is received and at that stage forward it to Amsterdam, setting up a signalling channel between Warffum and Amsterdam. And finally when the number is completed a speech channel is set up for the connection. However, if the number I dial is in Delfzijl (05960-..., area code for Warffum is 05950), Groningen might well decide on a direct link between Warffum and Delfzijl for call forwarding; bypassing all lines to Groningen (provided of course that such a link exists). dik t. winter, cwi, kruislaan 413, 1098 sj amsterdam, nederland, +31205924098 home: bovenover 215, 1025 jn amsterdam, nederland; e-mail: dik@cwi.nl ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 26 Sep 95 19:47 CDT From: madnix.uucp!zaphod@nicmad.nicolet.com (Ron Bean) Subject: Re: War On Payphones (Nude Maid Service) echack@crl.com (Edmund C. Hack) writes: > all this is coordinated via pagers and/or cell phones. In the sex > trade, if you call an "escort service" or a "nude maid service", the Are you saying that "nude maid service" is being used as a euphemism for prostitution? Too bad, I always liked the idea. The first such service I heard about was a guy who called himself the "Naked Poet Housecleaning Service". He was for real: He'd come to your house, take off his clothes, *and recite poetry while he cleaned your house* (yes, he really cleaned the house). He admitted that it was a gimmick, but he was unemployed and it worked. Nobody touched anybody. No word on whether the poetry was any good, but he didn't do windows (for obvious reasons :-). More recently other people have tried larger services, with actual employees (always female, which does make one wonder...). As far as I know, they really did clean houses, and supposedly nobody touched anybody. IMHO it lost a bit in the translation, and I don't know if they're still around. Businesses based on gimmicks tend not to last very long. Anyway, it might be worth mentioning that there are people who take things like nudism and massage seriously; it's not always a cover for something else (see alt.nude and alt.backrubs). Hmm, I think that should be rec.nude, not alt.nude. We don't get it here, so I'm going by memory. [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: There are still 'escort' and 'massage' services around. So many, in fact, that the few legitimate ones have to emphasize 'no sex' in their advertising, and even then some customers assume they only put that there to discourage the perverts without really meaning it. About 35-40 years ago, there used to be a daily radio program called 'City Court' which was broadcast live from the police misdemeanor courtroom at the police administration building downtown. It was on the air from 9:00 AM until more or less noon every weekday, depending on when the judge decided to break for lunch. It was a very popular program, with lots of listeners who had a prurient interest in the cases on trial that day, and of course the 'trials' themselves were a joke. Ninety or ninety-five percent of the judge's caseload was sex- related. There were a few spitters on the sidewalk and litterers and people who smoked on the streetcars, but by and large it was people the vice-cops had arrested the night before. In-between the occassional 'refused pay his fare to the streetcar conductor' and 'was caught shoplifting at Sears' were dozens of prostitution, indecent exposure, and 'lewd and/or disorderly conduct' cases. A very popular radio program similar to (but not nearly as sophisticated as) today's Court TV, people would listen eagerly to see if they recog- nized the names of any of the people 'on trial' that day. It included a regular cast of characters; people who were invariably the complaining witnesses, including five or six 'vice cops' from the Chicago Police Department, the house detective at the Lawson YMCA, security personnel at department stores downtown, etc. You were perfectly welcome to be in the audience if you wanted; all you had to do was show up at the eleventh floor police courtroom at the main police headquarters each morning. Of course if you were unfortunate enough to have gotten arrested the night before, you were on the show whether you liked it or not. The courtroom itself was a smelly, nasty-looking place, with a large 'bullpen' in back and a connecting door where the prisoners would come in as they were called. The radio station went on the air at 9 although they seldom started the court until ten or fifteen minutes after that when the judge arrived. As the first order of business, after the courtoom bailiff had announced there would be 'no talking, no smoking, no newspaper reading, everyone pay attention and no disrepect for the court' the bullpen door would open and anywhere from a dozen to a hundred women would form a line in the order their names were called. Most were dressed as they had been the night before when 'on duty', but badly in need by this time of a bath and clean clothes. Each 'trial' took about ten seconds as the matron would motion for them to leave tbe bullpen and approach the bench where their name would be read, and the judge would say 'guilty, punishment is time served' and bang his gavel, which was the signal for the matron to send the next one. They would sas-shay across the front of the courtroom in a beligerant manner, pausing usually to say 'thank you judge' and leave. Once this exercise was complete, which usually took 10-15 minutes, the judge would break for coffee and a cigarette, then come back about 9:30 for the next session. When court resumed, following the bailiff's warning to the audience, the 'more involved' cases began. These were cases where there was some dispute in the testimony to be given. The same two vice-cops would stand there, as case after case was heard. Like poker players, they stood there with poker faces expecting to win some and lose some; not caring either way. The cops always had the same old story, with variations: "Well judge, me and my partner were having breakfast at the drug store in the Palmer House Hotel. As we were leaving, this woman (here, a pause for the obligatory identification of the defendant) approached us and offered to perform a sex act for money." Naturally, offended by hearing such a thing they arrested her. The woman of course would explain it in a much different way. "I left the drug store and was waiting for the elevator to go upstairs to my room when these men approached me and they asked me 'how much?'. Well I just ignored them and got on the elevator but they got on with me and got off on the same floor I got off. They asked me again, 'how much do you charge?' and I just walked away but as I was going in my room, the one grabbed me and said I was arrested." The judge would listen to it all and give his verdict one way or the other. Roughly half the time he said 'innocent' and the other half the time he said 'guilty, one month court supervision, twenty dollar fine'. The defendant would say thank you, and leave with the two poker faced cops showing no emotion at all and just standing there for the next case to be called. Average time for trial was about five minutes, maybe ten. Now and again they would have a 'major case' such as an alleged house of prostitution being raided with all the employees and customers who were present at the time brought in. For some reason, those same two vice-cops found themselves in more unusual situations in which they were 'shocked and offended' in a day's time than most people find in a lifetime. By comparison, the 'refused to pay streetcar fare' people and shoplifters, who were given their trials in the third session when court resumed about 11:00 AM after the judge took another break were quite tame and boring. But City Court was a popular and widely-listened to radio program each day. A small red light on the judge's podium was used to let the judge (and others) know when they were 'on the air', and the judge, who had to run for re-election now and then would make a point of doing all his blustering and hell-raising when that light was on so everyone would hear him. Then that light would go off when the radio station took a break for a commerical message, and that is when the judge would dismiss the case or say 'guilty, with time served.' PAT] ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V15 #409 ****************************** Received: from delta.eecs.nwu.edu by MINTAKA.LCS.MIT.EDU id aa14188; 28 Sep 95 19:43 EDT Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id KAA20752 for telecomlist-outbound; Thu, 28 Sep 1995 10:33:17 -0500 Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id KAA20741; Thu, 28 Sep 1995 10:33:13 -0500 Date: Thu, 28 Sep 1995 10:33:13 -0500 From: TELECOM Digest (Patrick Townson) Message-Id: <199509281533.KAA20741@delta.eecs.nwu.edu> To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Subject: TELECOM Digest V15 #410 TELECOM Digest Thu, 28 Sep 95 10:33:00 CDT Volume 15 : Issue 410 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson 3rd Quarter NPA Report (David Esan) GlobeSpan (ISDN Speeds on POTS) (Brian McNally) Pac*Bell Lied, Do I Have Any Options? (Christopher Ambler) The Irony of the AT&T Breakup (Robert Jacobson) Traffic Measurement System For UNIX (Didier Bertrand) Help! I've Been Slammed by WilTel! (W. Craig Trader) CIS no Longer Charges For Internet Mail (Stan Schwartz) Will NA Caller ID Boxes Work in Europe? (Aldo Cook) Lots of Goofups This Week (TELECOM Digest Editor) TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of public service systems and networks including Compuserve and America On Line. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Subscriptions are available to qualified organizations and individual readers. Write and tell us how you qualify: * telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu * The Digest is edited, published and compilation-copyrighted by Patrick Townson of Skokie, Illinois USA. You can reach us by postal mail, fax or phone at: 9457-D Niles Center Road Skokie, IL USA 60076 Phone: 500-677-1616 Fax: 708-329-0572 ** Article submission address only: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu ** Our archives are located at lcs.mit.edu and are available by using anonymous ftp. The archives can also be accessed using our email information service. For a copy of a helpful file explaining how to use the information service, just ask. ************************************************************************* * TELECOM Digest is partially funded by a grant from the * * International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland * * under the aegis of its Telecom Information Exchange Services (TIES) * * project. Views expressed herein should not be construed as represent-* * ing views of the ITU. * ************************************************************************* In addition, TELECOM Digest receives a grant from Microsoft to assist with publication expenses. Editorial content in the Digest is totally independent, and does not necessarily represent the views of Microsoft. ------------------------------------------------------------ Finally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such as yourself who provide funding in amounts deemed appropriate. Your help is important and appreciated. A suggested donation of twenty dollars per year per reader is considered appropriate. See our address above. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: de@moscom.com (David Esan) Subject: 3rd Quarter NPA Report Date: 28 Sep 95 12:02:37 GMT Organization: Moscom Corporation, Pittsford NY This is my quarterly report on the number of exchanges in each NPA in the NANP. It is derived from information in FCC #10. This is article #17 in the series. I'm a little late this quarter, but it has been a busy time, so forgive me. FCC #10 is a tariff issued by BellCore that contains all the area codes, exchange combinations in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). It also contains lata information and V&H coordinate information. There is a lot of additional information that I don't use, so I won't add here. It is available through a number of sources. The one closest to the FCC is ITS, which can be contacted at 202-857-3800. My company compiles this information for use in its products and does not seem to be interested in selling this information. Queries are still flowing through the bureaucracy. I have used pages that are effective prior to August 20, 1995. I am not responsible for the information supplied in FCC #10. I have not included the following in my counts of exchanges: - NXX's that are not dialable by a standard user (ie nxx's that begin with a 1 or 0). - Mexican exchanges in the 52[1-9] series of area codes. I've got them, you can dial them with 011, but they're not really NPAs. - Exchanges that are non-dialable in the 88? series of area codes. I've got those also, but you can't dial them, so I'm not including them. Numbers that begin with 88 are nondialable stations in the US, Canada and Mexico. They are ranches in the middle of the Nevada or Texas desert, or isolated outpost of civilization (always wanted to use that phrase) in the tundra of Canada. I find place names like the Bar J Ranch, Double B Ranch, and JD Dye, Texas, Amargosa, Corncreek and Reese Valley, NV, and Chick Lake, Redknife and Taglu, NT. I gather they are ringdown stations, or radio-telephone stations. [It has been noted in c.d.t. that at least two of these numbers are for a bordello on the NV-CA border.] The fields are: ------------ rank last in April, 1995 213: 736 (1, 7) area code --^^^ ^^^ ^------- number of new exchanges |-------------- total number of exchanges 206: 778 ( 1, 0) 703: 722 ( 6, 23) 813: 707 ( 7, 17) 314: 673 (17, 20) 602: 774 ( 2, -1) 503: 720 (12, 42) 615: 703 (14, 29) 203: 670 (19, 28) 708: 765 ( 4, 12) 305: 719 ( 9, 34) 214: 700 (15, 31) 212: 657 (16, 0) 713: 740 ( 5, 13) 803: 715 ( 8, 30) 303: 690 (13, 14) 312: 648 (23, 28) 216: 728 (10, 43) 404: 712 (11, 31) 604: 679 (18, 27) 904: 646 (22, 19) 1. 206 - split is in progress. Number should be reduced by split. 2. 602 - split is in progress. Number should be reduced by split. 3. 708 - split is planned. Number should be reduced by split. 4. 713 - split is in progress. Number should be reduced by split. 5. 216 - split is planned. Number should be reduced by split. 6. 703 - split is planned. Number should be reduced by split. 7. 503 - split is in progress. Number should be reduced by split. 8. 305 - split is in progress. Number should be reduced by split. 9. 803 - split is planned. Number should be reduced by split. 10. 404 - split is in progress. Number should be reduced by split. 11. 813 - split is in progress. Number should be reduced by split. 12. 615 - split is in progress. Number should be reduced by split. 13. 214 - split is planned. Number should be reduced by split. 14. 303 - split is in progress. Number should be reduced by split. 15. 604 - split is planned. Number should be reduced by split. 16. 314 - split is planned. Number should be reduced by split. 17. 203 - split is in progress. Number should be reduced by split. 18. 312 - split is planned. Number should be reduced by split. 20. 904 - split is in progress. Number should be reduced by split. -> The NPA that is largest and is not splitting nor has plans, at this time, to split, is 212. -> The 6 smallest NPA's are: 906: 117 - Michigan's Upper Peninsula (no change) 807: 109 - Western Ontario (no change) 630: 44 - Remnants of 708 proposed split (+15) 281: 41 - Overlay of 713 (+18) 441: 18 - Bermuda 562: 3 - Test exchanges in Los Angeles -> The NPAs with the greatest growth rates are: NPA % growth 281 78.26 630 51.72 917 12.96 941 12.66 334 12.58 510 10.14 415 10.14 215 10.11 610 9.84 810 9.74 -> The 10 NPAs with the least growth rates are: NPA % growth 715 0 709 0 507 0 316 0 306 0 212 0 206 0 602 -.12 (Probably due to our correcting the our database.) 902 -.35 (Probably due to our correcting the our database.) 205 -30.29 (Deletions of 334 area code) -> There are 93 NPAs (59% of the total, and increase of 7%) that have exchanges that are in the x00 to x19 range. They are: 201 310 506 619 815 202 312 510 630 816 203 313 512 703 817 204 314 513 704 818 205 317 517 706 860 206 334 519 707 903 209 360 520 708 904 210 403 540 713 905 212 404 541 714 908 213 407 601 718 909 214 408 602 770 910 215 409 604 803 912 216 410 609 804 916 219 414 610 805 917 281 415 612 808 919 301 416 614 809 941 303 423 615 810 954 305 501 616 813 970 306 503 618 -> Just for grins: The most used NXX (not counting 555) is 456 used in 126 (80%) npas. The least used are: 311 used only in 212, and 959 used only in 808. I should note here that these are exchanges that are truly in use, not for special calling, but in general day to day use. All the NPAs and the number of nxx's in each are listed below: 206: 778 619: 620 412: 505 801: 437 505: 372 423: 324 806: 271 602: 774 501: 620 614: 499 907: 430 517: 371 808: 323 706: 270 708: 765 817: 612 601: 487 219: 429 905: 369 819: 322 709: 269 713: 740 804: 596 516: 487 408: 424 304: 369 606: 314 603: 266 216: 728 809: 594 714: 485 914: 423 770: 368 218: 314 970: 251 703: 722 414: 579 913: 482 502: 415 204: 367 360: 312 417: 236 503: 720 405: 573 215: 479 919: 414 319: 363 860: 307 707: 224 305: 719 717: 565 810: 473 512: 408 702: 362 812: 306 308: 221 803: 715 317: 556 515: 468 318: 406 909: 357 917: 305 719: 217 404: 712 816: 553 301: 466 406: 404 815: 351 903: 305 506: 211 813: 707 201: 549 416: 465 316: 404 409: 351 712: 299 307: 199 615: 703 617: 547 402: 463 912: 402 334: 349 705: 297 802: 187 214: 700 513: 541 910: 461 519: 402 540: 348 518: 297 607: 185 303: 690 210: 539 306: 459 217: 402 610: 346 315: 296 401: 169 604: 679 410: 537 716: 456 701: 391 541: 346 814: 290 302: 155 314: 673 407: 536 209: 455 805: 389 915: 345 509: 288 413: 150 203: 670 205: 536 313: 454 605: 380 208: 340 901: 287 906: 117 212: 657 916: 535 504: 449 609: 379 941: 338 309: 285 807: 109 312: 648 514: 532 908: 448 418: 374 918: 336 902: 284 630: 44 904: 646 718: 521 704: 445 419: 373 613: 334 608: 284 281: 41 403: 642 415: 521 510: 445 207: 373 715: 328 507: 284 441: 18 612: 639 818: 519 213: 443 618: 372 202: 327 954: 272 562: 3 310: 626 508: 506 616: 439 520: 372 David Esan de@moscom.com ------------------------------ From: brian mcnally Subject: GlobeSpan (ISDN Speeds on POTS) Date: 28 Sep 1995 00:24:57 GMT Organization: iActive, Inc. What is the deal with this? Has anyone else head of this? Is this for real or is this netBS? Garrick Case (813)530-8221 AT&T PARADYNE UNVEILS MODERN MODEM TECHNOLOGY, WHICH WILL OPEN THE WINDOW TO A WORLD OF MULTIMEDIA SERVICES FOR THE MASSES The new technology will send video and other multimedia offerings over the copper phone line, thus complementing other AT&T high-speed solutions for accelerated, universal access to new services. LARGO, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 21, 1995 - Modem evolution made dramatic progress today with AT&T Paradyne's introduction of digital transmission technology that operates more than 70 times faster than currently available modems and enables widespread video telephony services over a single, copper, phone line. AT&T Bell Laboratories and AT&T Paradyne have developed a new application for its GlobeSpanTM technology platform that is the first single line solution to transmit simultaneous voice and data at a range of speeds up to T1 and E1 (1.544 Mbps to 2.048 Mbps) in both directions. AT&T Paradyne describes this as SDSL (symmetric-digital- subscriber-line) technology. GlobeSpan is a current solution to provide high-speed access over existing phone lines and complements emerging fiber-based networks. Bi-directional speeds for GlobeSpan SDSL will range from 128 Kbps to E1, with initial availability set for December 1995. Potential applications using GlobeSpan-based products include distance learning, remote LAN access, work-at-home, high-speed Internet access, remote medical imaging, remote interactive game participation and interactive video services. "This technology will allow worldwide phone companies to make the information superhighway as universally accessible as today's telephone, radio and TV services," said AT&T Paradyne Director of Business Development, Clete Gardenhour. "The technology can open access to new multimedia telephone communications (MTC) services to anyone over the common telephone line. At a touch of a button, SDSL will enable anyone with a telephone line, a telephone and a computer or television to access new services, while simultaneously conducting a phone conversation on the same phone line. This is what the information age promise is all about. "It's a new communications dimension that will change the use of telephones, televisions and computers. GlobeSpan technology will enable on-line service providers to offer video programming via the computer." The GlobeSpan chipset enables one common hardware platform to support SDSL, ADSL (asymmetric-digital-subscriber-line) and HDSL (high-bit-rate, digital subscriber line) applications. The flexibility of the GlobeSpan technology to use common chip components will increase chip volumes and help drive down the costs of products and ultimately, the cost of provisioning service. GlobeSpan SDSL offers many advantages. Service providers may use SDSL for access to multiple data services, including fractional T1/E1, X.25, frame relay, Internet access and ISDN. Projected transmission distances will reach more than 17,000 feet (5.1 kilometers) at 384 Kbps, including standard telephone service on the same phone line. When phone service is offered with SDSL, it will not be disrupted by the transmission of data or video, or the loss of customer premises electrical power. Additionally, the cost of SDSL will be less than HDSL because it requires nearly one-half of the transceiver components and only one copper wire phone line. AT&T Paradyne licenses GlobeSpan technology to worldwide telephone equipment manufacturers, who include Advanced Video Access(USA), Cheng-Hwa Communication(Taiwan), Hyundai Electronic Industries Co., Ltd.(Korea), Il-Jin Telecom Electronics Co., Ltd.(Korea), IPM Datacom S.r.l.(Italy), Lucky Goldstar Information & Communications(Korea), NEC Australia Pty. Ltd.(Australia), Performance Telecom(USA), Quadraplex Incorporated(USA), Schmid Telecom(Switzerland), Westell(USA) and Westell International(USA). Based in Largo, Florida, AT&T Paradyne is a division of AT&T and a leading worldwide technology innovator for solutions that allow easy access to worldwide networks for communications and entertainment. [X] Read GlobeSpan 6M BPS ADSL Transceiver Technology Data Sheet on the Web using Adobe TM Acrobat TM [X] Read GlobeSpan E1 HDSL Transceiver Technology Data Sheet on the Web using Adobe TM Acrobat TM [X] Read GlobeSpan T1/E1 ADSL Transceiver Technology Data Sheet on the Web using Adobe TM Acrobat TM [X] Download FREE Acrobat Reader Software [X] Configure Acrobat Reader Software to read files on the Web GlobeSpan is a trademark of AT&T. ---------------------------------------- [ ] Meridian - AT&T Paradyne Products Lodestone - Industry News and Views Antares - Other Stuff Tech Info Axis - Home Visitor Feedback Form This link requires a browser that can read forms commander@pdnis.paradyne.com ------------------------------------ Check out the URL : WWW.paradyne.att.com and tell me what you think. ------------------------------ From: chris@ivanova.punk.net (Christopher Ambler) Subject: Pac*Bell Lied, Do I Have Any Options? Date: 27 Sep 1995 23:44:10 GMT Organization: Punknet Internet Cooperative, San Luis Obispo, CA We have 26 lines (residential POTS) and 1 ISDN line into our house. (For the curious, we have an internet cooperative amongst 20 people, ISDN carries internet to my house, and then 20 modems take it all over town to the members). Pac*Bell told us, when we ordered our last three lines, that we could only have one of them, and that we were then maxxed out. Their story is that we've used all the pairs up my street save for the spares to each other house (for which I've heard anywhere from one to five pairs per house). I called "Home Office" on Monday to enquire as to the cost to get two more lines. I told them that engineering had told me no more unless I pay for trenching, etc. The lady told me, "Well, there are nine pairs to your area available, and three available to your house." I found this hard to believe, but decided to test it, and ordered a line (POTS/res/meas). She assigned me a number and a date for install. Today (a day before the install date), an engineer came out and was rather rude with me, telling me that there's been a block placed on my address, such that we can have no more lines. He said we can pay upwards of $10,000 (ten thousand dollars!) to have the area rewired. But I got a firm commitment from the business office ... Do I have any recourse here? We need more lines, and this is getting very frustrating. (C) Copyright, 1995 Christopher Ambler, Director, Punknet Internet Cooperative San Luis Obispo, California Punknet: Home Page: My hovercraft is full of eels ------------------------------ From: cyberoid@u.washington.edu (Robert Jacobson) Subject: The Irony of the AT&T Breakup Date: 27 Sep 1995 09:01:29 GMT Organization: University of Washington, Seattle But for the fact that the RBOCs are now independent entities, the AT&T breakup now being undertaken by the company itself is pretty close to that originally demanded by the Justice Department before the Reagan Administration and AT&T renegotiated the Settlement. The original plan, for those who remember, would have severed AT&T's network services from its Western Electric manufacturing facilities. Antitrust lawyers look better and better with each corporate flub. Bob ------------------------------ From: dib@cct.hydro.qc.ca (Didier Bertrand) Subject: Traffic Measurement System for UNIX Reply-To: dib@cct.hydro.qc.ca Organization: Hydro-Quebec, Montreal, QC, Canada Date: Thu, 28 Sep 1995 10:30:44 -0400 I'm looking for a commercial traffic measurement system running on UNIX (Sun sparc) supporting the Northern Telecom Meridian 1 switch and that can handle up to 300 switches. Anybody have an idea? Didier Betrand, Hydro-Quebec, Quebec, Canada. dib@cct.hydro.qc.ca. ------------------------------ From: ct7@datatel.com (W. Craig Trader) Subject: Help! I've Been Slammed by WilTel! Date: Wed, 27 Sep 95 20:31:15 GMT Organization: Datatel, Inc. Help! I've been slammed by WilTel (and I can't get up). I live in Northern Virginia. I was just checking my August Bell Atlantic bill, where I noted a strange $5.00 charge for Long Distance Company, 1 line(s) for WilTel, Inc. I called Bell Atlantic and asked about it, and they assured me that the charge was legit. I replied that I had made no such change, so they've returned the charge to WilTel, and marked my account for no further changes. So I'm OK to date, but what I have questions about is: 1. What's the contact number for WilTel? 2. I'm going to see seven weeks worth of phone calls billed to WilTel. What are my rights regarding not paying them? Do I have to pay WilTel for this disservice? 3. What other steps should I take? My deepest appreciation in advance for any help that can be rendered in this time of dire need. W. Craig Trader, Programmer/Analyst, Datatel, Inc. [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: This comes up here frequently. You should pay WilTel the amount you expected to pay your regular carrier. You have to pay *something* since you did make the calls expecting (I assume!) to pay for them. Unless you can prove the change was made deliberatly in a fraudulent way, there is probably nothing more you should do. PAT] ------------------------------ From: Stan Schwartz Subject: CIS No Longer Charges For Internet Mail Date: Wed, 27 Sep 1995 21:04:51 -0400 dunscomb@aol.com (Dunscomb) wrote: > Since CIS charges for Internet mail, and AOL doesn't, for me it's the > least expensive service around. (Cheap enough to make me put up with > the kiddycar mail facilities, even. Maybe with AOL 3.0 they'll get mail = > facilities as good as those on CIS. Or, maybe 5.0, or 8 ...) Actually, CIS no longer charges for internet mail, and their basic = monthly plan is the same as AOL's. ($9.95 for the first five hours, $2.95 = each additional). A "frequent user" plan is available for $24.95 for 20 = hours and $1.95 each additional. Stan ------------------------------ From: Subject: Will NA Caller ID Boxes Work in Europe? Date: 26 Sep 1995 22:25:50 GMT Organization: Magic Online Services Toronto Inc. Hi there! I have been trying to get the answer to this but no one seems to know. Any help would be appreciated! My friend's family (in Poland) were watching a local TV program that mentioned the fact that calling line id was available in the area (Warsaw). They would like to know if the calling id boxes that we can buy here (I'm in the Toronto, Ontario, Canada area) would work if they were sent there? I thinking that they wouldn't unless the local CO was obviously offering this service to the public and the boxes were compatible standard-wise between here and Europe. Does Poland also run on 210/220 VAC electricity -- is a converter of some sort required? Also, do they use the RJ-11/12/45 standards for cabling that we do? Thanks! Aldo [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: What caller-ID boxes do you know that run on AC rather than battery? I have never heard of this. PAT] ------------------------------ From: TELECOM Digest Editor Subject: Lots of Goofups This Week Date: Thu, 28 Sep 1995 10:20:00 CDT Two major problems this week: Here in the Chicago area, a contractor cut through a MAJOR group of cables in one of the western suburbs leaving several thousand phone subscribers without service. Not for a few hours; not for the day; *but all this week*! ... Three or four west suburban communities have been totally dead since the start of this week, with Ameritech repair crews working around the clock and still not able to get it all sorted out. Apparently their outside plant records at that location were, ummm ... deficient. Day by day they have been getting customers back online, and the process has been one of going one by one through *thousands* of pairs which were not identified correctly and tracing them -- one by one -- out to the subscriber and back to the central office. Ameritech says their lawyers are looking into it. They were about ninety percent restored as of this morning and hope the work will all be complete later today. The other major screw-up involved pagers. Did yours go off this week? Apparently someone in Houston sent a signal to a satellite (?) which in turn caused several satellite receivers to shut down. Does anyone have further details on this? PAT ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V15 #410 ****************************** Received: from delta.eecs.nwu.edu by MINTAKA.LCS.MIT.EDU id aa25441; 29 Sep 95 18:39 EDT Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id JAA15395 for telecomlist-outbound; Fri, 29 Sep 1995 09:27:21 -0500 Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id JAA15387; Fri, 29 Sep 1995 09:27:19 -0500 Date: Fri, 29 Sep 1995 09:27:19 -0500 From: TELECOM Digest (Patrick Townson) Message-Id: <199509291427.JAA15387@delta.eecs.nwu.edu> To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Subject: TELECOM Digest V15 #411 TELECOM Digest Fri, 29 Sep 95 09:27:00 CDT Volume 15 : Issue 411 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson UC Berkeley Short Courses on Communications (Harvey Stern) Re: Pac*Bell Lied, Do I Have Any Options? (Richard Eyre-Eagles) Re: Pac*Bell Lied, Do I Have Any Options? (Steven Lichter) Re: Pac*Bell Lied, Do I Have Any Options? (Curtis Wheeler) Re: Pac*Bell Lied, Do I Have Any Options? (Dave Harrison) Re: Hi-Speed via POTS (Tim Williams) Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives (Toby Nixon) Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives (Steve Cogorno) TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of public service systems and networks including Compuserve and America On Line. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Subscriptions are available to qualified organizations and individual readers. Write and tell us how you qualify: * telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu * The Digest is edited, published and compilation-copyrighted by Patrick Townson of Skokie, Illinois USA. You can reach us by postal mail, fax or phone at: 9457-D Niles Center Road Skokie, IL USA 60076 Phone: 500-677-1616 Fax: 708-329-0572 ** Article submission address only: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu ** Our archives are located at lcs.mit.edu and are available by using anonymous ftp. The archives can also be accessed using our email information service. For a copy of a helpful file explaining how to use the information service, just ask. ************************************************************************* * TELECOM Digest is partially funded by a grant from the * * International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland * * under the aegis of its Telecom Information Exchange Services (TIES) * * project. Views expressed herein should not be construed as represent-* * ing views of the ITU. * ************************************************************************* In addition, TELECOM Digest receives a grant from Microsoft to assist with publication expenses. Editorial content in the Digest is totally independent, and does not necessarily represent the views of Microsoft. ------------------------------------------------------------ Finally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such as yourself who provide funding in amounts deemed appropriate. Your help is important and appreciated. A suggested donation of twenty dollars per year per reader is considered appropriate. See our address above. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: southbay@garnet.berkeley.edu Subject: UC Berkeley Short Courses on Communications Date: 28 Sep 1995 19:46:12 GMT Organization: University of California, Berkeley U.C. Berkeley Continuing Education in Engineering Announces 4 Short Courses on Broadband Communications, Wireless Networks SONET/ATM-BASED BROADBAND NETWORKS: Systems, Architectures and Designs (November 29-December1, 1995) It is widely accepted that future broadband networks will be based on the SONET (Synchronous Optical Network) standards and the ATM (Asynchronous transfer Mode) technique. This course is an in-depth examination of the fundamental concepts and the implementation issues for development of future high-speed networks. Topics include: Broadband ISDN Transfer Protocol, high speed computer/network interface (HiPPI), ATM switch architectures, ATM network congestion/flow control, VLSI designs in SONET/ATM networks. This course is intended for engineers who are currently active or anticipate future involvement in this field. Lecturer: H. Jonathan Chao, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Brooklyn Polytechnic University. Dr. Chao holds more than a dozen patents and has authored over 40 technical publications in the areas of ATM switches, high-speed computer communications, and congestion/flow control in ATM networks. MODERN TELECOMMUNICATIONS: Wide Area Networks, Personal Communication Systems, Network Management and Control, and Multimedia Applications (November 2-3, 1995) This course is designed as a gentle but comprehensive overview of telecommunications including current status and future directions. This course traces the evolution of telecommunications, starting from its voice roots and progressing through local, metropolitan, and wide area networks, narrowband ISDN, asynchronous transfer mode, broadband ISDN, satellite systems, optical communications, cellular radio, personal communication systems, all-optical networks, and multimedia services. Lecturer: Anthony S. Acampora, Ph.D., Professor, Electrical Engineering, Columbia University. He is Director, Center for Telecommunications Research. He became a professor following a 20 year career at AT&T Bell Laboratories, is an IEEE Fellow, and is a former member of the IEEE Communications Society Board of Governors. NETWORKS FOR DIGITAL WIRELESS ACCESS: Cellular, Voice, Data, Packet, and Personal Communication Systems (November 8-10, 1995) This comprehensive course is focused on the principles, technologies, system architectures, standards, and market forces driving wireless access. At the core of this course are the cellular/microcellular/ frequency reuse concepts needed to enable adequate wireless access capacity for Personal Communication Services (PCS). Presented are both the physical-level issues associated with wireless access and the network-level issues arising from the inherent mobility of the subscriber. Standards are fully treated including GSM (TDMA), IS-54 (North American TDMA), IS-95 (CDMA), CT2, DCT 900/CT3, IEEE 802.11, DCS 1800, and Iridium. Emerging concepts for wireless ATM are also developed. This course is intended for engineers who are currently active or anticipate future involvement in this field. Lecturer: Anthony S. Acampora, Ph.D., Professor, Electrical Engineering, Columbia University. He is Director, Center for Telecommunications Research. He became a professor following a 20 year career at AT&T Bell Laboratories, is an IEEE Fellow, and is a former member of the IEEE Communications Society Board of Governors. ATM DATA COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS: Internetworking, Signaling and Network Management (November 27-28, 1995) This short course examines the key issues involved in designing and implementing high-performance local and wide area networks. Topics include: technology drivers, data protocols, signaling, network management, internetworking and applications. Lecturer: William E. Stephens, Ph.D., is the Head of the Wireless and ATM Networking Group at the David Sarnoff Research Center. Prior to this he was Director, High-Speed Switching and Storage Technology Group, Applied Research, Bellcore. Dr. Stephens has over 40 publications and one patent in the field of optical communications. He has served on several technical program committees, including IEEE GLOBECOM and the IEEE Electronic Components Technology Conference, and has served as Guest Editor for the IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications. For more information (complete course descriptions, outlines, instructor bios, etc.) send your postal address or fax to: Harvey Stern or Loretta Lindley U.C. Berkeley Extension/Southbay 800 El Camino Real Ste. 150 Menlo Park, CA 94025 Tel: (415) 323-8141 Fax: (415) 323-1438 email: southbay@garnet.berkeley.edu ------------------------------ From: rec@goodnet.com (Richard Eyre-Eagles) Subject: Re: Pac*Bell Lied, Do I Have Any Options? Organization: GoodNet Date: Fri, 29 Sep 1995 03:29:57 GMT Christopher Ambler (chris@ivanova.punk.net) wrote: > But I got a firm commitment from the business office ... > Do I have any recourse here? We need more lines, and this is getting > very frustrating. I know your situation. I used to work for Pacific Bell in the Residence Business Office. I worked with BBS's. Unforutnately, us who want more than six lines are really considered as 'excessive users'. There was a time when they tried to force all of the BBSs to business service. In a residential area, there is at least one cable pair reserved for each residential unit (this includes apartments and 'rear houses'). This is caled CT'ing the pairs. Once you hit your max (which you have), that's pretty much it. You have a few choices on where to go from here: 1) Pay the construction charges. If your operation is long term, it may be a huge outlay but it may pay-off in the future. 2) Switch your lines to business and consider having your lines brought on a digital entrance facility. In this configuration, your lines are brought in on a T-1. You will need to purchase 'channel banks' so the T-1 lines can be converted back to analog so you can use your existing modems. Each T-1 only takes 2 pairs and can hold up to -24- lines. When I worked for Pacific, I tried to get digital entrance facilities approved for residence, but ol' Paccy*Bell did not budge. 3) Primary Rate ISDN. 23B and 1D channel on your first circuit, 24B on each additional. You can have your internet connection ride one of these channels and have your users ride on the other 22. 4) Pacific Bell's public packet switching. You can have a high speed connection to Pacific's network and other users can call a Pacific Bell port number and type your 'address' then they will be connected to you. There are a few boards using this. Unfortunately, Pacific Bell has tolarence for it's high user residential customers but they will not bend over backwards for them. Maybe if you ordered a 100 line Centrex and paid all the installation charges up front, you may see some movement in the vertabrae. I now live in US West area and I am being threatened with construction charges for anything over six lines, even though the F-2 going down my street has 15 pairs available (I currently have 2). Good-Luck ... please E-mail me if I can be of any help. BTW, are you in Northern or Southern CA? Richard Eyre-Eagles, KJ7MU Tempe, Arizona ------------------------------ From: slichte@cello.gina.calstate.edu (Steven Lichter) Subject: Re: Pac*Bell Lied, Do I Have Any Options? Date: 28 Sep 1995 14:21:12 -0700 Organization: GINA and CORE+ Services of The California State University I guess PacBell could look at your operation as a business, even though you say it is not. In fact you are all paying for a common point to access The Internet. Since you live in a non-business area they might not have enough pairs to supply such a venture. Though they did give you a firm ok, they may have an out. I guess you could go to the PUC, but then the PUC in their very strange ways may say that you are in fact a busineness then your rates will go through the roof. I guess PacBell feels that since the lines are used just for incoming they are not making any oney other then the monthly service charge. The PUC is really your only option and it could blow up in you face. The above are my ideas and have nothing to do with whoever my employer is. SysOp Apple Elite II and OggNet Hub (909)359-5338 2400/14.4 24 hours, Home of GBBS/LLUCE Support for the Apple II. slichte@cello.gina.calstate.edu ------------------------------ From: Curtis Wheeler Subject: Re: Pac*Bell Lied, Do I Have Any Options? Date: 29 Sep 1995 04:15:35 GMT Organization: CCnet Communications chris@ivanova.punk.net (Christopher Ambler) wrote: > We have 26 lines (residential POTS) and 1 ISDN line into our house. (For > the curious, we have an internet cooperative amongst 20 people, ISDN > carries internet to my house, and then 20 modems take it all over town > to the members). [out of pairs story snipped] > Today (a day before the install date), an engineer came out and was > rather rude with me, telling me that there's been a block placed on my > address, such that we can have no more lines. He said we can pay > upwards of $10,000 (ten thousand dollars!) to have the area rewired. > But I got a firm commitment from the business office ... > Do I have any recourse here? We need more lines, and this is getting > very frustrating. Your recourse would be the PUC. I don't work in the common carrier business so I don't know the facts -- but I would be prepared to hear that Pac Bell may only be obligated to provided a certain number of lines to a residence. Perhaps your cooperative needs to consider an alterative service. If you need that much service you may be justifying more digital. Will the cable facilities in most residential areas support a T carrier into your living room? Provisioning and equipment might have apparent high initial cost but your co-op would probably benefit in the long term. Sounds like it's time to make some business decisions. Curtis Wheeler - Pleasanton, CA ------------------------------ From: west@via.net (Dave Harrison) Subject: Re: Pac*Bell Lied, Do I Have Any Options? Date: 29 Sep 1995 06:45:39 GMT Organization: ViaNet Communications Pac Bell is well within the tariff, which covers "Special Construction Charges" for situations like yours. When they design the outside plant, they plan for x number of lines per residence. You were lucky to get that many lines in the first place. If you want to invest in a channel bank, you can have 24 lines come in on four wires (a T1). Or, you can simply move to a commercial office where having 50 lines would be no problem. And by the way, co-operative or not, you should be paying for business service. You can't argue "we're non profit"... so is the Red Cross and they pay for the proper service. ------------------------------ From: bawler@cris.com (Tim Williams) Subject: Re: Hi-Speed via POTS Date: Thu, 28 Sep 1995 21:42:36 GMT Organization: Global Communications Reply-To: bawler@cris.com Robert Ricketts wrote: > Greetings. I'm looking for a couple of boxes that does the following: > A B C D E (see below) > | | | | | | > | | | | | | > | | | | | | > | | | | | | > ----- 28.8 Kbps ----- > 57.6 Kbps | b|---------------|b | 57.6 Kbps > DTE ----------|a | 28.8 Kbps | a|----------- DTE > | b|---------------|b | > ----- ----- > A = Serial line, 115.2 kbps > B = Box that splits a single 'a' channel into two simultaneous > 'b' channels. > C = Four plain-jane 28.8 kbps modems. One on each end of two > POTS lines. > D = Box that merges two simultaneous 'b' channels back into a > single 'a' channel. (Same box used for B) > E = Serial line, 115.2 kbps > Connection is TWS > The DTE would be see the appearance of a plain-jane modem. Perhaps with > special dialing commands to cause the component modems to place their > respective calls. A and E appear as traditional DCE. > The beauty of this is high speed through-put using POTS. I don't have to > even settle for two modems. Perhaps three or four for uncommpressed 115.2 > thru-put, or more when compressed using special serial ports, e.g. 230.4 > kbps. Each box would reassemble arriving packets to the original sequence. > Sort of a reverse mux. Anyone ever seen such a thing? This is called load-balancing, and many opearting systems (unix based) allow you to do this completely software based. You can have say 15 28.8 modems all hooked up, and use them together to form a high-speed connection. Try using Linux or FreeBSD. ------------------------------ From: Toby Nixon Date: Thu, 28 Sep 95 14:01:46 PDT Subject: Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives In Telecom Digest V15 #405, rlm@netcom.com (Robert McMillin) wrote: >> Our telephone systems should be straightforward enough that any child >> capable of remembering their phone number can be taught how to pick up >> any phone and dial their home phone number or 911. > Mr. Yost goes on to suggest that "We should work toward a standard > that would allow a child to dial simply 1 + area code + number from > any phone ... and get connected to their home." > By this approach, we should make the world completely and utterly safe > for four-year-olds. This is the rallying cry currently used as a > justification for censoring adults on the Internet. Adults use cars, > airplanes, lathes, pornography, and slaughterhouses, all of which are > patently unsafe (or at least, unwise) for four-year-old operation. > Not everything can -- or should -- be made child-safe. But in this case, adding some consistency, simplicity, and sanity to the dialing plan in North America would help a lot more than four-year-olds. It would, in fact, go a long way toward making it possible to reliably dial calls from your computer, wherever you might be. We all know that computers are actually dumber than four-year-olds, right? This is particularly true when it comes to dialing. Your computer can't read the template around the phone dial, the card by the phone, or the front of the phone book. There's no way to connect your computer to the phone network, and have it ask the network "how do I dial calls from here?", or to dial "0" and ask the operator for help. It can't automatically know whether or not to dial 9 before some calls, 8 before others, and nothing on yet others. It can't figure out how to dial 011 or 00 before country codes, or 1 or 0 or whatever before city codes. Even within a single country, you have cases where numbers in the same area code as you have to be dialed sometimes with 7 digits, sometimes with 10, and sometimes with 11, and there's no way to ask the network which is which; all you can do is trial-and-error. And the error doesn't have any sort of machine-detectable tone; it's just an undecodable voice prompt! Some people have thought of having a database on the net that anyone could connect to and download dialing rules on a per-exchange basis (which area codes and exchanges are "same area local", which are "same area toll", which "foreign area local", etc.), and the part of the number and prefixes that need to be dialed for each category. If we had commitments from all local exchange carriers to build and maintain this database, it might be possible. But I don't think even that would be good enough. Many LECs have different "subscription" options that let individual users expand their local calling area on a line-by-line basis by paying a little extra each month; even if the database included all of these options, there's no way for a computer to query the network and find out which options are enabled on a given line! Is software going to ask the user to dig out their phone book and latest phone bill, find the codes that identifying optional local calling area plans, and type those into the computer so that it knows how to dial calls? You end up, whatever you do, with the end user needing to do a bunch of programming or configuration of their computerized dialing software, and that assumes that they can even find out the current information. So, why SHOULDN'T the phone network be designed so that computers can be connected to the network ANYWHERE and be permitted to input a fully-qualified international number (including country code) and have the NETWORK figure out how to route the call, instead of the computer needing to be pre-programmed to know exactly which subset of the phone number needs to be dialed, along with whatever prefixes are needed? All we need to do is define some sort of single, nationwide (even worldwide!), standard prefix that says "what follows is a country code and nationally-significant number; YOU figure out how to connect me". So what if it takes a few more digits to dial *00,12068828080 when, if it was local to me, it could have been dialed as just "8828080" -- those "extra" six digits only took half a second to dial, and I didn't have to make two or three failed call attempts to find the right digit sequence! This ought to be implementable on PBXes just as easily as on COs. We need to get the state public utility commissions out of the business of dictating dialing procedures, and overcome the fiction that dialing a "1" before a number means "I have to pay extra for this call". We need a national consensus among LECs and PBX vendors on what this prefix should be that allows a fully-qualified international phone number to follow. Mr. Yost's point about children being unable to figure out how to dial in an emergency situation is a good one to wake up regulators, legislators, and telephone system designers who otherwise might not pay attention to the problems caused by confusion in the national dialing plan. Once awareness of the problem is raised, however, I would expect the primary motivation for finding a solution would be to facilitate shipping and installing shrink-wrapped software with preloaded phone numbers, distribution of phone numbers and dialing directories over the Internet that can be dialed anywhere, simplification of dialing configuration for travelers with computers. Toby Nixon Program Manager - Windows Telephony Microsoft Corporation ------------------------------ From: cogorno@netcom.com (Steve Cogorno) Subject: Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives Date: Thu, 28 Sep 1995 22:17:25 PDT Clifton T. Sharp said: > In article johnl@iecc.com (John Levine) > writes: >> Call Trace serves this function now. It does what caller-ID is >> frequently misrepresented as doing, collecting the calling number of a >> call that you need to report to the cops. > What can Call Trace get that CNID wouldn't report accurately? The only > thing that I've heard about inaccurate CNID so far regards outdial > trunks, which would presumably be reported the same way to Call Trace. Well for one thing, the CID can be blocked. Call Trace cannot. As somone else pointed out, Call Trace is only good within the LATA (because it relies upon SS7), but I believe that this will be changing when the December FCC Caller-ID IXC thing goes into effect. But, I think it's a major scam that the LECs charge such high prices for Call Trace (PacBell charges $5/trace). There is a lot less work involved for them than setting a trap on the line - they should make it free or at the most $1 to discourage abuse. Steve cogorno@netcom.com ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V15 #411 ****************************** Received: from delta.eecs.nwu.edu by MINTAKA.LCS.MIT.EDU id aa27481; 29 Sep 95 23:36 EDT Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id QAA02115 for telecomlist-outbound; Fri, 29 Sep 1995 16:21:25 -0500 Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id QAA02107; Fri, 29 Sep 1995 16:21:22 -0500 Date: Fri, 29 Sep 1995 16:21:22 -0500 From: TELECOM Digest (Patrick Townson) Message-Id: <199509292121.QAA02107@delta.eecs.nwu.edu> To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Subject: TELECOM Digest V15 #412 TELECOM Digest Fri, 29 Sep 95 16:21:00 CDT Volume 15 : Issue 412 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Re: Lots of Goofups This Week (Brent E. Boyko) Re: Lots of Goofups This Week (danny burstein) Re: Lots of Goofups This Week (James E. Bellaire) Re: Lots of Goofups This Week (Bill Blackwell) Re: Will NA Caller ID Boxes Work in Europe? (Jeremy Rogers) Re: Will NA Caller ID Boxes Work in Europe? (Pat Barron) Re: Variable Length Phone Numbers (John Levine) Re: Variable Length Phone Numbers (Martin Kealey) Re: Variable Length Phone Numbers (Christian Weisgerber) Re: Dialing 911 Instead of Police's 7D Number (Nevin Liber) Re: Dialing 911 Instead of Police's 7D Number (Mike Morris) Unabomber Full Text Now in Archives (TELECOM Digest Editor) TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of public service systems and networks including Compuserve and America On Line. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Subscriptions are available to qualified organizations and individual readers. Write and tell us how you qualify: * telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu * The Digest is edited, published and compilation-copyrighted by Patrick Townson of Skokie, Illinois USA. You can reach us by postal mail, fax or phone at: 9457-D Niles Center Road Skokie, IL USA 60076 Phone: 500-677-1616 Fax: 708-329-0572 ** Article submission address only: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu ** Our archives are located at lcs.mit.edu and are available by using anonymous ftp. The archives can also be accessed using our email information service. For a copy of a helpful file explaining how to use the information service, just ask. ************************************************************************* * TELECOM Digest is partially funded by a grant from the * * International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland * * under the aegis of its Telecom Information Exchange Services (TIES) * * project. Views expressed herein should not be construed as represent-* * ing views of the ITU. * ************************************************************************* In addition, TELECOM Digest receives a grant from Microsoft to assist with publication expenses. Editorial content in the Digest is totally independent, and does not necessarily represent the views of Microsoft. ------------------------------------------------------------ Finally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such as yourself who provide funding in amounts deemed appropriate. Your help is important and appreciated. A suggested donation of twenty dollars per year per reader is considered appropriate. See our address above. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: bboyko@brent.llu.edu (Brent E. Boyko) Subject: Re: Lots of Goofups This Week Date: 28 Sep 1995 13:02:06 -0700 Organization: Loma Linda University In article , TELECOM Digest Editor wrote: > The other major screw-up involved pagers. Did yours go off this week? > Apparently someone in Houston sent a signal to a satellite (?) which > in turn caused several satellite receivers to shut down. Does anyone > have further details on this? Our Pagenet pagers were out of service from about 11:30 P.M. Tuesday night to 11:30 A.M. Wednesday. The medical staff were not pleased. According to an Associated Press news article today, a technician at Space Com, the satellite carrier, accidentally disabled "thousands" of satellite receivers. Apparently the receivers had to be restored individually. The story indicates that five of the national paging companies use Space Com. I believe that the individual receivers that they are talking about would include one at each paging transmitter. Brent E. Boyko Telecom Engineer Loma Linda University Medical Center bboyko@brent.llu.edu ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 28 Sep 1995 16:37:22 -0400 From: Danny Burstein Subject: Re: Lots of Goofups This Week In comp.dcom.telecom you write: > The other major screw-up involved pagers. Did yours go off this week? > Apparently someone in Houston sent a signal to a satellite (?) which > in turn caused several satellite receivers to shut down. Does anyone > have further details on this? > Per RISKS Digest, one of the carriers for satellite relay sent out a > signal which shut down the base receivers in umptity umptity cities. Huh? When you send a page the signal gets relayed to of local sites which then feed it into local transmitters. WHile this is designed for the (semi) nationwide coverage, it's often the way your neighborhood paging system works as well. Your "satellite pager" does -not- get its signal directly from orbit, but rather via a terrestrial relay. So they shut down the local receivers by remote control. Problem was they couldn't restart them the same way. This could be due to two reasons: a) There was a complete shutdown so the receivers didn't get the 'turn on' signal (after all, they were off....) b) Pager transmitters are designed so that a group of them spaced, perhaps, ten miles apart, all go off simultaneously. Although it flies in the face of everything I know about radio, they can, and do, set off multiple transmitters to ensure (usually) that the signal covers the wanted area. This requires "ultra precise" synchronization. It's quite possible they were able to turn the units back on, but did not have remote-synch capability. Mark> A SpaceCom technician at their uplink facility in Tulsa, Mark> Oklahoma accidentally send out a spacey command shutting down Mark> the satellite receivers used by pager systems throughout the Mark> country, affecting millions of pagers. SpaceCom supports 5 of I can picture the guy. He's waiting for the 'Index restructured' response, when suddenly the screen starts filling with these: Message from Chicago2: Shutdown completed. Message from NewYork4: Shutdown completed. Message from LosAngeles1: Shutdown completed. Message from Miami3: Shutdown completed. Message from NewYork2: Shutdown completed. etc. Magnus. dannyb@panix.com (or dburstein@mcimail.com) ------------------------------ From: James E. Bellaire Subject: Re: Lots of Goofups This Week Date: Thu, 28 Sep 95 23:04:42 CDT In TD410 Patrick Townson wrote about this weeks goofs: You want to know about goof ups? Someone in the sales department at my internet provider took an order to change MY email domain over to uucp (from my current shell/SLIP arrangement). I noticed that TD was not coming at all since Saturday and sent some mail to myself which eventually returned via DAEMON. It is likely that you (Pat) have a box full of DAEMON's from me. For that I apologize. I have firmly instructed my provider not to do this to you again. Fortunately lcs.mit.edu has provided me with ftp back issues. Otherwise I would have starved from lack of Telecom information. BTW: Other than this my provider is an excellent and affordable service. James E. Bellaire (JEB6) bellaire@tk.com ^^^^ The ruler of this domain! [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I saw a few of those daemons sent by your provider but ignored them. Do you think your provider will listen to and abide by your 'firm instructions'? Just a reminder to all readers that back issues -- fourteen year's worth, thousands of issues -- can be obtained from the Telecom Archives as needed at lcs.mit.edu using anonymous FTP. PAT] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 29 Sep 1995 09:21:58 -0600 From: bear@electrotex.com (Bill Blackwell) Subject: Re: Lots of Goofups This Week Organization: me According to the Houston Chronicle (_The Paper_(tm)), the shut-downs were caused when a data entry clerk mistakenly forgot to enter a carriage return when he was entering in the receiver codes into several paging companies' satellite uplink ... Bill Blackwell bear@electrotex.com Houston, Texas, USA ------------------------------ From: jrogers@aea.orgn.uk (Jeremy Rogers) Subject: Re: Will NA Caller ID Boxes Work in Europe? Reply-To: jrogers@aea.orgn.uk Organization: AEA Technology Date: Fri, 29 Sep 1995 10:46:01 GMT In article 8@eecs.nwu.edu, writes: > My friend's family (in Poland) were watching a local TV program that > mentioned the fact that calling line id was available in the area > (Warsaw). They would like to know if the calling id boxes that we can > buy here (I'm in the Toronto, Ontario, Canada area) would work if they > were sent there? I don't know about Poland, but NA CLID equipment won't work on BT in the UK. Jez ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 28 Sep 1995 15:35:58 EDT From: Pat_Barron@transarc.com Subject: Re: Will NA Caller ID Boxes Work in Europe? > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: What caller-ID boxes do you know that run > on AC rather than battery? I have never heard of this. PAT] My FANS CallScreener plugs into the wall; does not use a battery. Pat ------------------------------ From: johnl@iecc.com (John Levine) Subject: Re: Variable Length Phone Numbers Date: Fri, 29 Sep 1995 19:31:44 GMT Organization: I.E.C.C. > there is a virtual network in NANP, which can be navigated by taking > groups of three digits at a time ... Not really. Consider area code 809, where you need to decode 809 and the following three digits to tell what country the call is going to. > By the way, are land-line numbers portable in NANP yet? ] In a few cities. There's still three competing technical schemes for how portability will work, and no agreement at all on who's going to pay for it. > As I understand it, the reason that NANP needed to switch to NXX > area codes was not because it had run out of numbers, but because it > had run out of prefixes. If there hadn't been the rigidity that > prefixes and area codes be exactly three digits, maybe this would have > been alleviated. They'd have had to design things quite differently in the first place; by the time they started to run out, there weren't 10 contiguous area codes to allocate any more. The NANP worked great for several decades. It ran into trouble because a lot of things started to need phone numbers that nobody'd forseen in the late 1940s, e.g. mobile phones, pagers, modems, faxes, and individual extensions in a company PBX. > With the price of connectivity coming down, it is not unreasonable to > consider that proxy lookup services would be at least a reasonable, if > not better approach, than making each switch do its own database > lookup? Indeed, isn't this how 800 number lookup already works? The > local switch sees "1800" and then knows "collect 7 more digits and > refer them to Bellcore" (or whoever). THEN a decision on routing the > CALL is made. That's right. It's also the most likely scenario for local number portability, although it's still possible that they'll use a scheme that assigns each prefix to a switch (the same as now) and effectively call-forwards calls that aren't homed in that switch. > If compelled signalling were used, Ah, but it's not. And that's the issue, isn't it? Regards, John R. Levine, Trumansburg NY Primary perpetrator of "The Internet for Dummies" and Information Superhighwayman wanna-be ------------------------------ From: martin@kurahaupo.gen.nz (Martin Kealey) Subject: Re: Variable Length Phone Numbers Date: Fri, 29 Sep 95 20:15:46 NZST Organization: Kurahaupo Migratory Canoe I really must stop doing this thing of answering multiple points in one article - but never mind for now. [1] >> virtual network in NANP ... groups of three digits at a time ... > Consider area code 809 It still goegraphically reduces to "the Carribean & misc other bits" - maybe not a great increase in specificity, but still a reduction to a nameable geographic entity. Many area codes are a lot more specific. I'm not claiming that this is a perfect mental model, but it's at least somewhat useful, else there wouldn't be people who learn off all the area codes "for fun" because there wouldn't be any point to learning them. [2] >> If compelled signalling were used, > Ah, but it's not. And that's the issue, isn't it? Quite true; the point I'm trying to get at is that compelled signalling doesn't necessarily mean opening a voice-grade path all the way to the far end, so while it's not entirely without cost, that cost is pretty insignificant; for example, far less than the voice-grade path used to signal ring-back in a lot of networks. (It is conceivable that there may even be a net benefit from cost reductions elsewhere.) Sending one keypad digit takes only 4 bits; even if it were to get say 512 bits of framing overhead added, that still only amounts to about 4 ms of voice time - or a fraction of a cent for the entire phone number, to even the most distant part of the world. Cheers, Martin D Kealey 36.88888S/174.72116E ## Science Fiction Modellers' Club of ## New Zealand voice +64-9-8150460 fax +64-9-8150529 ## all SF catered for; email for info ------------------------------ From: naddy@mips.pfalz.de (Christian Weisgerber) Subject: Re: Variable Length Phone Numbers Date: Tue, 26 Sep 1995 20:50:21 MET Tony Harminc writes: >> What is a phone number? For the most part, a phone number is a *route* >> through the network. > This is absolutely not true in North America. Well, AFAIK you can roughly tell the location of +1-xxx-yyy-zzzz if you know xxx and yyy. (With the obvious exception of 1-800 and other kinds of portable numbers.) > Each switch in the network is capable of doing a database lookup on > (typically) six digits of the phone number to determine the action to > take to advance the call. The individual digits of the number in no > way specify the route the call is to take through the network; this is > a decision made by each switch as needed, and is based on much more > than the digits in the number. Currently available trunks, congestion, > previous routing history, and many other factors can be taken into > consideration to make routing decisions. You have to realize that the routing example I gave was simplified a lot, partly to show my point, partly because I'm not all that familiar with the details of SS7 routing. Of course a switch can sit there and collect further digits before making a routing decision, and routing in Germany is also influenced by trunk availability, congestion, and many other factors. I think you try to point out differences that don't exist. [ my example deleted ] > Easy yes -- but a disaster for planning and orderly growth. Why so? I don't have a history of the development of the German numbering plan and I am too young to remember much of it, but growth works nicely by expanding into formerly unused portions of the numbering plan. If a dead end should really come up somewhere, the situation can be relieved by inserting a single digit somewhere, which is certainly no worse than North American area code splitting. The latest major event was the integration of the former East German network, +37.. as +49.3.. No sweat, since the 3* area code range had wisely been reserved... > This sort of design ensures that Germany will not have portable > numbers for a long time. Germany has had toll free, special service, and other kinds of portable numbers for several years by now. Their prefixes lead to one of several centralized switches that perform a data base lookup, negotiate some billing details with the originating and true destination switch, and return the true number to place the call to. Basically, this scheme could be extended to all numbers but I'm not aware of any plans to do this. As long as the call charges are dependant on the distance, a principle that doesn't seem to be going out of fashion anytime soon, a mapping of area code and location remains desirable. > Okay -- you are in Germany and you start to dial +1 40 ... > Now with your scheme, the local switch would have to pick up a trunk to > somewhere -- to where ? Why should it have to pick up a trunk yet? You miss the point of a SS7 signaling network, where all the switches are connected by what amounts to a packet-switched network independant of the voice circuits. A trunk isn't selected until the destination switch has signalled back. > It isn't even known what country you are calling yet! Then you dial 3 > as the next digit, and the switch in Germany knows you are calling > Canada rather than the USA. But Germany has trunks to at least two > points in the area covered by area code 403 - which one should it pick > up? The next digit is 9, but still nothing is known - it could be > somewhere near Calgary, or over a thousand miles north in the Northwest > Territories. Only after two more digits (say 79) is it finally known > what local area the called line is in. When I dial '+...' ("00..." in Germany) my switch forwards further digits to one of several switches responsible for handling international destinations. The default one from here is in Frankfurt/M. When I dial +1.40 all that happens is some signaling traffic. Now, when I dial +1.444 I at once get an intercept. Obviously, there's a lookup that checks for valid North American area codes. Apart from this, the switch in Frankfurt just sits there and collects digits until a 10-digit North American number is completed. Then it makes a routing decision and actually sets up the call. Christian 'naddy' Weisgerber naddy@mips.pfalz.de ------------------------------ From: nevin@cs.arizona.edu (Nevin ":-]" Liber) Subject: Re: Dialing 911 Instead of Police's 7D Number Date: Thu, 28 Sep 1995 10:45:12 -0700 Organization: University of Arizona CS Department, Tucson Arizona In article , gordon@sneaky.lonestar.org (Gordon Burditt) wrote: > Please educate the *POLICE* that 9-1-1 is for life threatening > emergencies ONLY. Good luck. It seems that if you don't phone it in on 911, they just don't seem to care. A couple of years ago I was the victim of a hit and run by a drunk driver in Chicago. Since no one was injured, I phoned it in on the non-emergency line. When I finally got through, they told me since no one was hurt, they couldn't be bothered to come out to the scene. If I wanted, I could come down to the station and make a statement. Luckily, my automobile was still driveable, and I did so. They reluctantly (kept telling me it probably wouldn't do any good, etc.) wrote down the information about the accident. I bet that I would have gotten better treatment if I had just called 911 in the first place. Do they record non-emergency calls to the police, fire department, etc.? Maybe they ought to start ... Nevin ":-)" Liber nevin@CS.Arizona.EDU (520) 293-2799 ------------------------------ From: morris@grian.cps.altadena.ca.us (Mike Morris) Subject: Re: Dialing 911 Instead of Police's 7D Number Organization: College Park Software, Altadena, CA Date: Fri, 29 Sep 1995 03:46:58 GMT wes.leatherock@hotelcal.com (Wes Leatherock) writes: > Martin McCormick wrote: >> The alarm boxes vanished from streets in Tulsa and Oklahoma >> City as well as many other places as soon as 911 became the method of >> choice to report emergencies. I also remember that many of the street >> boxes had a glass window that one had to break with an attached hammer >> to activate the alarm. This always seemed dumb and dangerous to me, >> but I am sure there was a good reason for it. > I believe the idea of the glass window and hammer was to > reduce the number of false alarms; you had to do something more than > just walk by and pull the lever. This was true in most cities I'm > familiar with. I spent one summer working for an alarm company and was fortunate enough to spend some time with the head technician, who was kind enough to "walk" me through a sample of each kind of alarm system. The street boxe (and some of the older building alarm) circuits use a technology called a McCullogh (Mccullock? McCulloch? sp? I never saw is written - just heard it spoken) circuit. Addresses were assigned by breaking tabs off a code wheel in the box, and each of three positions had five tabs. The spring mechanism had enough energy to turn the wheel at least three revolutions, many times five. The "console" was basically a buzzer and a light for each circuit -- when a box was tripped the buzzer/light would be "read" by an operator, who then looked up the number in a card file. Some panels had 50 circuits. The circuit used a higher voltage DC (100-150v) that is alternately shorted and grounded by the leaf switch that rode the edge of the code wheel in the box. The system was designed to provide a usable signal even if one wire of the pair was open. He told me the glass was there to keep the bugs, snow, dirt and rain out of the clockwork/cam/leaf switch mechanism. This is from a 20 year old memory, so I hope I got it right. Eric Ewanco writes: > So I called that number and they referred me to another seven digit > number. (Apparently I had reached some sort of administrative office > or something.) So I dialed that SEVEN DIGIT NUMBER and imagine my > surprised when I hear, "911, please report your emergency." What > ensued was a somewhat tense conversation, because I was understandably > confused as I stayed on the line and argued that I didn't call 911, > but a seven digit number. (In retrospect I probably should have just > apologized and hung up. Understandably the dispatcher was a bit curt > as she explained that I had dialed the seven digit number which > patched into the 911 system.) Here in the L.A. area quite a few amateur radio autopatches are set up to take the phone number and validate it before taking the actual phone line off hook and dialing it. Many are set up to convert 911 into a 7 or 10 digit number (most use the 7/10-digit version of the CHP LA dispatch 911 number). There is a classic story in the local ham radio circles about one of the early cellphone 911 calls to the Whittier Police Dept (an L.A. suburb) reporting a traffic accident. They sent the ambulance to the address shown on the screen: the cell switch site. Another story has a autopatch user calling 911 and the police show up at the ham radio repeater site. In both stories the city name changes with the telling, and I've never been able to pin down the source of either story. Urban legends. But the stories point out that 7/10 digit alternatives to 911 are useful. >> Our phone books tell us to use 911 only for emergencies. The local >> police stations in Chicago on the other hand tell us to use 911 for >> everything. Who is correct on this? > Well, I think that with the shift of emphasis to 911, the organization > and promotion of seven-digit police numbers has become chaotic through > neglect. 911 is put on the front page whereas the seven-digit numbers > are relegated to alphabetical listings in the middle, with no indication > which ones are for police dispatchers, which ones are administrative, > which ones are for which communities, and so forth. The telephone > pinball I had to put up with in this experience was inexcusable, as > one number directed me to another and another, or maybe nobody answered > or whatever. Part of the fault lies with the police department then, > I think, for failing to provide a clearly defined and effective > alternative to 911 for non-emergency numbers. > Hence it may be no wonder that people are more inclined just to dial > "911" when they want the police for whatever reason. > I think the solution is to clearly identify emergency and non-emergency > numbers, and under what circumstances they should be called, and then > make sure that the people who answer them can direct them correctly. It's my opinion that the designers of the phone books are a bit to blame. They should include the 7 (or 10) digit non-emergency number of the police on the same page as the 911 listing. Pacific Bell uses the inside of the front cover (both white and yellow pages) to list the cities that the book serves, and the emergency number (911 in 72 point type, in red ink), and the nonemergency police and fire numbers for those cities. The police are a bit to blame also for the poor design of the system that doesn't have a non-emergency number to call 24 hours, and the workaround the dispatchers have to use to get around that design (call 911). And it would be nice to have a standard non-emergency number: perhaps 912 or 999 could be used? All the hardware is in for 911, all it would take is programming, and public education. Mike Morris morris@grian.cps.altadena.ca.us #include I have others, but this works the best. This message assembled from 100% recycled electrons (and pixels). ------------------------------ From: TELECOM Digest Editor Subject: Unabomber Full Text Now in Archives Date: Fri, 29 Sep 1995 16:00:00 CDT Thank you to everyone who sent the full text of the Unibomber manifesto to me. I got several copies, which certainly filled my mailbox in a hurry. A copy has been placed in the Telecom Archives for anyone who wants to read the entire thing. You can use two methods of getting it. The traditional one, anonymous ftp is available at lcs.mit.edu. You would login anonymous, using your name@site as password. Then you must 'cd telecom-archives/reports'. If you prefer to do it by email, you can send a request to the Telecom Archives Email Information Service for automatic handling. The instructions for this are: Send email to tel-archives@lcs.mit.edu. The subject line does not matter. As the text in your message: REPLY yourname@site GET unabomber END The above will get you several files in email with the complete text plus the rebuttal messages which appeared here awhile back. I hope you have time to read it all over the weekend! If you don't have the current HELP, INFO and DIRECTORY files for the Archives, you can order those also by adding those three commands in your email, prior to the END: HELP INFO DIRECTORY END Patrick Townson ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V15 #412 ****************************** Received: from delta.eecs.nwu.edu by MINTAKA.LCS.MIT.EDU id aa02304; 4 Oct 95 0:01 EDT Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id NAA10650 for telecomlist-outbound; Tue, 3 Oct 1995 13:50:04 -0500 Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id NAA10641; Tue, 3 Oct 1995 13:50:01 -0500 Date: Tue, 3 Oct 1995 13:50:01 -0500 From: TELECOM Digest (Patrick Townson) Message-Id: <199510031850.NAA10641@delta.eecs.nwu.edu> To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Subject: TELECOM Digest V15 #413 TELECOM Digest Tue, 3 Oct 95 13:50:00 CDT Volume 15 : Issue 413 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Dead Line, Annoying Red Tape (Linc Madison) 911 as quid pro quo (Mike Wengler) Citizen Intercepts 911 Calls; Assists Police (Steve Bauer) 1996 ACM SIGOPS Workshop on Wide-Area Distributed Systems (Andy Tanenbaum) New US Area Code Test Numbers (Clarifications) (Michael Fumich) Universal Service Policy Documents Available (Robert Deward) What's With This 814 Prefix in New York? (John Levine) AT&T's New Role with Unitel in Canada (Martin Stewart) Trouble With NPA 860 (Alan Lange) Speakers Wanted: Data Over Digital Cellular - CelluComm '96 (K. Zsigo) DateLine NBC to Air Segment on How to Stop Junk Calls (prvtctzn@aol.com) Programmer Position/Job offering (Ibis Fontes) What to Call the Three Parts of AT&T? (John R. Levine) TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of public service systems and networks including Compuserve and America On Line. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Subscriptions are available to qualified organizations and individual readers. Write and tell us how you qualify: * telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu * The Digest is edited, published and compilation-copyrighted by Patrick Townson of Skokie, Illinois USA. You can reach us by postal mail, fax or phone at: 9457-D Niles Center Road Skokie, IL USA 60076 Phone: 500-677-1616 Fax: 708-329-0572 ** Article submission address only: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu ** Our archives are located at lcs.mit.edu and are available by using anonymous ftp. The archives can also be accessed using our email information service. For a copy of a helpful file explaining how to use the information service, just ask. ************************************************************************* * TELECOM Digest is partially funded by a grant from the * * International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland * * under the aegis of its Telecom Information Exchange Services (TIES) * * project. Views expressed herein should not be construed as represent-* * ing views of the ITU. * ************************************************************************* In addition, TELECOM Digest receives a grant from Microsoft to assist with publication expenses. Editorial content in the Digest is totally independent, and does not necessarily represent the views of Microsoft. ------------------------------------------------------------ Finally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such as yourself who provide funding in amounts deemed appropriate. Your help is important and appreciated. A suggested donation of twenty dollars per year per reader is considered appropriate. See our address above. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: lincmad@netcom.com (Linc Madison) Subject: Dead Line, Annoying Red Tape Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest) Date: Tue, 3 Oct 1995 09:01:00 GMT Well, this has been quite a fun and exciting weekend for my telephone. A few months ago, I finally got a separate line for my modem. I also got a two-line phone. My directory listing is the modem number. Saturday morning at about 8:15, my (non-listed) voice number rang, to bring me word from a delightful gentleman who wanted to know how I plan to pay the $992.73 in delinquent charges on my credit card. Yes, it happens that someone else with the same first and last name and middle initial, with some other coincidental details with my life, has skipped out on yet another creditor. I told him (although I didn't get the impression he was convinced) that I have never had a credit card from the bank he named, nor have I ever lived in the city where his deadbeat last listed an address. Sunday morning (clearly one day too late), I discovered that my voice line was dead. My two-line phone has the "in use" light burning steadily for that line, but gives dead air. My single-line phone when attached to that line gives dead air and dead keypad. I called 611 and filed a service request, and assured the clerk that I had tried disconnecting all of my subscriber equipment and that the fault persisted. The clerk performed a basic line test (during which the "in use" light blinked off momentarily) and reported that the line was "open" but that he couldn't isolate the fault specifically. There was the usual warning about the charge if the fault were with my equipment and so forth. A technician is supposed to check on it tomorrow. The annoying red tape is yet to come, though. I picked up the working line and dialed the non-working number. It just rings away merrily with no indication of a problem. I thus called back to 611 and asked them to divert my number to a "temporarily out of service" recording until they fix it. NO CAN DO. That requires approval from the Business Office, which isn't open on Sunday. Apparently this is to prevent the repair office from making an unauthorized diversion of my line to a recording, in case some scofflaw calls up impersonating me and reports trouble on my line just to harrass me. Now, let us bear in mind that the repair clerk I spoke to had my billing name and address on his screen and had also run a test of the line which verified that there was in fact trouble on the line. He had already verified my identity as the owner of the line. Thus, they have NO EXCUSE for refusing to put the recording on my number, but they still refuse. If my line isn't fixed tomorrow, I will certainly raise a stink about that fact, and also about the repair office's refusal to take a perfectly logical and obvious step. There is no justification for placing that function with the business office; clearly, it MUST reside with the repair office. Linc Madison * San Francisco, California * LincMad@Netcom.com [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Perhaps they would have been willing to forward the bad line to your other line for the day or so needed. PAT] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 2 Oct 95 08:54:21 EDT From: wengler@ee.rochester.edu (Mike Wengler) Subject: 911 as quid pro quo Talking about Bell Canada's Soft Dial Tone allowing 911 calls for two months only, I wrote: In the article describing Bell Canada's introduction of soft dialtone on unsubscribed lines, it was stated: >> A secondary benefit of Soft Dial Tone is that, in the event of an >> emergency, students can call 911 emergency service without having >> regular phone service during September and October. I wondered: > Can Bell Canada really be so cavalier to only provide 911 service for > two months? PAT replied: > I don't think telco is required to provide its services for free on > an unlimited basis. Where would you draw the line? A reasonable question. If I owned the facility (University dorms in the Canadian message) I would inform the phone company that if the line was alive *at all* it would carry 911 to something other than an intercept telling you to call the business office to subscribe. And that failing that, they could get their lines off my property. If I were Bell, and I left a live line laying around, while I was busy making sure it could connect to the business office I'd program in going right through to 911 as well. Telco doesn't have to come and give me phone service if I don't want to pay for it. But I'll be damned if I'll let them leave *their* outside plant in my apartment, house, or dorm room all set to take a business order, but not working on 911. This isn't a matter of taking something "as a right" from the phone company. This I would justify as "quid pro quo", they get to leave live lines around to make it easy for people to sign up for service is the quid, and those same live lines don't give me an intercept when I'm lying helpless on the floor, hoping I don't die until their business office reopens Monday morning to process my order. Just my Humble Opinion. Mike Wengler http://www.he.net/~wengler/VoiceNet/ or ftp://he.net/pub/wengler/index.txt Phone/Fax: (716) 244-0238 ------------------------------ From: sbauer@tyrell.net (Steve Bauer) Subject: Citizen Intercepts 911 Calls; Helps Police Date: Tue, 03 Oct 1995 03:37:14 -0500 Forwarded FYI to the Digest. A great report about someone getting involved. 911 phone line crossed RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- When Rosa H. Dickson answered her telephone, the caller requested an ambulance. It took only a moment to figure out that the caller had dialed 911 and got Dickson instead. "When I realized what happened, I dialed 911 and couldn't get 911," she said Monday. For a half-hour last Wednesday, Dickson tried to help 911 callers as best she could by passing them on to police. She received two calls for rescue crews and one for police between about 5 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. The first thing she did, however, was alert police that there was a phone problem. Gene Scott, account manager for Bell Atlantic, said the phone system was upgraded in July and the mix-up occurred during maintenance. He said a company computer mistranslated some of the phone numbers and routed the 911 calls to Dickson, whose number doesn't include a 9 or a 1. "We've done this 100 times and never had a problem. It's not going to happen again," Scott said. One woman misrouted to Dickson apparently gave her a wrong number. When police couldn't reach her, they called Dickson back. About the same time, the woman called 911 again and got Dickson again. Dickson got the woman's correct number and relayed it to police. The City Council honored Dickson with a proclamation Monday night and she received a standing ovation from a City Hall audience. "I was just doing my duty," she said. ------------------------------ From: ast@cs.vu.nl (Andy Tanenbaum) Subject: 1996 ACM SIGOPS Workshop on Wide-Area Distributed Systems Organization: Fac. Wiskunde & Informatica, VU, Amsterdam Date: Sat, 30 Sep 1995 22:48:34 GMT Call for Papers Seventh ACM SIGOPS European Workshop Systems Support for Worldwide Applications 2-4 September 1996, Connemara, Ireland In the past, each computer had its own users and jobs. The task of the operating system was to allocate resources among competing users. With the advent of LANs and the Internet, multiple computers could collaborate to per- form specialized tasks for a modest number of sophisticated users. In the future, most computers will be connected to what is often called the "Information Superhighway." This as-yet-unbuilt system will allow hundreds of mil- lions of ordinary citizens to access global information and participate in applications of unprecedented scale. The requirements of the system software will change accordingly. The emphasis will shift from enforcing local kernel-user protection boundaries to enabling groups of users to collaborate and access information efficiently. New models, tools, and other software will be required. In this workshop, we will explore these issues. Possible topics include: - Wide-area distributed systems for millions of users - Tools, models and infrastructure for global applications - Life after the World Wide Web - Caching and replication - (Distributed) management of (distributed) services - Resource and information discovery services - Systems support for multimedia applications - Systems aspects of security and reliability Attendance is limited to 50 people, by invitation only. The workshop will be held at the Renvyle House Hotel in Connemara, Ireland. It is a small, secluded site on the Renvyle Peninsula, surrounded by water on three sides and 200 acres of hotel land and mountains on the remaining side. Papers will be selected on the basis of ability to foster discussion, originality, and appropriateness to the workshop topic. Accepted papers will be distributed to the workshop attendees and via the web. A few papers may be selected for publication in Operating Systems Review. For additional information, submission instructions, and photographs of the workshop site, see the workshop's web page: http://plastique.stanford.edu/sigops96/ Program chairman Program Committee Andrew S. Tanenbaum Ozalp Babaoglu, Univ. di Bologna Dept. of Math. & Computer Science Jean Bacon, Cambridge University Vrije Universiteit Mary Baker, Stanford University De Boelelaan 1081a Yolande Berbers, Kath. Univ., Leuven 1081 HV Amsterdam,Holland Andrew Black, Oregon Graduate Inst. Email: ast@cs.vu.nl Frans Kaashoek, MIT FAX: +31 20 4447653 Barbara Liskov, MIT Karin Petersen, Xerox PARC Important dates: Willy Zwaenepoel, Rice University Position papers due: 1 March 1996 Acceptance notice: 15 May 1996 General chairman Final 8-page papers: 15 July 1996 ---------------- Workshop date: 2-4 Sept. 1996 Andrew Herbert, ANSA (ajh@ansa.co.uk) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 02 Oct 95 21:54 EST From: Michael Fumich <0003311835@mcimail.com> Subject: New US Area Code Test Numbers (Clarifications) Recently I submitted to TELECOM Digest (Issue #406), a list of test numbers which are used to determine whether calls to the new-style US area codes are being completed properly. Several people wrote me with questions and comments. I hope the following clarifies things a little. This list was compiled from LEC and Bellcore sources only, not news report or advertisements. In addition, I have personally completed calls to ALL the numbers on the list thru the Bermuda (441) split on 1 Oct 95. This includes the 562-317-0317 So. California test number which several have reported as not working. If the number does "not" work from your location, it may be that the new area code is not yet loaded into your exchange. I have found that the LEC's do not always meet the deadlines required. If this is the case, call your local repair service and report the problem to them. And get a Trouble Ticket number too! When I couldn't get thru to 360 (WA) I reported the matter to Ameritech repair (611). I had a feeling I wasn't being taken seriously and got the stock "your problem should be resolved before 5:PM tomorrow" reply. When I asked for a report number, suddenly there was furious keybourd pecking. "One moment sir, the computer suddenly went down. What was the problem again?" ;+) Successful completion of these calls will get a LEC recording which states that you are reaching the XXX test number. Calling some of these numbers may incur a charge. Calls to the 334 (AL) and 770 (GA) test numbers have been reported as chargable by AT&T and Sprint. The numbers on the list are all that I have available at this time. I will post updates to this newsgroup as additional information becomes available. Michael L. Fumich / E-Mail: <3311835@mcimail.com> / V-Mail 708-461-5770 ------------------------------ From: bobd@well.sf.ca.us (Robert Deward) Subject: Universal Service Policy Documents Available Date: 03 Oct 1995 15:50:34 GMT Organization: The Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link, Sausalito, CA There's been a lot of discussion online about Universal Service. But most of the talk concerns whether people should be entitled to wideband or broadband and what information they should be able to access free. That's putting the cart before the horse! Here in California -- and California is not the only state -- no plan exists to fund even voice service at its present level of penetration when competition blasts away the old subsidy system. Whether your interest is education, health care, or promoting representative government, Universal Service is a key concern. Some documents raising fundamental Universal Service issues are now available free from Pacific Telesis. On the Pacific Telesis Home Page (http://www.pactel.com) look in "What's New." If you prefer a fax, phone toll free (nationwide) 1-800-704-4636, pick any category, and then punch in one of these numbers and your fax number: 970 for Basic Facts about Pacific Bell's Universal Service plan 971 for a summary of Pacific Bell's Universal Service position 972 for a brief history of Universal Service. Bob Deward, Pacific Telesis External Affairs, S.F. voice: 415-394-3646 ------------------------------ From: johnl@iecc.com (John Levine) Subject: What's With This 814 Prefix in New York? Date: Tue, 03 Oct 1995 13:28:30 GMT Organization: I.E.C.C. I note that the New York NPAs 315, 516, 518, 607, 716, 718, 914, and 917 (that is, all of them except 212) just gotten new "814" prefixes. Most of those NPAs still have plenty of NNX prefixes left, and it's unusual to assign the same prefix everywhere at once. I'd guess that NYNEX is planning some new category of rip-off, er, added value service. Anyone know anything? Regards, John R. Levine, Trumansburg NY Primary perpetrator of "The Internet for Dummies" and Information Superhighwayman wanna-be ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 03 Oct 1995 06:38:52 +0800 From: martin@cti-tel.com (Martin Stewart) Subject: AT&T's New Role with Unitel in Canada Pat, I was just wondering if you had heard anything or received anything concerning the recent announcement by AT&T of their intended additional investment into Unitel in Canada. Unitel is essentially owned by three banks due to its enormous debt. AT&T has agreed to purchase up about 48% of the ownership into Unitel from Rogers and Canadian Pacific. They are able to increase their ownership above the regulated 33% foreign ownership clause stipulated by the CRTC somehow by having various AT&T owned shell companies purchase into Unitel. Anyways, I haven't seen any mention of this in your news group and as it is quite a newsworthy event, I figured I would inquire. Regards, Martin CTI Telecommunications [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Very little has come this way on this, so perhaps some of our Canadian readers with knowledge will contribute to the thread. PAT] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 02 Oct 1995 20:10:19 EDT From: Alan Lange Subject: Trouble With NPA 860 The front page of {The Hartford Courant} on Saturday 9/30/95 reports on trouble with the new NPA in Connecticut. It appears that not all calls using the new code are being completed. Several businesses who have already changed their advertising and stationery are finding some of their customers cannot reach them. AT&T and SNET both deny that it is a problem in their switches. SNET says they receive around five complaints each day about the problem. SNET is handling each complaint by contacting the company that handled the outgoing call. ------------------------------ From: kzsigo@ix.netcom.com (Konstantin Zsigo) Subject: Speakers Wanted: Discuss Data Over Digital Cellular - CelluComm '96 Date: 3 Oct 1995 05:00:31 GMT Organization: Netcom We are looking for panelists to speak at a particular session in the upcoming CelluComm '96 Cellular Data Conference. The panel is focused on the transmission of data over digital cellular networks, including upbanded GSM (PCS-1900), CDMA, TDMA, and Omnipoint. We would like to hear commentary about the availability of both circuit-switching, packet-switching, short-message services, and channel/time aggregation for video-over-cellular. The audience would also be very interested in the availability of equipment for these systems, as most are either carriers, manufacturers, or corporate customers. We consider "cellular" for this conference as either 850 or 1900MHz systems deployed in North America. Other sessions will consider CDPD over AMPS, CS/CDPD over AMPS/N-AMPS, and basic circuit-switched cellular with special modem protocols and other radio-level enhancements. Audience members range from engineers to upper management to data specialists. Therefore, discussions should contain a balance of both technical and marketing issues, as we do not have separate engineering/marketing tracks by design. CelluComm is the only industry conference dedicated exclusively to cellular data. It will be held in St. Louis, MO USA on May 20-22, 1996. For more information about speaking opportunities, exhibiting or attending, please contact Zsigo Wireless at 517-337-3995, or send electronic mail to kzsigo@ix.netcom.com. Fax information to 517-337-5012. Surface mail to 2875 Northwind Drive, Suite 232, East Lansing, MI 48823 USA. ------------------------------ From: prvtctzn@aol.com Subject: DateLine NBC to Air Segment on How to Stop Junk Calls Date: 03 Oct 1995 07:34:53 -0400 Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Reply-To: prvtctzn@aol.com (Prvt Ctzn) On Friday, October 6th, DateLine NBC will air a segment about the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. (TCPA). It will feature two members of Private Citizen, Inc. that have collected thousands of dollars from telemarketers ... just for calling. One, a grandmother, who sued a newspaper and collected $2000. The other, a guy in California who has collected over $6000 from telemarketers, in out-of-court settlements within the past 14 months. If you want to learn more about cutting junk calls, tune in DateLine NBC on Friday, or call Private Citizen, Inc. at 1/800-CUT-JUNK today. ------------------------------ From: ifonte01@fiu.edu (ibis fontes) Subject: Programmer Position/Job offering Date: 02 Oct 1995 22:24:51 GMT Organization: Florida International University, Miami Presently seeking programmers to design, code, and implement telephony applications which involve networking with a DCO, TCP/IP and utilizing the X.25 network. Will work on several platforms including UNIX System V, AIX, Informix and New Era. Must be willing to take on a project and perform by a set deadline. Enthusiasm is a definite requirement. C programming knowledge is mandatory. Accounting knowledge a plus. Submit your resume along with a list of educational accomplishments and/or pursuits, list your GPA and specify your salary requirement. This position may require relocation to Culpeper, Virginia. Applicants may fax the above information to 305-372-0435 or via e-mail to ifonte01@fiu.edu. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 03 Oct 1995 04:42:31 -0400 From: John R Levine Subject: What to Call the Three Parts of AT&T? I see in the press releases that after the three-way AT&T split, the piece that handles telephone service and stuff like that will be called AT&T. The other two pieces, the one that builds equipment and the one that sells computers, remain unnamed. Clearly, this is a job for The TELECOM Digest. The obvious names, of course, are Western Electric and NCR. Can we come up with anything better? Regards, John R. Levine, Trumansburg NY Primary perpetrator of "The Internet for Dummies" and Information Superhighwayman wanna-be [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I don't think there is a better choice than 'Western Electric'. Sorry John, you won't get any better than that. But, I'll listen to suggestions. As I write this, the 'trial of the century' with OJ Simpson has ended with a verdict of innocent on all counts. What a complete spectacle the entire thing has been. The closing press conference with Fred Goldman was particularly touching to me. Of course it is only partly over. The analysis and commentary will go on for a long time. PAT] ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V15 #413 ****************************** Received: from delta.eecs.nwu.edu by MINTAKA.LCS.MIT.EDU id aa03768; 4 Oct 95 2:51 EDT Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id SAA17977 for telecomlist-outbound; Tue, 3 Oct 1995 18:09:24 -0500 Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id SAA17970; Tue, 3 Oct 1995 18:09:20 -0500 Date: Tue, 3 Oct 1995 18:09:20 -0500 From: TELECOM Digest (Patrick Townson) Message-Id: <199510032309.SAA17970@delta.eecs.nwu.edu> To: telecom@delta.eecs.nwu.edu Subject: TELECOM Digest V15 #414 TELECOM Digest Tue, 3 Oct 95 16:52:00 CDT Volume 15 : Issue 414 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson The Rush For Unabomber's Essay (Patrick Townson) AIN/SS7 Modeling Job Opening (David Lin) Updated GSM List (Jurgen Morhofer) 4th Intl Conf on Spoken Language Processing (ICSLP 96) (Jim Polikoff) Optus CEO Resigns (Grahame Lynch) Cap'n Crunch WEB Pages Now On-Line (John T. Draper) European Council Statement on Encryption (Marc Schaeffer) Payphones For Prisons (latinnet@aol.com) Last Laugh! Heavenly Phone Calls = Hellish Long Distance Bill (Carl Moore) TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of public service systems and networks including Compuserve and America On Line. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Subscriptions are available to qualified organizations and individual readers. Write and tell us how you qualify: * telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu * The Digest is edited, published and compilation-copyrighted by Patrick Townson of Skokie, Illinois USA. You can reach us by postal mail, fax or phone at: 9457-D Niles Center Road Skokie, IL USA 60076 Phone: 500-677-1616 Fax: 708-329-0572 ** Article submission address only: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu ** Our archives are located at lcs.mit.edu and are available by using anonymous ftp. The archives can also be accessed using our email information service. For a copy of a helpful file explaining how to use the information service, just ask. ************************************************************************* * TELECOM Digest is partially funded by a grant from the * * International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland * * under the aegis of its Telecom Information Exchange Services (TIES) * * project. Views expressed herein should not be construed as represent-* * ing views of the ITU. * ************************************************************************* In addition, TELECOM Digest receives a grant from Microsoft to assist with publication expenses. Editorial content in the Digest is totally independent, and does not necessarily represent the views of Microsoft. ------------------------------------------------------------ Finally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such as yourself who provide funding in amounts deemed appropriate. Your help is important and appreciated. A suggested donation of twenty dollars per year per reader is considered appropriate. See our address above. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 3 Oct 1995 16:03:05 -0500 From: TELECOM Digest (Patrick Townson) Subject: The Rush For Unabomber's Essay I am sitting here amazed watching the requests flow into the archives for the Unabomber's complete essay. The volume of requests for that file alone (actually a collection three files: the complete essay and the earlier abridged version plus the 'rebuttals and commentary' file) have overwhelmed the email server and caused some delays for everyone who wanted to use the Telecom Archives this past weekend. Hopefully all requests have been filled. If you have not received the files, you should re-order them at this time. I finally got a call from a fellow at the FBI in San Fransisco on Monday, and I put him in touch with a correspondent here who had given much of the background information printed in the Digest. We will see what comes of it, if anything. In other news today, the 'trial of the century' came to a dramatic conclusion with OJ found not guilty. Nearly everyone seemed to assume that the speed of the jury deliberations 'almost certainly' meant a finding of guilty. What a mockery the whole thing was! Although there was certainly a preponderance of evidence pointing to OJ as the guilty person, preponderances don't count in the USA. Absolute proof is the only standard accepted, and it would appear the prosecution just could not pull it off. Certainly some of their witnesses were not of the caliber they might have been were a prosecution victory to be assured. I feel extremely sorry for Goldman's family; he was certainly one victim in the case; his only act was being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or would you say the wrong place at the right time. PAT ------------------------------ From: kdlin@advtech.uswest.com (David Lin) Subject: AIN/SS7 Modeling Job Opening Date: 3 Oct 1995 00:22:24 GMT Organization: U S WEST Advanced Technologies Please send your resume to Kristein Tait. All mail to me will be ignored. Her e-mail address is: ktait@advtech.uswest.com Her US mail address is: U S WEST Advanced Technologies 4001 Discovery Dr., Suite 220 Boulder, CO 80303 U S WEST Advanced Technologies has one MTS opening in the Network Performance Modeling group to do performance simulation and analysis in the areas of SS7 network and AIN services. The goals are to examine the impacts of AIN services on SS7 networks, and to build tools to allow services planners to plan the growth of SS7 networks and AIN equipment accordingly. U S WEST Advanced Technologies is the research and development subsidiary of U S WEST who is the Regional Bell Operating Company that serves 14 Western States -- excluding California and Nevada. The Network Performance Modeling group is part of the Network Architecture and Standards (NAS) department of U S WEST Advanced Technologies. The group's mission is to use modern network performance analysis techniques (such as discrete-event simulation, queueing theory, etc) to provide planning guidelines for the development and operation of U S WEST's communications networks. We have research interests and capabilities in AIN, CCS/SS7, ATM, SMDS, Frame Relay, Cell Relay, and broadband networks. The work location is at the University of Colorado Research Park, Boulder, Colorado. Duties and Responsibilities: Member of an R&D group applying discrete-event simulations to analyze existing and future telecommunications networks and protocols, and to develop planning tools for them. Individual responsibilities will include: (1) As part of a team, develop computer based models of existing and future networks and the signaling and data delivery protocols to be used on them. The models will be used to verify adequacy of the networks and protocols against the anticipated use of services by our customers. An additional objective of this work is to develop a core performance modeling capability so that networks can be easily tested for adequacy against new or alternative services and uses of the network. The work includes specification of data needs from the actual networks and services as they are deployed so that accuracy of the models can be assessed and improved. (2) Monitor external and internal research and development to identify technology advances that could affect the cost, quality, functionality, or feasibility of multimedia telecommunications products, services, networks and protocols. (3) Work with the Modeling group in Applied Research department to explore system design trade-offs and to develop optimization procedures to improve network efficiencies and/or to reduce total costs. (4) Identify network bottlenecks and recommend improved and optimized solutions to business and market people. (5) Work with market and network people to understand market needs and evolving network capabilities. (6) Facilitate the transfer of new technologies and services into network deployment. Required Qualifications: PhD (or MS with relevant experience) in EE, CS, Physics, Applied Math, or an advanced degree in a related field plus prior work experience. Candidates at the BS level with exceptionally relevant experience will also be considered. Extensive working experience in CCS networks and/or AIN services. Extensive experience and knowledge of computer based modeling techniques and computer and/or data communications networks, equipment, and protocols. Desired Qualifications: A background in queueing theory, probability, and stochastic process. A background in Statistics. Prior experience in the telecommunications industry. U S WEST Advanced Technologies is an equal opportunity employer. -------- 1911, when 1+911 is a long distance call ... ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 03 Oct 1995 10:22:52 +0100 From: Jurgen Morhofer Subject: Updated GSM List (Changes in the list marked by "*") Date 1995-09-29. Country Operator name Network code Tel to customer service ------ ------------- ------------ ----------------------- Andorra STA-Mobiland 213 03 Argentina Australia Optus 505 02 Int + 61 2 978 5678 Telecom/Telstra 505 01 Int + 61 18 01 8287 Vodafone 505 03 Int + 61 2 415 7236 Austria PTV Austria 232 01 Bahrain Batelco Belgium Belgacom 206 01 Int + 32 2205 4000 Brunei Cameroon China Croatia Cyprus CYTA 280 01 Denmark Sonofon 238 02 Int + 45 80 20 21 00 Tele Danmark Mobil 238 01 Int + 45 80 20 20 20 Egypt Estonia * EMT 248 01 Int + 372 639 7130 * Int + 372 524 7000 * Radiolinja Estonia 248 02 Int + 372 639 9966 Fiji Finland Radiolinja Finland 244 05 Int + 358 800 95050 Telecom 244 91 Int + 358 800 7000 France France Telecom 208 01 Int + 33 1 44 62 14 81 SFR 208 10 Int + 33 1 44 16 20 16 Germany D1, DeTeMobil 262 01 Int + 49 511 288 0171 D2, Mannesmann 262 02 Int + 49 172 1212 Gibraltar GibTel 266 01 G Britain Cellnet 234 10 Int + 44 860 321321 Vodafone 234 15 Int + 44 836 1100 Greece Panafon 202 05 Int + 30 944 00 122 STET 202 10 Int + 30 93 333 333 Guernsey Guernsey Telecom Hong Kong HK HTCLGSM 454 04 SmarTone 454 06 Int + 852 2880 2688 Telecom CSL 454 00 Int + 852 2803 8450 Hungary Pannon GSM 216 01 Int + 36 1 270 4120 Westel 900 216 30 Int + 36 30 303 100 Iceland Post & Simi 274 01 Int + 354 96 330 India PT SATELINDO Indonesia TELKOMSEL 510 10 Iran T.C.I. Ireland * Eircell 272 01 Int + 353 42 31999 Israel Cellcom Israel Ltd Italy Omnitel 222 10 Int + 39 2 41431 SIP 222 01 Int + 39 6615 20309 Japan Jersey Jersey Telecom 234 50 Int + 44 1534 88 28 82 Kuwait MTC 419 02 Int + 965 484 2000 Laos Latvia LMT 247 01 Int + 371 2256 7764 Int + 371 2256 9183 Int + 371 2934 0000 Lebanon Libancell Liechtenstein 228 01 Lithuania Mobilios Telekom Luxembourg Telekom 270 01 Int + 352 4088 7088 Macao Malaysia * Celcom 502 19 * Binariang 502 12 Malta Advanced Marocco O.N.P.T. 604 01 Monaco France Telecom 208 01 SFR 208 10 Namibia * MTC Int + 264 81 121212 Netherlands PTT Netherlands 204 08 Int + 31 50 688 699 New Zealand* Bell South 530 01 Int + 64 9 357 5100 Nigeria Norway NetCom 242 02 Int + 47 92 00 01 68 TeleNor Mobil 242 01 Int + 47 22 03 03 01 Oman Pakistan Phillipines Portugal Telecel 268 01 Int + 351 931 1212 TMN 268 06 Int + 351 1 793 91 78 Qatar Qatarnet 427 01 Rumania Russia Mobile Tele... Moscow 250 01 Int + 7 095 915-7734 NW GSM, St. Petersburg SaudiArabia Singapore Singapore Telecom 525 01 Slovenia South Africa MTN 655 10 Int + 27 11 445 6000 Vodacom 655 01 Int + 27 82 111 Sri Lanka MTN Networks Pvt Ltd Spain Airtel Telefonica Spain 214 07 Sweden Comviq 240 07 Int + 46 586 686 10 Europolitan 240 08 Int + 46 708 22 22 22 Telia 240 01 Int + 46 771 91 03 50 Switzerland PTT Switzerland 228 01 Int + 41 46 05 64 64 Syria SYR-01 223 01 SYR MOBILE SYR 263 09 Taiwan Thailand TH AIS GSM 520 01 Int + 66 2 299 6440 Turkey Telsim 286 02 Turkcell 286 01 Int + 90 800 211 0211 UAE UAE ETISALAT-G1 424 01 UAE ETISALAT-G2 424 02 Uganda Vietnam |------------| |o o|| |o TradeNet o|| Jurgen Morhofer |o -- o|| |o Business o|| jurgen@flashnet.it |o for o|| Tel:+39-6-780-8093 |o tomorrow o|| FAX:+39-6-780-8777 |o o|| GSM:+39-335-281929 |============|| Rome, Italy ============| ------------------------------ From: polikoff@castle.asel.udel.edu (Jim Polikoff) Subject: 4th Intl Conf on Spoken Language Processing (ICSLP 96) Date: 03 Oct 1995 15:42:21 -0400 Organization: AI duPont Institute IIII CCCCC SSSSS LL PPPPPP 999999 666666 II CC CC SS SS LL PP PP 99 99 66 66 II CC SS LL PP PP 99 99 66 II CC SSSSSSS LL PPPPPP 9999999 6666666 II CC SS LL PP 99 66 66 II CC CC SS SS LL PP 99 99 66 66 IIII CCCCC SSSSS LLLLLLL PP 999999 666666 Fourth International Conference on Spoken Language Processing ****** October 3-6, 1996 Wyndham Franklin Plaza Hotel Philadelphia, PA, USA ****** ________________________ ICSLP 96 Organizers____________________________ H. Timothy Bunnell, Chair Richard A. Foulds, Vice-Chair Applied Science & Engineering Laboratories Wilmington, DE, USA ______________________________ICSLP______________________________________ ICSLP unites researchers, developers, and clinicians for an exchange on a wide variety of topics related to the spoken language processing of humans and machines. Conference presentations range from basic acoustic phonetic research to clinically oriented speech training devices to speech-based natural language interfaces for man-machine interaction. ICSLP 96 will feature technical sessions of both oral and poster format, plenary talks, commercial exhibits, and daily special sessions. In addition, satellite workshops will be held in conjunction with the conference in the areas of interactive voice technology, spoken dialogue, speech databases and speech I/O, and gestures and speech. A new emphasis for ICSLP 96 will be on the clinical applications of speech technology, including the use of speech technology based applications for persons with disabilities. _________________________Conference Update_________________________9/27/95 Dates to Note: January 15, 1996 - Paper abstracts due for review March 15, 1996 - Acceptance notification May 1, 1996 - Deadline for papers (camera-ready, 4 pages) Prospective authors are invited to submit papers relevant to spoken language processing in any of the conference Technical Areas. Abstracts of proposed papers must be received by the ICSLP 96 Organizing Committee no later than January 15, 1996. Papers will be selected by the ICSLP 96 Technical Program Committee and assigned for presentation in poster or oral format. English is the working language for the conference. Submission of an abstract implies a commitment to submit a four page, camera-ready version of the paper and to present the paper in either an oral or poster session if the abstract is accepted. Participants will be expected to pay their own registration fees, travel, and accommodations for ICSLP 96. _____________________Submission of Abstracts____________________________ Abstracts must be received by the ICSLP 96 Organizing Committee no later than January 15, 1996. Abstracts may be submitted either by post or by e-mail following these guidelines: + One page, 400 word maximum + Technical Area(s) indicated in order of preference using the codes (A - X) below. + Title of the proposed paper clearly indicated + Preference for paper or poster clearly indicated + If sent by post, submit four (4) copies of the abstract + If sent by e-mail, use plain text (ASCII) format only Each abstract must also include the following contact information: + Author name(s)* + Postal mailing address + Phone number + Fax number + E-mail address E-mailed abstracts will be acknowledged by e-mail within 48 hours of submission. If you do not receive e-mail confirmation, we have not received your abstract! Please check the e-mail address and resubmit. Please do not e-mail multiple copies for any other reason. *Please be sure that the primary contact person is noted if it is someone other than the First Author. Mail or send abstracts to: ICSLP 96 Applied Science & Engineering Laboratories A.I. duPont Institute P.O. Box 269 Wilmington, DE 19899 E-mail: ICSLP-abstract@asel.udel.edu ________________________Technical Areas___________________________________ A. Production of spoken language B. Perception of spoken language C. Robust speech modeling and speech enhancement D. Speech coding and transmission E. Automatic speech recognition F. Spoken language processing for special populations G. Phonetics and phonology H. Spoken discourse analysis/synthesis I. Synthesis of spoken language J. Applications for people with speech/language/hearing disorders K. Databases and standards for speech technology L. Prosody of spoken language M. Speech analysis and parameterization N. Spoken language acquisition/learning O. Integrating spoken language and natural language processing P. Hardware for speech processing Q. Neural networks and stochastic modeling of spoken language R. Dialects and speaking styles S. Instructional technology for spoken language T. Speaker/language identification and verification U. Human factors and assessment in spoken language applications V. Spoken language dialogue and conversation W. Gesture and Multimodal Spoken Language Processing X. Other _____________________Registration Information______________________________ Full registration includes: Admission to technical sessions, Reception, Banquet, Proceedings (printed & CD-ROM) Limited registration includes: Admission to technical sessions, Reception, Proceedings on CD-ROM Early Registration fees: Member* Non-Member Student Full $425 $525 $250 Limited $300 $400 $150 Late registration: After June 21, add $60 After August 9, add $100 Additional Tickets: Banquet $50 Reception $50 Additional Proceedings: Printed $125 CD-ROM $15 * See Sponsoring and Cooperating Organizations. ________________________Satellite Workshops________________________________ The following Satellite Workshops will be held immediately before or after the ICSLP 96 conference. 1. IVITA The 3rd IEEE workshop on Interactive Voice Technology for Telecommunications Applications (IVTTA) will be held at the AT&T Learning Center, Basking Ridge, New Jersey, from September 30 - October 1, 1996. The IVTTA workshop brings together applications researchers planning to conduct or who have recently conducted field trials of new applications of speech technologies. Due to workshop facility constraints, attendance will be limited primarily to contributors. For further information about the workshop, contact: Dr. Murray Spiegel Bellcore 445 South Street Morristown, NJ, USA e-mail: spiegel@bellcore.com Phone: 1-201-829-4519; Fax: 1-201-829-5963 Submit abstracts (400 words, maximum 1 page) before April 1, 1996 to: Dr. David Roe IEEE IVTTA `96 AT&T Bell Laboratories, Room 2D-533 Murray Hill, NJ 07974 e-mail: roe@hogpb.att.com Phone: 908 582-2548; Fax: 908 582-3306 2. ISSD-96 The 1996 International Symposium on Spoken Dialogue (ISSD-96) will be held on October 2 and 3 at the venue of ICSLP 96. It is intended to be a forum of interdisciplinary exchange between researchers working on spoken dialogues from various points of view. The first day is devoted to invited lectures followed by sessions of both invited and contributed papers, which will be continued on the second day as special sessions of ICSLP 96. Papers submitted to ICSLP 96 (Technical Areas H,L,O,U,&V) may be selected for presentation at the symposium. For further information about the symposium, contact: Prof. Hiroya Fujisaki, Chairman, ISSD-96 Dept. of Applied Electronics Science University of Tokyo 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, 278 Japan e-mail: fujisaki@te.noda.sut.ad.jp Phone: +81-471-23-4327; Fax: +81-471-22-9195 3. COCOSDA Workshop 96 COCOSDA Workshop 96 will be held on Monday, October 7 at the Wyndham Franklin Plaza Hotel. The International Coordinating Committee on Speech Databases and Speech I/O Systems Assessment (COCOSDA) has been established to promote international cooperation in the fundamental areas of Spoken Language Engineering. Previous meetings have taken place in Banff 1992, Berlin 1993, Yokohama 1994 and Madrid 1995. Program and registration information for COCOSDA 96 will be forthcoming in later announcements. For more information about COCOSDA, consult the Web Page at http://www.itl.atr.co.jp/cocosda. 4. WIGLS Workshop on the Integration of Gesture in Language and Speech (WIGLS) will be held October 7 and 8. This Workshop will consider the integration of gesture and spoken language in intelligent human/computer interfaces, advanced assistive technology for individuals with disabilities, telemanipulation and robotics systems, and human conversation. Gestures including hand postures, dynamic arm movements, facial expression, and eye gaze will be considered along with more traditional lip shapes and handwriting movements. For further information, contact: Dr. Lynn Messing A. I. duPont Institute P.O. Box 269 Wilmington, DE 19899 e-mail: messing@asel.udel.edu Phone: +1 302 651 6830; Fax: +1-302-651-6895 _____________Sponsoring and Cooperating Organizations________________________ The Acoustical Society of America The Acoustical Society of Japan American Speech and Hearing Association (Pending) Australian Speech Science and Technology Association (Pending) European Speech Communication Association IEEE Signal Processing Society Incorporated Canadian Acoustical Association International Phonetic Association For additional sponsoring organizations, contact ICSLP 96. _____________For more information about ICSLP 96, contact_____________________ ICSLP 96 Applied Science & Engineering Laboratories A.I. duPont Institute P.O. Box 269 Wilmington, DE 19899 Phone: +1 302 651 6830 TDD: +1 302 651 6834 Fax: +1 302 651 6895 Email: ICSLP96@asel.udel.edu WWW: http://www.asel.udel.edu/speech/icslp.html FTP: zeppo.asel.udel.edu:pub/ICSLP A two-page PostScript format copy of the most recent Conference Announcement and Call for Papers can also be obtained by anonyomus ftp. Connect to host zeppo.asel.udel.edu, cd to directory pub/ICSLP96, and get call.ps.Z in binary mode. The file must be uncompressed with a unix compatable uncompress program before being printed. This plain text version of the announcement is located in the same directory as file call.txt ______________________International Advisory Board__________________________ Hiroya Fujisaki - Founding Chair Science University of Tokyo Tokyo, Japan Jens Blauert Louis C. W. Pols Ruhr-Universitat Bochum University of Amsterdam, Bochum, Germany Amsterdam, The Netherlands Anne Cutler Lawrence Rabiner Max Planck Institute for AT&T Bell Labs Psycholinguistics Murray Hill, NJ, USA Nijmegen, The Netherlands Gunnar Fant Katsuhiko Shirai Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) Waseda University Stockholm, Sweden Tokyo, Japan John Laver Kenneth Stevens Humanities Research Board of Massachusetts Institute the British Academy of Technology Edinburgh, Scotland Cambridge, MA, USA Joseph Mariani Yoh'ichi Tohkura LIMSI-CNRS ATR Human Information Orsay, France Processing Research Lab Kyoto, Japan J. Bruce Millar Victor Zue Australian National University Massachusetts Institute Canberra, Australia of Technology Cambridge, MA, USA John Ohala University of California Berkeley, CA, USA ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 03 Oct 1995 02:08:27 +1000 From: gly@magna.com.au (Grahame Lynch) Subject: Optus CEO Resigns OPTUS CEO RESIGNS Copyright Communications Day (Australia) Australia's no 2 carrier Optus Communications' CEO Bob Mansfield has resigned his position to join the Australian Fairfax publishing group as its chief executive. The move is not expected to be officially announced until this morning, but was leaked yesterday to ABC Television and other journalists. Optus was caught on the hop by the revelation last night, having not released a public statement on the move as at 2am Eastern Australian time this morning. Its public affairs section was continually engaged last night. AAP reported last night that Optus had refused to comment on the news. Mansfield is to take over at Fairfax from November, according to today's Sydney Morning Herald. He will replace existing CEO Bob Mulholland who is departing his position one year earlier than expected. Fairfax published Australia's leading newspapers The Sydney Morning Herald and The Melbourne Age. MONTHS OF SPECULATION: Mansfield's departure ends months of speculation about his position at Optus. In that period he has been besieged by rumours that shareholders were dissatisfied with Optus' latterday performance under his stewardship. The commissioning of McKinsey & Co to undertake a major management review of Optus fuelled this speculation. The review is scheduled to report next week. Mansfield's future at Optus Communications was probably untenable, anyhow. The company appears set to become a mere shell of its current self, restricted largely to cost-based interconnect revenues derived from resale to pay TV joint venture Optus Vision, which is set to assume ownership of the carrier's vast residential and small business customer base. Mansfield suggested in late August that Optus Vision and Optus Communications would not even offer unified billing at first, but Optus Vision CEO Geoffery Cousins said last week that the there will be seamless integration of the two offerings with "one company, one sales force". He said that Optus Communications would only look after corporate customers in future. Cousins already appears to have assumed the public role in guiding the network's future marketing and strategic direction. OPTUS ACHIEVEMENTS: Despite all of this, Mansfield's achievement at Optus has been considerable by any standard. He has guided the company from startup in 1991/2 to a A$1.5b annual turnover based on an estimated 14% share of long distance and international traffic and a 30%-34% share of mobile connections. The company has disappointed some with the limited focus of its services but in retrospect it was probably wise for it to avoid some of its early potentially expensive plans for payphones, a commercial ISDN service and extensive suburban fibre loop-based business services. Mansfield's greatest achievement was probably the high profile he created for the group through his extensive advocacy of Optus services via the media. He is one of the most recognised business faces in Australia with his Sydney North Shore rugby union player demeanour serving more than probably any other single factor to blunt Optus' foreign ownership image problems. WHERE NOW FOR OPTUS? Mansfield's departure will not be good for Optus, at least in the short term. The last senior expatriate executive in the company, chief operating officer Ian Boatman (from Cable & Wireless), is expected to return to the UK soon. Boatman and Mansfield are regarded as Optus' two most outstanding executives to date. Also, staff morale in Optus Communications is reportedly at an all-time low with an attitude permeating the place that Optus Vision has a much brighter future and will glean the fruits of their labour. Mansfield's departure may serve to reinforce this attitude among some staff. Any drastic changes or rationalisations that may eventuate from the McKinsey review could fuel this discontent. Of the remaining executives, chief financial officer John Greaves would appear to be the best qualified for the top job, but it is more likely to go to an outsider. Mansfield's departure probably also rates as a negative for the company's proposed float. WHAT FOR FAIRFAX? Optus' loss is surely Fairfax's gain. The newspaper group has been left at the starting gates in the convergence race, with yesterday's failure of its pay TV joint venture with the ABC symbolic of the company's inability to adapt to the new media environment. Mansfield brings with him an experience of the telecomms and convergence environment unequalled among Australian CEOs. This article appeared in September 29 {Communications Day}, a daily Australian comms news service. E-mail gly@decisive.com.au for more details. GRAHAME LYNCH Editor, Communications Day, Communications News & Analysis, Mobile News & Analysis Writer, Business Review Weekly, Comms Network, Australian Pay TV News, Broadcast Engineering News. ------------------------------ From: John T. Draper Subject: Cap'n Crunch WEB pages now on-line Date: 03 Oct 1995 18:25:29 GMT Organization: Programmers Network Greetings, Many of you Telecom folks know about Cap'n Crunch, but I still get lots of people asking how I got that name. Well, it's now explained in gory detail, as well as my early days of hacking Ma Bell and some great stories I tell. So I invite all you TELECOM Digest readers to visit my "home" in cyberspace. In there, you'll get to meet me, see my home, hang out in the town square, see what I do for work, and read some amazing stores I tell that have never been told before. Now that the statute of limitations is up, I can talk about it. Point your browser to: http://www.well.com/user/crunch/ and surf your wa wa off!! Cheers, Crunchman - Web weavers ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 03 Oct 95 14:15:00 MET From: schaefer@alphanet.ch (Marc SCHAEFER) Subject: European Council Statement on Encryption Organization: ALPHANET NF - Research and information - Not for profit Does someone know something about the rumoured European Council Statement on Encryption ? I have heard it may establish a central (possibly private) organization which would be holder for keys. ------------------------------ From: latinnet@aol.com (Latin Net) Subject: Payphones For Prisons Date: 03 Oct 1995 10:28:59 -0400 Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Reply-To: latinnet@aol.com (Latin Net) I represent a group in Mexico that has a contract for 13 prisons in and around Mexico City for telephone equipment. This group has asked me to research putting pay-phones in these prisons for inmate use. I really would like to find a company that specializes in this market that would be interested in expanding internationally. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Andrew Salisbury ASALISB741@AOL.COM ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 03 Oct 95 13:47:15 EDT From: Carl Moore Subject: Last Laugh! Heavenly Phone Calls = Hellish Long Distance Bill The Dialog (Catholic diocese of Wilmington, Delaware) has on page 5 of its 21 September issue a cartoon with the following caption: "We think it's wonderful that you want to play 'priest', dear, but daddy and I are concerned about all these phone calls to the Vatican." ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V15 #414 ****************************** Received: from delta.eecs.nwu.edu by MINTAKA.LCS.MIT.EDU id aa04133; 4 Oct 95 3:04 EDT Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id SAA18092 for telecomlist-outbound; Tue, 3 Oct 1995 18:14:04 -0500 Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id SAA18080; Tue, 3 Oct 1995 18:14:01 -0500 Date: Tue, 3 Oct 1995 18:14:01 -0500 From: TELECOM Digest (Patrick Townson) Message-Id: <199510032314.SAA18080@delta.eecs.nwu.edu> To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Subject: TELECOM Digest V15 #415 TELECOM Digest Tue, 3 Oct 95 18:14:00 CDT Volume 15 : Issue 415 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Re: Pac*Bell Lied, Do I Have Any Options? (Karen Jensen) Re: Pac*Bell Lied, Do I Have Any Options? (Bill Fenner) Re: Pac*Bell Lied, Do I Have Any Options? (Patton M. Turner) Re: Pac*Bell Lied, Do I Have Any Options? (Chris Mayer) Re: Pac*Bell Lied, Do I Have Any Options? (Fred R. Goldstein) Re: Pac*Bell Lied, Do I Have Any Options? (John Higdon) Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives (Toby Nixon) Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives (Mike Morris) Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives (Dave Levenson) Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives (Steve Cogorno) Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives (Ed Ellers) Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives (Dave Yost) Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives (Wes Leatherock) Re: Help! I've Been Slammed by WilTel! (M. Troutman) Re: Unabomber Full Text Now in Archives (Scot E. Wilcoxon) TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of public service systems and networks including Compuserve and America On Line. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Subscriptions are available to qualified organizations and individual readers. Write and tell us how you qualify: * telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu * The Digest is edited, published and compilation-copyrighted by Patrick Townson of Skokie, Illinois USA. You can reach us by postal mail, fax or phone at: 9457-D Niles Center Road Skokie, IL USA 60076 Phone: 500-677-1616 Fax: 708-329-0572 ** Article submission address only: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu ** Our archives are located at lcs.mit.edu and are available by using anonymous ftp. The archives can also be accessed using our email information service. For a copy of a helpful file explaining how to use the information service, just ask. ************************************************************************* * TELECOM Digest is partially funded by a grant from the * * International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland * * under the aegis of its Telecom Information Exchange Services (TIES) * * project. Views expressed herein should not be construed as represent-* * ing views of the ITU. * ************************************************************************* In addition, TELECOM Digest receives a grant from Microsoft to assist with publication expenses. Editorial content in the Digest is totally independent, and does not necessarily represent the views of Microsoft. ------------------------------------------------------------ Finally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such as yourself who provide funding in amounts deemed appropriate. Your help is important and appreciated. A suggested donation of twenty dollars per year per reader is considered appropriate. See our address above. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: dkjensen@ix.netcom.com (Karen Jensen, CPA) Subject: Re: Pac*Bell Lied, Do I Have Any Options? Date: 3 Oct 1995 05:00:44 GMT Organization: Netcom In chris@ivanova.punk.net (Christopher Ambler) writes: > We have 26 lines (residential POTS) and 1 ISDN line into our house. (For > the curious, we have an internet cooperative amongst 20 people, ISDN > carries internet to my house, and then 20 modems take it all over town > to the members). > Pac*Bell told us, when we ordered our last three lines, that we could > only have one of them, and that we were then maxxed out. Their story > is that we've used all the pairs up my street save for the spares to > each other house (for which I've heard anywhere from one to five pairs > per house). > I called "Home Office" on Monday to enquire as to the cost to get two > more lines. I told them that engineering had told me no more unless I > pay for trenching, etc. The lady told me, "Well, there are nine pairs > to your area available, and three available to your house." I found > this hard to believe, but decided to test it, and ordered a line > (POTS/res/meas). She assigned me a number and a date for install. > Today (a day before the install date), an engineer came out and was > rather rude with me, telling me that there's been a block placed on my > address, such that we can have no more lines. He said we can pay > upwards of $10,000 (ten thousand dollars!) to have the area rewired. > But I got a firm commitment from the business office ... > Do I have any recourse here? We need more lines, and this is getting > very frustrating. Maybe you can get a T1 in to your house. It only takes two pairs. Pac Bell installed mine for free for our business. You may need to pay a move charge to move your existing trunks to the span. Maybe they would wave the move charges to get 18 of your existing pairs. I have a used channel bank for sale. ------------------------------ From: fenner@parc.xerox.com (Bill Fenner) Subject: Re: Pac*Bell Lied, Do I Have Any Options? Date: Tue, 3 Oct 1995 07:55:01 PDT Organization: Xerox Palo Alto Research Center In article , Christopher Ambler wrote: > Their story is that we've used all the pairs up my street save for > the spares to each other house (for which I've heard anywhere from one > to five pairs per house). We had a similar problem; when we moved in, PAC*Bell said that we only had four pairs available for our house; we wanted three POTS and two ISDN lines. They ended up putting a box they call a DAML on one of the pairs, which gives you two POTS lines over one pair. Apparently, it uses a 2B1Q physical layer just like ISDN, and apparently does the A<>D, dialtone generation, tone recognition, etc. in the garage. We are using the two POTS lines both for modem lines, and although the S/N ratio dropped a couple of dB when switching from a fully analog line to one of these DAML'd lines, we don't have any connection problems because of it. So, perhaps you can get them to put these DAML boxes on some of your pairs and double the number of POTS lines into your house. Bill ------------------------------ From: pturner@netcom.com (Patton M Turner) Subject: Re: Pac*Bell Lied, Do I Have Any Options? Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest) Date: Tue, 03 Oct 1995 02:07:08 GMT I supprised PacBell doesn't just put a slick in you basement (or in your front yard :-)). If you are getting ISDN you are 18,000 feet or less from either the CO or SLC. It seems it would behove them to get rid of the bridge taps, splice in a pair of span repeaters, and the ISDN line should carry a T span (with a second pair). Then they can feed you the ISDN line with a BRITE card. Of course you many not want a SLC in your bedroom, but it is the ultimate sign of computer geekdom. Let me guess though, your fellow coop members dial in close to 24 hrs a day, only hanging up when the carrier is lost. I bet PacBells attitude has something to do with this. Pat ------------------------------ From: Chris Mayer Organization: IncidentNet Date: Tue, 03 Oct 1995 21:45:48 -0800 Subject: Re: Pac*Bell Lied, Do I Have Any Options? > From: west@via.net (Dave Harrison) > And by the way, co-operative or not, you should be paying for business > service. You can't argue "we're non profit"... so is the Red Cross and > they pay for the proper service. Unless I read wrong, he is operating out of his home, and if so, Pacific Bell has a special program called "Cottage Industries" for home businesses. A rep told me that there would be no problem with bringing in additional lines on the residential rate, although the only drawback is that you don't get any business line pluses such as a line in the yellow pages and a line in the business white pages. IncidentNet(tm) - Fire, Police and EMS Information Services Chris Mayer, Owner National ID: (Net/3500) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 03 Oct 1995 13:05:15 -0400 From: Fred R. Goldstein Subject: Re: Pac*Bell Lied, Do I Have Any Options? chris@ivanova.punk.net (Christopher Ambler) wrote: > We have 26 lines (residential POTS) and 1 ISDN line into our house. (For > the curious, we have an internet cooperative amongst 20 people, ISDN > carries internet to my house, and then 20 modems take it all over town > to the members). I have to admit that while I consider myself a respectable telco basher, my sympathies are with PacBell here. I realize that some BBSs can use residence service, and an Internet coop running from a house and NOT charging money can use residence service by the same standard, but let's not get carried away. We had a case in Cambridge a few years ago. Channel 1 began as a residential BBS, but grew to dozens of lines. It was really kludgey; they had dozens of PCs on shelves with separate modems and everything, working out of a tiny house on a back street. The city made them move it to a commercial zone. Last time I looked, they were in the same building as Delphi Internet, but the latter is moving to larger quarters in Lowell. Anyway, there _is_ a way to get some relief from the 20-line limit. Turn some of the lines into (residential) ISDN BRIs. Each has two B channels. There are some devices (Adak makes one) that convert it into two analog POTS jacks. In effect it's doubling the capacity of each pair, even if you don't have people dialing in on ISDN. And some devices have modems built in. Check out the ISDN web page that Dan Kegel maintains on: http://alumni.caltech.edu/~dank/isdn Fred R. Goldstein fgoldstein@bbn.com Bolt Beranek & Newman Inc. Cambridge MA USA +1 617 873 3850 ------------------------------ Organization: Green Hills and Cows Date: Tue, 03 Oct 1995 13:19:59 -0700 From: John Higdon Subject: Re: Pac*Bell Lied, Do I Have Any Options? Dave Harrison writes: > And by the way, co-operative or not, you should be paying for business > service. You can't argue "we're non profit"... so is the Red Cross and > they pay for the proper service. The tariff does not agree with you. There are specific points involving business service: 1. The phone is installed in a business location; This means an office building or structure in a business district. Or it means in a business environment that is not a domicile. The Red Cross has offices downtown; the poster is in a home. 2. The number is advertised; The Red Cross even runs media ads. The poster does not. 3. The number is answered as a business; The Red Cross answers, "Red Cross...". A modem answering is neutral (neither necessarily business nor residence). I have been around and around with Pac*Bell types who try to regrade various services to business. I always win when we get down to the wording in the tariffs. John Higdon | P.O. Box 7648 | +1 408 264 4115 | FAX: john@ati.com | San Jose, CA 95150 | +1 500 FOR-A-MOO | +1 408 264 4407 | http://www.ati.com/ati | [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I would have to take exception with John's third point, 'the number is answered as a business' and 'a modem is neutral (neither necessarily business or residence)'. A phone which is answered with a person's name (for example, an direct-dial extension at a company where the user replies, 'John Smith speaking') could have the same kind of neutrality of which you speak, but no one would be fooled into thinking that John Smith was going to have a social call and there- fore should be charged residence rates. Likewise, merely because the human brain cannot decipher via the ear what a modem is 'saying' -- we hear only the squeaks and hisses -- that does not mean that the message delivered to the caller is a neutral one. When the message is interpreted by a similar device -- just as when a foreign speaking person's message is translated for us -- the context might well be business. If the message sent as interpreted by the modem on the other end of the line says 'you are connected to the XXX Internet Gateway Service' then it is indeed quite arguable that the service should be classified as business. The context is all-important here. On the other hand if the modem replies with a message saying 'this is X, I am a deaf person; you have reached my residence and this is how I communicate' then obviously you are talking about residential service. I do not know about the tariff in California, but the tariff here states things a bit differently. (1) any service which is not exclusively for the personal use of the residents of a domicile is a 'business' service. (2) at an address which has historically been used for business, then any service installed there must be business service; however at an address which has historically been residential in nature then residence service is available *unless the line is being used for business purposes.* (3) there are no distinctions made between 'for profit business' and 'not for profit business'. There are no distinctions made between social and/or religious organizations and businesses. The only distinction made is if the phone is in an historically residential area and if it is intended for the non-business exclusive use of the residents therein, in which case residence service is an available option to the subscriber. The error by telco is one of nomenclature. Long ago the types of service should have been described as 'exclusive personal use by one or more individuals at a place of residence' and 'all other service.' Then either you qualify for the less expensive rates or you do not. PAT] ------------------------------ From: Toby Nixon Date: Tue, 3 Oct 95 12:16:29 PDT Subject: Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives Steve Cogorno wrote: > Toby Nixon said: >> So what if it takes a few more digits to dial *00,12068828080 when, if >> it was local to me, it could have been dialed as just "8828080" -- >> those "extra" six digits only took half a second to dial, and I didn't >> have to make two or three failed call attempts to find the right digit >> sequence! This ought to be implementable on PBXes just as easily as on COs. > This is already the case. Dialing 1+NPA for calls within that NPA will > go through. This is part of the "new" NANAP numbering system. > If your LEC is doing it differently, then they should be told > that they are not following the proper dialing procedures. The North American Numbering Plan Adminstration at Bellcore has no legal authority to mandate dialing procedures in the LECs. That authority rests with the public utility commissions in each state, at least for now. Only a couple of states currently permit 1 + NPA + 7D for local calls, and the blame for this rests squarely with the PUCs. One of the states that permits universal 11-digit dialing is California, and the PUC there is to be commended for that. But this is the exception, not the rule. > Even if you COULDN'T dial 1+NPA calls, this is an extremely easy > problem to fix in a software environment. Baloney. It's only appears to be "extremely easy" to those who haven't actually tried to deal with designing software to do this, across the country and around the world. > First, create a user profile for the CALLING number: > area code > outside line access (8,9,nothing,etc.) > long distance access (1,0 for charge, 102881 for AT&T, etc.) > suffix (calling card, charge account, etc.) > country > Then for each stored number: > area code > phone number > country > When the user calls from a new location, he or she changes the CALLING > number data to include the new area code and outside line access. The > computer then the desired number against the current area code and if > they are different it dials it. > The AppleTalk Remote Access software has a good example of this: it's > called DialAssist. Well, the Dialing Properties feature in Windows Telephony is a good example, too. And since the ongoing design of that feature is my responsibility, I hope you respect the fact that I have a pretty good feeling for what is required. You are greatly oversimplifying the problem! I started out thinking it was as simple as you state, and wish that it were true -- but it isn't. Reread my previous messages. Look at what the reality is out in the world. It is NOT as simple as "if the country code is different, dial the international prefix then the country code". If you're in Italy calling San Marino, you dial "0549" then the local number, instead of "00378"; if you're in San Marino calling Italy, you dial "0" and the city code, not "0039"; if you're in Singapore calling Malaysia, you dial "0" and the Malaysian city code, not "00560"; if you're in Mexico calling a country in WPA 1, you dial "95" plus the area code, not "98" plus the country code (1) like for every other country in the world. If you're in Russia dialing Estonia, you prefix the local number with "8 014" instead of "8 10 372". I could go on and on with these exceptions -- I have two full pages of them. Likewise, dialing within countries is not so simple. In Austria, the city code for Vienna is "1" if you're calling in from outside the country, but "222" if you're calling from inside! In France, if you're outside Paris, your city code is "null" (you don't have one) while it is "1" inside Paris, but if you're inside Paris and the destination number doesn't have a city code, it doesn't NECESSARILY mean that you need to dial the "16" long distance prefix (if the local number starts with "15", it is a toll free number that doesn't need the prefix). If I'm in the 416 NPA (Toronto) and I'm dialing certain exchanges in the Toronto suburbs (NPA 905), I must dialing then using NPA+7D, but other exchanges that aren't local calls to me must be dialed as 1+NPA+7D; this situation exists in Dallas, Houston, Washington DC, Atlanta, and Miami, and is spreading. There's simply NO WAY TO KNOW whether a given call to another NPA must have, or not have, the leading "1", without a huge database -- and you can't load that database from some central repository, because the exchanges that are local TO YOU can vary based not only on the exchange you're calling from, but on the basis of optional subscription plans. It is, in fact, a monumental software engineering problem. It is an awful data collection problem as well. None of it would be necessary if there was a *real* nationwide standard dialing plan that allowed all calls to be dialed the same way, but there isn't, your assertion notwithstanding. > Let's leave the re-engineering where it belongs: with the computer > people who want to interface into the public TELEPHONE network. Why? There's ample processing power in all those 5Es, 4Es, and DMS-100s out there to route the call properly even if it has "extra digits". The phone network is being re-engineered all the time by the PUCs, who have imposed or are imposing ridiculous 10-digit local dialing across NPA boundaries in a half-dozen metro areas already, and the problem is growing. In every one of these cases (except maybe the overlay NPAs in Houston, which will require universal 10-digit dialing between them starting next year), dialing correctly requires either acquiring or building a database to know, for each exchange, which exchanges in the same NPA must be dialed as 7 or 11 digits, and which exchanges in the other NPAs must be dialed as 10 or 11. And, no, they do NOT have permissive 11-digit dialing for non-toll calls in ANY of these places! Toby Nixon Program Manager, Windows Telephony Microsoft Corp. ------------------------------ From: morris@grian.cps.altadena.ca.us (Mike Morris) Subject: Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives Organization: College Park Software, Altadena, CA Date: Tue, 03 Oct 1995 04:06:27 GMT James E. Bellaire writes: > In TD389, Dave Yost wrote: >> Business and Hotel phones: >> Business phones usually require you to dial 9 for an >> outside line. Hotels sometimes require 8. There was >> a time, back in the old pulse-dial days, when this >> made some sense. Now it doesn't. PBX systems with >> push-button phones could use the * or # key to access >> internal dialing, and allow normal dialing to the >> outside without a prefix. We could require new >> systems to offer this facility, and old ones could >> be required to offer it as a software upgrade if >> feasible. (The phone system manufacturers should >> welcome this revenue opportunity.) > No thanks. I like being able to dial direct digits on inside calls. > * and # are used for accessing specific functions on PBXs (like remote > call pickup and direct trunck selection) so requiring all PBXs to > change would lose the availability of these features. I agree with Mr. Bellaire. Let's leave the PBX systems as simple as possible for the majority of the users. The place where I'm currently working has five-digit extensions, and ties up all of 1 centrex prefix and portions of two others. Dialing five digits to get the next desk over seems to be a bit much already -- having to dial * or # first? No thank you. I'd love to have the PBX software take one, two or three digits as "shortcut" dialing -- if I dial one digit, take my number, truncate the last digit, add the one I dialed and connect me. Same with two or three digits. Yes, I know it won't work with 9 or 0, but it would be nice. Yes, I'm aware that large C.O. level centrex PBXs have intercom functions. >> Calling from within the area code: >> If you dial your own area code, you get a recording >> saying you did something wrong. This should be >> reprogrammed so that such a call goes through as a >> normal local call. > Absolutely. All local calls should be connected and billed as local > calls regardless of 1+, NPA+, or 7D (where permitted) pattern used. > This would help travelers more than missing children since they would > not have to reprogram their pocket dialers (or minds) every time they > changed local calling areas. One pet peeve I've had with terminal programs with dialing directories is that I have to edit the phone file when I change area codes. I'd love to just enter 1-xxx-xxx-xxxx for each number, and then enter the area code that I'm calling from in a different field, and the program would "know" not to dial 1-xxx then they match. >> Special hookups for emergencies: >> In the case of a lost or kidnapped child, a >> subscriber should be able to request that a special >> unblockable Caller ID logging unit be attached to >> their line so that the police or FBI can trace a >> relevant incoming call when alerted. > Available on a limited basis now (for prank calls mainly). Just dial > a * something code and the number is logged. Report the call to the > police or telephone company and they investigate (without telling you > the number). Call-back * codes could also be used to store this > number in some switches. Hopefully you;ve reported the person missing before you get the call, so when you hit *67 (is that the code?) the police can act quickly. > If PBX administrators would make 911 (as well as 9-911) work from any > phone it would be helpful too. Not too many people would be > attempting to reach 9-1-1xx-xxx-xxxx numbers (unless they thought they > were dialing 011 for IDDD access). I've seen a few that did that. Dial 9 to get outside? fine. "11" times out and translates to 911. Doesn't take rocket science - just decent software. Mike Morris morris@grian.cps.altadena.ca.us ------------------------------ From: dave@westmark.com (Dave Levenson) Subject: Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives Organization: Westmark, Inc. Date: Tue, 03 Oct 1995 12:13:44 GMT Clifton T. Sharp (clifto@indep1.chi.il.us) writes: > In article johnl@iecc.com (John Levine) > writes: >> Call Trace serves this function now. It does what caller-ID is >> frequently misrepresented as doing, collecting the calling number of a >> call that you need to report to the cops. The answer is that it allows you to collect the calling number of a call that you don't need to report to the cops. I would prefer to use cops when there's an emergency, and to use less expensive measures when there is not. An anonymous phone call is often an annoyance, but it is seldom an emergency. Dave Levenson Internet: dave@westmark.com Westmark, Inc. UUCP: uunet!westmark!dave Stirling, NJ, USA Voice: 908 647 0900 Fax: 908 647 6857 ------------------------------ From: cogorno@netcom.com (Steve Cogorno) Subject: Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives Date: Tue, 03 Oct 1995 12:42:27 PDT Toby Nixon said: > So what if it takes a few more digits to dial *00,12068828080 when, if > it was local to me, it could have been dialed as just "8828080" -- > those "extra" six digits only took half a second to dial, and I didn't > have to make two or three failed call attempts to find the right digit > sequence! This ought to be implementable on PBXes just as easily as on COs. Toby, This is already the case. Dialing 1+NPA for calls within that NPA will go through. This is part of the "new" NANAP numbering system. If your LEC is doing it differently, then they should be told that they are not following the proper dialing procedures. Even if you COULDN'T dial 1+NPA calls, this is an extremely easy problem to fix in a software environment. First, create a user profile for the CALLING number: area code outside line access (8,9,nothing,etc.) long distance access (1,0 for charge, 102881 for AT&T, etc.) suffix (calling card, charge account, etc.) country Then for each stored number: area code phone number country When the user calls from a new location, he or she changes the CALLING number data to include the new area code and outside line access. The computer then the desired number against the current area code and if they are different it dials it. The AppleTalk Remote Access software has a good example of this: it's called DialAssist. Let's leave the re-engineering where it belongs: with the computer people who want to interface into the public TELEPHONE network. Steve cogorno@netcom.com ------------------------------ From: Ed Ellers Subject: Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives Date: Tue, 03 Oct 95 12:15:14 -0500 Organization: Delphi (info@delphi.com email, 800-695-4005 voice) Toby Nixon writes: > So, why SHOULDN'T the phone network be designed so that computers can > be connected to the network ANYWHERE and be permitted to input a > fully-qualified international number (including country code) and have > the NETWORK figure out how to route the call, instead of the computer > needing to be pre-programmed to know exactly which subset of the phone > number needs to be dialed, along with whatever prefixes are needed? That could be done easily enough -- all AT&T (or whatever the new hardware company will be called), Northern Telecom and others have to do is rewrite their switch software. However, this would eliminate the safety feature that now exists in most (but not all) areas where you can't accidentally dial a toll call as a local one or vice-versa. ------------------------------ From: DYost@Taurus.Apple.com (Dave Yost) Subject: Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses Date: 03 Oct 1995 12:03:28 -0700 Organization: Apple Computer, Inc. Toby, I agree with everything you say. I'm glad to hear from many people how much hope there is for simplified dialing from direct lines and for good call tracing. I hope that the good examples of these become universal. Here are some answers to other points raised by others. Many of you seem to not be too well in tune with what might go through a child's mind. Yes, I agree that it's a good idea to teach them to call 911 (when they're old enough -- see below) and it would be good to fix the systems so at least that would always work. But then, what shall the child do when they're not sure their fear merits a call to 911? I would hope they would call home. And what if they're afraid that the big authorities at 911 would say they're crying "Wolf"? They'd want to call home instead. And there are situations when your child would want to call home simply because they're afraid or don't feel well, and they don't want to disturb other people or are embarrassed or afraid to disturb them, like when they stay overnight somewhere. This is not life-threatening, but still, a person, the child, is suffering. Must we be hard-hearted and defend our crufty system that some of us love the way it is? I could revise my instructions to the child to this: "Pick up any phone, dial our home telephone number, and we'll answer. If that doesn't work, call 911 if it's an emergency. Even if you don't get to speak, it will help to know where you called from." Another problem is that really tiny children can be taught their phone number, way before they're able to understand what an emergency is, and way before it's appropriate to get them thinking about what they would do if they were kidnapped or caught in some sort of disaster. If you raise this kind of issue with a really small child, it can be terrifying to them. A friend gave us a videotape to show our then 3-year-old daughter about what to do if you're approached by a stranger or taken away by them. I wish we'd looked at it before showing it to her. It was quite nicely done, but still she was very frightened by it, and had nightmares about it for a long time. This is why I made such a big issue of dialing home rather than 911. 911 is problematic, especially for really young children, when calling home is not. 0 would be good if it always worked because it's presumably a number you can call in something less than an emergency, but it often doesn't work. Many, many companies in my experience send 0 calls to a recording except during business hours, many even during business hours. Besides it has some of the same problems from the child's perspective that 911 does. I don't see a need to take on making 0 work for kids everywhere if we can get phone numbers and 911 to work nicely. Here I must confess that while the child safety concern was what pushed me over the edge to raise the dialing weirdness issue, I too think there are other less urgent reasons to deal with it. Yes, I'm a dad of a small child, but I'm also a user of phones and computers myself. In addition to Toby's excellent points about computer dialing, there is another annoyance. Haven't you ever picked up the phone at work and started to dial a number without the 9? Haven't you ever picked up the phone at home and started to dial 9? This kind of mistake is not stupidity or some kind of disability, it's what happens with wetware. And it is evidence that there is something wrong with the usability of the system. I admit that my proposal for putting through calls from pay phones without paying and without having to speaking to an operator need some work, but think the goal is a good one, and it should be worked out. The same goes for phones in elevators, lobbies, and other places where companies now summarily block outside or long distance calls. In working it out, we would have to take into consideration language barriers and fear at having to talk to a strange adult (operator). Dave Yost Apple ATG ------------------------------ From: wes.leatherock@hotelcal.com (Wes Leatherock) Subject: Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives Date: Tue, 03 Oct 1995 20:11:00 GMT Toby Nixon wrote: > But in this case, adding some consistency, simplicity, and sanity to > the dialing plan in North America would help a lot more than > four-year-olds. It would, in fact, go a long way toward making it > possible to reliably dial calls from your computer, wherever you might > be. We all know that computers are actually dumber than > four-year-olds, right? There are many more people out there that are not computer users than those who are computer users. And while you may be used to dealing primarily with computer users who move their computers from place to place, even the vast majority of the (rather small, in the overall scheme of the world) number of people who have computers do not move them from place to place or even from one line to another. > We need to get the state public utility commissions out of the > business of dictating dialing procedures, and overcome the fiction > that dialing a "1" before a number means "I have to pay extra for this > call". We need a national consensus among LECs and PBX vendors on what > this prefix should be that allows a fully-qualified international > phone number to follow. I would hope that LECs and PBX vendors would be much more interested in the interests of the entire population than the small number of computer users who would see any benefit at all from this proposal. And I can assure that in many large parts of the country it is by no means a "fiction" that dialing 1 before a number means it will cost extra for the call. A vast part of the population is concerned about whethe or not it will cost extra for the call, although perhaps the few number of people who will be benefitted by this proposal do consider cost of no interest. But the vast majority of the population does worry about money and costs. > Mr. Yost's point about children being unable to figure out how > to dial in an emergency situation is a good one to wake up > regulators, legislators, and telephone system designers who > otherwise might not pay attention to the problems caused by > confusion in the national dialing plan. Once awareness of the > problem is raised, however, I would expect the primary > motivation for finding a solution would be to facilitate > shipping and installing shrink-wrapped software with preloaded > phone numbers, distribution of phone numbers and dialing > directories over the Internet that can be dialed anywhere, > simplification of dialing configuration for travelers with > computers. If this would be the primary motivation, it would indeed mean that the whole world has been remade for the benefit of software companies, including the one that seems to have been the most successful of all under the present system. I hope the regulators, legislators and telephone system designers continue to be considered about the people of the U.S.A. rather than the convenience and profitability of software companies and a small percentage of the population who takes their computers to different phone systems and has no concern at all about how much it will cost them. Wes Leatherock wes.leatherock@hotelcal.com wes.leatherock@oubbs.telecom.uoknor.edu wes.leatherock@f2001.n147.z1.fidonet.org ------------------------------ From: M. Troutman Subject: Re: Help! I've Been Slammed by WilTel! Date: 03 Oct 1995 14:58:25 GMT Organization: PSI Public Usenet Link Contact Bell Atlantic and have them place a block on your line. They are very friendly :) and the service is free. I was slammed twice by MCI, and I haven't had a problem with them since. Next, find WilTel's phone number. Here is their web site ... http://www.wiltel.com/corporat/cfwt.html Harass them. Let them know how much you dislike them. Try anyname@wiltel.com ... send hate mail! MT - Vienna, VA ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 3 Oct 1995 10:58:11 -0500 From: Scot E. Wilcoxon Subject: Re: Unabomber Full Text Now in Archives Organization: FieldDay A local newspaper also published the entire Unabomber text. "Pocket Unabomber Text" Editor's note: After intense internal debate, the {Twin Cities Reader} has decided, in the interest of reader safety, to publish the entire Unabomber manifesto." The whole thing fits on a 3 by 5 inch card. The text is somewhat smaller than the legible version which required several pages in larger papers. Scot E. Wilcoxon sewilco@fieldday.mn.org 1. Laws are society's common sense, written down for the stupid. 2. The stupid refuse to read. Thank you for choosing to read. [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Just a reminder to readers who have asked about the full Unabomber text that it is available in the Telecom Archives. You can either get it using anonymous ftp lcs.mit.edu or by using the Telecom Archives Email Information Service. To use the latter, send email to 'tel-archives@lcs.mit.edu'. The subject does not matter. As the entire text of your message issue these commands at the left margin, just as shown here: REPLY yourname@site GET unabomber END If you wish more information about the Telecom Archives Email Information Service and the hundreds of files available in addition to the past four- teen year's of this Digest, then add the commands: INFO HELP prior to the END instruction. The Unabomber text is quite large and will be sent to you in several parts, numbered appropriatly. PAT] ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V15 #415 ****************************** Received: from delta.eecs.nwu.edu by MINTAKA.LCS.MIT.EDU id aa05532; 4 Oct 95 5:36 EDT Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id TAA19788 for telecomlist-outbound; Tue, 3 Oct 1995 19:36:24 -0500 Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id TAA19780; Tue, 3 Oct 1995 19:36:21 -0500 Date: Tue, 3 Oct 1995 19:36:21 -0500 From: TELECOM Digest (Patrick Townson) Message-Id: <199510040036.TAA19780@delta.eecs.nwu.edu> To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Subject: TELECOM Digest V15 #416 TELECOM Digest Tue, 3 Oct 95 19:36:00 CDT Volume 15 : Issue 416 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Re: Forbidden? Exchange Prefixes? (bkron@netcom.com) Re: Forbidden? Exchange Prefixes? (Stan Schwartz) Re: Forbidden? Exchange Prefixes? (Tony Harminc) Re: Forbidden? Exchange Prefixes? (Arthur L. Shapiro) Re: Forbidden? Exchange Prefixes? (Rich Osman) Re: Forbidden? Exchange Prefixes? (Robert Casey) Re: Forbidden? Exchange Prefixes? (David Breneman) Re: Cell One/NY Fraud Control Problems, More (Dave Levenson) Re: Cell One/NY Fraud Control Problems, More (Alan Boritz) Re: Variable Length Phone Numbers (Thomas Villinger) Re: Variable Length Phone Numbers (Steve Cogorno) Re: Variable Length Phone Numbers (John David Galt) Re: Variable Length Phone Numbers (Boyce G. Williams, Jr.) Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives (Al Varney) TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of public service systems and networks including Compuserve and America On Line. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Subscriptions are available to qualified organizations and individual readers. Write and tell us how you qualify: * telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu * The Digest is edited, published and compilation-copyrighted by Patrick Townson of Skokie, Illinois USA. You can reach us by postal mail, fax or phone at: 9457-D Niles Center Road Skokie, IL USA 60076 Phone: 500-677-1616 Fax: 708-329-0572 ** Article submission address only: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu ** Our archives are located at lcs.mit.edu and are available by using anonymous ftp. The archives can also be accessed using our email information service. For a copy of a helpful file explaining how to use the information service, just ask. ************************************************************************* * TELECOM Digest is partially funded by a grant from the * * International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland * * under the aegis of its Telecom Information Exchange Services (TIES) * * project. Views expressed herein should not be construed as represent-* * ing views of the ITU. * ************************************************************************* In addition, TELECOM Digest receives a grant from Microsoft to assist with publication expenses. Editorial content in the Digest is totally independent, and does not necessarily represent the views of Microsoft. ------------------------------------------------------------ Finally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such as yourself who provide funding in amounts deemed appropriate. Your help is important and appreciated. A suggested donation of twenty dollars per year per reader is considered appropriate. See our address above. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: bkron@netcom.com (BUBEYE!) Subject: Re: Forbidden? Exchange Prefixes? Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest) Date: Tue, 03 Oct 1995 21:39:16 GMT awluck@interramp.com (Andrew Luck) writes: > Now I am back in the south (Atlanta GA area code 770) and really would > like to get [my 666-XXX number] back. > How about 777 (three's a charm?) > Or 888 (Dead man's Hand ?) 666 and 777 are unassigned in the Atlanta area, but 888 is on a 1AESS. > And is 666 available in area code 1-500 ? Yes, and it is assigned to "Nationwide Wireless." The following NPA's have an active 666 prefic within them: 201 217 405 516 617 817 202 218 406 540 703 818 203 302 410 603 713 900 207 303 415 605 714 903 208 305 419 606 800 904 210 312 500 608 803 913 212 318 501 610 804 914 213 334 503 614 810 916 214 360 505 615 813 918 216 402 513 616 816 941 ------------------------------ From: Stan Schwartz Subject: Re: Forbidden? Exchange Prefixes? Date: Tue, 03 Oct 1995 11:11:31 -0400 awluck@interramp.com (Andrew Luck) wrote: > Beyond conflicts with area coding, which appears to be on the way out, > are there certain numbers that simply aren't going to be used either > nationally or in certain localities? > How about 777 (three's a charm?) > Or 888 (Dead man's Hand ?) In the 516 NPA in New York, 666, 777, and 888 are in the normal exchange "pool". In 516 as well as many other areas of the country, a service called "MovieFone" (Phone?) uses 777-3456 (FILM). 888 has TicketMaster in it (888-9000). > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Wait until they set up area code 666 in > some part of the country. '666' is a number presumed by people of some > religions to be 'very bad'. A few years ago, New York radio show host Howard Stern discussed a frustrating weekend going house hunting with his friend Andrew (formerly Dice) Clay. According to Stern, they had found the perfect house on the water in Bay Shore (Long Island). Dice was all set to buy the house until he found out that the current phone number was in the 666 exchange. Go figure. [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I can tell you that Howard Stern has problems that go a lot deeper that whatever phone exchange he uses. For the second time in as many years, his radio show was dropped here in the Chicago market this past week. Citing the generally crude and lewd broadcasts for which he is famous -- or infamous -- the station bought off his contract and took him off the air at the end of last week. Would you believe WJJD (another station here at 1160 AM) agreed to take him. I guess they hope someone will start listening to their very low-ranked station now that they have Stern to insult and abuse people over the air at their location. PAT] ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 03 Oct 95 15:07:40 EDT From: Tony Harminc Subject: Re: Forbidden? Exchange Prefixes? awluck@interramp.com (Andrew Luck) wrote: > Beyond conflicts with area coding, which appears to be on the way out, > are there certain numbers that simply aren't going to be used either > nationally or in certain localities? Certain NXXs are never going to be assigned for use with AMPS cellular phone service. This is because the truly bizarre design of AMPS allows the routine transmission of certain prefixes (as would be common in a metro area) to be confused with the framing bits in the paging channel data stream. Strange but true! I have a list of these 'forbidden' prefixes at home and can post them if there's any interest. Many of them are ineligible on other grounds (e.g. starting with 1 or 0). Tony Harminc ------------------------------ From: ARTHUR%MPA15C@MPA15AB.mv-oc.Unisys.COM Date: 03 Oct 1995 09:17:00 GMT Subject: Re: Forbidden? Exchange Prefixes? I didn't spot this one in the various replies; apologies if it's a dup. My sister's residence, in the little village of Manhattan NYC, is (212) 666-xxxx. I'd say it's a source of pride with her. Arthur L. Shapiro Arthur@mpa15c.mv-oc.unisys.com [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: As Howard Stern would say, is your sister a devil worshipper? ... PAT] ------------------------------ From: ROsman@swri.edu Date: Tue, 03 Oct 95 8:15:41 CDT Subject: Re: Forbidden? Exchange Prefixes? > that in this part of the country there are "rules" against using > certain numbers, such as 666. Umm, is this the "Central Office of the Beast?" Sorry, I couldn't resist. I'm going to my room now sir. Oz@SwRI.edu (Rich Osman) SwRI didn't say it, I did. (210) 522-5050 (w) (210) 699-1302 (h;v/msg/fax) ------------------------------ From: wa2ise@netcom.com (Robert Casey) Subject: Re: Forbidden? Exchange Prefixes? Organization: Netcom Online Communications Services (408-241-9760 login: guest) Date: Tue, 03 Oct 1995 22:09:12 GMT In article jfh@acm.org (Jack Hamilton) writes: > The TELECOM Digest Editor wrote: >> In the past here in the Digest, we have had articles about places in the >> USA and Canada where 666 is used, as in AC-666-xxxx. In a few cases, which >> should make everyone feel good, it turned out to be some federal government >> agency. I think in one case it was the Internal Revenue Service. Here in >> Chicago, 312-MONroe has been around simply forever. It is one of the oldest >> exchanges in the city, and a phone district is named for it. PAT] > In San Francisco, the 666 prefix belongs to the University of San > Francisco, a Catholic college (Jesuit, I think). No doubt some > heathen at Pacific Bell assigned it to them; I'd be surprised if they > requested it, but who knows? Maybe they wanted to prove some point. Here in Northern New Jersey (201), there's a 666 exchange. It's just a random assignment, mostly in Westwood, NJ. It feeds the usual mix of homes and small businesses, nothing special about it here. I would like to see area code 666 be assigned somewhere in the Bible Belt. :-) :-) [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Either that, or possibly in Hell, Michigan. Hell, a small village of a couple thousand people is located about 20 miles northeast of Ann Arbor. Coming down from Luddington to Ann Arbor several years ago, we went through Hell on the way to the University of Michigan campus. At that time, the major highway there was undergoing repairs and was down to one lane in each direction with cars diverted over onto the shoulder of the road in a sort of make-shift lane they had setup for the southbound traffic. Far from having a nice paved road with an easy ride to Hell, the traffic jam was horrendous that day. The little village used to be famous for its branch of the US Weather Bureau located there, and its reports each winter when the bitterness of January in Michigan would cause a report to be issued saying that "Hell Froze Over". A lot of people who had promised to only do one thing or another when that condition occurred suddenly found themselves obliged to honor their commitment. Otherwise, the sole industry in this farm community with a large state forest at its southern end seems to be a tourist shop and restaurant. The tourist shop has such novel items as T-shirts on sale with the inscription "I've Been Through Hell"; coffee mugs with the same inscription; and maps of the State of Michigan with the highways outlined which point to their town and the notation "When you tell someone to go to Hell it would be a good idea to have a map showing them how to get there." This is not a recent creation; the village has been there for over a century. Drive north on interstate 75 out of Ann Arbor to the junction of State Highway 36, then go west about ten miles and there it is. Phone service is either from the Pinckney or Dexter, Michigan phone exchanges, depending on where in Hell you are calling from. I say let's assign them 666-666 as their own area code and prefix. PAT] ------------------------------ From: david.breneman@attws.com (David Breneman) Subject: Re: Forbidden? Exchange Prefixes? Date: 03 Oct 1995 19:42:19 GMT Organization: AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. In article jfh@acm.org (Jack Hamilton) writes: > The TELECOM Digest Editor wrote: >> In the past here in the Digest, we have had articles about places in the >> USA and Canada where 666 is used, as in AC-666-xxxx. In a few cases, which >> should make everyone feel good, it turned out to be some federal government >> agency. I think in one case it was the Internal Revenue Service. Here in >> Chicago, 312-MONroe has been around simply forever. It is one of the oldest >> exchanges in the city, and a phone district is named for it. PAT] > In San Francisco, the 666 prefix belongs to the University of San > Francisco, a Catholic college (Jesuit, I think). No doubt some > heathen at Pacific Bell assigned it to them; I'd be surprised if they > requested it, but who knows? Maybe they wanted to prove some point. I know this is probably taking this conversation way far afield, but are there really many mainstream Christians who believe in this 666 stuff? My impression was that it fell some place between the Shroud of Turin and "Moses was a Space Alien" in the big list of Dubious Western Religion Legends. It originated with a mistranslation from a bible four or five generations back from the King James version (which is a translation of a translation of a translation, etc.). Typical disclaimers (I am not my employer's Biblical Scholar)... David Breneman Unix System Administrator Mail: david.breneman@attws.com IS - Operations (Formerly: ~@mccaw.com) AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. Phone: +1-206-803-7362 [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: You mean AT&T did *not* hire you to read and interpret the scriptures? ... yes, there are some religions who have strong feelings about 666 and who accept without reservation the Book of Revelations. ------------------------------ From: dave@westmark.com (Dave Levenson) Subject: Re: Cell One/NY Fraud Control Problems, More Organization: Westmark, Inc. Date: Tue, 03 Oct 1995 00:38:23 GMT Jeffrey Rhodes (jcr@creator.nwest.attws.com) writes: > In article 1@eecs.nwu.edu, dreuben@interpage.net (Doug Reuben) writes: >> 2. Cell One/NY recently, and quite foolishly, commenced mandatory 1+ >> dialing for most calls, even in many cases for calls within their own >> service area. I have subscribed to MetroOne, CellularOne, AT&T Wireless of New York since 1986. I have always programmed my speed-dials as 1+ ten digits, even when the area code is my own. This has always worked in the NYC area, and it has always worked when roaming with no need to change anything in the phone. I have roamed into all of the neighboring A systems without experiencing any difficulties with dial plan. I have also roamed to Washington, Baltimore, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Dallas, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh without having to change any of my 11-digit speed-dials. Landline phones in New Jersey allow 1+ ten digits even for local calls, and even when not required. It made perfect sense to me to allow the same flexibility for cellular users in this area. Where is there a problem? Dave Levenson Internet: dave@westmark.com Westmark, Inc. UUCP: uunet!westmark!dave Stirling, NJ, USA Voice: 908 647 0900 Fax: 908 647 6857 ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Cell One/NY Fraud Control Problems, More From: drharry!aboritz@uunet.uu.net (Alan Boritz) Date: Tue, 03 Oct 1995 06:32:51 EDT Organization: Harry's Place - Mahwah NJ - +1 201 934 0861 In comp.dcom.telecom, jcr@creator.nwest.attws.com writes: >> 2. Cell One/NY recently, and quite foolishly, commenced mandatory 1+ >> dialing for most calls, even in many cases for calls within their own >> service area. This has been explained to me as a "requirement" since AT&T >> now owns them, but unless this "requirement" is specific to AT&T-owned >> properties under the MFJ, I am not aware of any such MFJ, DOJ or other >> requirement on the Bell-owned carriers. Indeed, most of them do NOT >> require 1+ dialing in their markets, ever for roamers. > The 1+ requirement is a result of McCaw's conversion to Equal Access > which is required by the 1994 Consent Decree between the DoJ and AT&T. > Now that Cell One/NY has been converted to Equal Access, 60% of all > McCaw/Cellular One markets are converted, which means the company has the > right to call itself AT&T Wireless (which has greater brand name recognition > than McCaw Cellular). An operational detail that CellOne had forgotten to mention, though, is that quite a few cellphones have to be reprogrammed to dial properly in the NY market. For example, we always have used 1+ dialing on our A phones at work, but NONE of our A phones will store the "1" in speed dial locations. Any customers from other markets may also find they can't use their speed dial because their equipment may not store the leading "1," either. In the former case, CellOne will pick up the tab for reprogramming. However, in the latter case, the roaming customers will be unable to use their built-in speed dial. That's not a trivial matter in the event you're using an employer's phone with restricted dial features (i.e. speed dial only), of if you just need to dial a dozen or so numbers that you only have in memory but don't have on paper anywhere handy. ------------------------------ From: villing@muc.de (Thomas Villinger) Subject: Re: Variable Length Phone Numbers Date: Tue, 03 Oct 1995 09:08:56 +0100 Organization: MUC.DE e.v -- private Internet access martin@kurahaupo.gen.nz (Martin Kealey) wrote: > Tony Harminc wrote on 20 Sep 1995 in > article : >>> Okay, you dial +49 or within Germany 0. >>> Now you're on the long distance level of the German Telekom network. > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > This is the clue that he isn't necessarily refering to the physical > transport network. Each step represents a "level" for decoding the > number, rather than necessarily an actual switch, although it may have > done originally. As example, if you call from Ulm to Neu-Ulm which are some hundred meters apart but are located in differen states who dont get routed via Munich and Stuttgart which would be the "normal" hierarchical routing scheme, you do get a direct link because the exchange in Ulm checks its database and knows to take the direct route. >>> You dial selects >>> - <6> South western Germany. >>> - 6<2> The Ludwigshafen/Mannheim area. >>> - 62<1> The cities of Ludwigshafen and Mannheim themselves. >>> - 621 <5> Ludwigshafen. >>> - 621 5<8> The particular part of Ludwigshafen I live in. >>> - 621 58<70460> That's my line. My phone is ringing! >>> (Actually, the final 0 helps selecting a particular >>> device on my ISDN line.) >>> Easy, isn't it? >> Easy yes -- but a disaster for planning and orderly growth. This sort >> of design ensures that Germany will not have portable numbers for a >> long time. > Whilst this may make portable numbers a little more difficult, they > are by no means impossible. Why should it be impossible to get portable numbers? I don't see any difference to the problems as they occur in a fixed numbering scheme. We already do have "portable" numbers (think of all the mobile phones which are in fact portable numbers) and guess what i works :). Note that we do have a hierarchical numbering system but still work with databases, so it might be possible that a certain group of numbers get collected in an exchange aand are routed after the last digit which contains the necessary information is collected. Thom Dive Safely! Thomas Villinger, Munich, Germany root@remora.muc.de or villing@muc.de ------------------------------ From: cogorno@netcom.com (Steve Cogorno) Subject: Re: Variable Length Phone Numbers Date: Tue, 3 Oct 1995 01:39:10 PDT Martin Kealey said: > Quite true; the point I'm trying to get at is that compelled > signalling doesn't necessarily mean opening a voice-grade path all the > way to the far end, so while it's not entirely without cost, that cost > is pretty insignificant; for example, far less than the voice-grade > path used to signal ring-back in a lot of networks. (It is > conceivable that there may even be a net benefit from cost reductions > elsewhere.) I can assure you that those cost reductions would be very slow to realize because changing the entire network would cost huge amounts of money. This thread has gone on for quite some time, but I'd like to add two points and then that's it for me: 1) The whole point of variable length numbers is moot (or at least academic) because there are at least 660 new area codes that are unassigned. That's more than 600 million new numbers that can be put into service. 2) If it HAD been cheaper, faster, easier, etc. to convert to variable length phone numbers instead of introducing the new numbering plan, don't you think Bellcore would have done that? Steve cogorno@netcom.com ------------------------------ From: John_David_Galt@cup.portal.com Subject: Re: Variable Length Phone Numbers Date: Tue, 3 Oct 95 11:28:58 PDT >> ... If there hadn't been the rigidity that >> prefixes and area codes be exactly three digits, maybe this would have >> been alleviated. > They'd have had to design things quite differently in the first place; > by the time they started to run out, there weren't 10 contiguous area > codes to allocate any more. ... They could not have avoided going to NXX area codes, but there are groups of ten contiguous codes NOW that are free and could be assigned this way. 27x and 32x for example. That would seem to me a much friendlier setup than an overlay. Of course, in the place that needs it the most, Los Angeles, it is already too late. Greater LA already has five whole area codes to itself and uses parts of two more -- and two of the five are now about to split! If they went to 2+8 numbering, their two digit code would be full before 2000. Maybe we should just keep the existing codes and go to 3+8 ... It sure sounds like the equipment is capable of any of these things. That makes the whole question a matter of taste and/or politics, not engineering. John David Galt ------------------------------ From: bowilliams@gems.vcu.edu (Boyce G. Williams, Jr.) Subject: Re: Variable Length Phone Numbers Date: Tue, 03 Oct 1995 13:07:56 GMT Organization: VA Commonwealth University Changing the subject a little, can anyone tell me where I can find a list of the display images used with the variable-length phone numbers used internationally? That is: for any country code, the typical length of the number and where the dashes go. I have a database of country codes and the name of the country that goes with it, but not much more. My only "source" giving a clue about the display is an "Airman's Guide" I found in a bookstore where a German phone number is displayed as eleven digit "WW-XXXX-YY-ZZZ", English as eleven digit "WW-XXX-YY-ZZZZ" and Japan as ten digit "XX-YYYY-ZZZZ". The first three digits is the country code, so how does the remainding numbers appears locally in that country? The reason for this request is I must format the numbers on a locally produced telephone bill I send to other departments. It's a matter of pride that I want to get the images right instead printing all thirteen digits, making the image look junky, or truncate the trailing zeros, not knowing the first+ zero is actually part of the number I should be printing. Thanking y'all in advance, Boyce Williams ------------------------------ From: varney@ihgp1.ih.att.com (Al Varney) Subject: Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives Organization: AT&T Date: Tue, 03 Oct 1995 20:05:22 GMT In article , Toby Nixon wrote: > In Telecom Digest V15 #405, rlm@netcom.com (Robert McMillin) wrote: >>> Our telephone systems should be straightforward enough that any child >>> capable of remembering their phone number can be taught how to pick up >>> any phone and dial their home phone number or 911. >> Mr. Yost goes on to suggest that "We should work toward a standard >> that would allow a child to dial simply 1 + area code + number from >> any phone ... and get connected to their home." > So, why SHOULDN'T the phone network be designed so that computers can > be connected to the network ANYWHERE and be permitted to input a > fully-qualified international number (including country code) and have > the NETWORK figure out how to route the call, instead of the computer > needing to be pre-programmed to know exactly which subset of the phone > number needs to be dialed, along with whatever prefixes are needed? This capability is available in ISDN, since the "caller" can provide unambiguously the TYPE of NUMBER and the full number of DIGITS, along with a Transit Network selection (IXC) > All we need to do is define some sort of single, nationwide (even > worldwide!), standard prefix that says "what follows is a country code ^^^^^^^^^ You mean the ITU's "00" isn't a standard? > So what if it takes a few more digits to dial *00,12068828080 when, if > it was local to me, it could have been dialed as just "8828080" -- > those "extra" six digits only took half a second to dial, and I didn't > have to make two or three failed call attempts to find the right digit > sequence! This ought to be implementable on PBXes just as easily as on COs. The main problem here is that you want a computer interface to the phone network, but you're using (or emulating) a human interface. And you left out the Carrier selection string, the call waiting suppression code, and potentially an authorization/calling-card code, followed by an end-of-dialing indicator. "*00,*72,10288,12068828080#" .... Really begs for a digital (like ISDN) interface, doesn't it. Then you also get real call progress information (not just tones) and real answer indications and real call disconnect information. > We need to get the state public utility commissions out of the business > of dictating dialing procedures, and overcome the fiction that dialing > a "1" before a number means "I have to pay extra for this call". We > need a national consensus among LECs and PBX vendors on what this > prefix should be that allows a fully-qualified international phone > number to follow. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ That's known as an E.164 number. Al Varney [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: As a note of conclusion to this issue, most of our readers will receive this issue of the Digest as Yom Kippur is underway; a time of much significance and importance. To all our Jewish readers may I extend my kind thoughts and best wishes on this occassion as well as renew the thoughts expressed here one week ago for a most joyous and happy new year 5756. PAT] ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V15 #416 ****************************** Received: from delta.eecs.nwu.edu by MINTAKA.LCS.MIT.EDU id aa05708; 4 Oct 95 5:39 EDT Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id UAA20762 for telecomlist-outbound; Tue, 3 Oct 1995 20:32:27 -0500 Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id UAA20752; Tue, 3 Oct 1995 20:32:25 -0500 Date: Tue, 3 Oct 1995 20:32:25 -0500 From: TELECOM Digest (Patrick Townson) Message-Id: <199510040132.UAA20752@delta.eecs.nwu.edu> To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Subject: TELECOM Digest V15 #417 TELECOM Digest Tue, 3 Oct 95 20:32:00 CDT Volume 15 : Issue 417 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Michigan Telecom Bill Raises Costs For Accessing Online (Richard Stoddard) Voice File Conversion Program-press release (btatro@tatro.com) Wanted: Bell System Picturephone (William King) Re: Lots of Goofups This Week (Dale Robinson) Re: Dialing 911 Instead of Police's 7D Number (David E.A. Wilson) Re: Dialing 911 Instead of Police's 7D Number (Tom Horsley) Re: Pac*Bell Lied, Do I Have Any Options? (Richard Eyre-Eagles) Re: 911 as quid pro quo (Mark Brader) Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives (Mark Brader) Re: The Rush For Unabomber's Essay (TELECOM Digest Editor) TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of public service systems and networks including Compuserve and America On Line. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Subscriptions are available to qualified organizations and individual readers. Write and tell us how you qualify: * telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu * The Digest is edited, published and compilation-copyrighted by Patrick Townson of Skokie, Illinois USA. You can reach us by postal mail, fax or phone at: 9457-D Niles Center Road Skokie, IL USA 60076 Phone: 500-677-1616 Fax: 708-329-0572 ** Article submission address only: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu ** Our archives are located at lcs.mit.edu and are available by using anonymous ftp. The archives can also be accessed using our email information service. For a copy of a helpful file explaining how to use the information service, just ask. ************************************************************************* * TELECOM Digest is partially funded by a grant from the * * International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland * * under the aegis of its Telecom Information Exchange Services (TIES) * * project. Views expressed herein should not be construed as represent-* * ing views of the ITU. * ************************************************************************* In addition, TELECOM Digest receives a grant from Microsoft to assist with publication expenses. Editorial content in the Digest is totally independent, and does not necessarily represent the views of Microsoft. ------------------------------------------------------------ Finally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such as yourself who provide funding in amounts deemed appropriate. Your help is important and appreciated. A suggested donation of twenty dollars per year per reader is considered appropriate. See our address above. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 3 Oct 95 19:49 EDT From: Richard H. Stoddard Subject: Michigan Telecom Bill Raises Costs For Accessing Online The Michigan Legislature is now rewriting the state's telecommunications act. While the bill, which is supposed to be introduced on Thursday, October 5th, by Sen. Matt Dunaskiss, addresses many different issues affecting telecom providers and consumers, SOME OF THE PROVISIONS WILL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE PHONE BILLS FOR ANYONE WHO REGULARLY ACCESSES THE INTERNET OR OTHER ONLINE SERVICES, AND FOR RESIDENTS OF SMALLER COMMUNITIES IN THIS STATE. (It goes unmentioned what this will do to families with teenage children.) This bill moves us much closer to having local telephone service billed in the same way long-distance service is: based on frequency, distance, AND DURATION. The committee staff in fact testified that in the future they envision local calls being billed just as long distance calls are. More and more people are accessing the Internet for both business and personal use. We are increasingly able to do our banking, shopping, pay our bills, and plan vacations online. Kids are able to do the research they need for their schoolwork online. Businesses, both small and large, are increasing their presences on the web. But if Ameritech and the other phone companies gets their way, the meter will be running every second we are logged on. The bill's sponsors talk about furthering the development of the information superhighway, but this bill provides for toll booths every mile. The bill reduces the number of allowable calls to 200 per month, with the charges for extra calls determined by the phone company, not the Public Service Commission. (Residents currently get 400 calls per month, with extra calls billed at 6.2 cents per call.) The bill also allows for billings based on frequency, distance, and duration, or combinations of those factors. While the bill allows consumers to determine which of those methods they want (provided it is technologically feasible, whatever that means), it will be much easier for the phone companies to structure the rates to make the "flat rate with a limit of 200 calls" much more expensive, pushing people into metered service. The bill also allows automatic rate increases up to the consumer price index less one percent, even though the actual cost of providing the service is going down. Furthermore, once a service is "competitive" -- meaning that there is more than one provider, the service SHALL be deregulated -- and you can be at the mercy of the phone companies! Finally, the bill REQUIRES that phone companies increase their rates in smaller communities in Michigan on the premise that they are "below cost" currently, even though a company may be making significant profits on local service on a statewide basis. Based on figures we have seen from other states, this may lead to rate increases of 200 - 300 percent in some communities. The bill is not available online, but copies of the bill can be obtained from your state legislator. However, you can access testimony provided to the committees earlier this year. All testimony is archived at . (My testimony, which covers this issue as well as issues like number portability, can be found at: .) We will be pushing a number amendments during the upcoming process. At a minimum, we will be attempting to eliminate the local measured service provisions, the automatic rate increases, and the proposals to jack up rates in smaller communities. But we need your help to have any chance against the high-priced lobbyists and campaign contributions of the phone companies. It is critical, therefore, that people immediately contact their state senators and representatives and express their concerns about these provisions. Interested people should contact their own legislators, but they should also contact members of the committees with jurisdiction over the bill. If you are unsure who your legislators are, contact your county clerk for information. The Senate Technology and Energy Committee, which is chaired by Sen. Dunaskiss, will hold a hearing on the bill on Wednesday, October 11, at 3:00pm. The bill, which is on a fast track because the current law expires at the end of this year, may be reported out by the committee that day. Because the bill is starting in the Senate, it is imperative that you contact your senator and members of the Senate committee immediately. Members of the Senate Technology and Energy Committee, their addresses, and their phone numbers are provided below. However, it is not too soon to also begin contacting members of the House of Representatives. Again, please contact your own state representative along with members of the House Public Utilities Committee. Contact information for House members is also provided below. You should contact legislators by regular mail or telephone. If you use E-mail, please also send a letter by mail, since many of them may not know how to use E-mail yet. The Legislature is just now making E-mail available to members and their staffs, and many of them have not had training yet. Finally, you should pass the word to other Internet or bulletin board users in Michigan. If you have access to more local newsgroups, you may repost this provided you do so without alteration. This legislation will affect all of us. I will provide more information on other provisions of the bill in the near future, along with periodic updates on the bill's status. You may also contact me for additional information. Thank you. CONTACT INFORMATION SENATE Members of the Senate Technology and Energy Committee are as follows: COMMITTEE PHONE Sen. Matt Dunaskiss, Chair 517-373-2417 Sen. Mike Bouchard 517-373-2523 Sen. Bill Schuette 517-373-7946 Sen. Jim Berryman 517-373-3543 Sen. Dianne Byrum 517-373-1734 Regular mail* can be addressed to all senators as follows: Senator (Name) P.O. Box 30036 Lansing, MI 48909 *Most senators do not have e-mail addresses yet. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: The House of Representatives has a web site with members' names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses (for those that have e-mail). Its URL is http://www.house.state.mi.us/; a list of committee members, along with links to their addresses and phone numbers, is at http://www.voyager.net/house/commpubutl.html. Richard H. Stoddard stoddard@sojourn.com Michigan Consumer Federation Phone 517-482-6262 115 W. Allegan, Ste. 500 Fax: 517-487-6002 Lansing, Michigan 48933 ------------------------------ From: btatro@tatro.com Subject: Voice File Conversion Program Date: 2 Oct 1995 18:38:52 GMT Organization: Tatro Enterprises Reply-To: info@tatro.com For more Information, Call: 205-650-0095 or: info@tatro.com Huntsville, 2 October, 1995 Telephony File Format Coinverter For Immediate Release: Tatro Enterprises is pleased to announce the release of their telephony file format conversion program. the program will enable all IVR developers toi convert voice files from all generally used vox-formats to all commonly-used wav-formats and back. This will allow the editing and recording of voice files in the familiar Windows environ- ment and converting the files back to vox-format for inclusion in IVR-applications. The full program retails for US $20.00 plus $3.00 shipping and handling. A demonstration program is available which will let you convert files from vox- to wav-format using the default settings. Bulk conversion of files in one directory with directory synchronization is possible. The program runs under Windows 3.11, Windows NT, and Win 95. The following file-formats are supported: VOX-Format Options: PCM (8 bit) (ALaw-encoding possible) ADPCM (4 bit) - both 6000 Hz and 8000 Hz WAV-Format Options: 8000 Hz 11025 Hz 22050 Hz 44100 Hz - 8 bit or 16 bit per Sample - Mono or Stereo The demonstration program can be downloaded from the following internet site: ftp: vespucci.iquest.com /tatro-enterprises/demo/vfc.zip or http://iquest.com/~btatro Tatro Enterprises. All other brands and product names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective holders. ------------------------------ From: joeyking@u.washington.edu (William King) Subject: Wanted: Bell System Picturephone Date: 3 Oct 1995 06:06:55 GMT Organization: HITL, University of Washington (Seattle) I would like to acquire a Bell Picturephone (probably a Mod II). It need not be a working unit. If you have two, I might be interested in the set. Please contact me if you want to sell a Picturephone or if you know of someone who might. Thank you, Joey King joeyking@u.washington.edu jking@hitl.washington.edu ------------------------------ From: Dale.Robinson@NCOM_MAIN.ccmail.nt.gov.au Date: Tue, 03 Oct 1995 13:01 CST Subject: Re: Lots of Goofups This Week Pat Townson wrote: > The other major screw-up involved pagers........ > Does anyone have further details on this???? Pat, You have probably have seen dozens of replies to your query, but here's my 5c worth. From the FORUM ON RISKS TO THE PUBLIC IN COMPUTERS AND RELATED SYSTEMS, Digest Volume 17, Issue 37: ----- Start Cut & Paste ----- Date: Wed, 27 Sep 95 8:43:49 PDT From: "Peter G. Neumann" Subject: SpaceCom technician disables pagers massively A SpaceCom technician at their uplink facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma accidentally send out a spacey command shutting down the satellite receivers used by pager systems throughout the country, affecting millions of pagers. SpaceCom supports 5 of the largest 10 paging outfits. This happened at 1 a.m. yesterday, and each receiver had to be manually reprogrammed -- which took all day until most of the service could be restored. Al Stem, VP and GM of SC said, "This hasn't ever happened before. And we're putting additional systems in place to make sure it never happens again." [Source: AP report, seen in the San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Sep 1995, p. A2.] I guess they haven't been reading RISKS. Wow, what a user interface! Sort of like being able to type rm * without any confirmation required. Accident? Malicious act? Whooops? PGN] ----End Cut & Paste----------------------- You would think that there would be a way to prevent this. Maybe the technician's level of authority was inappropriate? Or was it a case of tiredness that caused the technician to mistype the command and hit the GO key. I've seen similar things done to IBM Mainframes :-). I damm well hope it WASN'T intentational! May I add that comp.risks is a "Good" read! Regards, Dale ------------------------------ From: david@cs.uow.edu.au (David E A Wilson) Subject: Re: Dialing 911 Instead of Police's 7D Number Date: 3 Oct 1995 17:21:11 +1000 Organization: University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia. morris@grian.cps.altadena.ca.us (Mike Morris) writes: > It's my opinion that the designers of the phone books are a bit to > blame. They should include the 7 (or 10) digit non-emergency number of > the police on the same page as the 911 listing. Pacific Bell uses the Here in Australia we have a similar system (000 instead of 911) and here is what we get inside the front cover of our phonebook. It seems to address many of the points raised. LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY [red 17mm high] FIRE [black 10mm high] POLICE " 000 [red 43mm high] AMBULANCE " (24 hour service) [black 6mm high] * ASK THE OPERATOR FOR THE SERVICE YOU NEED * WAIT TO BE CONNECTED * THIS IS A FREE CALL Privacy Considerations When reporting an emergency by calling 000, the telephone number and address from where you are calling, may be disclosed to the Emergency Service to enable a quicker response to the emergency. If you do not wish to have the telephone number and address details disclosed, you must call the Emergency Service direct. Personal Emergency Numbers Fire ........ Police ........ Ambulance ........ Doctor ........ Hospital........ Dentist ........ OTHER 24 HOUR EMERGENCY NUMBERS ON PAGE 29 [red 5mm high] David Wilson Dept CompSci Uni Wollongong Australia david@cs.uow.edu.au ------------------------------ From: tom@ssd.hcsc.com (Tom Horsley) Subject: Re: Dialing 911 Instead of Police's 7D Number Date: 03 Oct 1995 11:10:32 GMT Organization: Harris Computer Systems Corporation Reply-To: Tom.Horsley@hawk.hcsc.com > And it would be nice to have a standard non-emergency number: perhaps > 912 or 999 could be used? All the hardware is in for 911, all it would > take is programming, and public education. I've always thought a standard non-emergency number would be nice. There are all kinds of things "the authorities" ought to be notified of (things like overgrown plants blocking visibility at intersections, big potholes, out of order traffic signals, etc). Most of the time, it is way too much trouble to figure out who to call to report something like this (especially in my part of south Florida where there tend to be 5,221 separate small communities all crammed together and you never really know if you are in Ft. Lauderdale, Pompano, Margate, Tamarac, etc...) Tom.Horsley@mail.hcsc.com Home: 511 Kingbird Circle Delray Beach FL 33444 Work: Harris Computers, 2101 W. Cypress Creek Rd. Ft. Lauderdale FL 33309 Support Project Vote Smart! They need your support in non-election years too! (email pvs@neu.edu, 1-800-622-SMART, http://www.vote-smart.org) ------------------------------ From: rec@goodnet.com (Richard Eyre-Eagles) Subject: Re: Pac*Bell Lied, Do I Have Any Options? Organization: GoodNet Date: Tue, 3 Oct 1995 00:40:34 GMT > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I would have to take exception with John's <> > I do not know about the tariff in California, but the tariff here states > things a bit differently. (1) any service which is not exclusively for > the personal use of the residents of a domicile is a 'business' service. California's tariffs define residential service as telephone service that is used *mostly* for social and domestic purposes. California defines a residence location (in A2.22 I think it was) as a location designed for residential living and has things such as a bed, kitchen, etc. I had one customer who had residence service in a known commercial location. I had a maintence supervisor go out there to inspect the location (for tariff compliance reasons) and they had a bed and a kitchen there. Residential service! > (2) at an address which has historically been used for business, then > any service installed there must be business service; however at an > address which has historically been residential in nature then residence > service is available *unless the line is being used for business purposes.* Refer again to above. Richard Eyre-Eagles, KJ7MU Tempe, Arizona ------------------------------ From: msb@sq.com (Mark Brader) Subject: Re: 911 as quid pro quo Organization: SoftQuad Inc., Toronto, Canada Date: Wed, 4 Oct 1995 00:19:18 GMT > Talking about Bell Canada's Soft Dial Tone allowing 911 calls for two > months only ... I wondered: >> Can Bell Canada really be so cavalier to only provide 911 service for >> two months? > ... If I owned the facility (University dorms in the Canadian message) I would inform the phone company that if the line was live *at all* it would carry 911 ... I guess Pat didn't run my reply on this point the last time around. Cc'd to the above poster this time. Please go back and reread the original article, or take my word for this: The article did *not* say that soft dial tone was being tried and would provide access to 911 for the first two months. It said that soft dial tone *was being tried for two months*, and would provide access to 911. All clear now? Mark Brader "A clarification is not to make oneself clear. msb@sq.com It is to PUT oneself IN the clear." SoftQuad Inc., Toronto -- Lynn & Jay, "Yes, Prime Minister" My text in this article is in the public domain. ------------------------------ From: msb@sq.com (Mark Brader) Subject: Re: Eliminate Dialing Weirdnesses - We Can Save Lives Organization: SoftQuad Inc., Toronto, Canada Date: Wed, 4 Oct 1995 00:26:50 GMT >> Call Trace serves this function now. It does what caller-ID is >> frequently misrepresented as doing, collecting the calling number >> of a call that you need to report to the cops. > The answer is that [caller-ID] allows you to collect the calling number > of a call that you don't need to report to the cops. I would prefer to use > cops when there's an emergency, and to use less expensive measures > when there is not. Is it not actually correct that Call Trace collects the calling number of the call *in case* you need to report it to the cops? And furthermore, it does it in a way that isn't dependent on your own honesty and record-keeping; that's not the case if you get the number from caller-ID (or from Last Call Return in areas where it provides the number), Mark Brader, msb@sq.com "Every new technology carries with it SoftQuad Inc., Toronto an opportunity to invent a new crime" -- Laurence A. Urgenson My text in this article is in the public domain. ------------------------------ From: TELECOM Digest Editor Date: Tue, 3 Oct 1995 18:19:54 -0400 Subject: Re: The Rush For Unabomber's Essay In article I wrote: > I finally got a call from a fellow at the FBI in San Fransisco on > Monday, and I put him in touch with a correspondent here who had given > much of the background information printed in the Digest. We will see > what comes of it, if anything. In private correspondence someone replied: Pat, you might be interested in knowing that the STANDARD FBI procedure would have been to have a LOCAL FBI agent contact you directly, present his badge (identification) and request information. That info would then have been checked locally (or fowarded to the proper agent in the area in question who *could* properly and *personally* verify/check your data). Having dealt with this agency in the past, I find it somewhat strange that you were contacted by telephone only ... Are you *sure* that you spoke with the FBI ? [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Well, you know ever since that time when I fell off the turnip truck and banged my head on the ground when I landed I have not been thinking too clearly. Do you think someone may have played a trick on me? Actually what happened was I got a call Monday morning while I was over at the IHOP across the street for my breakfast. When I got back a message on the answering machine said to please call this fellow. He gave a number for voicemail and a general switchboard number, something-7400 in San Fransisco. I rang that number and a woman answered saying 'FBI'. I left a message for him on his voicemail and he called back a bit later. I assume there could have been some massive plot, but it seems unlikely. He did offer to give me what was termed an 'event number' which was my proof of the conver- sation in the event my nomination for Unabomber of the Year turns out to agree with theirs. I know I could certainly use the money from any reward given although it is quite unlikely I will get anything. My personal suspicion is they gave up on personal interviews with people who 'know exactly who the unabomber is' somewhere after the first thirty thousand interviews or so. PAT] ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V15 #417 ****************************** Received: from delta.eecs.nwu.edu by MINTAKA.LCS.MIT.EDU id aa06061; 4 Oct 95 6:58 EDT Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id WAA23483 for telecomlist-outbound; Tue, 3 Oct 1995 22:38:39 -0500 Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id WAA23475; Tue, 3 Oct 1995 22:38:36 -0500 Date: Tue, 3 Oct 1995 22:38:36 -0500 From: TELECOM Digest (Patrick Townson) Message-Id: <199510040338.WAA23475@delta.eecs.nwu.edu> To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Subject: TELECOM Digest V15 #418 TELECOM Digest Tue, 3 Oct 95 22:38:00 CDT Volume 15 : Issue 418 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Legal Notice: MCI 900 Number Settlement Claims (TELECOM Digest Editor) Re: Area Code Split Dates (Phil Ritter) Re: Area Code Split Dates (David R. Sewell) Need Technicians Worldwide! (jputman@eden.com) Re: CIS No Longer Charges For Internet Mail (Ed Greenberg) Re: CIS No Longer Charges For Internet Mail (Kevin Kadow) Re: The Irony of the AT&T Breakup (Marvin Vis) Re: GlobeSpan (ISDN Speeds on POTS) (Steve Schaefer) Re: GlobeSpan (ISDN Speeds on POTS) (John R. Levine) Re: Dialing 911 Instead of Police's 7D Number (Andrew C. Green) Phone Number to Word Converter (John Mayson) TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of public service systems and networks including Compuserve and America On Line. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Subscriptions are available to qualified organizations and individual readers. Write and tell us how you qualify: * telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu * The Digest is edited, published and compilation-copyrighted by Patrick Townson of Skokie, Illinois USA. You can reach us by postal mail, fax or phone at: 9457-D Niles Center Road Skokie, IL USA 60076 Phone: 500-677-1616 Fax: 708-329-0572 ** Article submission address only: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu ** Our archives are located at lcs.mit.edu and are available by using anonymous ftp. The archives can also be accessed using our email information service. For a copy of a helpful file explaining how to use the information service, just ask. ************************************************************************* * TELECOM Digest is partially funded by a grant from the * * International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland * * under the aegis of its Telecom Information Exchange Services (TIES) * * project. Views expressed herein should not be construed as represent-* * ing views of the ITU. * ************************************************************************* In addition, TELECOM Digest receives a grant from Microsoft to assist with publication expenses. Editorial content in the Digest is totally independent, and does not necessarily represent the views of Microsoft. ------------------------------------------------------------ Finally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such as yourself who provide funding in amounts deemed appropriate. Your help is important and appreciated. A suggested donation of twenty dollars per year per reader is considered appropriate. See our address above. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 3 Oct 1995 21:58:23 -0500 From: TELECOM Digest Editor Subject: Legal Notice: MCI 900 Number Settlement Claims This is a legal notice of a Class Action. Please read it carefully. Discuss it with your attorney before taking any action. If you choose to participate, you must follow the instructions given below EXACTLY as they are stated. You may be eligible to make a claim and receive Certificates for free long distance calls in accordance with a class action settlement approved by the Federal District Court in Augusta, GA between class plaintiffs and MCI Telecommunications Corporation. In order to be eligible to make a claim, you must have paid, during the period January 1, 1988 through November 1, 1994 for one or more telephone calls to 900 numbers provided by MCI in connection with programs offering: Sweepstakes, wagering, games of chance, awards, prizes, gifts or information on unclaimed funds, AND/OR financial information services, credit cards, information about 'credit repair', catalog cards, or information on obtaining credit cards. You need to have paid for calls to 900 numbers provided by MCI to one or more of these categories, however your payment may have been made to your local telephone company or direct to MCI. You may NOT have disputed or refused the request for payment, nor may you have received a goodwill credit or adjustment on your telephone bill as a result of billings for calls to the above types of 900 numbers. The long distance company on your home telephone does not need to be MCI in order for you to claim and use a certificate, however only calls made during the time period above *via MCI and billed to you by MCI directly or through your local telephone company as billing agent for MCI are covered by this settlement*. Calls to 900 numbers placed through AT&T, Sprint or any other long distance carrier do not count for the purpose of this settlement. AT&T and Sprint have elected to NOT participate in the settlement. You will not receive certificates for any calls to 900 numbers made using the services of AT&T, Sprint or other carriers. To use the certificates, MCI 'Dial One Plus' customers will complete their calls in the normal way, by direct dialing the numbers of their choice. Non-MCI customers (that is, those whose one-plus dialing connects to another carrier's lines) will be instructed how to place calls over the MCI network to use the certificates. MCI has the right to investigate and challenge any claim and to verify the information you submit. If MCI chooses to investigate, challenge or audit your claim, you will be notified and given an opportunity to respond. You are admonished by the Court that the willful filing of a false claim may constitute the federal crime of 'mail fraud' and may cause you to be found in Contempt of Court. ----------------------------------------------------------- 900 Number Settlement Proof of Claim Form You are required to complete the following information in order for your claim to be processed. Your claim cannot be processed unless this information is complete and legible. NAME______________________________________CITY_________________________ ADDRESS___________________________________STATE_____ZIP CODE___________ You must identify the *home* telephone number(s) used to make 900 calls and check the box which represents the actual or estimated payments made by you for 900 number calls using MCI services between January 1, 1988 through November 1, 1994 for the following types of programs, less any credits or refunds you received from MCI ** or any telephone company ** in reference to these programs. PART I PART II For programs offering sweepstakes, For programs offering financial wagering, games of chance, awards, services information, credit cards, prizes, gifts or information on catalog cards, information on unclaimed funds. obtaining same or 'credit repair'. Home telephone number(s) used to Home telephone number(s) used to make 900 calls: make 900 calls: (___)___________________________ (___)____________________________ (___)___________________________ (___)____________________________ Check box which applies to your Check box which applies to your estimated or actual payments. estimated or actual payments. __$10 __$20 __$30 __$40 or more __$10 __$20 __$30 __$40 or more __Other amount: _________________ __Other amount: __________________ YOU MUST SIGN AND DATE THIS FORM IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE PROCESSED. Certification: I hereby affirm that the information on this Proof of Claim form above and below is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and that this Proof of Claim Form has been read, understood and affirmed by me. Date:________ Sign name_____________________ Print name____________________ Optional information below will assist the Administrator in verifying your claim and speeding its processing. You may also attach copies of postcards, letters, phone bills or other records which relate to your claim. Month(s) and Year(s) 900 calls were made? _________________________________ 900 Numbers called? _______________________________________________________ Names of 900 Programs? ____________________________________________________ Name(s) of Company Soliciting 900 Calls?___________________________________ Mail just this claim form -- NOT the entire legal notice -- before March 31, 1996 to: 900 Number Settlement Administration PO Box 33308, Washington, DC 20033 ------------------------------------------------------------------ INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILLING OUT THE CLAIM FORM: 1. If you are eligible, please complete the Proof of Claim form printed above and mail it to 900 Number Settlement Administration, PO Box 33308, Washington, DC 20033. The deadline for submitting the form is March 31, 1996. Claims postmarked after that date will be discarded. 2. In Part I and/or Part II, identify the *home* telephone numbers used to place the calls and check off the estimated or actual amount you paid, less any refunds or credits given to you by MCI or any other telephone company. Give your honest estimate if you do not know the exact amount. If there is no box for the amount you wish to claim then use the box marked 'other'. 3. If you are submitting this claim in a representative capacity for someone else who is eligible, you must attach proof of your authority to act as representative for the person whose claim you are submitting. If you hold that person's power of attorney, kindly so demonstrate. 4. Be sure to sign and date the form. Unsigned forms will not be pro- cessed, nor will they be returned for correction. At the same time, please note that by signing your name, you are affirming that the statements you are making are true and correct to the best of your knowledge. The making of false statements to the Court subjects you to punishment under the law. 5. If you have questions about completing the Proof of Claim form, you may call toll-free to 800-421-1269. TO RECIEVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SETTLEMENT ITSELF OR THE CLASS ACTION SUIT WHICH WAS FILED AGAINST MCI, OR TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE CLAIM FORM, CALL TOLL FREE 800-871-5409. DO NOT TELEPHONE OR WRITE THE COURT ASKING FOR INFORMATION. DO NOT TELEPHONE OR WRITE THE CLERK OF THE COURT. DO NOT TELEPHONE OR WRITE TO MCI ABOUT THIS MATTER. DO NOT TELEPHONE OR WRITE TO YOUR LOCAL TELEPHONE COMPANY. ** All correspondence must be through the telephone numbers given above and the post office box address given above. ** -------------------------------------------------- This is a legal notice, and by your response to the notice or your failure to respond you will be bound to the conditions and terms set forth. Always consult with your own attorney about legal matters and follow your attorney's advice before making any response to notices published by the Court. Published by order of the Federal District Court in Augusta, Georgia. October 3, 1995 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 04 Oct 95 03:58:58 GMT From: pritter@la.AirTouch.COM (Phil Ritter) Subject: Re: Area Code Split Dates > Trivia question for fellow Angelenos: within the city limits of Los > Angeles, how many area codes are there? How many within the County of > Los Angeles? Inside LA city limits: 3 (213, 310, 818) Inside LA County: 6 (Add 714, 805, 909) Inside LA LATA (LATA 730): 8 (add 520, 619) These totals do not include 562 any potential split for 818. These would bring the total in LA County to 8 NPAs and LATA 730 to 10 (whether or not the total inside LA city limits changes depends upon the exact NPA boundaries). The 213 NPA is entirely contained inside the LA City Limits. The others are partly (or mostly) outside the LA {City Limits, County, LATA}. They are included if any part is included inside the respective boundaries. The 619 NPA is scheduled to split too. It appears that the part that remains 619 will all be in the San Diego LATA and part of the new code will be in the LA LATA. This split will not change the number of codes in the LA LATA. Finally, note that including 520 in the LA LATA is not a typo (Yes, that is the 520 that covers western Arizona after the 602/520 split). Yes, these codes are in Arizona. The LATA line, however, crosses over the state line to included 9 exchanges in western Arizona. Wierd. (Actually, until the permissive period for the 602/520 split ends, a purist would claim that there are 9 codes in LATA 730, but thats would just be picking nits...). Phil Ritter PRitter@la.airtouch.com ------------------------------ From: dsewell@helium.gas.uug.arizona.edu (David R Sewell) Subject: Re: Area Code Split Dates Date: 04 Oct 1995 01:48:02 GMT Organization: University of Arizona, Unix Users Group In article , Linc Madison wrote: > I was going through Steve Grandi's list of area code splits (FTP from > gemini.tuc.noao.edu, /pub/grandi/npa1995.txt) and thought I would add a > summary just listing the dates that area code splits become final. This > list only includes geographic splits, not overlays, and it only includes > those splits for which both the initial effective date and the final > (end of permissive dialing) date have been announced. Check Steve's > file for more details. > The splits are listed in order by the date of the END of permissive > dialing. > NEW OLD START FINAL ST Place/Comment > -- --- ----- ----- -- ------------------------------------------- > 520 602 03/19/95 10/21/95 AZ Tucson, Flagstaff, Yuma (all but Phoenix) After Tucson businesses (mostly) raised hell about problems inbound calls have had under the new code, the Arizona Corporation Commission just mandated *much* looser final deadlines: 31 December 1996 for Tucson, 30 June 1996 for other affected areas. It will be interesting to see if this response to discontent sets any precedent. David Sewell dsew@packrat.aml.arizona.edu Temporary Internet gypsy (packrat's net is down for major repairs) ------------------------------ From: jputman@eden.com Subject: Need Technicians Worldwide! Date: Wed, 04 Oct 1995 04:51:01 GMT Organization: Adhesive Media, Inc. New World Telecom L.L.C. needs qualified telecommunication technicians around the world. Applicants should be able to work in on-premise phone rooms of large businesses. Also should own laptop computer, be PBX (PABX) knowledgeble, able to work closely with NWT on equipment programming and be certified, bonded and insured. Applicants interested should send email to: jputman@eden.com and put --technician-- in the subject line. Additional information and detailed questionairre's will be sent out upon contact. **WE NEED QUALIFIED TELECOMMUNICATION TECHNICIANS IN ALL COUNTRIES OUTSIDE U.S.///very lucrative offering** ------------------------------ From: edg@best.com (Ed Greenberg) Subject: Re: CIS No Longer Charges For Internet Mail Date: 04 Oct 1995 00:10:13 GMT Organization: Best Internet Communications In article , Dunscomb wrote: > Since CIS charges for Internet mail, and AOL doesn't, for me it's the CIS no longer charges for internet mail. You read or download your internet mail using the free hours per month just like any other mail. Of course, if you use more hours than you are given, you pay for them, but isn't that true of all services? Ed Greenberg edg@greenberg.org Ham Radio: KM6CG http://www.greenberg.org/ ------------------------------ From: kadokev@ripco.com (Kevin Kadow) Subject: Re: CIS No Longer Charges For Internet Mail Reply-To: kadokev@msg.net Organization: MSGNet, Chicago Date: Tue, 03 Oct 1995 15:11:07 GMT In article , Stan Schwartz wrote: > dunscomb@aol.com (Dunscomb) wrote: >> Since CIS charges for Internet mail, and AOL doesn't, for me it's the >> least expensive service around. (Cheap enough to make me put up with >> the kiddycar mail facilities, even. Maybe with AOL 3.0 they'll get mail >> facilities as good as those on CIS. Or, maybe 5.0, or 8 ...) > Actually, CIS no longer charges for internet mail, and their basic > monthly plan is the same as AOL's. ($9.95 for the first five hours, > $2.95 = each additional). A "frequent user" plan is available for > $24.95 for 20 = hours and $1.95 each additional. Strange. The September {Computer Shopper} quotes CompuServe's Jane Torbica as saying "... no, we have no plans for free E-mail", in an article on advertising supported mail services. Now if only CompuServe would offer "normal" mail addresses instead of their numeric userID- though I offer an alternative, giving a human-readable address that can be forwarded anywhere, including CIS... kadokev@msg.net Kevin Kadow Yes, I do speak for MSG.Net -- http://msg.net/ Your own domain name/e-mail for only $49/year, no setup fee: domain@msg.net ------------------------------ From: mvis@advtech.uswest.com (Marvin Vis) Subject: Re: The Irony of the AT&T Breakup Date: 03 Oct1995 19:42:47 GMT Organization: U S WEST Advanced Technologies > But for the fact that the RBOCs are now independent entities, the AT&T > breakup now being undertaken by the company itself is pretty close to > that originally demanded by the Justice Department before the Reagan > Administration and AT&T renegotiated the Settlement. > The original plan, for those who remember, would have severed AT&T's > network services from its Western Electric manufacturing facilities. Regarding the breakup, has anyone speculated about the driving forces behind the move? Of course, there are the factors that AT&T has presented as their motivations (those of speed/responsiveness, targeted stock, etc.), but has anyone tried to think of other reasons? For example, with the latest trend in legislation to move toward deregulation, could AT&T be setting up for the "deregulation age" so that, when the time comes, some of their moves in the communications world won't prompt action/question by the FCC, since they've broken themselves up and don't look like such a "bully" in the area (so to speak :)? Perhaps they even feel that this breakup might prompt faster movement of deregulatory legislation. Sorry, I'm not trying to start flames ... I'm just an inexperienced player that's curious. ;) Any ideas/comments? M. ------------------------------ From: schaefer@paclight.com (Steve Schaefer) Subject: Re: GlobeSpan (ISDN Speeds on POTS) Date: 03 Oct 1995 19:15:50 GMT Organization: Pacific Lightwave In article , brian mcnally says: > What is the deal with this? Has anyone else head of this? > The new technology will send video and other multimedia offerings over > the copper phone line, thus complementing other AT&T high-speed > solutions for accelerated, universal access to new services. This is accurate, I suspect, but this is not "on POTS". > AT&T Bell Laboratories and AT&T Paradyne have developed a new > application for its GlobeSpanTM technology platform that is the first > single line solution to transmit simultaneous voice and data at a > range of speeds up to T1 and E1 (1.544 Mbps to 2.048 Mbps) in both > directions. > At a touch of a button, SDSL will enable anyone with a telephone > line, a telephone and a computer or television to access new services, > while simultaneously conducting a phone conversation on the same phone > line. This is what the information age promise is all about. The same copper pair is used to carry both data and voice. This is not to say that the data is carried "on" the POTS service in the sense that a modem signal is. The GlobeSpanTM technology involves new equipment at both the customer and the carrier ends of the circuit. I'm not clear as to whether it typically requires changes to the in-line amplifiers between the subscriber and the telco office. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 3 Oct 95 00:47 EDT From: johnl@iecc.com (John R Levine) Subject: Re: GlobeSpan (ISDN Speeds on POTS) Organization: I.E.C.C., Cambridge, Mass. > What is the deal with this? Has anyone else head of this? SDSL is real, but it's not all that revolutionary. The predecessor ADSL provided T1 one way, 64K or so the other way over copper, SDSL gives you T1 both ways. The phone line is indeed copper, but it requires fancy equipment at each end, like ISDN only more so. I believe it has stringent requirements both on maximum line length and line quality. ADSL always seemed to be like a reasonable technology for client network users, but it never went anywhere. Don't know why. Regards, John Levine, johnl@iecc.com, Trumansburg NY Primary Perpetrator of "The Internet for Dummies" and Information Superhighwayman wanna-be ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 03 Oct 1995 13:07:25 -0500 From: Andrew C. Green Subject: Re: Dialing 911 Instead of Police's 7D Number morris@grian.cps.altadena.ca.us (Mike Morris) writes: > There is a classic story in the local > ham radio circles about one of the early cellphone 911 calls to the > Whittier Police Dept (an L.A. suburb) reporting a traffic accident. > They sent the ambulance to the address shown on the screen: the cell > switch site. Another story has a autopatch user calling 911 and > the police show up at the ham radio repeater site. > Urban legends. Well, not quite. I was saving this for a RISKS article, but will probably never get around to it: Last month I had some car problems and found myself stranded in a parking lot in Mount Prospect, IL. "No problem," I thought. "I'll use my car phone to call the Allstate Motor Club for a tow." Dialed the 800 number and landed in a voicemail menu. One option offered to direct my call to the nearest towing company _automatically_; i.e. just stay on the line and (presumably) the system would do a database lookup of towing companies based on the ZIP code of the ANI of my call, then forward my call to the service station selected. Ah, but I'm on a _cellphone_, not a land line; how will the system locate me? I found out soon enough. The phone was answered by a towing company in Schaumburg. What's in Schaumburg? Ameritech Cellular, my cellphone company. The ANI address was apparently that of the point where my cell call was dropped into the main telephone network, which for the purposes of my call was giving bogus information to Allstate's automated location lookup. It took a second call to their 800 number and a breakout to a live operator in order to get a number for the Mount Prospect towing company. Do you you think Allstate will start wondering why so many of their motorists seem to break down in Schaumburg? :-) Andrew C. Green (312) 266-4431 Frame Technology Corporation Advanced Product Services 441 W. Huron Internet: acg@frame.com Chicago, IL 60610-3498 FAX: (312) 266-4473 ------------------------------ From: jmayson@p100dl.ess.harris.com (John Mayson) Subject: Phone Number to Word Converter Date: Tue, 3 Oct 95 15:45:33 EDT I must've really been bored today. I wrote a Unix Korn Shell program that takes a telephone number in the XXX-XXX-XXXX format and produces a listing of everything those ten digits will spell. The program is crude and I'm sure someone could write a better one, but for what it is, I can't see investing too much time into it. [cut here] ----8<------------------------------------------------------------------- #!/bin/ksh # name : phonenym # author : John Mayson # description : A very crude program that generates all possible "words" # from an NANP telephone number. # date : Mon Oct 02 14:30:26 EDT 1995 USAGE="usage: $0 XXX-XXX-XXXX" case $# in 0) echo ${USAGE};; *) case $1 in -\?) cat <