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Subject: TELECOM Digest V22 #201

TELECOM Digest     Fri, 20 Dec 2002 13:43:00 EST    Volume 22 : Issue 201

Inside This Issue:                             Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    How to Stop Telephone Harrasment by IBM? (flogi)
    Nokia vs. Microsoft (Chris Kantarjiev)
    Re: Celluar Phones Question (Michael D. Sullivan)
    Re: Celluar Phones Question (Ken Wheatley)
    Re: Query About Pulse Dialing (Hank Fung)
    Re: New Weblink of Interest (jt)
    Re: (Local) Gov't Groups Using "*.gov", was Re: Ten TLD's (Pete Weiss)
    Re: Microsoft to Bump Apple Into Sync-Hole? (John Higdon)
    RE: National Branding (Paul A Lee)
    Re: National Branding (Ed Ellers)
    Re: National Branding (Barry Margolin)
    Re: The Farce of National Branding (Ron Chapman)
    Re: SBC Name - was Re: The Farce of National Branding (Steven J. Sobol)

All contents here are copyrighted by Patrick Townson and the
individual writers/correspondents. Articles may be used in other
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See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and
the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Dec 2002 21:59:16 -0800
From: flogi <flogi@speakeasy.net>
Subject: How to Stop Telephone Harrasment by IBM?


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note:  Here is a **very disturbing** report
to start the day's news. This occassionally happens where a large 
company gets off in an orbit of their own, colliding with the rest
of the world, and no one/nothing seems able to stop them. The last
time I reported something like this, it was when First National Bank
of Chicago was harassing a family in Germany with unwanted fax phone
calls, and nothing would stop the bank from making their calls until
(the old) Illinois Bell Telephone Company literally went to the bank's
premises in downtown Chicago prepared to disconnect the phone line in
question and carry away the fax machine. The story has been told many
times; now today IBM is the culprit. Let's see how long it takes IBM
to wise up or stop the harassment; if they ever do.  PAT]
 
                   ===========================

Hello,

I'm looking for suggestions ( non-malicious please) to get the
harrasment that has been confirmed to be coming from an IBM site to
stop.

I am tempted to hook up my computer to the line and see if I can get a
terminal session.  It's like reverse hacking, instead of me trying to
get to them, they just call me and open a terminal session.  However,
I really just want the calls to stop.

Any ideas?

Any legal contacts in California that might be able to help me pursue
this?  And by pursue -- I mean give them a deterrent that will make IBM
listen ($$$) and one that will make me welcome a few more calls -- so
I can keep on suing them.

Thanks,

JM

<<text of email thread with a privacy rights group >>

I'll provide a little more detail:

The calls started in October and come up on my caller ID as "out of 
area" with no phone number attached.

I had this happen before when I first got the phone number, it appears
that my number was an old billing number for Arch Wireless. Users of
the Arch wireless service would have a computer call in their billing
records via modem to my phone number.

So I get 30-45 calls daily from an unknown number.  I had Pacific Bell 
put a trace on the call and they contacted the company responsible for 
the calls.  They would not release the company name to me directly but 
would only do so with a police report.  The company refused to return 
Pacific Bell's phone calls so I opened the police report.  The officer 
was able to get the number that was showing up on Pac Bell's caller ID 
and also the name of the company (IBM).

The officer contacted IBM at the site where the calls were coming
from.  They asked for one week to investigate and resolve the
situation.  I waited two weeks.  The timeframe is now mid-November.  I
followed up with the police officer and he called his contact at IBM.
His contact disputed the information traced by Pacific Bell to his
number and said that we were wrong.  I then reactivated the trace and
explained this to Pacific Bell.  Pacific Bell confirmed that there is
no way that the trace is incorrect and that they have re-confirmed
that the calls are coming from IBM.

I have logged over 300 phone calls with dates, and times.  I still get 
30-45 calls daily.

My local police officer has not gotten any additional information from
IBM.  He has provided them with the updated information and the
confirmation that this is coming from their telephone number.  They
have not responded to him.

I have asked that he refer this case to the District Attorney in my
area so that this will become a criminal harassment case.  While this
is still a misdemeanor, it is also still harassment.

I am also considering pursuing this in civil court.  The calls come at
all hours of the day and night.  It is easy enough to ignore the calls
during the day but at 2:00am, I must answer the phone each time it
rings because it could be an emergency call from someone that I know.

In civil court I believe I can obtain punitive damages since IBM has
had the opportunity to resolve this and refused to do so.  I have
contacted an attorney about a civil case and we are investigating who
would be the defendant in this matter.

I am also considering small claims court but need to confirm
jurisdiction.

I'm open to hearing about attorneys that have experience in this area
as well as other possible solutions.  I have had my days and nights
interrupted by this for almost 90 days and do feel some restitution is
in order. Please feel free to pass this message along to the IBM
privacy officer.

   -----Original Message-----
  From: Beth Givens [mailto:bgivens@privacyrights.org]
  Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2002 2:47 PM
  Subject: Re: Question about harassing telephone calls from IBM

I'm very sorry for the delay in responding.

I find this most disconcerting. Do you yourself have the phone number
that was identified by the phone company?

I am not at the office right now, but I'd like to contact IBM's
privacy officer about this. In the meantime, you might want to do the
same. If you go to their web site, you can click on their privacy
policy, and I think you can send an email msg to the privacy officer.

Do you know why IBM is calling you? Do they leave any messages?

Also, I'm pretty sure IBM is a member of TRUSTe. You should file a
complaint about them with www.truste.org and see if they can help you.

Beth Givens


At 04:52 PM 12/6/2002 -0500, you wrote:

 > Hi,
 > I am receiving about 40 telephone calls per day by a computer
 > auto-dialer at IBM. These calls come in at all hours of the day and
 > night; 2am, 6am, 9pm etc. I have filed a complaint with Pacific Bell
 > and they have traced the calls to one number at IBM.
 > I have filed a complaint with the Mountain View Police Department and they
 > have opened a case and contacted IBM.  IBM refuses to correct this.

 > Do you think I have any other recourse?
 > I've considered small claims court but don't know who to file a suit
 > against. Any other ideas?  I'm getting desperate here.
 
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
3100 - 5th Ave., Suite B
San Diego, CA 92103
Phone: (619) 298-3396
Fax: (619) 298-5681
Email: prc@privacyrights.org
Web: www.privacyrights.org

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: How typical ... corporation denies they
are idiots and causing harassment; police and others who *could* take
agressive action to stop it do not really comprehend what is happening
so just shrug their shoulders and walk away from it. Corporation then
continues harassment unmolested. In the case at First National Bank of
Chicago (now they have changed their brand name a couple times since)
had these German people in tears. Over and over, all night long for a
month or two, the calls were coming in from the USA. This was back
before the system could automatically trace calls and those things had
to be done manually. After repeated complaints of 'phone ringing then
dead silence when we answered' from the people, Bundespost finally got
AT&T on the wire and asked them to investigate. It was traced back to
Illinois Bell, who then tracked it back to the bank, a full month or
more after the calls were going on nightly. The bank totally ignored
requests from Illinois Bell to fix the problem. Finally a security rep
went from Bell over to the bank with a legal notice and an ultimatum;
'we are turning off your phones at (whatever time was permitted under
the law) because you will not correct this problem.' The notice was
given by telco to the Vice President-Telecom for the bank who went
downstairs with a vengeance to correct the problem himself. After a
bit of rudeness by him, the problem got corrected. And the idiots have
such short term memory problems; a month or so later when the bank got
a phone bill with page after page after page after page of one minute
phone calls to Germany at hours in the middle of the night when the
bank was closed, they complained 'Bell really screwed up our phone
bill this month' and wanted credit for all those calls.

I finally had to complain to the State Commission here in Kansas about
the way Southwestern Bell's alleged Privacy Manager does not work (the
one they charge people BIG $$ for without actually providing any
service for the money.) And guess who *my* culprit was?  A divison of
*AT&T* who was getting around caller-ID by filling the screen with
'name unavailable' and ten zeros for a phone number. Do any of you
young'uns remember when the phone company used to actually take
seriously their obligations toward their customer's privacy and not
just mock and humor the customers with things like Privacy Manager?
Good luck to our latest victim from IBM. Let's see how long it takes
to get them straightened out. I wonder if he has considered putting
'privacy manager' (snicker) on his phone line or call blocking?  PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Dec 2002 21:05:02 PST
From: Chris Kantarjiev <cak@dimebank.com>
Subject: Nokia vs. Microsoft


A few weeks back, Monty posted an article from the Economist
speculating whether Nokia or Microsoft would control the evolution of
handheld computing.  I wrote the attached to the editors at the
Economist; they are apparently not going to run it, and seems a shame
to waste a good rant:

Gentlemen:

I read with great interest your article "Nokia vs Microsoft". I
believe (and have for some time) that it is not merely an issue of two
companies competing for the same dollars, but two modes of computer
interaction trying to find the right balance.

Most mobile phone users would not describe themselves of interacting
with a computer system, but that is exactly what they are doing - the
handset is but a terminal attached to a very large distributed system.
In the early 1990s, researchers at the Xerox Palo Alto Research
Center, led by Mark Weiser, put forth the idea of "ubiquitous
computing" -- see

 <URL http://www.ubiq.com/hypertext/weiser/UbiHome.html >

where a key element of the model was that mobile terminals are not
standalone, but are in communication with one another and a large
system behind them. The mobile phone-as-computer is an excellent
example of what Weiser called an "invisible system".

Microsoft's (and those of other manufacturers who are pushing into the
handheld space) systems are anything but invisible. They are, largely,
based on the idea that the computer must be self-contained,
standalone, out of touch. They also have a tendency to try to take
applications that were developed for large machines with large
displays and large input devices and squash them down into an
environment that has a minimalist processor, simplistic display, and
barely adequate input. No wonder that "convergence" devices have been
such dismal failures!

Your discussion omits completely a very important set of players: the
wireless carriers themselves. They control the technology, network
access, billing, technology, content and user experience in a way that
Microsoft (and large ISPs) can only dream of.

The past several years have brought an effort by US mobile carriers to
imitate the success of SMS in the GSM world, without much success.
There are many reasons for this - carrier implementation missteps
aside - but I believe that in large part it is because the financial
models and user expectations that form the background of use are
completely different.

In the US, network consumers were raised on flat rate fixed-wire phone
service. This carried over to web access and wireless rate plans:
consumers are accustomed to flat fee unlimited access web browsing
from home and work and generous billing plans that provide a surfeit
of "free" talk minutes - so many minutes that most consumers can't use
them all. AOL's current advertising scheme offers so many free minutes
that you can't use them up in the number of days they remain valid.
Voice plans usually begin with a "bucket" of 200 minutes/month for
US$20.

The always-on Internet access in the US has taught users to expect
high-quality, high-bandwidth content delivery. Communication is via
instant messaging, with a constant view into the reachability and
status of their IM "buddies".

On the other hand, until recently, US mobile phone users could only
send SMS messages to users on their same wireless network. Carriers
are now counting on SMS to increase their revenue growth, but don't
make a compelling case for the functionality or cost. They have broken
the longstanding financial model by introducing usage-sensitive
pricing: SMS messages typically cost US$0.10, often both incoming and
outgoing.  Why would users want to pay per-message fees to thumb type,
when they can just make a voice call for "free"?

The rest of the world has grown up with usage sensitive pricing for
fixed telephone usage, and web and wireless pricing continues to
follow that model.  Thus, the rest of the world is not so well
connected to the Internet (if at all), doesn't have flat rate Internet
access, and pays for every minute of talk.  In this model, SMS makes
financial sense: an SMS costs less than 1/4 of a voice minute, and
both minutes and messages are pay-as-you-go. Users are accustomed to
small displays and small devices and wonder why they should be
expected to carry something too bulky to fit in a pocket. Carriers
were happy to have SMS messages use up the idle capacity of their
networks.

To put it bluntly, the wireless experience in the US is that of trying
to cram a full PC into a portable phone; in the rest of the world, it
has been a slow expansion of functionality on devices that consumers
are carrying anyway.

Nokia (and other mobile phone technologists) have continued to build
systems that are based on communication; they slowly add more
functionality (such as SMS, and now MMS) to those systems. Third
parties have built very powerful, if deceptively simple, applications
on top of these systems. Users of the GSM mobile telephony system have
used these two-way systems for many years; the success and growth of
SMS messaging is a testament to their utility.

Microsoft (and other computer technologists) have built, and continue
to build, systems that are meant to stand alone. The Microsoft
Smartphone platform is no different - it just happens to have a phone
and Internet connection in it. I don't really believe that the ability
to browse the web will make it that much more succesful - it didn't
work for WAP, did it?

I believe that the "one, true way" lies somewhere between - but closer
to well-designed applications that involve personalized communication
with a smart backend system, rather than more and more powerful
devices that are carried in one's pocket. My personal bet is on Nokia;
they don't have the baggage to jettison that Microsoft do.

The mobile carriers still have the opportunity to foul it up for both
sides - especially by trying to equate the pricing of data bytes with
voice minutes, to maximize their short-term profits at the expense of
user experience and content/application availability. Trying to meet
fixed-line expectations with (expensive) wireless bandwidth is a
recipe for disaster.

(I have written about this at length in various guises; one readily
accessible though not very polished version can be found at

 <URL http://bosphorus.dimebank.com/~cak/WirelessApps.html > )


Sincerely,

Christopher Kantarjiev

------------------------------

From: Michael D. Sullivan <zyxNOSPAM@camsul.com>
Subject: Re: Celluar Phones Question
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 06:21:51 GMT


[This followup was posted to comp.dcom.telecom and a copy was sent to 
the cited author.]

On Thu, 19 Dec 2002 11:27:45 -0800, John J. Trombetti posted the 
following to comp.dcom.telecom:

> Dear Sir,

> I am writing to see if you can tell me how many celluar phones are 
> active in the United States; or where I may find such data?

> I do not need specifics, but a general number, even a rational estimate 
> would work. I am putting together a project and it will be useable with 
> celluar phones and I really don't know "how" many users there are out
> there?

The current number, according to CTIA's website at www.wow-com.com, is 
137,458,902 (includes cellular, PCS, and ESMR, which operate in 
different frequency bands but are all commonly referred to as 
cellular).


Michael D. Sullivan
Bethesda, MD, USA
(delete NOSPAM from address to mail me)

------------------------------

From: Ken Wheatley <kenneth.wheatley@gb.unisys.com>
Subject: Re: Celluar Phones Question
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 09:49:35 -0000
Organization: Unisys - Roseville, MN


John J. Trombetti <j.trombetti@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:telecom22.200.5@telecom-digest.org:

> I am writing to see if you can tell me how many celluar phones are
> active in the United States; or where I may find such data?

> I do not need specifics, but a general number, even a rational estimate
> would work. I am putting together a project and it will be useable with
> celluar phones and I really don't know "how" many users there are out
> there?

According to http://www.e-searchwireless.com (subsciption necessary)
there were 129,375,600 cellphones active in the US last
month. Penetration at end of 2001 was under 46% - still very low by
the standards of many other industrialised economies. Finland had 83%
penetration (although I'm not sure if that figure was before or after
the industry adjusted the published subscriber figiures to make their
ARPU look better).

------------------------------

From: fungus@OCF.Berkeley.EDU (Hank Fung)
Subject: Re: Query About Pulse Dialing
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 10:26:44 UTC
Organization: Univ. of California Berkeley Open Computing Facility


In article <telecom22.196.5@telecom-digest.org>,
Ed Ellers  <ed_ellers@msn.com> wrote:

> John Higdon <no-spam@amadeus.kome.com> wrote:

>> Pulse dialing is rarely used in the US.

> More often than you might think ... especially by people who *do* have
> Touch-Tone provisioned on their line but don't realize that they need
> to change a switch setting on their phone to use it.

Aren't there still some phone companies that charge for the
"privilege" of using touch tone dialing (or "touch calling" as it was
called by GTE)?

What usually happens is that these cheapskates will then switch the
phone to tone when they need to access a voice mail or interactive
response system.


Hank Fung			         fungus@ocf.berkeley.edu
Go Bears!		             http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~fungus


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: You call someone a 'cheapskate' because
they refuse to let telco rip them off for a service which is more
effecient to use, costs telco less in switch time?  PAT]

------------------------------

From: jt <jtaylor@spamkiller.hfx.andara.com>
Subject: Re: New Weblink of Interest
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 08:35:44 -0500
Organization: WorldCom Canada Ltd. News Reader Service


TELECOM Digest Editor noted:

> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Maybe I will do that, in the form of a
> large collection of messages from you readers. I could not begin to
> do it as a solo project without some assistance; i.e. financial help;
> i.e. the impartiality gets on shaky grounds. But if I had four or five
> hundred messages on various carriers, the programs they offer, etc and
> organized them according to carrier; type of offering; cost and other
> factors then it would cost me very litle also. It might be a very
> useful file for netizens. I could put it all on a web site and offer
> it for free as a truly impartial guide. Ideas on this, anyone?   PAT]

Pat, make a form.  There are so many plans and ways of describing them
that you must have a standard way of setting out the criteria.  Maybe
some kind of spreadsheet that you can import and interested parties
could get the compilation -- would let them sort out what THEY thought
was important.

P.S. Don't forget to put out your milk and cookies next week.  The way
the world seems to be going, that big guy may need to eat well.

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Wouldn't it be a real riot if Sodomy
Insane chose Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to set off a massive 
nerve gas bomb in the USA?  'Here you go, you Satanic Devils! Have
a Merry holiday compliments of the middle-east people. Eat and breath
this gas we are sending you! Remember to put the 'X' back in X Mass.'
PAT]

------------------------------

From: Pete Weiss <pete-weiss@psu.edu>
Subject: Re: (Local) Gov't Groups Using "*.gov", was Re: Ten TLD's
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 11:00:44 -0500
Organization: Penn State University -- Administrative Information Services


And my personal favorite for a .GOV site that is a state agency:

http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/press/pr.cfm

------------------------------

From: John Higdon <no-spam@amadeus.kome.com>
Subject: Re: Microsoft to bump Apple into sync-hole?
Organization: Green Hills and Cows
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 08:09:58 -0800


In article <telecom22.200.2@telecom-digest.org>, Monty Solomon
<monty@roscom.com> wrote:

> By Joe Wilcox
> Staff Writer, CNET News.com

> Apple Computer is refining a strategy for connecting cell phones and
> other portable devices to its Macintosh systems in an effort to boost
> sales.

> But a rival endeavor from Microsoft, expected to be unveiled early
> next year, could dim the company's hopes, analysts said.

That's the history of Microsoft. Let someone else pioneer a product or 
service, wait and see if it turns out to be anything, and then muscle in 
on it with a crippled, inferior version.

It is very good to be Microsoft-free in my computing these days!


John Higdon     | Email Address Valid | SF:  +1 415 428-COWS
+1 408 264 4115 |     Anytown, USA    | FAX: +1 408 264 4407

------------------------------

From: Paul A Lee <palee@riteaid.com>
Subject: Re: National Branding
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 11:32:17 -0500


In TELECOM Digest V22 #199, John Higdon <no-spam@amadeus.kome.com>
wrote (in part):

> Obviously, you haven't examined [GE and Whirlpool washers and dryers]
> very closely. I have. They not only use idential parts, the chassis,
> panels, knobs, and trim were obviously stamped from the same dies.

Okay ... I said my piece and gave my examples a while back, when this
thread was new. Then, I let it drop when it became apparent to me that
John's position is more philosophical than factual. I appreciate what
he's saying, and there are many instances where it's true -- perhaps
more often than not.

I'm chiming back in, though, because I'm pretty certain John has his
facts wrong on this point (and others, perhaps ...?). I'll concede
that GE and Hotpoint major appliances are the same basic boxes, and
that Whirlpool, some KitchenAid, and most Kenmore major appliances are
the same boxes.

GE and Whirlpool, though, are two distinctly different lines. Both use
some components (timers, motors, electronics, solenoids, and maybe
even some trim parts) that come from the same manufacturers and may
even be identical.  However, cabinets, transmissions, and other major
"brand-identity" components are different on all examples I've
seen. John may have "examined" them, but I've repaired a number of
both GE and Whirlpool (including Kenmore) appliances, and the design
and assembly techniques are distinct.

Since I'm not in the appliance industry, I can't be absolutely certain
that there's no crossover. I'd concede this point if John (or someone
else) can give me an example of one major appliance -- one Whirlpool
model number and one GE model number -- that are identifiable as the
same basic machine.


Paul A Lee
*palee*at*dca*dot*net*

------------------------------

From: Ed Ellers <ed_ellers@msn.com>
Subject: Re: National Branding
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 05:43:42 -0500


John Higdon <no-spam@amadeus.kome.com> wrote:

> Well, now you have.

Which models of washers or dryers (or for that matter ranges,
refrigerators or freezers) are imported into the U.S. from overseas?

> Obviously, you haven't examined them very closely. I have. They not
> only use idential parts, the chassis, panels, knobs, and trim were
> obviously stamped from the same dies.

That will come as a big surprise to the GE engineers, a few miles from
me here in Louisville, who work hard to differentiate their appliances
from those of Whirlpool and others.

------------------------------

From: Barry Margolin <barmar@genuity.com>
Subject: Re: National Branding
Organization: Genuity, Woburn, MA
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 15:34:52 GMT


In article <telecom22.199.2@telecom-digest.org>, John Higdon
<no-spam@amadeus.kome.com> wrote:

> In article <telecom22.198.7@telecom-digest.org>, Barry Margolin
> <barmar@genuity.net> wrote:

>> The new management that takes over after a merger or acquisition.
>> Aren't most of the examples of brand name changes that you gave a
>> result of such activity?

> I don't care who is responsible. It is still a mistake to muck with the 
> brand name if "national branding" is important.

Maybe they think the new brand is better than the old one.  How can they
emphasize their integration if they have to keep using the old brand?

> I have sold companies before, and I have watched the new owners 
> literally toss the company's reputation and indentity into the garbage. 
> I had to wonder why they bothered to buy the company.

Because the name isn't the only asset that a company has.  They bought it
for its customer base, employees, technology, etc.

>> I don't know where you got the idea that name changes are spontaneous
>> or capricious.  They're a consequence of other changes in the
>> business, primarily mergers and acquisitions.

> The decision to change a name requires an affirmative action by the
> board.

But it's not the *same* board that decided to start a national branding
campaign many years before the takeover.

When Ted Turner ran his own media empire, he went around naming
everything he could Turner This and Turner That.  When he sold out to
Time Warner, he no longer had the control of the board that allowed
him this freedom.

> All you are telling me is that leadership changes at a company. Well,
> duh! My unrefuted assertion is that someone (or a board of directors)
> must take affirmative steps to change the name of a company. Why would
> they do that (be they grandsons or hostile purchasers) when it dilutes
> and nullifies the national name recognition?

Because they want the public to recognize that this is the "new and
improved" company, not the same old one.  Or sometimes the new company
that results from the mergers has different goals than the old one,
and the old name doesn't fit.  For instance, I've noticed over the
years that lots of public utility companies would branch out into
other industries, and then the old name no longer describes them well.
When XXX Electric is no longer solely in the electric power business,
but is a holding company for many different types of businesses, a
name change is appropriate; some companies simply adopted their
initials (e.g. I think Wiscon Electric Power became WEP Holdings),
while others go for a coined name that doesn't pigeonhole them (Boston
Edison became NSTAR and Boston Gas became Keyspan Energy).


Barry Margolin, barmar@genuity.net
Genuity, Woburn, MA
*** DON'T SEND TECHNICAL QUESTIONS DIRECTLY TO ME, post them to newsgroups.
Please DON'T copy followups to me -- 
I'll assume it wasn't posted to the group.

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 05:21:52 -0500
From: Ron Chapman <ronchapman@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: The Farce of National Branding


In article <telecom22.199.1@telecom-digest.org>, John Higdon
<no-spam@amadeus.kome.com> wrote:

> I'll survive. Believe me, my fulfillment as a functional human being
> and as a player in my chosen field of endeavor has long since ceased
> to be dependent on the attitudes and belief systems of Usenet
> posters. You'll know what I mean after you have been posting for
> fifteen years or so.

I have been posting for fifteen years or so.  More, actually.

And that your fulfillment as a human being is not dependent on "Usenet
posters" doesn't mean that you're not wrong.  You did put forth your
case in the court of public opinion, and you failed -- miserably -- to
make that case.

------------------------------

From: sjsobol@JustThe.net (Steven J. Sobol)
Subject: Re: SBC Name - was Re: The Farce of National Branding
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 13:27:39 -0000
Organization: JustThe.net LLC


John Higdon <no-spam@amadeus.kome.com> wrote:

> SBC will have to figure out how to cash my checks made out to "Pacific
> Bell" in perpetuity. I have a long-standing practice of refusing to
> regularly change the name on checks made out to vendors. Pager checks
> are still made out to "AirTouch"; telephone service checks are still
> made out to GTE; wireless checks are still made out to "PacBell Mobile
> Services" instead of "Cingular".

The bank will cash them anyway. Even if you make the check payable to,
say, Richard Notebaert, they'll probably still cash the check. And
Notebaert isn't even *with* SBC anymore.


Steve Sobol, CTO  JustThe.net LLC, Mentor On The Lake, OH
http://JustTheNetLLC.com/  888.480.4NET (4638)

A practicing member of the Geek Orthodox religion!

------------------------------

TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not
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End of TELECOM Digest V22 #201
******************************
    
    
From editor@telecom-digest.org Fri Dec 20 16:31:58 2002
Received: from localhost (localhost [[UNIX: localhost]])
	by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.3nb1/8.11.3) id gBKLVwo07581;
	Fri, 20 Dec 2002 16:31:58 -0500 (EST)
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 16:31:58 -0500 (EST)
From: editor@telecom-digest.org
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To: ptownson
Approved: patsnewlist
Subject: TELECOM Digest V22 #202

TELECOM Digest     Fri, 20 Dec 2002 16:32:00 EST    Volume 22 : Issue 202

Inside This Issue:                             Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    Telecom Update (Canada) #363, December 20, 2002 (Angus TeleManagement)
    Re: Are All 900 Number Providers Hype Artists? (J Bass)
    How Do You INSERT CID (Jim Thompson)
    Re: Query About Pulse Dialing (David Christensen)
    Error Accessing Your Website (Kathy Bradley)
    Re: Ground Start Lines (Owain)
    We Had Better Cool it a Little (TELECOM Digest Editor)
    Last Laugh! A Lesson in Modern Electronics (Jeffrey Mattox)

All contents here are copyrighted by Patrick Townson and the
individual writers/correspondents. Articles may be used in other
journals or newsgroups, provided the writer's name and the Digest are
included in the fair use quote.  By using -any name or email address-
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herein, you agree to pay a hundred dollars to the recipients of the
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GET SUED IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT IF YOU GET CAUGHT SPAMMING OR SENDING
VIRUSES. DON'T DO IT.

See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and
the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 11:43:51 -0500
From: Angus TeleManagement <jriddell@angustel.ca>
Subject: Telecom Update (Canada) #363, December 20, 2002


************************************************************
TELECOM UPDATE
************************************************************
published weekly by Angus TeleManagement Group
http://www.angustel.ca

Number 363: December 20, 2002

Publication of Telecom Update is made possible by generous
financial support from:
** BELL CANADA: http://www.bell.ca
** CISCO SYSTEMS CANADA: http://www.cisco.com/ca/letstalk
** CYGCOM INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGIES: http://www.cygcom.com
** ERICSSON CANADA: http://www.ericsson.ca
** JUNIPER NETWORKS: http://www.juniper.net
** PRIMUS CANADA: http://www.primustel.ca
** Q9 NETWORKS: http://www.Q9.com
** TELUS: http://www.telus.com

************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:

** CRTC Posts Report on Canadian Telecom
** We're Taking a Holiday
** Newfoundland Bans Handset Use While Driving
** BCE to Cut 1,700 More Jobs
** Telus Forecasts Increased Sales, Profits
** Court Rejects Ledcor Appeal
** Videotron Buys Ontario Fibre
** Bell Absorbs Aliant Network Groups
** Rural Broadband Selection Committee Named
** City Wants 613 Overlay Decision Revisited
** Ted Rogers Succession Set?
** Telus to Trial iMagic Software
** Internet TV Law in Force
** ExpressVu Says Cablecos Have Theft Problem Too
** Ontario Research Network to Use Bell Fibre
** CANARIE Funds Distance Learning Development
** Bell Offers Wireless Location-Based Services
** CAIP Merges With CATA
** President of Broadband User Group Resigns
** Canadian Satellite Launch Set
** RIM Posts $92 Million Loss
** GT Changes Win Creditor Support
** Shaw Rating Cut to Junk Status
** Com Dev Back in the Black
** Meriton Raises $26 Million
** The Hidden Costs of IP Telephony

============================================================

CRTC POSTS REPORT ON CANADIAN TELECOM: As this issue went to press,
the CRTC released its second annual report to Cabinet on Canada's
Telecommunications Industry. The full report is available at:
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/publications/reports/PolicyMonitoring/2002/gic2002.pdf

============================================================

WE'RE TAKING A HOLIDAY: Telecom Update is taking a winter break; our
next issue will be published Monday, January 6. We wish all readers a
successful and rewarding New Year.

NEWFOUNDLAND BANS HANDSET USE WHILE DRIVING: 

Newfoundland has adopted Canada's first law banning the use of
handheld cellphones while driving. Offenders will lose demerit points
and pay a fine of $45-$180.

BCE TO CUT 1,700 MORE JOBS: 

In 2003, BCE Inc. will cut capital spending by 10%-15% and eliminate
about 1,700 jobs in 2003. At the company's annual investor conference,
BCE executives forecast revenue of $19.5 billion in the next year.

** CEO Michael Sabia said that CTV and the Globe and Mail are
    not strategic assets, but did not suggest any plan to sell
    them soon.

** Separately, Bell announced that it is in discussions
    regarding possible divestiture of some or all of its
    investment in CGI Group.

TELUS FORECASTS INCREASED SALES, PROFITS: 

Telus Corp. says a workforce reduction of 5,000 by year-end will
contribute to an increase in EBITDA of 8% to 12% and a return to
profitability in 2003. Sales are expected to rise 3%-4%; capital
expenditures will be reduced 12%.

COURT REJECTS LEDCOR APPEAL: 

In a 2-1 decision, the Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed the
appeal by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and several cities
against CRTC Decision 2001-23, the "Ledcor Decision." The Court
rejected FCM's argument that the CRTC exceeded its jurisdiction when
it restricted the municipalities' ability to charge carriers for using
rights-of-way. (See Telecom Update #354)

VIDEOTRON BUYS ONTARIO FIBRE: 

Videotron Telecom has purchased 1,200 km of dark fibre in Ontario from
360networks, including routes from Ottawa to Toronto, Toronto to
Buffalo, and Toronto to Detroit. (See Telecom Update #326)

BELL ABSORBS ALIANT NETWORK GROUPS: 

130 management employees in Aliant's technology development and
network planning/ provisioning functions are being transferred to Bell
Canada, as part of a plan to unify the two companies' network
operations.

RURAL BROADBAND SELECTION COMMITTEE NAMED: 

Industry Minister Allan Rock has announced the members of the National
Selection Committee for the Broadband for Rural and Northern
Development pilot program (see Telecom Update #348). Names and
biographies of the committee members and a list of all 223
applications for the Round 1 competition are posted on the Industry
Canada website.

http://broadband.gc.ca/applications/applist_e.asp

CITY WANTS 613 OVERLAY DECISION REVISITED: 

The City of Ottawa says it supports the proposal to delay introduction
of 10- digit local dialing in 613 until 2006, and to indefinitely
postpone an Area Code overlay. The City's lawyers say that it wants to
revisit the overlay decision in future, because "there may be some
advantage ... in adopting a geographical split."

TED ROGERS SUCCESSION SET? 

Rogers Cable CEO John Tory has been named Chairman of the company,
replacing Ted Rogers.  Edward Rogers, son of Ted, has been named
President and COO.

TELUS TO TRIAL IMAGIC SOFTWARE: 

iMagicTV is supplying its Media Manager 5.0 software to Telus for a
trial of digital TV service delivery over phone lines.

INTERNET TV LAW IN FORCE: 

Bill C-11, an "Act to Amend the Copyright Act," is now law. The
amendment prevents "Internet retransmitters" of TV programs from
holding the compulsory licences that permit cable and satellite
broadcasters to use TV programs for a fixed royalty -- they must
negotiate their own agreements with copyright holders.

http://www.parl.gc.ca/37/2/parlbus/chambus/house/bills/government/C-11/C-11_4/90174bE.html

EXPRESSVU SAYS CABLECOS HAVE THEFT PROBLEM TOO:

Bell ExpressVu has released a study by Pathlink Engineering claiming
that Canadian cable companies lose over $400 million each year due to
unauthorized use of cable broadcasts. The cablecos earlier accused
ExpressVu of being too lax in policing signal theft. (See Telecom
Update #359)

http://www.bell.ca/shop/en/jsp/content/aboutbell/expressvu/newsreleases/pdfdocs/pathlink.pdf

ONTARIO RESEARCH NETWORK TO USE BELL FIBRE: 

The Optical Regional Advanced Network of Ontario (ORANO) has granted
Bell Canada a $25 million contract to supply fibre and equipment for a
research network linking about 100 educational institutions and
research facilities in 21 communities. (See Telecom Update #316)

http://www.orion.on.ca

CANARIE FUNDS DISTANCE LEARNING DEVELOPMENT: 

CANARIE has awarded $1.56 million to the Advanced Broadband Enabled
Learning project, which aims to help teachers learn to use broadband
networks as teaching tools.

http://www.abelearn.ca

BELL OFFERS WIRELESS LOCATION-BASED SERVICES: 

Bell Mobility subscribers in Ontario and Quebec can now obtain
directions and other location-based services from MyFinder, which
locates the user's closest cellphone tower. Price: 25 cents per
request plus airtime charges.

CAIP MERGES WITH CATA: 

The Canadian Association of Internet Providers is merging with the
Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance. CAIP will continue to have its
own Board of Directors.

PRESIDENT OF BROADBAND USER GROUP RESIGNS: 

Chris Weisdorf, founder of the Residential Broadband Users'
Association, has resigned as President of the volunteer group. RBUA's
advocacy efforts are unlikely to continue. (See Telecom Update #276,
335)

CANADIAN SATELLITE LAUNCH SET: 

Telesat's Nimiq 3 satellite is scheduled for launch from Kazakhstan on
December 30. Bell ExpressVu has booked the satellite's entire capacity
for high-definition television, pay-per-view programming, and other
services.

RIM POSTS $92 MILLION LOSS: 

Research In Motion lost US$92 million in the three months ended
November 30, compared to a $6 million loss last year. One-time charges
totaled $72 million, including $28 million for legal costs and
damages.  Revenue of $34.5 million was up 3% from the previous quarter
and 30% from the same period last year.

GT CHANGES WIN CREDITOR SUPPORT: 

More than 95% of Group Telecom creditors have backed the
reorganization plan providing for GT's purchase by 360networks. GT
will seek court approval in Ontario on December 23, and in the U.S. on
January 2.

SHAW RATING CUT TO JUNK STATUS: 

Moody's Investors Service has lowered its rating on Shaw
Communications unsecured debt by two steps to Ba2 -- "junk"
status. The agency says Shaw has too much debt and faces stiff
competition.

COM DEV BACK IN THE BLACK: 

Com Dev International, a satellite technology supplier, recorded
August-October net income of $748,000, compared to a loss of $89
million during the same period last year. Revenue was $25.2 million,
down from $32.6 million. (See Telecom Update #347)

MERITON RAISES $26 MILLION: 

Ottawa-based Meriton Networks, which makes combined
switching/transmission gear for metro optical networks, has raised
C$26.4 million in equity and debt financing.

THE HIDDEN COSTS OF IP TELEPHONY: 

When McGill University looked at IP telephony, it found that the cost
of preparing for a voice-data network would be much greater than
anyone expected. Read full details in an exclusive insider report,
only in the January issue of Telemanagement.

** Subscribe now to Telemanagement and receive this issue
    along with a comprehensive subject index to Telemanagement
    in 2002.

    http://www.angustel.ca/teleman/tm-sub.html

** Single copies of the January Telemanagement will be
    available for $75 each -- call 905-686-5050 ext 500 and
    charge to Visa, American Express, or MasterCard.

============================================================

HOW TO SUBMIT ITEMS FOR TELECOM UPDATE

E-MAIL: editors@angustel.ca

FAX:    905-686-2655

MAIL:   TELECOM UPDATE
         Angus TeleManagement Group
         8 Old Kingston Road
         Ajax, Ontario Canada L1T 2Z7

===========================================================

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE (OR UNSUBSCRIBE)

TELECOM UPDATE is provided in electronic form only. There
are two formats available:

1. The fully-formatted edition is posted on the World
    Wide Web on the first business day of the week at
    http://www.angustel.ca

2. The e-mail edition is distributed free of charge.
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    Sending e-mail to these addresses will automatically add
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    We do not give Telecom Update subscribers' e-mail
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    see http://www.angustel.ca/update/privacy.html.

===========================================================

COPYRIGHT AND CONDITIONS OF USE: All contents copyright 2002 Angus
TeleManagement Group Inc. All rights reserved. For further
information, including permission to reprint or reproduce, please
e-mail rosita@angustel.ca or phone 905-686-5050 ext 500.

The information and data included has been obtained from sources which
we believe to be reliable, but Angus TeleManagement makes no
warranties or representations whatsoever regarding accuracy,
completeness, or adequacy.  Opinions expressed are based on
interpretation of available information, and are subject to change. If
expert advice on the subject matter is required, the services of a
competent professional should be obtained.

------------------------------

From: nobleGOODDOGgeorges@earthlink.net (J Bass)
Subject: Re: Are All 900 Number Providers Hype Artists?
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 17:07:41 GMT
Organization: EarthLink Inc. -- http://www.EarthLink.net


>> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Would you please provide some contact
>> names and phone numbers for the people at the IXCs who offer 900
>> number service?  As the man said in the original message, everyone
>> *he* has spoken to denies any knowledge of them. How about some 
>> actual contact names and numbers?   PAT]

I guess this isn't turning out to be as easy as first imagined.

J. Bass

On Tue, 17 Dec 2002 00:21:43 GMT, nobleGOODDOGgeorges@earthlink.net (J
Bass) wrote:

> Folks,

> Are there any legitimate 900 number providers?

> Who are they? 

> A google search turned up droves of outfits with hucksteresque
> pitches.

> Everyone in the legitimate telecommunication industry seems to claim
> no knowledge of 900 numbers, as if it was an irreparably tainted
> topic.

> Where do software companies go, for example, when they are setting up
> 900 tech support lines, etc?

Remove GOODDOG to reply

------------------------------

From: Jim Thompson  <Jim-T@analog_innovations.com>
Subject: How Do You INSERT CID
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 16:35:52 GMT
Organization: Cox Communications


I'd like to ring phones inside my house but also send caller-ID.  

I'm an EE, so it'd be no problem to build up something, but surfing
has yielded zero.

Any ideas?

Thanks!


|  James E.Thompson, P.E.                           |    mens     |
|  Analog Innovations, Inc.                         |     et      |
|  Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems  |    manus    |
|  Phoenix, Arizona            Voice:(480)460-2350  |             |
|  Jim-T@analog_innovations.com  Fax:(480)460-2142  |  Brass Rat  |
|       http://www.analog-innovations.com           |    1962     |

            For proper E-mail replies SWAP "-" and "_"
             
I love to cook with wine.      Sometimes I even put it in the food.             
------------------------------

From: David Christensen <dchris8816@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Query About Pulse Dialing
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 11:53:24 -0700
Reply-To: dchris8816@hotmail.com


Its still used by some of us who collect older CPE and continue to use
it.

Used to drive my girlfriend nuts until I got an old Buscom dialer for
one of the phones.


Dave

Who has a WE 302 on his desk, an AE90 in the kitchen and an 
AE40 in the den.

Ed Ellers wrote:
> John Higdon <no-spam@amadeus.kome.com> wrote:

>> Pulse dialing is rarely used in the US.

> More often than you might think ... especially by people who *do* have
> Touch-Tone provisioned on their line but don't realize that they need
> to change a switch setting on their phone to use it.

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 12:08:13 EST
From: Kathy Bradley <kathy.bradley@mail.internetseer.com>
Reply-To: Kathy Bradley <mail.internetseer.com>
Subject: Error Accessing Your Website


On Fri Dec 20, 2002 at 07:08:08 AM EST I was unable to reach your web
site: http://mirror.lcs.mit.edu/telecom-archives/sponsorlinks.html due
to the following error: Host Not Found

As of Fri Dec 20, 2002 at 12:11:27 PM EST I am able to access your web
site again.

I work for InternetSeer, a Web site monitoring company. InternetSeer
is conducting an ongoing study of web connectivity. As recommended by
the Robots Guidelines, this email is being sent to explain our
research activities and to let you know about the difficulty in
connecting to your site.

The error listed above was initially detected by our primary site
monitor in Philadelphia, Pa. then verified by our secondary site
monitor located in Los Angeles, Ca. before this error event was
recorded.

InternetSeer is the largest FREE web site monitoring company in the
world. We provide free web site monitoring to over 1 million users
worldwide. We'll monitor your web site 7 days a week, 24 hours a day -
for free. I am a robot. 

To have InternetSeer monitor your web site for free, click here for instant 
signup. http://scclick.internetseer.com/sitecheck/clickthrough.jsp?I5s57h5k5o5e5f5n5j53M5pyTKlebUyzNy5sPMSRRIH5c_LLVxT5aNPD53U5pXTxy5p5b5cNXzPIz5dS_W5aHSx5bM_W5exRIV_wC5a_w_QXTMz5cWNNyzNPSLyQx5dMPNS53T5p5g=e3

To learn more about our FREE service before signing up click here.
http://scclick.internetseer.com/sitecheck/clickthrough.jsp?I5s57h5k5o5e5f5n5j53M5pyTKldbUyzNy5sPMSRRIH5c_LLVxT5aNPD53U5pXTxy5p5b5cNXzPIz5dS_W5aHSx5bM_W5exRIV_wC5a_w_QXTMz5cWNNyzNPSLyQx5dMPNS53T5p5f=e3

As part of your free web site monitoring service, you'll receive
immediate notifications when we encounter problems accessing your web
site and weekly performance reports.

There is no need to cancel because InternetSeer will never contact you
again at this email address: ptownson@telecom-digest.org. If you have
other email addresses that you would like excluded from any potential
future contact, click here to have those email addresses excluded from
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http://scclick.internetseer.com/sitecheck/cancelemails.jsp

InternetSeer does not store or publish the content of your pages, but
rather uses availability and link information for our research.

Click here to learn more about InternetSeer. 
http://scclick.internetseer.com/sitecheck/clickthrough.jsp?I5s57h5k5o5e5f5n5j53M5pyTKldbUyzNy5sPMSRRIH5c_LLVxT5aNPD53U5pXTxy5p5b5cNXzPIz5dS_W5aHSx5bM_W5exRIV_wC5a_w_QXTMz5cWNNyzNPSLyQx5dMPNS53T5p5f=e3

Sincerely,

Kathy Bradley
Web Site Analyst
InternetSeer.com
http://www.internetseer.com/ep/setoc?NR5p764lad5aP5q5eMNNV5cSHVMU5bGxy=e3

As stated above, there is no need to cancel since YOU WILL NEVER be
contacted again at ptownson@telecom-digest.org, but you may click here
for a removal confirmation from our web site.

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Does anyone know anything about these
people? It *seems* like a good offer, but I had to pull it out of my
own spam bucket when it arrived here. I am wondering if this is going
to get me a bunch more spam if I agree to their service?  Anyone?  PAT]

------------------------------

From: spuorgelgoog@gowanhill.com (Owain)
Subject: Re: Ground Start Lines
Date: 20 Dec 2002 11:52:14 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


Neal McLain wrote: 

> lots of mid-sized mid-priced hotels/motels don't have enough trunks to
> satisfy peak evening calling load.  The Holiday Inn Express in LaPorte
> Indiana stands out in mind as the worst offender I've ever
> encountered.  

Maybe La Porte has declined telephonically since 1892 :-)


Owain

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 15:24:53 EST
From: TELECOM Digest Editor <ptownson@massis.lcs.mit.edu>
Subject: We Had Better Cool it a Little


To the group:

We (in an editorial sense, meaning I, the buffer of all messages here in
this department) have started getting complaints about the quality and
enduring significance as my competitor, Readers Digest would say, of the
messages printed here. 

To wit, the 'branding thread' is starting to get on some people's nerves.

Names are not neccessary; they don't matter:

   Subject: Please step in, Pat
   X-Spam-Status: No, hits=-3.3 required=5.0
	tests=REFERENCES,RESENT_TO,SPAM_PHRASE_00_01,
	      USER_AGENT_MOZILLA_XM,X_ACCEPT_LANG
	version=2.41
   X-Spam-Level: 
   Status: R

Pat:

I'm sure you have standards and rules you operate the list within, and
perhaps the current situation is within those rules, but things are
getting out of hand.

John Higdon and his band of merry "I'm smarter than you" men are
destroying the value of the list, in this reader's opinion.

It is declining from a source of good information to stupid infighting
between so called 'intellectuals'.

How about telling them to take the silliness private?  I would prefer
to read the list, in the limited time I have available, and glean
mostly telecom related information, not a bunch of grown up 'kids'
slinging mud back and forth.

I notice, for the record, that Higdon and several others rarely offer
anything constructive, just the childishness that is SO much more
obvious in this 'branding' thread.

                     =========================


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Reaction: Sitting here with mouth open, a
little embarrassed to have to mention it ... but golly gee, guys, why
not move anything further on the 'branding thread' over to email, if
you can get through all the spam congestion and blocks these days to
pass your messages, or maybe to Yahoo or AOL Instant Messengers,
where, once you get through the obligitory 'm or f?  how old?'
questions (and in more recent times the request to check out the other
guy's 'cam' [if the first two questions are answered in a pleasing
way; otherswise why bother]), you can get back to the branding thread,
or whatever else you decide to discuss -- as long as you have cams
available so you can give visual illustrations of your intentions and
interests.  PAT]

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Did you ever see me talk to myself
before like this? Instead of a harsh warning to evict the no-good
useless members of this list, I decided in the spirit of Xmas to try
and keep the X in Xmas this time around. Some moderators would simply
bounce the offenders and wash their hands of it; I need all the readers
I can find.  :(     PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 12:37:09 -0600
From: Jeffrey Mattox <deleted at readers-request>
Subject: Last Laugh! A Lesson in Modern Electronics


Pat:

I figure you're well aware of this, but it wasn't mentioned in the
recent discussion about telephone ring circuits and grounding -- maybe
you need a trigger to publish it again.  According to Google, it's on
the web at various places, one being:

    http://www.aljian.com/humorphile/humorphile/problem-solving.html

  --- cut here ---


  Subject: A lesson in modern electronics


This story was related by Pat Routledge of Winnipeg, Ontario about a
repair call he handled while living in England.

It's common practice in England to ring a telephone by signaling extra
voltage across one side of the two wire circuit and ground (earth in
England).  When the subscriber answers the phone, it switches to the
two wire circuit for the conversation.  This method allows two parties
on the same line to be signaled without disturbing each other.

Anyway, an elderly lady with several pets called to say that her
telephone failed to ring when her friends called; and that on the few
occasions when it did ring her dog always barked first.  Pat proceeded
to the scene, curious to see this psychic dog.

He climbed a nearby telephone pole, hooked in his test set, and dialed
the subscriber's house.  The phone didn't ring.  He tried again.  The
dog barked loudly, followed by a ringing telephone. Climbing down from
the pole, Pat found:

a. A dog was tied to the telephone system's ground post via an iron chain
   and collar.

b. The dog was receiving 90 volts of signaling current.

c. After several such jolts, the dog would start barking and urinating on
   the ground.

d. The wet ground now completed the circuit and the phone would ring.

Which shows that you that some problems can be fixed by just pissing
on them.

  --- end ---

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: This *old* story was first printed here
in the Digest back about 1983 or so ... then a few more times over the
years until around 1990 or so when I retired it from use for what I 
felt were good reasons:  

(a)  I did not -- still don't -- think it is funny. It sounds 'cute',
     but really isn't.

(b)  It is cruel to keep animals chained up all the time. Animals do
     need to make some compromises with their human custodians, for
     example being spayed or neutered, and shortly after those medical
     procedures are finished, they don't miss those 'parts' anyway.

(c)  I've seen too many examples of animals being tortured on purpose
     or by omission, left tied up in a cold, wet, or very hot area
     with little or nothing to eat or drink. About fifteen years ago
     I found a grown dog, mostly skin and bones, who had been tied up
     in a mostly deserted basement with no food and very little water
     left for it. After I got over the shock of seeing that, I immediatly
     called the animal control officer who came out and took the
     little guy away, to the Animal Society in Chicago. Some people
     should not be allowed to have animals, if they do not know how to
     care for them. When animal control took the chain 'leash' off the
     dog, the animal immediatly licked our hands trying to say how 
     glad he was to be resuced. 

Aljian/humorphile probably got this from an old issue of the Digest,
and they are welcome to it.   PAT] 

------------------------------

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End of TELECOM Digest V22 #202
******************************


    
    
From editor@telecom-digest.org Fri Dec 20 23:57:09 2002
Received: from localhost (localhost [[UNIX: localhost]])
	by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.3nb1/8.11.3) id gBL4v9i16080;
	Fri, 20 Dec 2002 23:57:09 -0500 (EST)
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 23:57:09 -0500 (EST)
From: editor@telecom-digest.org
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To: ptownson
Approved: patsnewlist
Subject: TELECOM Digest V22 #203

TELECOM Digest     Fri, 20 Dec 2002 23:57:00 EST    Volume 22 : Issue 203

Inside This Issue:                             Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    Bush Administration to Propose System to Monitor Internet (Monty Solomon)
    What Do Intellectual Property Owners Want? (Monty Solomon)
    Mass. Officials Set Rules For State's No-Call List (Monty Solomon)
    Bay State Residents Can Register to Block Sales Calls (Monty Solomon)
    Re: Query About Pulse Dialing (Ed Ellers)
    Re: Error Accessing Your Website (Barry Margolin)
    Re: Are All 900 Number Providers Hype Artists? (John Higdon)
    Removing Passwords and Security From Access Databases (prong2099@hotmail)
    SBC Ameritech Hosed Me and NOW I GET EVEN (A. Hackbarth)
    Re: Call Blocking Box For All Numbers From a Given Country? (Alex Kasper)
    Re: Ground-Start Lines (was Coin Collect and Return) (Alex Kasper)
    Re: Last Laugh! A Lesson in Modern Electronics (Someone)
    *****SPAM***** Season's Best -- Another Last Laugh! (Joey Lindstrom)

All contents here are copyrighted by Patrick Townson and the
individual writers/correspondents. Articles may be used in other
journals or newsgroups, provided the writer's name and the Digest are
included in the fair use quote.  By using -any name or email address-
included herein for -any- reason other than responding to an article
herein, you agree to pay a hundred dollars to the recipients of the
email. WE DO NOT PERMIT NAME/EMAIL ADDRESS HARVESTING FROM THIS
JOURNAL. 'SALTED' EMAIL ADDRESSES APPEAR HEREIN TO VERIFY THIS. YOU
GET SUED IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT IF YOU GET CAUGHT SPAMMING OR SENDING
VIRUSES. DON'T DO IT.

See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and
the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 17:16:44 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Bush Administration to Propose System to Monitor Internet


By JOHN MARKOFF and JOHN SCHWARTZ

The Bush administration is planning to propose requiring Internet
service providers to help build a centralized system to enable broad
monitoring of the Internet and, potentially, surveillance of its
users.

The proposal is part of a final version of a report, "The National
Strategy to Secure Cyberspace," set for release early next year,
according to several people who have been briefed on the report. It is
a component of the effort to increase national security after the
Sept. 11 attacks.

The President's Critical Infrastructure Protection Board is preparing
the report, and it is intended to create public and private
cooperation to regulate and defend the national computer networks, not
only from everyday hazards like viruses but also from terrorist
attack. Ultimately the report is intended to provide an Internet
strategy for the new Department of Homeland Security.

Such a proposal, which would be subject to Congressional and
regulatory approval, would be a technical challenge because the
Internet has thousands of independent service providers, from garage
operations to giant corporations like American Online, AT&T, Microsoft
and Worldcom.

The report does not detail specific operational requirements,
locations for the centralized system or costs, people who were briefed
on the document said.


http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/20/technology/20MONI.html


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Is it true that Dubya has been quoted
as saying 'thank God for September 11 ... it gave me all the excuses
to do the things I have longed to do for years.' ?   PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 17:49:56 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: What Do Intellectual Property Owners Want?


by Andy Oram
American Reporter Correspondent

CAMBRIDGE, MASS.-Researchers around the world were stunned. A
promising young graduate student, Dmitri Sklyarov, came to the United
States to deliver his insights about weaknesses in a commercial
product to a well-known computing conference. A few hours after his
presentation, he was in jail.

I don't want to belabor this case because it has already been aired in
the press a great deal, particularly since last Tuesday's startling
ruling in favor of the Sklyarov's employer, ElcomSoft, by a jury that
was clearly repulsed by the idea of punishing people who make software
with legitimate uses.

But Sklyarov and ElcomSoft start off this article because his arrest
marked a milestone in modern life-a fulfillment of the old prediction
that computer hackers used to utter as a joke: "Write a program, go to
jail." It's still scandalous that Sklyarov spent time in jail for his
non-crime.

Sklyarov suffered all this for working on a software product that was
perfectly legal in his own country, Russia, but was called a violation
of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in the United States. This
software allowed people using the popular Adobe eBook software-so long
as they had a legitimate license to the software-to make copies of
documents. The Russian software had many legitimate applications under
the "fair use" doctrine, but could also be used to make unauthorized
copies-and that brought down the vindictive hand of the U.S. Justice
Department, which insisted on bringing the case to trial even after
Adobe dropped their charges.

Nor was Sklyarov alone. A fifteen-year-old Norwegian, Jon Johansen,
was briefly arrested on flimsy charges related to his supposed role in
creating DeCSS software, a program that retrieves movies from their
encrypted format on DVD. Johansen's case was in court last week, but I
have not heard any news of the outcome. Many others have been sued for
similar causes, although they have not faced criminal proceedings.

http://www.praxagora.com/andyo/ar/ip_owners.html

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 18:00:21 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Mass. Officials set rules for state's no-call list


By Associated Press, 12/20/2002

State consumer officials announced details yesterday about what steps
residents will have to take to sign on to Massachusetts' new 'Do Not
Call' law beginning Jan. 1.

Residents who want to block most calls from telemarketers will be able
to sign up on a Web site, call a toll-free number, or submit a request
by mail.

Those who want to be included on the first list, which will go into
effect April 1, must register by March 1. The list will be updated
every quarter.

The state Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation expects
to handle up to 1 million registrations in the first month, according
to its director, Jennifer Davis Carey.

http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/354/metro/Officials_set_rules_for_state_s_no_call_list+.shtml

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 18:40:52 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Bay State Residents in January can Register to Block Sales Calls


By Bruce Mohl, Globe Staff, 12/20/2002

Massachusetts consumers seeking to block unwanted telemarketing calls 
suddenly have a lot more ammunition at their disposal.

State officials yesterday detailed how Massachusetts residents can
sign up for a do-not-call list starting Jan. 1, a day after the
Federal Trade Commission announced plans to launch a similar national
list in the spring.

By signing up for both lists, state and federal officials say
consumers should be able to significantly reduce -- but not eliminate --
the number of telemarketing calls they receive at home.  Massachusetts
officials expect a huge response.

http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/354/business/Bay_State_residents_in_Jan_can_register_to_block_sales_calls+.shtml

------------------------------

From: Ed Ellers <ed_ellers@msn.com>
Subject: Re: Query About Pulse Dialing
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 16:44:13 -0500


Hank Fung <fungus@OCF.Berkeley.EDU> wrote:

> Aren't there still some phone companies that charge for the "privilege" of
> using touch tone dialing (or "touch calling" as it was called by GTE)?

BellSouth in Kentucky gives a $1/month credit to those who already had
lines without Touch-Tone service, but new lines aren't available
without Touch-Tone AFAIK.

> What usually happens is that these cheapskates will then switch the phone
> to tone when they need to access a voice mail or interactive response
> system.

Be careful what you say about my mother.  :-)

------------------------------

From: Barry Margolin <barmar@genuity.com>
Subject: Re: Error Accessing Your Website
Organization: Genuity, Woburn, MA
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 21:52:10 GMT


In article <telecom22.202.5@telecom-digest.org>, Kathy Bradley
<mail.internetseer.com> wrote:

> InternetSeer is the largest FREE web site monitoring company in the
> world. We provide free web site monitoring to over 1 million users
> worldwide. We'll monitor your web site 7 days a week, 24 hours a day -
> for free. I am a robot. 

> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Does anyone know anything about these
> people? It *seems* like a good offer, but I had to pull it out of my
> own spam bucket when it arrived here. I am wondering if this is going
> to get me a bunch more spam if I agree to their service?  Anyone?  PAT]

I don't know anything about them, but I think the old adage applies:
if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.  They need to make
money somehow, and since they spammed you in the first place that
seems like an important part of their business model.

A new adage probably also applies: don't ever respond to spammers.
BTW, I'll bet if you check your spam bucket, you'll find multiple
instances of the mail, despite the fact that it says it's a one-time
mailing.


Barry Margolin, barmar@genuity.net
Genuity, Woburn, MA
*** DON'T SEND TECHNICAL QUESTIONS DIRECTLY TO ME, post them to newsgroups.
Please DON'T copy followups to me -- 
I'll assume it wasn't posted to the group.

------------------------------

From: John Higdon <no-spam@amadeus.kome.com>
Subject: Re: Are All 900 Number Providers Hype Artists?
Organization: Green Hills and Cows
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 14:49:23 -0800


In article <telecom22.202.2@telecom-digest.org>,
nobleGOODDOGgeorges@earthlink.net (J Bass) wrote:

>>> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Would you please provide some contact
>>> names and phone numbers for the people at the IXCs who offer 900
>>> number service?  As the man said in the original message, everyone
>>> *he* has spoken to denies any knowledge of them. How about some 
>>> actual contact names and numbers?   PAT]

> I guess this isn't turning out to be as easy as first imagined.

Indeed. I found the names and numbers of all the folks I talked to in 
setting up our 900-number trunks, but NONE of them are still there! In 
fact, most of the contact numbers are now out of service. 

But still ... if you press the issue, you can finally end up talking to 
someone in a given company's 900 division. For instance, call any SBC 
business office and ask for the number of the "976/900 department" for 
the area in which you are interested.

I have some qualifying questions for you:

1. What is the nature of your service? (Recorded information, live 
assistance, etc.)?

2. What sort of call volume do you expect?

3. What is the geographical scope of your audience?

4. What is the magnitude of the charging you expect to impose?

5. How do you intend to advertise? (Media, number in instruction manual, 
etc.)

6. Where (what city) do you intend to physically house the equipment?

Answers to those questions would go a long way toward being able to
make some really concrete suggestions regarding your ultimate service
provider choice and whether you would be a candidate for station-side
or trunk-side connections.

If you feel inclined to answer these questions, please do so in email.


John Higdon     | Email Address Valid | SF:  +1 415 428-COWS
+1 408 264 4115 |     Anytown, USA    | FAX: +1 408 264 4407

------------------------------

From: prong2099@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Removing passwords and security from Access databases 73650
Reply-To: prong2099@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 23:16:14 GMT
Organization: MTS Internet


Remove Access Security 3.0 Released

'Remove Access Security' can reveal and remove passwords and security
settings from Access databases. It is the only product to work on both
non-encrypted and encrypted databases. E-Tech offers a 100% money-back
guarantee if the product does not remove security settings from your
database.

For more information visit : http://www.e-tech.ca 

Remove Access Security 3.0' is the ultimate tool concerning security
for Access databases. 'Remove Access Security' can reveal passwords,
reset passwords and remove user-level security for secured and
non-secured database (.MDB) files. This software is simple to use, and
can be a real life-saver in a variety of situations, including
corrupted passwords, corrupted workgroup files, forgotten passwords
etc. This is the first software ever developed which works with
encrypted databases.

'Remove Access Security' is a must-have for all database
administrators and power users.

For more information visit : http://www.e-tech.ca 

------------------------------

From: betaphihack@hotmail.com (A. Hackbarth)
Subject: SBC Ameritech Hosed Me and Now I Get Even
Date: 20 Dec 2002 17:35:37 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


Hi,

Because of the way that SBC Ameritech has ignored me I have now made
it my business to put Ameritech out of its ...

You may Laugh, but I assure you that I can, and will cause a loss of
SBC Ameritech's Revenue ... with this lost revenue I intend to finally
pay them the money I don't owe them ... Read my letter I sent to them
and you will see the satisfaction that will bring.

You see I am an Independent Representative for North America's Largest
Privately Held Telecom Company ...and with that comes the leverage of
multi million dollar telecommunications contracts.

I offer all Americans the chance to start a Revolution ... there are
many others who have been wronged by Verizon, Southbell, Pacificbell SBC
and Ameritech.  Now I can show you how to get paid, save your
customers $$$ and get even at the same time.

Now all Ameritech customers are eligible to become my customer. And
since my service is cheaper and has more benefits it will be no
problem to get people to try it for Free.

If you want to sign up for service or read my story you can go to my
website:

http://www.aaronhackbarth.com

If you work for SBC Ameritech its not your fault, its the way your
business model works.

Deregulation is Democracy Vote out Ameritech NOW!!


Sincerely,

Aaron Hackbarth

P.S.  Carrot top Is F*CK*NG annoying, and by using AT$T you pay for
him to annoy millions of TV viewers every day.

DO NOT pay him, and save money for yourself, that's what I offer.

If you don't Like Me there's a special link on my site for you
especially if you like Ameritech.


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Listen, Aaron, I'd like to help you
out, but I am really busy right now, on the one hand trying to put the
X back in Xmas, and on the other, trying to get Mothers who use Pulse
Dialing out of Cheapness to put money in my Salvation Army pot this
week and next. Maybe someone who goes to look at your site will read
it to me and tell me what you/it are all about. PAT]

------------------------------

From: alex@nexspace.com (Alex Kasper)
Subject: Re: Call Blocking Box For All Numbers From a Given Country?
Date: 20 Dec 2002 17:53:30 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


We certainly do get incoming CLID for foreign countries. I get France,
England, Germany -- and most of Western Europe -- anyone with an SS7
connection.

As for your box, it wouldn't be that hard to build, but because Caller
ID information is so easy to spoof it wouldn't offer much security.

I can call you 'from' anyone or any country, and if you trust that
information for verification you need to rethink your security model.


AK

------------------------------

From: alex@nexspace.com (Alex Kasper)
Subject: Re: Ground-Start Lines (was Coin Collect and Return)
Date: 20 Dec 2002 18:28:49 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


Another use for groundstart lines I have seen is as a cheap ACD for
Telethon rooms. (i.e. Jerry Lewis). You just order a bunch of
groundstart lines in circular hunt and hook them up to 500 sets.

The operators will never get a dial tone, and on some C.O switches you
can just stay off hook after the caller hangs up. You'll hear a clunk
and the next caller will be there.

I know Henry Cabot III used to do this in the 70's with an AE880
speakerphone on his desk. He would just leave it "off hook."

I would call the number, hear a clunk and I could yell to him wherever
he might be in the office and he could yell back. No doubt, a very
crude form of off-hook call announce -- it worked well though, and it
didn't require a PBX!


AK

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Last Laugh! A Lesson in Modern Electronics
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 17:14:12 EST
From: Someone 


[Not for publication in the Digest/newsgroup, unless you really want to]

> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: This *old* story was first printed here
> in the Digest back about 1983 or so ... then a few more times over the
> years until around 1990 or so when I retired it from use for what I 
> felt were good reasons...]

Not to mention (d) Winnipeg still is not in Ontario.

------------------------------

From: Joey Lindstrom <joey@telussucks.info>
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 11:16:47 -0700
Subject: *****SPAM***** Season's Best -- Another Last Laugh
Reply-To: joey@telussucks.info


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Poor Joey. Even his holiday greeting
cards get treated as spam and tossed out unopened. Look at what I
found by poking through the bit bucket this evening.  It may have been
the word 'suck' to which SpamAssassin took such umbrage.  PAT]

SPAM: -------------------- Start SpamAssassin results ----------------------
SPAM: This mail is probably spam.  The original message has been altered
SPAM: so you can recognise or block similar unwanted mail in future.
SPAM: See http://spamassassin.org/tag/ for more details.
SPAM: 
SPAM: Content analysis details:   (7.00 hits, 5 required)
SPAM: TO_ADDRESS_EQ_REAL (2.1 points)  To: repeats address as real name
SPAM: NO_OBLIGATION      (1.5 points)  BODY: There is no obligation.
SPAM: SPAM_PHRASE_00_01  (0.6 points)  BODY: Spam phrases score is 00
SPAM:                    [score: 0]          to 01 (low)
SPAM: PORN_4             (2.8 points)  URI: URL uses words and phrases
SPAM:                                  which indicate porn.
SPAM:
SPAM: ------------------ End of SpamAssassin results ---------------------
SPAM:

In the spirit of the Royal Canadian Mint, The Gap, The City Of Toronto,
and a myriad of other groups that would have us remove the "Christ"
from "Christmas", I wish to offer the following:

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes
for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress,
non-addictive, gender neutral celebration of the winter solstice
holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the
religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your
choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or
traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or
secular traditions at all ... and a fiscally successful, personally
fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of
the generally accepted Gregorian calendar year 2003, but not without
due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures (Incan,
Myan, and more) whose contributions to society have helped make Canada
great (not to imply that Canada is necessarily greater than any other
country or area of choice or any other such distinction that is
mutually agreeable to be discussed), and without regard to the race,
creed, colour, age, physical ability, religious faith, or sexual
orientation of the wisher or wishee.  

This wish is limited to the customary and usual good tidings for a
period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday
greetings, whichever comes first. "Holiday" is not intended to, nor
shall it be considered, limited to the usual Judeo-Christian
celebrations or observances, or to such activities of any organized or
ad hoc religious community, group, individual, or belief (or lack
thereof).
 
Note: By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms. This
greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal, and is revocable
at the sole discretion of the wisher at any time, for any reason or
for no reason at all. This greeting is freely transferable with no
alteration to the original greeting. This greeting implies no promise
by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for the wisher
her/himself or others, or responsibility for the consequences which
may arise from the implementation or non-implementation of same. This
greeting is void where prohibited by law or by age limitations. Not
responsible for overconsumption of beverages or food substances.

Oh what the heck, let me get in trouble ... have a MERRY CHRISTMAS and
a HAPPY NEW YEAR ! 


-- Joey Lindstrom
-- Telus Sucks http://www.telussucks.info


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: And you as well, Joey!     PAT]

------------------------------

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
networks such as Compuserve and America On Line, and other forums.
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From editor@telecom-digest.org Sat Dec 21 23:44:52 2002
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Subject: TELECOM Digest V22 #204

TELECOM Digest     Sat, 21 Dec 2002 23:45:00  EST    Volume 22 : Issue 204

Inside This Issue:                              Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    EFFector 15.40: Hollywood Loses Again in ReplayTV Case (Monty Solomon)
    Providing DSL Service Without Any POTS? (Phil Earnhardt)
    Re: Error Paying Attention to Internet Seer (John R. Levine)
    Re: The Spam From Internet Seer (Charles B. Wilber)
    Re: SBC Ameritech Hosed Me and Now I Get Even (Steven J. Sobol)
    Re: SBC Ameritech Hosed Me and Now I Get Even (joe@obilivan.net)
    Re: ARPA ... The 20th Anniversary of the Internet (Jim Fleming)
    Web Security Plan Won't Invade Privacy - White House (Monty Solomon)
    Some Companies Will Release Customer Records on Request (Monty Solomon)
    GILC Alert v6i8 (Monty Solomon)
    Is That a TiVo Under the Tree? (Monty Solomon)

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See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and
the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 23:00:00 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: EFFector 15.40: Hollywood Loses Again in ReplayTV Case


http://www.eff.org/effector/HTML/effect15.40.html

EFFector Online Newsletter
EFFector       Vol. 15, No. 40       December 20, 2002     ren@eff.org

A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation     ISSN 1062-9424
In the 239th Issue of EFFector:

    * Hollywood Loses Again in ReplayTV Case
    * Jury Acquits Elcomsoft in eBook Copyright Case - Party at EFF!
    * EFF Urges Copyright Office to OK Consumer Uses of CDs and DVDs
    * Deep Links (4): RIAA Statisticians Have Group Hallucination?
    * Administrivia

For more information on EFF activities & alerts:
http://www.eff.org/

To join EFF or make an additional donation:
http://www.eff.org/support/

EFF is a member-supported nonprofit. Please sign up as a member today!


* Hollywood Loses Again in ReplayTV Case
Electronic Frontier Foundation Wins Access to Lawsuit Docs

Los Angeles - Another federal judge affirmed the right of the
Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) to represent ReplayTV owners in
their lawsuit against 28 motion picture and television industry
companies.

Craig Newmark of craigslist.org and four other ReplayTV customers are
suing the entertainment companies to clarify their rights to record
television programs and to skip commercials using digital video
recorders (DVRs). Hollywood representatives have publicly stated that
skipping commercials is "stealing."

The ReplayTV customers are represented by EFF attorneys and Ira
Rothken of the Rothken Law Firm.

The entertainment companies have tried repeatedly to prevent EFF
attorneys from accessing documents that the court ordered the
companies to produce as part of the legal discovery process. EFF
attorneys sought access because they believe these documents are
critical to preparing the ReplayTV owners' case. The entertainment
companies claimed that EFF is a "competitor" with Hollywood because of
its public statements about copyright law policy. The ruling sought by
the entertainment companies would have effectively disqualified EFF
attorneys as legal counsel for the ReplayTV owners in this case.

In October, Magistrate Judge Eick ruled in favor of EFF pointing out
that the restriction sought "would impair significantly the
prosecution of the Newmark Plaintiffs' claims by effectively
preventing attorneys from the Electronic Frontier Foundation from
serving as litigation counsel for the Newmark Plaintiffs" and found
that the entertainment companies "have failed to demonstrate a
sufficiently significant disclosure-related risk or danger" from
disclosure of their confidential information by EFF attorneys to
justify complete denial of access.

The entertainment companies appealed this decision and U.S. District
Court Judge Cooper reaffirmed today the earlier ruling in favor of EFF
commenting in a written opinion that: "The Court finds factual support
in the record to support the conclusion that EFF attorneys would be
precluded from viewing a number of documents that are relevant to the
Newmark Plaintiffs' contention that their uses of the RePlayTV DVRs
constitute fair use of the Entertainment Companies' copyrighted
works."

"We are pleased that the courts have twice recognized the importance
of access to discovery documents in the ReplayTV case," said EFF
Intellectual Property Attorney Gwen Hinze. "EFF is now committed to
protecting the fair use rights of ReplayTV owners as this case moves
forward."

"Public interest litigation and public advocacy groups like EFF can
now breath a sigh of relief," added EFF Legal Director Cindy Cohn.
"The entertainment companies were unable to set a precedent for
pushing us out of cases litigated in the public interest simply for
expressing our views on other matters."

Links:
For this release:
http://www.eff.org/Cases/Newmark_v_Turner/20021216_eff_pr.html

Latest court ruling in Newmark v Turner case:
http://www.eff.org/Cases/Newmark_v_Turner/20021216_motion_denied.html

More documents from Newmark v Turner case:
http://www.eff.org/Cases/Newmark_v_Turner/

EFF Fair Use FAQ:
http://www.eff.org/IP/eff_fair_use_faq.html


*Jury Acquits Elcomsoft in eBook Copyright Case

Dmitry Sklyarov Odyssey Leaves Prosecutor Empty-Handed

San Francisco - The highly publicized case that began with the arrest
of Russian programmer Dmitry Sklyarov this week came to a close. A
federal jury in San Jose recently returned a verdict of not guilty on
all counts in the criminal trial of Sklyarov's employer, a Russian
software company called Elcomsoft Ltd. The case was the one of the
first criminal cases to be brought under the Digital Millennium
Copyright Act of 1998 ("DMCA").

"Today's jury verdict sends a strong message to federal prosecutors
who believe that tool makers should be thrown in jail just because a
copyright owner doesn't like the tools they build," said EFF Senior
Intellectual Property Attorney Fred von Lohmann. "We have said from
the beginning that Dmitry Sklyarov, Elcomsoft, and technologists like
them are not pirates, and today a jury agreed."

The case began in July 16, 2001, when the FBI arrested Dmitry Sklyarov
at the Defcon conference in Las Vegas. Sklyarov was the lead engineer
on an Elcomsoft product known as the Advanced eBook Processor (AEBPR),
which software giant Adobe Systems Inc. claimed was a "circumvention
tool" prohibited by the DMCA.

* Party at EFF to Celebrate the Victory!

On Saturday, December 21, 2002, freedom-loving people will have a
party in San Francisco to celebrate a total acquital in the first
criminal prosecution under the controversial Digital Millennium
Copyright Act (DMCA).

Who: Freedom-loving people (that's you)
What: Party to celebrate the Elcomsoft verdict
Where: Electronic Frontier Foundation
454 Shotwell Street
San Francisco CA 94110-1914 USA
When: Saturday, December 21, 2002, 8:00 PM
Why: DMCA reform isn't just about computer programmers any more. 12
randomly chosen American people say the DMCA has gone too far.

Contact: Don Marti dmarti@zgp.org
650-967-1840

Links:
For this release:
http://www.eff.org/IP/DMCA/US_v_Elcomsoft/20021217_eff_pr.html

EFF FAQ on U.S. v. Elcomsoft:
http://www.eff.org/IP/DMCA/US_v_Elcomsoft/us_v_elcomsoft_faq.html

Larry Lessig editorial about the case in the New York Times:
http://www.eff.org/IP/DMCA/US_v_Elcomsoft/20010730_lessig_oped.html

EFF Elcomsoft/Sklyarov case archive:
http://www.eff.org/IP/DMCA/US_v_Elcomsoft/


* Electronic Frontier Foundation Seeks Consumer Rights

Urges Copyright Office to OK Consumer Uses of CDs and DVDs

San Francisco - The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) today urged
the Librarian of Congress (LoC) to recognize the rights of consumers
to skip past commercials on DVDs, view DVDs sold only outside the
U.S., and play copy-protected CDs on the players of their choice.

EFF has long sought exemptions from the Digital Millennium Copyright
Act's (DMCA) prohibition on bypassing technological protections used
to limit consumer use of DVDs and copy-protected CDs.

Public-interest advocacy organization Public Knowledge joined EFF in
filing the comments to the LoC, prepared with the assistance of law
students at the Glushko-Samuelson Intellectual Property Clinic of
Washington College of Law.

EFF asked the LoC to create DMCA exemptions for four types of digital
media:

1) music on copy-protected CDs;

2) movies on DVDs whose region coding restrictions prevent playback on
U.S. players;

3) movies on DVDs which prevent skipping of commercials;

4) movies in the public domain released on DVD;

If granted, these exemptions will allow consumers to make full use of
the music and movies that they've lawfully obtained.

The entertainment industry encodes DVDs by region sold in an attempt
to control release and pricing of movies sold worldwide. Region 1
includes the United States.

"Many great films are available only outside the U.S.," said EFF Staff
Attorney Gwen Hinze. "We urge the LoC to allow film buffs to play
movies they've legitimately purchased outside the U.S. without fear of
breaking the law."

The recent distribution of "copy-protected" CDs has made some CDs
unplayable on PCs and DVD players. "The music industry intends to stop
copying, but the copy-protected CDs they sell are completely
unplayable in many PCs and newer disc players," said EFF Senior
Intellectual Property Attorney Fred von Lohmann. "When I buy a CD, I
should at least be able to play it on my CD players."

The LoC has called for comments as part of a triennial process of
granting exemptions to the anti-circumvention provisions of the DMCA.
Legislators charged the LoC and the U.S. Copyright Office with
reviewing the effect of the anti-circumvention provisions on the
public's ability to make non-infringing uses of copyrighted works
secured by digital protection technologies.

This rulemaking procedure allows the LoC and the Copyright Office to
grant limited three-year exemptions to the DMCA's blanket prohibition
on bypassing technological protection measures. In that way, users
could access particular classes of copyrighted works that are
protected by digital protection mechanisms.

Links:
For this release:
http://www.eff.org/IP/DMCA/20021218_eff_dmca_reply_pr.html

EFF comments to Librarian of Congress and U.S. Copyright Office:
http://www.eff.org/IP/DMCA/20021218_eff_dmca_reply_comments.html

U.S. Copyright Office Notice of Rulemaking:
http://www.copyright.gov/1201/

EFF prior comments to LoC and U.S. Copyright Office in 2000:
http://www.eff.org/IP/DMCA/20000331_eff_dmca_reply_comments.html

"How to Win (DMCA) Exemptions and Influence Policy" by Seth Finkelstein:
http://www.eff.org/IP/DMCA/finkelstein_on_dmca.html


* Deep Links
Deep Links features noteworthy news items, victories, and threats from
around the Internet.

~ RIAA Statisticians Have Group Hallucination?
The RIAA has been complaining about a 10% drop in profits. Gee, it's
pretty hard to squeeze a profit out of merchandise you never ship
(even when you're gauging retailers), eh Hilary?
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/28588.html

~ In with the GNU Radio
Salon looks at one of the coolest, most useful, and controversial
technologies ever.
http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2002/12/18/gnu_radio/index.html

~ ACLU Award Winners Endorse a Flat Fee for P2P
Attorneys Ken Hertz and Fred Goldring tell the content industry to
stop going after consumers and focus on the real problem: their
outdated, artist-impoverishing business models.
http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/rumormill.cgi

~ New Zealand May Dodge the DMCA Bullet
They're trying to get WIPO-compliant without the collateral damage of
the DMCA.
http://www.med.govt.nz/buslt/int_prop/digital/position/


* Administrivia

EFFector is published by:

The Electronic Frontier Foundation
454 Shotwell Street
San Francisco CA 94110-1914 USA
+1 415 436 9333 (voice)
+1 415 436 9993 (fax)
  http://www.eff.org/

Editor:
Ren Bucholz, Activist
  ren@eff.org

To Join EFF online, or make an additional donation, go to:
  http://www.eff.org/support/

Membership & donation queries: membership@eff.org
General EFF, legal, policy or online resources queries: ask@eff.org

Reproduction of this publication in electronic media is encouraged.
Signed articles do not necessarily represent the views of EFF. To
reproduce signed articles individually, please contact the authors for
their express permission. Press releases and EFF announcements &
articles may be reproduced individually at will.

To change your address, please visit http://action.eff.org/subscribe/.
 From there, you can update all your information. If you have already
subscribed to the EFF Action Center, please visit
http://action.eff.org/action/login.asp.

Back issues are available at:
  http://www.eff.org/effector

You can also get the latest issue of EFFector via the Web at:
  http://www.eff.org/effector/current.html

Please send any questions or comments to webmaster@eff.org

You received this message because monty@roscom.com is a member of
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from all mailing lists originating from alerts@action.eff.org, send an 
email from monty@roscom.com to alerts@action.eff.org with 'Remove' as the
only text in the subject line.

------------------------------

From: Phil Earnhardt <pae@dim.com>
Subject: Providing DSL Service Without Any POTS?
Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2002 01:26:57 -0700
Organization: http://extra.newsguy.com


Would it be reasonable to have the PUCs require the RBOCs to provide
DSL service to their customers without having POTS on the line? This
would be good for cutsomers who had cellphone service and didn't
really need an voice line into the house.

Don't the cable services offer POTS and cable modem internet access as
separate items?

Have there been any initiatives to create this class of service? It
would seem that it would be beneficial for the cell phone companies to
lobby for this ...


phil

[Who would love to have this service available.]

------------------------------

Date: 21 Dec 2002 12:02:52 -0500
From: johnl@iecc.com (John R. Levine)
Subject: Re: Error Paying Attention to Internet Seer
Organization: I.E.C.C., Trumansburg NY USA


> I work for InternetSeer, a Web site monitoring company. InternetSeer
> is ...

 ... a bunch of chronic clueless spammers.  I've been complaining about
their junk for ages.

Their alleged service is worthless, since the "cannot contact" reports
are usually due to failures of their own ISP connection.


John R. Levine, IECC, POB 727, Trumansburg NY 14886 +1 607 387 6869
johnl@iecc.com Village Trustee and Sewer Commissioner http://iecc.com/johnl 
Member, Provisional board, Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial E-mail

------------------------------

Date: 21 Dec 2002 09:46:05 EST
From: Charles.B.Wilber@Dartmouth.EDU (Charles B. Wilber)
Subject: Re: More About Internet Seer Spam


 --- You wrote:

> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Does anyone know anything about these
> people? It *seems* like a good offer, but I had to pull it out of my
> own spam bucket when it arrived here. I am wondering if this is going
> to get me a bunch more spam if I agree to their service?  Anyone?  PAT]

 --- end of quote ---

There's still no free lunch. Sooner or later, you will discover the catch.

------------------------------

From: sjsobol@JustThe.net (Steven J. Sobol)
Subject: Re: SBC Ameritech Hosed Me and Now I Get Even
Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2002 16:16:28 -0000
Organization: JustThe.net LLC


'A. Hackbarth <betaphihack@hotmail.com>:

> You see I am an Independent Representative for North America's Largest
> Privately Held Telecom Company ... and with that comes the leverage of
> multi million dollar telecommunications contracts.

I hate SBC AmeriBlech too, but you lost every last drop of credibility
you had with me when you told me that.

I have *really* had trouble with AmeriBlech. I suspect you've probably
never had to deal with them, and you're just making up a story in
order to make money.


Steve Sobol, CTO  JustThe.net LLC, Mentor On The Lake, OH
http://JustTheNetLLC.com/  888.480.4NET (4638)

A practicing member of the Geek Orthodox religion!

------------------------------

From: joe@obilivan.net
Subject: Re: SBC Ameritech Hosed Me and Now I Get Even
Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2002 17:42:08 GMT
Organization: Cox Communications


Isn't this a moderated forum?  If so, why is junk like this allowed?

A. Hackbarth wrote:

> Hi,

> Because of the way that SBC Ameritech has ignored me I have now made
> it my business to put Ameritech out of its ...

> If you want to sign up for service or read my story you can go to my
> website:

> http://www.aaronhackbarth.com

> If you work for SBC Ameritech its not your fault, its the way your
> business model works.

> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Listen, Aaron, I'd like to help you
> out, but I am really busy right now, on the one hand trying to put the
> X back in Xmas, and on the other, trying to get Mothers who use Pulse
> Dialing out of Cheapness to put money in my Salvation Army pot this
> week and next. Maybe someone who goes to look at your site will read
> it to me and tell me what you/it are all about. PAT]

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: *It is* a moderated forum, Joe; when
you send your one-line 'me too' style response, why did you have to
leave the thirty or so lines of the original message attached for me
to cut out?  Ah, but you should see how much of *his original message*
I cut out to start with before using it here. Everyone has their
failures in life. Mine is in attempting to be a *good* moderator.  PAT]

------------------------------

From: Jim Fleming <JimFleming@ameritech.net>
Subject: Re: ARPA ... The 20th Anniversary of the Internet
Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2002 09:20:11 -0600


Sounds like Cerf and Clinton have a lot in common ...
http://livinginternet.com/?i/ii_cerf.htm

http://www.ietf.org//mail-archive/ietf/Current/msg18601.html
From: vinton g. cerf <vinton.g.cerf@wcom.com>
bob is correct; I left ARPA in Oct 1972 to join MCI.

========================================

http://www.ietf.org//mail-archive/ietf/Current/msg18602.html

 From: Bob Braden <braden@ISI.EDU>

In my recent message about the creation of the Internet by the
conversion of the ARPAnet from NCP to TCP/IP, I incorrectly named Vint
Cerf as the Responsible Parent at ARPA.  Actually, the Responsible
Parent at ARPA during conversion was Bob Kahn; Vint had left ARPA for
MCI before that date.

http://livinginternet.com/?i/ii_cerf.htm

Cerf and Stanford graduate students Yogen Dalal and Carl Sunshine
published the first technical specification of TCP/IP as an Internet
Experiment Note (IEN) as RFC 675, in December, 1974. Their design
included a 32 bit IP address, with eight bits for identification of a
network, and 24 bits for identification of a computer, which provided
support for up to 256 networks, each with up to 16,777,216 unique
network addresses.

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 22:45:55 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Web Security Plan Won't Invade Privacy - White House


    By Andy Sullivan

    WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Efforts to bolster Internet
security will not lead to increased government scrutiny of
individuals' online habits, the White House and industry sources said
on Friday.

    As it finalizes sweeping guidelines that aim to increase
cybersecurity, the Bush administration said individual privacy would
not be affected by efforts to prevent cyberattacks.

    "The administration is not considering a proposal to monitor what
individuals do on the Internet," a spokesman for the transition to the
newly created Department of Homeland Security said.

    High-tech companies, meanwhile, said they would resist government
efforts to get involved in the day-to-day operation of the global
computer network.

    In a set of preliminary guidelines released in September, the
White House said high-tech companies that keep an eye on the Internet
should combine their efforts and work with the government to better
defend against computer viruses, worms and other cyberattacks.

    The New York Times in its Friday edition reported the White House
is planning a bigger government role in the proposed center that could
possibly lead to surveillance of individual users.

     - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=30637009

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 23:08:40 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Some Companies Will Release Customer Records on Request


By JOHN SCHWARTZ

Nearly a quarter of the corporate security officers in a survey to be
released today said they would supply information about customers to
law enforcement officials and government agencies without a court
order. If an investigation concerned national security, the figure
jumps to 41 percent.

"If you're a customer in somebody's database, you cannot be completely
confident that the information you've provided - whatever the business
might be - is not going to be shared with law enforcement agencies in
the course of their investigations," said Lew McCreary, the editor of
CSO magazine, which conducted the survey.

In the survey of 797 chief security officers (a title commonly
abbreviated as C.S.O.) 43 percent said they would require a court
order before providing information on customers, employees or partner
organizations.

The security officers who took part in the survey work in financial, 
retail, health care and many other fields, and the companies they 
work for range in size from fewer than 500 employees to more than 
30,000.

The survey questions do not give a sense of what information might be 
shared or under what circumstances. The results will provide further 
fuel for the controversy surrounding issues of privacy and national 
security since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.


http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/18/technology/18RECO.html

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 23:40:26 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: GILC Alert v6i8


GILC Alert
Volume 6, Issue 8
20 December 2002

Welcome to the Global Internet Liberty Campaign Newsletter.

Welcome to GILC Alert, the newsletter of the Global Internet Liberty
Campaign. We are an international organization of groups working for
cyber-liberties, who are determined to preserve civil liberties and
human rights on the Internet.

We hope you find this newsletter interesting, and we very much hope
that you will avail yourselves of the action items in future issues.
If you are a part of an organization that would be interested in
joining GILC, please contact us at <gilc@gilc.org>.  If you are aware
of threats to cyber-liberties that we may not know about, please
contact the GILC members in your country, or contact GILC as a whole.
Please feel free to redistribute this newsletter to appropriate
forums.

===============================================
Free expression
[1] Chinese Net users face enhanced censorware, arrests
[2] Russian firm cleared in eBook copyright case 
[3] Australian high court ruling endangers Net speech
[4] Teen Norwegian DVD programmer faces criminal charges
[5] ICANN shuns public elections in new bylaws
[6] Finnish bill may curb Net chatboard comments
[7] Net blockers deny access to important health info
[8] Vietnamese Net dissident gets 4 year jail sentence
[9] Australian gov't ponders blocking of protest websites
[10] Google censors German & French search results
[11] Panama tries to block Internet ports
[12] Council of Europe adopts Net censorship protocol

Privacy
[13] US gov't plans Total Informational Awareness spy system 
[14] Regulators warn Verichip tracking implant maker
[15] US appeals court allows easier wiretapping rules
[16] Finland gov't data retention stance draws fire
[17] Study: British workplace Net monitoring on the rise
[18] New rules unveiled for webbug trackers
[19] TiVo digital recorder makes mistakes, stereotypes users
[20] Court strikes down US gov't virus spy attack
[21] US court allow blind police Net searches
[22] Swiss Big Brother Awards ceremony held

[23] New GILC member: AEL & EFFI

http://www.gilc.org/alert/alert68.html 

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2002 11:30:01 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Is That a TiVo Under the Tree?


By Katie Dean

Will this be the year that TiVo catches on with a mass audience?

Not likely, say analysts.

While many users of personal video recorders say they can no longer
imagine watching TV sans TiVo, the products have yet to reach a
critical mass of consumers.

http://www.wired.com/news/holidays/0,1882,56828,00.html

------------------------------

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From editor@telecom-digest.org Sun Dec 22 16:46:20 2002
Received: from localhost (localhost [[UNIX: localhost]])
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Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2002 16:46:20 -0500 (EST)
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To: ptownson
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Subject: TELECOM Digest V22 #205

TELECOM Digest     Sun, 22 Dec 2002 16:46:00 EST    Volume 22 : Issue 205

Inside This Issue:                             Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: How Do You INSERT CID (Alex Kasper)
    Re: Call Blocking Box For All Numbers From Given Country? (Linc Madison)
    Ground Start and Payphones (Mark J Cuccia)
    Re: SBC Ameritech Hosed Me and Now I Get Even (Loonquawl)
    Re: SBC Ameritech Hosed Me and Now I Get Even (A. Hackbarth)
    Question about DID and Caller ID on Non-PRI T1 (Dan Bendell)
    Going Electronic, Denver Reveals Long-Term Surveillance (Monty Solomon)
    Pop-Ups Add New Twist (Monty Solomon)
    Federal Database Spy Site Fading Away (Monty Solomon)
    Sklyarov Reflects on DMCA Travails (Monty Solomon)
    Re: Providing DSL Service Without Any POTS? (Ed Ellers)
    Re: Providing DSL Service Without Any POTS? (Steven J. Sobol)
    Re: Providing DSL Service Without Any POTS? (John Hines)
    Hands-Free Headset (Need Modular to 2.5mm Adapter) (Sanjay Punjab)

All contents here are copyrighted by Patrick Townson and the
individual writers/correspondents. Articles may be used in other
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----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: alex@nexspace.com (Alex Kasper)
Subject: Re: How Do You INSERT CID
Date: 21 Dec 2002 13:06:28 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


This can be done pretty easily. The term you want to search for on
Google is "FSK" or "FSK Signaling." You'll find quite a bit of
literature.

A number of manufacturers offer test boxes which simulate a Central
Office and provide Dial Tone, Ring Tone, Busy, AND send Caller ID they
can be had for under $1000.00.

See Here:
http://www.linesimulators.com/telsim.shtml

If you want to do this yourself, check out Teltone.com - they make the
chipsets that support this.


AK

------------------------------

From: Linc Madison <nobody@example.com>
Subject: Re: Call Blocking Box For All Numbers From a Given Country?
Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2002 13:28:29 -0800
Organization: LincMad.com Consulting
Reply-To: Telecom@LincMad.com


In article <telecom22.203.10@telecom-digest.org>, Alex Kasper
<alex@nexspace.com> wrote:

> We certainly do get incoming CLID for foreign countries. I get France,
> England, Germany -- and most of Western Europe -- anyone with an SS7
> connection.

> As for your box, it wouldn't be that hard to build, but because Caller
> ID information is so easy to spoof it wouldn't offer much security.

> I can call you 'from' anyone or any country, and if you trust that
> information for verification you need to rethink your security model.

Even if the caller ID is accurate, it would still be difficult to use
for blocking a given country, because in the US we often get the
caller ID with no indication that it's an international number. I got
a call from a Swiss cellphone that showed up as 417-xxx-xxxx-x. If the
digit count weren't off, I'd have no way to know it wasn't a call from
Missouri.


www dot LincMad dot com  / Telecom at LincMad dot com
Linc Madison  *  San Francisco, California

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2002 15:46:39 CST
From: Mark J Cuccia <mcuccia@tulane.edu>
Subject: Ground Start and Payphones


In TELECOM Digest V22 #203, AK wrote:

> Another use for groundstart lines I have seen is as a cheap ACD for
> Telethon rooms. (i.e. Jerry Lewis). You just order a bunch of
> groundstart lines in circular hunt and hook them up to 500 sets.

> The operators will never get a dial tone, and on some C.O switches you
> can just stay off hook after the caller hangs up. You'll hear a clunk
> and the next caller will be there.

> I know Henry Cabot III used to do this in the 70's with an AE880
> speakerphone on his desk. He would just leave it "off hook."

> I would call the number, hear a clunk and I could yell to him wherever
> he might be in the office and he could yell back. No doubt, a very
> crude form of off-hook call announce.

I can remember when there were still SxS (Step) central offices in New
Orleans back in the 1970's and even into the 1980's, and also back
then all payphones were still coin-first, ground-start (and telco
ONLY, South Central Bell, this was before Greene and COCOT-sleaze!),
if I were at a payphone (in a Step office) and was expecting someone
to call me back (I had called them, they were in the middle of
something else, such as maybe another call, if THEY were in a 1AESS
office with Call Waiting) ... I could stay "off-hook" without having
put a nickel (it eventually went up to dime in Louisiana starting in
1979), and since it was ground-start (coin-first) I would 'hear' some
form of battery hum, but no dialtone nor sidetone.

When that person called me back, once the connecter switch in my Step
central office was "pulsed over" to my payphone's final digit, they
would just "klunk in" to me, offhook! I would have full battery and
sidetone, both me and the party calling me back would just "be there,
connected to each other" ... without any "ringing"!

I assume for the other (non-coin) uses of ground-start lines, such as
the speakerphone mentioned above, that if you needed to make an
outgoing call, there could be a "grounding button" to complete a
"ground" back to the central office and thus get a dialtone to place
the call.

I never remember trying to stay off hook on a coin-first ground-start
payphone in a #5 Crossbar office, to see if I could get an incoming
call to just "klunk in". I know that it did _NOT_ work if I stayed
offhook at a ground-start coin-first payphone in a 1AESS office
though.

New Orleans Metro began to convert to Loop-Start Dial-Tone-First
(telco) payphones beginning in December 1984, and continuing
(office-by-office) until Spring 1985. And different local area
jurisdictions began introducing 911 in Summer 1985. This was the
stated reason for converting all (telco) payphones to DTF
(Loop-Start). And except for the tiny CDO (Community Dial Office) Step
offices in the outlying "exurbs", the last few "city" SxS offices in
the New Orleans metro area were cut to 1AESS by 1983, probably just
"in time" for divestiture. The remaining CDO Step offices in the
"exurbs" were converted to digital remotes during 1990.  But even
those small "exurb" CDO offices had (telco) dial-tone-first
c.o.switch-controlled payphones (AND DTMF/touchtone), beginning in the
mid-1980's, by putting some kind of dialed-digit-registers/
pre-translation/ tone-to-pulse conversion circuit packs, between the
line-finderes and the first-selector switches.


Mark J. Cuccia
mcuccia@tulane.edu
New Orleans LA


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: There was a *second* message posted on
Sunday regarding the 'ground start' thread. In my clumsyness I somehow
got it erased before using it here. :(   Sorry, whoever. If you wrote
on ground start and it did not appear here today, it was lost in
processing. Please resubmit with my aologies.    PAT]

------------------------------

From: Loonquawl <news@loonquawl.com>
Subject: Re: SBC Ameritech Hosed Me and Now I Get Even
Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2002 13:53:31 -0800
Organization: Astound Broadband


Wow, I've never met anyone with phrase dyslexia before - who the hell
is SouthBell anyway?  I've never heard of such a company :D

And seeing as you're going with the pre-SBC-conglomeration RBOCs, I
love how you've also conveniently left out Southwestern Bell, Qwest,
and SNET...

Your plan, which involves switching to an alternate local service
provider, is rather flawed, seeing as you're buying Ameritech's
service resold under a different name. Unless, of course, your Excel
telco (which, for supposedly being the nation's largest privately held
telco, I've never heard of) has somehow colocated a DMS100/5ESS at
every one of Ameritech's COs ...

And my god, I should whack you over the head with books about the
fundamentals of decent web design, grammar, and spelling!

*whackwhackwhack*


Brandon Turok
http://www.loonquawl.com/
DIAL-A-MACHINE 925-288-9825
Free when you call from work

A. Hackbarth <betaphihack@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:telecom22.203.9@telecom-digest.org:


> Because of the way that SBC Ameritech has ignored me I have now made
> it my business to put Ameritech out of its ...

> You may Laugh, but I assure you that I can, and will cause a loss of
> SBC Ameritech's Revenue ... with this lost revenue I intend to finally
> pay them the money I don't owe them ... Read my letter I sent to them
> and you will see the satisfaction that will bring.

> You see I am an Independent Representative for North America's Largest
> Privately Held Telecom Company ...and with that comes the leverage of
> multi million dollar telecommunications contracts.

> I offer all Americans the chance to start a Revolution ... there are
> many others who have been wronged by Verizon, Southbell, Pacificbell SBC
> and Ameritech.  Now I can show you how to get paid, save your
> customers $$$ and get even at the same time.

> Now all Ameritech customers are eligible to become my customer. And
> since my service is cheaper and has more benefits it will be no
> problem to get people to try it for Free.

> If you want to sign up for service or read my story you can go to my
> website:

> http://www.aaronhackbarth.com

> If you work for SBC Ameritech its not your fault, its the way your
> business model works.

> Deregulation is Democracy Vote out Ameritech NOW!!

> Sincerely,

> Aaron Hackbarth

> P.S.  Carrot top Is F*CK*NG annoying, and by using AT$T you pay for
> him to annoy millions of TV viewers every day.

> DO NOT pay him, and save money for yourself, that's what I offer.

> If you don't Like Me there's a special link on my site for you
> especially if you like Ameritech.

> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Listen, Aaron, I'd like to help you
> out, but I am really busy right now, on the one hand trying to put the
> X back in Xmas, and on the other, trying to get Mothers who use Pulse
> Dialing out of Cheapness to put money in my Salvation Army pot this
> week and next. Maybe someone who goes to look at your site will read
> it to me and tell me what you/it are all about. PAT]

------------------------------

From: betaphihack@hotmail.com (A. Hackbarth)
Subject: Re: SBC Ameritech Hosed Me and Now I Get Even
Date: 22 Dec 2002 11:34:14 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Aaron has replied to his critics. I am
pleased to present his response here, and so that he can tell everyone
exactly where things are at, I have not applied my editor's pen and
eraser to his message, except to keep my finger on the red button so
that a ten second delay can be inserted as needed.  PAT]

sjsobol@JustThe.net (Steven J. Sobol) wrote in message
news:<telecom22.204.5@telecom-digest.org>:

> 'A. Hackbarth <betaphihack@hotmail.com>:

>> You see I am an Independent Representative for North America's Largest
>> Privately Held Telecom Company ... and with that comes the leverage of
>> multi million dollar telecommunications contracts.

> I hate SBC AmeriBlech too, but you lost every last drop of credibility
> you had with me when you told me that.

Do You Read Forbes magazine?? go buy this months issue and last
months issue  read them untill then You have zero credability...

  How about the wallsreet journal?? read this article
  http://stacks.msnbc.com/news/816517.asp?cp1=1

 It shows you that the company that I can give customers service from
is BETTER than all other companies researched... and get paid to do
it....

what about Money Magazine??
    Money Magazine stated: "Excel Communications is as good an example
of entrepreneurship the world will ever see."

The Secretary of State of South Carolina, Jim Miles, as quoted in
Success Magazine: "I believe that this is the finest financial
opportunity that you will ever have in your lifetime. If you do this,
you will never have to have a job job in your whole life."  He was
speaking to his 22 year old son.

> I have *really* had trouble with AmeriBlech. I suspect you've probably
> never had to deal with them,

Get up, brush yourself off and fight back 


> and you're just making up a story in
> order to make money.

I can see why you may have had this attitude towards me..I also have
been [red button BEEP!] hard by ameritech...They tried to ruin my
credit, harass me, and send me annoying letters...and they still say I
owe them $$$, and I fully intend to pay them with their own lost
revenue...

if I was looking at it from your perspective and someone was sayin
they got [BEEP!]  but can make money [BEEP!] them over I might think
that you were making up your story...so I ask you, ameritech got you
that sour?? and if they do they join my amassing army against
Ameritech...

soon I will have the bill scanned so you all can see how Ameritech
thinks
$99modem + $49.99 =275 and then some how it became a magic $488
thats some Fuzzy math

I called those [BEEP!] and they hung up on me...5 times
I even talked to a rep for 5 minutes,I explained everything, she goes
hold on let me check.....click.. that [BEEP!]...

They would NOT tell me where there DSL office was in Milwaukee so I
could go and talk to somebody that cant [BEEP!] hang up on me he would
probably try to run away.

So here I am
Mad as hell 
And I, not You, am doing something about it 
and soon you will all see
I am not full of [BEEP!]

Aaron


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note:  Thank you, Aaron, for that explanation
and although I have not looked at your web site, I am sure it says
about the same things as above. Sorry about having to apply the red
button cut-off now and then, but this is a Family Oriented Digest with
Family Values,  and I do not want to worry about what Families who 
read Usenet together see in messages, but I did want you to say it all
in your own words.  PAT]

------------------------------

From: Dan Bendell <dbendell@assurancetech.net>
Subject: Question About DID and Caller ID on Non-PRI T1
Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2002 20:39:46 -0500
Organization: Assurance Technology Management, Inc.
Reply-To: Dan Bendell <dbendell@assurancetech.net>


I am looking for a clear answer regarding the ability of a T1 that is
NOT a PRI to accomodate BOTH Caller ID and DID.

I am being told that both an Avaya Magix and an IP Office MUST be
connected to a PRI in order to get either of them.  I was always
pretty sure that you could get at least one at a time over a regular
T1.

I suppose the confusion could be related to the ability to get BOTH at
the same time, and that you need the out of band signaling of a PRI
D-channel to get both.

I'm so confused ... and I haven't even asked about the real differece
between DID and DNIS or ANI and Caller ID...Maybe some one could
reccomend a good resource for these questions that is more than just a
definition but also does not need an EE degree to understand.

Thanks in advance.  Happy Holidays ...


Dan

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2002 00:39:19 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Going Electronic, Denver Reveals Long-Term Surveillance


By FORD FESSENDEN with MICHAEL MOSS

DENVER, Dec. 14 - The Denver police have gathered information on
unsuspecting local activists since the 1950's, secretly storing what
they learned on simple index cards in a huge cabinet at police
headquarters.

When the cabinet filled up recently, the police thought they had an 
easy solution. For $45,000, they bought a powerful computer program 
from a company called Orion Scientific Systems. Information on 3,400 
people and groups was transferred to software that stores, searches 
and categorizes the data.

Then the trouble began.

After the police decided to share the fruits of their surveillance 
with another local department, someone leaked a printout to an 
activist for social justice, who made the documents public. The mayor 
started an investigation. People lined up to obtain their files. 
Among those the police spied on were nuns, advocates for American 
Indians and church organizations.

To make matters worse, the software called many of the groups 
"criminal extremists."

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/21/technology/21PRIV.html


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Remember, when reading articles in 
NYT, you have to register. Most of us use the username = telecomdigest
and password = telecomdigest. You are welcome to use it also.  I guess
the Denver police got this bright idea years ago from Chicago police
who have also routinely kept track of 'trouble makers' since about 1950.
Trouble makers = 'communists', 'radical blacks', 'anarchists', war-
protestors, gay guys, anyone running for political office who is not
a Chicago-style Democrat, etc. Of course drug sellers, murderers and
really sick individuals who harm any of the first several categories
above need not fear. You cannot expect the police to do everything. I 
am *so glad* to be out of that town.    PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2002 00:54:41 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Pop-ups Add New Twist


By Stefanie Olsen
Staff Writer, CNET News.com

Pop-up advertisements, already the bane of millions of Web surfers, 
are becoming more intrusive.

Pop-up and pop-under ads open a new window when people visit many
popular Web sites, often littering the computer desktop with multiple
browser screens. Advertisers hope people will visit the promoted Web
page by clicking anywhere on the window, although many simply close it
by selecting the "X" box in the top-right corner.

But a relatively new feature may make it harder for people to avoid 
these windows. Using a technique called the "kick through," 
advertisers can direct a person to another Web site if they simply 
move their cursor across the pop-up ad -- no clicking is necessary.

Discount travel retailer Orbitz, for example, is delivering millions
of holiday-themed kick-through ads on The New York Times, ESPN.com and
CondeNast sites in addition to others. The ads feature various
animated games, and recipients who simply "mouse" over them are
shuttled to Orbitz's home page.

Many people who have encountered the ads say they overstep the
boundaries of an already intrusive and loathed form of Web
advertising.

http://news.com.com/2100-1023-978616.html

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2002 00:57:34 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Federal Database Spy Site Fading Away


By Declan McCullagh
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
December 20, 2002, 10:46 AM PT

Call it the incredibly shrinking government Web site.

As controversy grows over the Defense Department's shadowy Total
Information Awareness (TIA) project, the project's virtual presence is
steadily decreasing. If fully implemented, TIA would link databases
from sources such as credit card companies, medical insurers, and
motor vehicle databases for police convenience in hopes of snaring
terrorists.

First, biographical information about the TIA project leaders, 
including retired Adm. John Poindexter, disappeared from the Defense 
Department's site last month. A mirror that one activist created from 
Google's cache shows the deleted information included four resumes 
listing past work experience but no addresses or contact information.

Then, sometime in the last week, the TIA site shrank still more and 
some links ceased to work. The logo for the TIA project--a Masonic 
pyramid eyeballing the globe--vanished, a highly unusual step for a 
government agency. So did the TIA's Latin "scientia est potentia" 
slogan, which means "knowledge is power."

http://news.com.com/2100-1023-978598.html

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2002 01:17:39 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Sklyarov Reflects on DMCA Travails


By Lisa M. Bowman
Staff Writer, CNET News.com

SAN MATEO, Calif.--Russian programmer Dmitry Sklyarov thinks it was
unfair of prosecutors to play his videotaped deposition at the
ElcomSoft trial rather than calling him to the stand.

But after a legal saga that's included a surprise arrest outside his
Las Vegas hotel room, three weeks in jail, and visa tangles that
almost prevented him from coming back to the United States for trial,
Sklyarov has decided not to worry about situations over which he has
no control.

http://news.com.com/2100-1023-978497.html

------------------------------

From: Ed Ellers <ed_ellers@msn.com>
Subject: Re: Providing DSL Service Without Any POTS?
Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2002 02:06:57 -0500


Phil Earnhardt <pae@dim.com> wrote:

> Would it be reasonable to have the PUCs require the RBOCs to provide
> DSL service to their customers without having POTS on the line? This
> would be good for cutsomers who had cellphone service and didn't
> really need an voice line into the house."

AFAIK the telcos already do this for other DSL providers, but you
still have to pay something per month for the pair, so the savings may
not be great.

> Don't the cable services offer POTS and cable modem internet access as
> separate items?

All that I know of do.

------------------------------

From: sjsobol@JustThe.net (Steven J. Sobol)
Subject: Re: Providing DSL Service Without Any POTS?
Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2002 18:08:52 -0000
Organization: JustThe.net LLC


Phil Earnhardt <pae@dim.com> wrote:

> Would it be reasonable to have the PUCs require the RBOCs to provide
> DSL service to their customers without having POTS on the line? This
> would be good for cutsomers who had cellphone service and didn't
> really need an voice line into the house.

SDSL and non-line-shared ADSL are already available, but all of the
DSL companies I've seen require a phone number to determine which CO
your DSL would be served out of.


Steve Sobol, CTO  JustThe.net LLC, Mentor On The Lake, OH
http://JustTheNetLLC.com/  888.480.4NET (4638)

A practicing member of the Geek Orthodox religion!

------------------------------

From: John Hines <john@jhines.org>
Subject: Re: Providing DSL Service Without Any POTS?
Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2002 13:55:19 -0600
Organization: www.jhines.org
Reply-To: john@jhines.org


Phil Earnhardt <pae@dim.com> wrote:

> Providing DSL Service Without Any POTS?

Err, my SDSL  line from DSL.net doesn't have a POTS line associated with
it.

The phone company wants to sell DSL over POTS yes, but you should be
able to get what you want.  Hint, it isn't as cheap, it is considered
business class service.

> Would it be reasonable to have the PUCs require the RBOCs to provide
> DSL service to their customers without having POTS on the line? This
> would be good for cutsomers who had cellphone service and didn't
> really need an voice line into the house.

The FCC has required the RBOCS to provide their services unbundled to
the competition, again, it is something the RBOCs are fighting tooth
and nail.

> Have there been any initiatives to create this class of service? It
> would seem that it would be beneficial for the cell phone companies to
> lobby for this ...

They have been spending millions lobbying against it.  SBC is paying
millions/mo in fines from the Illinois PUC, because they are not meeting
their obligations.

The phone companies are only interested in their profit. Unless this
class of service improves their bottom line they are not interested. And
DSL service cuts into their leased line business.

------------------------------

From: piclistguy@yahoo.com (Sanjay Punjab)
Subject: Hands-Free Headset (Need Modular to 2.5mm Adapter), Do They Exist?
Date: 22 Dec 2002 01:45:46 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


I just started working in a new office that has Nortel PBX phones.  On
the back is a module jack for a headset, yet the current headsets I
own have 2.5mm plugs. Is there an adapter I can buy to allow me to use
my current headsets with this phone? I searched the internet but
couldnt find this type of adapter. 

Thanks.

------------------------------

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From editor@telecom-digest.org Mon Dec 23 14:12:49 2002
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Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2002 14:12:49 -0500 (EST)
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Subject: TELECOM Digest V22 #206

TELECOM Digest     Mon, 23 Dec 2002 14:13:00 EST    Volume 22 : Issue 206

Inside This Issue:                             Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: How to Stop Telephone Harrasment by IBM? (flogi)
    Critics Weigh In on Copyright Act (Monty Solomon)
    Many Tools of Big Brother Are Up and Running (Monty Solomon)
    Repairing a Northern Telecom 2500 (Nebular)
    Avaya Conversant 8.0 (Shiva)
    Book Review: Bell Labs: Life in the Crown Jewel - A New Book (gdas)
    Number Portability; When and Where? (Sander)
    God Bless Memory Hole was Re: Federal Database Spy Site (H.E. Taylor)
    Re: Error Accessing Your Website (Marc Haber)
    Re: SBC Ameritech Hosed Me and Now I Get Even (Steven J. Sobol)
    Re: SBC Ameritech Hosed Me and Now I Get Even (Justin Time)
    Re: SBC Ameritech Hosed Me and Now I Get Even (Heath Doane)
    Re: SBC Ameritech Hosed Me and Now I Get Even (Aaron Hackbarth)

All contents here are copyrighted by Patrick Townson and the
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the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2002 14:47:32 -0800
From: flogi <flogi@speakeasy.net>
Subject: Re: How to Stop Telephone Harrasment by IBM?


As a follow up - I am also contacting my state Attorney General office
to see if there is any way they can step in on the criminal complaint.

I'll write back when things get more interesting.

Thanks again,

JM.

Flogi wrote:

> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note:  Here is a **very disturbing** report
> to start the day's news. This occassionally happens where a large 
> company gets off in an orbit of their own, colliding with the rest
> of the world, and no one/nothing seems able to stop them. The last
> time I reported something like this, it was when First National Bank
> of Chicago was harassing a family in Germany with unwanted fax phone
> calls, and nothing would stop the bank from making their calls until
> (the old) Illinois Bell Telephone Company literally went to the bank's
> premises in downtown Chicago prepared to disconnect the phone line in
> question and carry away the fax machine. The story has been told many
> times; now today IBM is the culprit. Let's see how long it takes IBM
> to wise up or stop the harassment; if they ever do.  PAT]

>                    ===========================

> Hello,

> I'm looking for suggestions ( non-malicious please) to get the
> harrasment that has been confirmed to be coming from an IBM site to
> stop.

> I am tempted to hook up my computer to the line and see if I can get a
> terminal session.  It's like reverse hacking, instead of me trying to
> get to them, they just call me and open a terminal session.  However,
> I really just want the calls to stop.

> Any ideas?

> Any legal contacts in California that might be able to help me pursue
> this?  And by pursue -- I mean give them a deterrent that will make IBM
> listen ($$$) and one that will make me welcome a few more calls -- so
> I can keep on suing them.

> Thanks,

> JM

> <<text of email thread with a privacy rights group >>

> I'll provide a little more detail:

> The calls started in October and come up on my caller ID as "out of 
> area" with no phone number attached.

> I had this happen before when I first got the phone number, it appears
> that my number was an old billing number for Arch Wireless. Users of
> the Arch wireless service would have a computer call in their billing
> records via modem to my phone number.

> So I get 30-45 calls daily from an unknown number.  I had Pacific Bell 
> put a trace on the call and they contacted the company responsible for 
> the calls.  They would not release the company name to me directly but 
> would only do so with a police report.  The company refused to return 
> Pacific Bell's phone calls so I opened the police report.  The officer 
> was able to get the number that was showing up on Pac Bell's caller ID 
> and also the name of the company (IBM).

> The officer contacted IBM at the site where the calls were coming
> from.  They asked for one week to investigate and resolve the
> situation.  I waited two weeks.  The timeframe is now mid-November.  I
> followed up with the police officer and he called his contact at IBM.
> His contact disputed the information traced by Pacific Bell to his
> number and said that we were wrong.  I then reactivated the trace and
> explained this to Pacific Bell.  Pacific Bell confirmed that there is
> no way that the trace is incorrect and that they have re-confirmed
> that the calls are coming from IBM.

> I have logged over 300 phone calls with dates, and times.  I still get 
> 30-45 calls daily.

> My local police officer has not gotten any additional information from
> IBM.  He has provided them with the updated information and the
> confirmation that this is coming from their telephone number.  They
> have not responded to him.

> I have asked that he refer this case to the District Attorney in my
> area so that this will become a criminal harassment case.  While this
> is still a misdemeanor, it is also still harassment.

> I am also considering pursuing this in civil court.  The calls come at
> all hours of the day and night.  It is easy enough to ignore the calls
> during the day but at 2:00am, I must answer the phone each time it
> rings because it could be an emergency call from someone that I know.

> In civil court I believe I can obtain punitive damages since IBM has
> had the opportunity to resolve this and refused to do so.  I have
> contacted an attorney about a civil case and we are investigating who
> would be the defendant in this matter.

> I am also considering small claims court but need to confirm
> jurisdiction.

> I'm open to hearing about attorneys that have experience in this area
> as well as other possible solutions.  I have had my days and nights
> interrupted by this for almost 90 days and do feel some restitution is
> in order. Please feel free to pass this message along to the IBM
> privacy officer.

>    -----Original Message-----
>   From: Beth Givens [mailto:bgivens@privacyrights.org]
>   Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2002 2:47 PM
>   Subject: Re: Question about harassing telephone calls from IBM

> I'm very sorry for the delay in responding.

> I find this most disconcerting. Do you yourself have the phone number
> that was identified by the phone company?

> I am not at the office right now, but I'd like to contact IBM's
> privacy officer about this. In the meantime, you might want to do the
> same. If you go to their web site, you can click on their privacy
> policy, and I think you can send an email msg to the privacy officer.

> Do you know why IBM is calling you? Do they leave any messages?

> Also, I'm pretty sure IBM is a member of TRUSTe. You should file a
> complaint about them with www.truste.org and see if they can help you.

> Beth Givens

> At 04:52 PM 12/6/2002 -0500, you wrote:

>> Hi,
>> I am receiving about 40 telephone calls per day by a computer
>> auto-dialer at IBM. These calls come in at all hours of the day and
>> night; 2am, 6am, 9pm etc. I have filed a complaint with Pacific Bell
>> and they have traced the calls to one number at IBM.
>> I have filed a complaint with the Mountain View Police Department and they
>> have opened a case and contacted IBM.  IBM refuses to correct this.

>> Do you think I have any other recourse?
>> I've considered small claims court but don't know who to file a suit
>> against. Any other ideas?  I'm getting desperate here.

> Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
> 3100 - 5th Ave., Suite B
> San Diego, CA 92103
> Phone: (619) 298-3396
> Fax: (619) 298-5681
> Email: prc@privacyrights.org
> Web: www.privacyrights.org

> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: How typical ... corporation denies they
> are idiots and causing harassment; police and others who *could* take
> agressive action to stop it do not really comprehend what is happening
> so just shrug their shoulders and walk away from it. Corporation then
> continues harassment unmolested. In the case at First National Bank of
> Chicago (now they have changed their brand name a couple times since)
> had these German people in tears. Over and over, all night long for a
> month or two, the calls were coming in from the USA. This was back
> before the system could automatically trace calls and those things had
> to be done manually. After repeated complaints of 'phone ringing then
> dead silence when we answered' from the people, Bundespost finally got
> AT&T on the wire and asked them to investigate. It was traced back to
> Illinois Bell, who then tracked it back to the bank, a full month or
> more after the calls were going on nightly. The bank totally ignored
> requests from Illinois Bell to fix the problem. Finally a security rep
> went from Bell over to the bank with a legal notice and an ultimatum;
> 'we are turning off your phones at (whatever time was permitted under
> the law) because you will not correct this problem.' The notice was
> given by telco to the Vice President-Telecom for the bank who went
> downstairs with a vengeance to correct the problem himself. After a
> bit of rudeness by him, the problem got corrected. And the idiots have
> such short term memory problems; a month or so later when the bank got
> a phone bill with page after page after page after page of one minute
> phone calls to Germany at hours in the middle of the night when the
> bank was closed, they complained 'Bell really screwed up our phone
> bill this month' and wanted credit for all those calls.

> I finally had to complain to the State Commission here in Kansas about
> the way Southwestern Bell's alleged Privacy Manager does not work (the
> one they charge people BIG $$ for without actually providing any
> service for the money.) And guess who *my* culprit was?  A divison of
> *AT&T* who was getting around caller-ID by filling the screen with
> 'name unavailable' and ten zeros for a phone number. Do any of you
> young'uns remember when the phone company used to actually take
> seriously their obligations toward their customer's privacy and not
> just mock and humor the customers with things like Privacy Manager?
> Good luck to our latest victim from IBM. Let's see how long it takes
> to get them straightened out. I wonder if he has considered putting
> 'privacy manager' (snicker) on his phone line or call blocking?  PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2002 17:58:42 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Critics Weigh In on Copyright Act


By Joanna Glasner

A federal agency's request for commentary on a controversial digital
copyright law drew a boatload of criticism from respondents who asked
for new limitations on the far-reaching statute.

The responses, published Friday by the U.S. Copyright Office, are the
result of a month-long inquiry concerning sections of the 1998 Digital
Millennium Copyright Act. As part of a mandate to review sections of
the statute every three years, the agency is looking into provisions
that prohibit the use of tools that undo encryption protections on
digital materials.

The copyright office said the request was intended to help determine
whether the law should make exceptions for tools that allow more
flexible use of digital files and aren't used for copyright
infringement.

Respondents, including several well-known digital rights activists, 
overwhelmingly favored carving out exceptions to the DMCA for certain 
uses of music files, text and video technologies. Many argued that 
buyers of copyrighted works should have the right to make content 
accessible on more than one device.

http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,56963,00.html


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Although the copyright people do have
a plausible argument about wanting to protect their material, it
really is rotten when guys purchase music, text or video files and
then are unable to play it when they get home from the store with it.
Or, they are able to load it and play it on one computer, but not on
their other computers, etc. Maybe the copyright people would settle
for some arrangement where files could be copied a certain number of
times on other devices (although played indefinitly on any one device)
before shutting down the copying mechanism. Motorola cell phones used
to be fixed that way:  the user of the phone could reprogram it three
times with new numbers, etc, then the phone would lock up against any
further number changes, and the 'owner' had to take the phone back to
a dealer or the company, explain himself, and get the phone unlocked
for further programming efforts. Some people knew how to clear the
counter that locked you out after three times, but not many people. 
Maybe the DMCA could operate with that principle; do what you want
with *your paid for, personally owned* copy three or four times, then
no more allowed. That would allow most guys to put their thing on
two or three different computers, etc, allow them to personally use
the copy indefinitly, but then lock out further copies.  PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2002 10:47:50 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Many Tools of Big Brother Are Up and Running


By JOHN MARKOFF and JOHN SCHWARTZ

In the Pentagon research effort to detect terrorism by electronically
monitoring the civilian population, the most remarkable detail may be
this: Most of the pieces of the system are already in place.

Because of the inroads the Internet and other digital network
technologies have made into everyday life over the last decade, it is
increasingly possible to amass Big Brother-like surveillance powers
through Little Brother means. The basic components include everyday
digital technologies like e-mail, online shopping and travel booking,
A.T.M. systems, cellphone networks, electronic toll-collection systems
and credit-card payment terminals.

In essence, the Pentagon's main job would be to spin strands of 
software technology that would weave these sources of data into a 
vast electronic dragnet.

Technologists say the types of computerized data sifting and pattern 
matching that might flag suspicious activities to government agencies 
and coordinate their surveillance are not much different from 
programs already in use by private companies. Such programs spot 
unusual credit card activity, for example, or let people at multiple 
locations collaborate on a project.


http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/23/technology/23PEEK.html


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: To read NYT articles without having to
apply for your own username and passcode, we use usernname 'telecomdigest'
and password 'telecomdigest'. You are welcome to use it also.   PAT]

------------------------------

From: Nebular <nebular@ehnetNOSPAM.org>
Subject: Repairing a Northern Telecom 2500
Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2002 00:34:08 -0500
Organization: Bell Sympatico


I am having a bit of trouble with a Northern Telecom 2500 (or rather a
we2500 as I've read they're the same thing) I just got.

The phone for the most part works fine, however when I try to use it,
the dial tone and anything else on the other end of the line is very
faint.  It's not a problem with the receiver as the Touch-tone comes
through perfectly loud and it seems to only affect incoming signals as
I've made calls with it and the person on the other end could hear me
perfectly.

Any ideas? Any help?

I'm only a beginner hobbyist so schematics are a bit to hard to read,
however I can use a multimeter and should be able to tinker with it
easily.

I've tried checking the web for info on this but it's a vast sea of
info thus it's been tough (I feel lucky to have found this
newsgroup). If you could also email me with the info, as I'm not a
regular reader of newsgroups and it's easier for me to archive the
info after the fact.

Thanks in advance.


Neb

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: No guarentees, but try first swapping
out the earpiece speaker (or the entire handset receiver if you cannot
get into the earpiece itself) and see if that helps. Many times a
problem with hearing/speaking on old phones can be traced to the
speaker/microphone in the handset. PAT]

------------------------------

From: shivabharat@yahoo.com (Shiva)
Subject: Avaya Conversant 8.0
Date: 22 Dec 2002 22:42:14 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


Hi all,

I have a conversant V8 System and I would like to know has anyone has
tried monitoring a remote phone thru the IVR? If you have can you
tell me more about it?	  

Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Shiva B

------------------------------

From: gdas75@hotmail.com (gdas)
Subject: Book Review: Bell Labs: Life in the Crown Jewel; Interesting Book
Date: 22 Dec 2002 22:59:20 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


Silicon Press has just published Gehani's new book:

	Bell Labs: Life in the Crown Jewel -- Narain Gehani

Here is a quote from the book description:

      "Gehani's story of the greatest research lab of the 20th
      century -- America's national treasure and corporate crown
      jewel -- will keep you riveted to reading about a way of
      life possibly gone forever." 

Check out the detailed description at Silicon Press, Amazon, or
Barnes & Noble.


GDas

------------------------------

From: Sander <sstokhoes@hotmail.com>
Subject: Number Portability; When and Where?
Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2002 15:02:56 +0100
Organization: @Home Benelux


Hi,

Does anybody know where I can find an overview of Number Portability
scheduled introduction dates, especially for European Countries?

Thanks in advance!

Sander

------------------------------

From: H.E. Taylor <het@despam.autobahn.mb.ca>
Subject: God Bless Memory Hole was Re: Federal Database Spy Site Fading Away
Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2002 01:25:15 GMT
Organization: MTS Internet


In article <telecom22.205.9@telecom-digest.org>,
<monty@roscom.com> Monty Solomon wrote:

> By Declan McCullagh
> Staff Writer, CNET News.com

> Call it the incredibly shrinking government Web site.
> 
> As controversy grows over the Defense Department's shadowy Total
> Information Awareness (TIA) project, the project's virtual presence is
> steadily decreasing. If fully implemented, TIA would link databases
> from sources such as credit card companies, medical insurers, and
> motor vehicle databases for police convenience in hopes of snaring
> terrorists.

> First, biographical information about the TIA project leaders,
> including retired Adm. John Poindexter, disappeared from the Defense
> Department's site last month. A mirror that one activist created from
> Google's cache shows the deleted information included four resumes
> listing past work experience but no addresses or contact information.

> Then, sometime in the last week, the TIA site shrank still more and
> some links ceased to work. The logo for the TIA project -- a Masonic
> pyramid eyeballing the globe -- vanished, a highly unusual step for a
> government agency. So did the TIA's Latin "scientia est potentia"
> slogan, which means "knowledge is power."

> http://news.com.com/2100-1023-978598.html


Which is why we bless the Memory Hole!

2002/12/12: MemoryHole: Information Awareness Office Website 
            Deletes Staff Biographies
http://www.thememoryhole.org/policestate/iao-bios.htm 


2002/12/18: MemoryHole: Information Awareness Office Website Deletes
            Its Logo 
http://www.thememoryhole.org/policestate/iao-logo.htm


<regards>

-het

"Orwell was an optimist." -stolen .sig

TIA Links: http://www.autobahn.mb.ca/~het/terror_war/twartl.html#USA-TIA
H.E. Taylor  http://www.autobahn.mb.ca/~het/

------------------------------

From: Marc Haber <mh+usenet0236@zugschl.us>
Subject: Re: Error Accessing Your Website
Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2002 21:39:31 +0100
Organization: private site, see http://www.zugschlus.de/ for details


Kathy Bradley <kathy.bradley@mail.internetseer.com> wrote:

> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Does anyone know anything about these
> people? It *seems* like a good offer, but I had to pull it out of my
> own spam bucket when it arrived here. I am wondering if this is going
> to get me a bunch more spam if I agree to their service?  Anyone?  PAT]

This is one of the worst spammer services around on the Internet.
Query google for them. They switched to operating from Chinanet
because they have been removed from almost every available ISP. They
are "block-on-sight" material.


Greetings,

-------------------------------------- !! No courtesy copies, please !! -----
Marc Haber          |   " Questions are the         | Mailadresse im Header
Karlsruhe, Germany  |     Beginning of Wisdom "     | Fon: *49 721 966 32 15
Nordisch by Nature  | Lt. Worf, TNG "Rightful Heir" | Fax: *49 721 966 31 29

------------------------------

From: sjsobol@JustThe.net (Steven J. Sobol)
Subject: Re: SBC Ameritech Hosed Me and Now I Get Even
Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2002 12:25:17 -0000
Organization: JustThe.net LLC


'Loonquawl' <news@loonquawl.com> wrote:

> Your plan, which involves switching to an alternate local service
> provider, is rather flawed, seeing as you're buying Ameritech's
> service resold under a different name.

There IS a benefit. 

I'm switching to Corecomm, who resells Ameritech lines in the
Cleveland area, because as a single person, if they fail to provide
service, I have little leverage. Corecomm, on the other hand, is their
largest reseller and has clout -- and having used them before I know
they will take care of me.

Aaron, however, is still a major dork and probably a scammer.

'A. Hackbarth' <betaphihack@hotmail.com> explained to us:

> Do You Read Forbes magazine?? go buy this months issue and last
> months issue  read them until then You have zero credability.

> How about the wallsreet journal?? read this article
> http://stacks.msnbc.com/news/816517.asp?cp1=1

So what? SBC sucks. I'm a customer of SBC; I already know that. The
only reason I had SBC was so I could get DSL, and now that Adelphia
has broadband Internet service in my neighborhood and I may be closer
to jumping in on a Wireless ISP project I've been considering, there
is no reason to keep the DSL, and therefore no reason to keep the SBC
dialtone.

I'm not questioning the state of the industry. I figured you are lying
about *your* personal experiences. Although, I might be willing to
bend on that point, since you say you live in Milwaukee :)

> It shows you that the company that I can give customers service from
> is BETTER than all other companies researched ... and get paid to do
> it ...

> what about Money Magazine??
> Money Magazine stated: "Excel Communications is as good an example
> of entrepreneurship the world will ever see."

Excel Communications is an MLM, and I don't trust MLMs.

>> I have *really* had trouble with AmeriBlech. I suspect you've probably
>> never had to deal with them,

> Get up, brush yourself off and fight back 

Dude, I'm already in the process of switching to Corecomm. I will
*not* touch Excel. I have no incentive to, anyhow, as I am a customer
of Sprint PCS and have taken advantage of the special landline long
distance offer they have, and should have Corecomm dialtone by the end
of the year. It's resold Ameritech service, but Corecomm actually
gives a rat's patootie about service.


Steve Sobol, CTO  JustThe.net LLC, Mentor On The Lake, OH
http://JustTheNetLLC.com/  888.480.4NET (4638)

A practicing member of the Geek Orthodox religion!

------------------------------

From: a_user2000@yahoo.com (Justin Time)
Subject: Re: SBC Ameritech Hosed Me and Now I Get Even
Date: 23 Dec 2002 06:01:49 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


betaphihack@hotmail.com (A. Hackbarth) wrote in message
news:<telecom22.205.5@telecom-digest.org>:

> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Aaron has replied to his critics. I am
> pleased to present his response here, and so that he can tell everyone
> exactly where things are at, I have not applied my editor's pen and
> eraser to his message, except to keep my finger on the red button so
> that a ten second delay can be inserted as needed.  PAT]

>     <<I used MY red button!>>

> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note:  Thank you, Aaron, for that explanation
> and although I have not looked at your web site, I am sure it says
> about the same things as above. Sorry about having to apply the red
> button cut-off now and then, but this is a Family Oriented Digest with
> Family Values,  and I do not want to worry about what Families who 
> read Usenet together see in messages, but I did want you to say it all
> in your own words.  PAT]

Pat, you mention "Family Oriented Digest" in your summation.  Is that
abbreviated FOD?

I'm kind of curious as my son is currently on a BIG gray cruise ship
(with Norwalk-like virus also) in an unnamed sea off an unnamed
country.  Their cruise ship has a built-in airport, and they get to
walk along the "runway" and pick up any trash that may damage aircraft
engines.  The type of things they are picking up and throwing away are
referred to as FOD, for Foriegn Object Damage.  We appreciate your
picking up and discarding the FOD from posters like Aaron.  Keep up
the good work!


Rodgers Platt

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Quit picking on Aaron. He means well. I
really feel alarmed for your son and his buddies on that cruise ship.
Any day now, I expect Dubya's mental illness to deteriorate, and his
Delusions of Grandeur to get to the point that we all turn into FOD. 
All except Dubya and his buddies of course; they've all had their small-
pox vaccinations. PAT]   

------------------------------

From: Heath Doane <hdoane@gztechnologies.net>
Subject: Re: SBC Ameritech Hosed Me and Now I Get Even
Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2002 19:13:27 -0500
Organization: Bell Sympatico


Just felt the need to add a few cents worth ...

Aaron explained to us:

> Do You Read Forbes magazine?? Go buy this months issue and last
> months issue  read them untill then You have zero credability ...

> How about the wallsreet journal?? read this article
> http://stacks.msnbc.com/news/816517.asp?cp1=1

Strangely enough, I worked for a "well reviewed" startup, too -- 6
months after our glowing reviews came out, we were gone, leaving 60
million in stranded debt, and destroying the companies and people we
had interacted with ...

Long story short, this month's swan may be next month's ugly duck.

Also, while I didn't scour the posted articles, where's the connection
to your company?  I know that the RBOCs, ILECs and established CLECs
are evil... But no where did I see Excel (or whatever you're called
again) named ...

> I called those [BEEP!] and they hung up on me...5 times
> I even talked to a rep for 5 minutes,I explained everything, she goes
> hold on let me check.....click.. that [BEEP!]...

> They would NOT tell me where there DSL office was in Milwaukee so I
> could go and talk to somebody that cant [BEEP!] hang up on me he would
> probably try to run away.

If you express yourself as eloquently in person and on the phone as
you do here, no wonder they hang up on you.

There are processes to deal with the carriers when they're out of
line. Did you contact your PUC?  What about your elected officials?
Or did this just seem to be a good entrance into sales for you?

> So here I am
> Mad as hell
> And I, not You, am doing something about it
> and soon you will
> all see I am not full of [BEEP!]

Generally speaking, the more someone insists they're not full of, as
Pat put it, "BEEP!" - the more "BEEP" they contain.

Also, on a personal note, the picture of you holding the world in your
hands?  Nice touch ... Makes you seem very down to earth and
approachable.

Pat, thanks for posting this up - always love a good laugh!


Heath

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note:  I assumed that picture was intended
to be an artist's interpretation of Ayn Rand's book *Atlas Shrugged*
with Aaron in the role of Atlas (or maybe John Galt or Dagney Taggart)
holding things together. PAT]

------------------------------

From: betaphihack@hotmail.com (A. Hackbarth)
Subject: Re: SBC Ameritech Hosed Me and Now I Get Even
Date: 22 Dec 2002 22:10:45 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


> *whackwhackwhack*

Ouch my head hurts quit it...

> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note:  Thank you, Aaron, for that explanation
> and although I have not looked at your web site, I am sure it says
> about the same things as above. Sorry about having to apply the red
> button cut-off now and then, but this is a Family Oriented Digest with
> Family Values,  and I do not want to worry about what Families who 
> read Usenet together see in messages, but I did want you to say it all
> in your own words.  PAT]

Thanks for the radio edit :)  I starred out the vowels on the bad
stuff and left in the pg-18, but I now realize this is family
oriented ... so Ill keep it rated G from now on ...

If you want there is now a divx movie on my site you can watch if you
want to see more the link is
http://www.aaronhackbarth.com/english/businessmovie.avi
 ..by next weekend ill have one shot from a tripod up on the site..

and the name is Excel powered by Vartec  so check out
http://www.vartec.com  there you will find the networks and technical
side

and www.excelir.com/ahbiz  shows business side and the services I
offer from my site and excel.com is the official site..

this is the best kept 2billion + secret in the industry 


Aaron


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Thanks again for writing to us, Aaron. 
As before, I chose not to edit your message at all, like I do
for many of these guys, and since you dropped the vulgarities from
your message, we should get along fine.  Good luck in getting lots
of people signed up for your service, and Merry Xmas to you.  PAT]

------------------------------

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******************************
    
    
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From editor@telecom-digest.org Tue Dec 24 02:54:19 2002
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Subject: TELECOM Digest V22 #207

TELECOM Digest     Tue, 24 Dec 2002 02:55:00 EST    Volume 22 : Issue 207

Inside This Issue:                             Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    Microsoft Sued For Stealing Mobile Phone Secrets (Monty Solomon)
    Intertel vs. Harris 20-20 (Dave Turnbull)
    Re: SBC Ameritech Hosed Me and Now I Get Even (John R. Levine)
    Re: SBC Ameritech Hosed Me and Now I Get Even (Steven J. Sobol)
    Excel in Everything - Except Spelling (Joey Lindstrom)
    Re: Call Blocking Box For All Numbers From a Given Country? (John Galt)
    Re: Providing DSL Service Without Any POTS? (Robert Bonomi)
    Re: Lucent/AT&T  4 Line Analog Phone Won't Release Hold (Frank Winans)
    Re: How Do You INSERT CID (Scott Dorsey)
    Re: Repairing a Northern Telecom 2500 (Jim Hopkins)
    www.dmcablows.com (Joey Lindstrom)
    www.dubya.com (Joey Lindstrom)

All contents here are copyrighted by Patrick Townson and the
individual writers/correspondents. Articles may be used in other
journals or newsgroups, provided the writer's name and the Digest are
included in the fair use quote.  By using -any name or email address-
included herein for -any- reason other than responding to an article
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GET SUED IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT IF YOU GET CAUGHT SPAMMING OR SENDING
VIRUSES. DON'T DO IT.

See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and
the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2002 00:50:20 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Microsoft Sued For Stealing Mobile Phone Secrets


    By Lucas van Grinsven

    AMSTERDAM, Dec 23 (Reuters) - British mobile phone maker Sendo
said on Monday it had filed a suit in a U.S. federal court against its
former partner Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), accusing it of stealing its
technology and customers.

    The small British cellphone maker was Microsoft's key partner in
entering the 400 million unit a year mobile phone market until the two
companies unexpectedly cut ties last month without disclosing all the
reasons why they fell out.

    The court filings allege that Microsoft, in search of new growth
markets but lacking mobile phone expertise, extracted crucial
information about the industry from Sendo and passed it on to friendly
low-cost contract manufacturers in Asia.

    Privately owned Sendo may claim several hundred million dollars in
damages, according to people familiar with the court proceedings.

     - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=30660315

------------------------------

From: dave.turnbull@omsg.co.uk (Dave Turnbull)
Subject: Intertel vs. Harris 20-20
Date: 23 Dec 2002 14:49:46 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


We are considering replacing a Harris (Teltronics) 20-20 with an
Inter-tel Axxess solution to run a multi-site skills based call centre
with PBX functionality for each site as well as intra-site voip calls
across existing leased lines.  Does anybody have experience of this,
because the Inter-tel solution (price) seems almost too good to be
true based upon our experience with the 20-20.  I am told that
performance and capabilities of the Axxess is not on a par with the
20-20 - any comments?


Thanks,

Dave

------------------------------

From: johnl@iecc.com (John R. Levine)
Subject: Re: SBC Ameritech Hosed Me and Now I Get Even
Date: 23 Dec 2002 14:55:49 -0500
Organization: I.E.C.C., Trumansburg NY USA


> But no where did I see Excel (or whatever you're called
> again) named ...

Excel is a long distance reseller offering long distance service via
an MLM pyramid.  They're like most other MLMs in that the true
believers think they're absolutely wonderfully fantastic, and the rest
of the world wishes they'd stop bugging us with eye-glazing
opportunity spiels.

The last time I checked, their rates were mediocre, nowhere near as
good as the truly low cost providers, but no worse than the heavily
advertised ones.

------------------------------

From: sjsobol@JustThe.net (Steven J. Sobol)
Subject: Re: SBC Ameritech Hosed Me and Now I Get Even
Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2002 21:18:22 -0000
Organization: JustThe.net LLC


'A. Hackbarth' <betaphihack@hotmail.com>:

> and www.excelir.com/ahbiz  shows business side and the services I
> offer from my site and excel.com is the official site..

> this is the best kept 2billion + secret in the industry 

I guess this is on-topic, since CDT *is* a telecomms newsgroup.

However, I'll be exceedingly skeptical unless you can show me some
firm proof that you can actually make money on Excel, and I want to
see proof that *you* personally are making money.

Excel is still an MLM.


Steve Sobol, CTO  JustThe.net LLC, Mentor On The Lake, OH
http://JustTheNetLLC.com/  888.480.4NET (4638)

A practicing member of the Geek Orthodox religion!

------------------------------

From: Joey Lindstrom <joey@telussucks.info>
Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2002 10:50:18 -0700
Subject: Excel in Everything - Except Spelling
Reply-To: joey@telussucks.info


On Sun, 22 Dec 2002 16:46:20 EST, editor@telecom-digest.org
wrote:

> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note:  Thank you, Aaron, for that explanation
> and although I have not looked at your web site, I am sure it says
> about the same things as above. Sorry about having to apply the red
> button cut-off now and then, but this is a Family Oriented Digest with
> Family Values,  and I do not want to worry about what Families who 
> read Usenet together see in messages, but I did want you to say it all
> in your own words.  PAT]

In a recent Dilbert book, Scott Adams laments that he would dearly
love to be an NFL linebacker.  However, weighing in at 150 pounds, he
is physically unsuited for the job.  He went on to remark that,
similarly, somebody who measures their panty size by the hectare should
probably not be working in a lingerie shop.

Somebody who is trying to sell me a communication service should at
least have some mastery of the rudiments of communication, and that
starts with spelling.  This guy has about a grade-7 ability to spell
and construct sentences.  Whether it's a correct assessment or not,
this brings to mind an image of some backwards hillbilly living in a
trailer somewhere in the hills, and NOT an image of a successful sales
representative who's going to be around to (intelligently) answer my
questions when Excel starts screwing up my bill.

Sorry Aaron, but every instinct I've got tells me to run away
screaming from you and your "offer".  As for your inability to
communicate in the written medium, they're called "night classes".
Look into it.


Joey Lindstrom
Telus Sucks http://www.telussucks.info

------------------------------

From: John David Galt <jdg@diogenes.sacramento.ca.us>
Subject: Re: Call Blocking Box For All Numbers From a Given Country?
Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2002 17:59:31 -0800
Organization: Diogenes the Cynic Hot-Tubbing Society


Alex Kasper wrote:

> I can call you 'from' anyone or any country, and if you trust that
> information for verification you need to rethink your security model.

The same thing has traditionally been true on the Internet.  But after
a few denial-of-service attacks were performed on Internet sites by
flooding them with connection requests whose originating IP address
was spoofed, most reputable ISPs have started filtering their outgoing
traffic so that no one can send a packet with a spoofed originating IP
address.  Sites that won't do this will be blacklisted and wind up
effectively cut off.

It's time for LECs to similarly block their customers with PBXes from
transmitting phony Caller ID information.  And for us to start a
blacklist of LECs that won't.

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Providing DSL Service Without Any POTS?
Organization: Not Much
From: bonomi@c-ns (Robert Bonomi)
Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2002 02:21:50 GMT


In article <telecom22.205.12@telecom-digest.org>, Steven J. Sobol
<sjsobol@JustThe.net> wrote:

> Phil Earnhardt <pae@dim.com> wrote:

>> Would it be reasonable to have the PUCs require the RBOCs to provide
>> DSL service to their customers without having POTS on the line? This
>> would be good for cutsomers who had cellphone service and didn't
>> really need an voice line into the house.

> SDSL and non-line-shared ADSL are already available, but all of the
> DSL companies I've seen require a phone number to determine which CO
> your DSL would be served out of.

One _can_ get around that.  

It takes some persistance, but it _is_ doable.

Speaking from first-hand experience.

I'm corporate tech-support, co-ordinating a DSL install for 'work from
home' for one of our employees, who had gone cellular-only more than a
year previously.

This was several years ago, and the only offerings were 'non-shared'.

The 'initial' pre-qualification was easy -- building was a two-unit
apartment building, just used the number for the 'neighbors'.

Getting the order through to completion took some effort.

The DSL company (Covad) computers wouldn't accept the order _without_
a phone number.  When they submitted it to the ILEC (Ameritech)
*their* computers rejected it *if* it had a phone number (their system
_knew_ there was no phone service at that unit).

Eventually, persistance paid off, and Covad management figured out how
to keep all the computers happy.

The *installer* was more than a little bit puzzled, though.  His work
order showed the on-site phone number as "000-0000" <grin>

------------------------------

From: Frank Winans <fwinans@airmail.net>
Subject: Re: Lucent/AT&T  Four Line Analog Phone Won't Release Hold
Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2002 12:14:05 -0600
Organization: Airnews.net! at Internet America


Herb Stein wrote:

> Frank Winans wrote:

>> The Lucent 854 phones, though analog, employ digital status
>> information, sent _only_ on the first line, to support the "hold" feature.

> Hey! I use 854's and am real happy with them. The DID feature is the
> best feature.

A staffer can reroute the call after picking it up, but no, I don't
think the original external caller can divert the call to a specific
extension before anyone picks up the phone, which is what I think of
as DID.  These are being used standalone, not in conjunction with any
switch or private pbx.

------------------------------

From: kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey)
Subject: Re: How Do You INSERT CID
Date: 23 Dec 2002 14:59:12 -0500
Organization: Former users of Netcom shell (1989-2000)


In article <telecom22.202.3@telecom-digest.org>,
Jim Thompson   <Jim-T@analog_innovations.com> wrote:

> I'd like to ring phones inside my house but also send caller-ID.  

> I'm an EE, so it'd be no problem to build up something, but surfing
> has yielded zero.

> Any ideas?

The Motorola data book lists the full CID specs on the data sheets
with the Motorola caller-ID chips.  It's just straight FSK on the line
between the first and second rings.

scott
"C'est un Nagra.  C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

------------------------------

From: Jim Hopkins <bwanajim@swbell.net>
Subject: Re: Repairing a Northern Telecom 2500
Organization: Prodigy Internet http://www.prodigy.com
Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2002 20:04:22 GMT


If I understand what you're saying correctly, you can hear your own
DTMF signals when you dial perfectly fine but the voice of the far-end
party is muted. If that's the case, you might try cleaning and/or
adjusting the 'normalling' contacts on the DTMF dial. Usually the
older DTMF dials would have a set of contacts that would place a low
resistance across the receiver network when a button was pressed, in
effect swamping the incoming signal, so that your dialed digits
wouldn't be painfully loud in your ear. Possibly those contacts aren't
opening when you release the buttons.

Jim

Nebular <nebular@ehnetNOSPAM.org> wrote in message
news:telecom22.206.4@telecom-digest.org:

> I am having a bit of trouble with a Northern Telecom 2500 (or rather a
> we2500 as I've read they're the same thing) I just got.

> The phone for the most part works fine, however when I try to use it,
> the dial tone and anything else on the other end of the line is very
> faint.  It's not a problem with the receiver as the Touch-tone comes
> through perfectly loud and it seems to only affect incoming signals as
> I've made calls with it and the person on the other end could hear me
> perfectly.

> Any ideas? Any help?

> I'm only a beginner hobbyist so schematics are a bit to hard to read,
> however I can use a multimeter and should be able to tinker with it
> easily.

> I've tried checking the web for info on this but it's a vast sea of
> info thus it's been tough (I feel lucky to have found this
> newsgroup). If you could also email me with the info, as I'm not a
> regular reader of newsgroups and it's easier for me to archive the
> info after the fact.

> Thanks in advance.

> Neb

> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: No guarentees, but try first swapping
> out the earpiece speaker (or the entire handset receiver if you cannot
> get into the earpiece itself) and see if that helps. Many times a
> problem with hearing/speaking on old phones can be traced to the
> speaker/microphone in the handset. PAT]

------------------------------

From: Joey Lindstrom <joey@telussucks.info>
Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2002 13:53:04 -0700
Subject: www.dmcablows.com
Reply-To: joey@telussucks.info


On Mon, 23 Dec 2002 14:12:49 EST, editor@telecom-digest.org
wrote:

> their other computers, etc. Maybe the copyright people would settle
> for some arrangement where files could be copied a certain number of
> times on other devices (although played indefinitly on any one device)
> before shutting down the copying mechanism. Motorola cell phones used
> to be fixed that way:  the user of the phone could reprogram it three
> times with new numbers, etc, then the phone would lock up against any
> further number changes, and the 'owner' had to take the phone back to
> a dealer or the company, explain himself, and get the phone unlocked
> for further programming efforts. Some people knew how to clear the
> counter that locked you out after three times, but not many people. 
> Maybe the DMCA could operate with that principle; do what you want
> with *your paid for, personally owned* copy three or four times, then
> no more allowed. That would allow most guys to put their thing on
> two or three different computers, etc, allow them to personally use
> the copy indefinitly, but then lock out further copies.  PAT]

I'm not sure how you'd implement something like that, Pat, at least
with current technology.  Specifically, where does this counter get
stored?  Ideally, it would be stored on the distribution media, but
most media is read-only (ie: CD's, DVD's), so how would it (the disc)
be able to keep track of how many times it's been copied, and/or where
it's been copied, etc.?

I've heard suggestions that the program doing the copying could track
this, but really -- that's a non-starter.  If my copying software
stops allowing me to copy a particular disc, I'll just take that disc
to another machine (with another copy of the copying software
installed) that hasn't yet seen that disc.  I have six computers
running at home and have access to four more at the office -- plenty
of opportunity for some serious copyright violation.  :-)

The entertainment companies are going to have to understand (and in
fact, probably do to a large degree) that while certain schemes may
make it difficult for "average" users to copy their material, the fact
that it's DIGITAL makes it inevitable that not only will copying take
place, but that the copies will be perfect duplicates of the original.
No amount of jiggery-pokery is going to stop that - anything that can
be done in software (or hardware) can be undone by a determined
hacker.  :-)

DirecTV systems have a "smart-card" with an onboard ASIC chip that
handles all of the decryption duties - so far, the hackers haven't
found a way to software-emulate that ASIC chip.  That hasn't stopped
'em from writing completely new scripts and programming them on the
card - scripts that bypass whatever security measures DirecTV is using
this week.  A CD or a DVD doesn't have access to something even as
advanced as this -- it's just a pile of data, sitting there waiting to
be read by a laser beam.  And that's why we've got bullshit laws like
the DMCA -- we can't stop people reading the data, but let's make it
illegal to even MAKE something that could, POSSIBLY, defeat whatever
feeble copy-protection measures that were included on the disc and
thus permit duplication.

I really, really hope the DMCA goes down (or at least gets greatly
modified).  It goes WAY too far.  Under its provisions, we'd never
have had the home VCR, and IBM would still be making all of our PC's
(well, and Apple).  Hell, even Coleco would never have gotten away
with their "Colecovision Atari Emulator".  :-) In the same vein, none
of the companies that got started by making game cartridges for the
old Atari VCS would have been permitted to do so.  Companies like
Activision, for example.


Joey Lindstrom
Telus Sucks http://www.telussucks.info

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: What would be wrong with the media
company (let's call them 'publishers') supplying TWO copies of the
media; the 'original' and the 'backup' copy. Do as you please ONE TIME
with the backup copy. I bought some computer software once from a 
company which did that; they gave you your copy to use, and a backup
copy at the same time. Another possibility is the publisher would
include a serial number with your purchase, and that serial number
entitled you to call their office for one, two or even three
additional copies. When you placed your order you could ask for one,
two or three copies (in which case the serial number would so indicate
that the order had been completely filled.) If I understand this
matter correctly, most guys are not interested in cheating and making
an infinite number of copies to use on the net, all their friends,
etc, they are mainly interested in being sure they themselves can use
the media as intended. Wouldn't including (or allowing for the
shipping of) two or three extra copies of the media still turn out 
less expensive for the publishers than the wholesale cheating which
is going on now?   PAT]

------------------------------

From: Joey Lindstrom <joey@telussucks.info>
Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2002 13:58:15 -0700
Subject: www.dubya.com
Reply-To: joey@telussucks.info


On Mon, 23 Dec 2002 14:12:49 EST, editor@telecom-digest.org
wrote:

> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Quit picking on Aaron. He means well. I
> really feel alarmed for your son and his buddies on that cruise ship.
> Any day now, I expect Dubya's mental illness to deteriorate, and his
> Delusions of Grandeur to get to the point that we all turn into FOD. 
> All except Dubya and his buddies of course; they've all had their small-
> pox vaccinations. PAT]   

War now, on America's timetable, or war later, on Saddam's -- once
he's got nukes.  Take your choice.  Unless you like the idea of a
nuclear September 11th, the smart money votes "war now".


Joey Lindstrom
Telus Sucks http://www.telussucks.info

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: If those were the only two choices, I
suppose I would agree. But I am not convinced things are that cut and
dry. All Mr. Hussein is asking for is to be left alone. I mean, he has
supplied a twelve thousand page document saying they have no nuclear
devices, which is more than Yemen or North Korea can say. How many
different ways are there for him to say he does not have nuclear
weapons?  What difference does it make in practical terms if a nuclear
war starts as a result of Mr. Hussein, or the Yemen people or the
North Korea people? Thirty years ago we were absolutely convinced that
Moscow and Nikita Krucshev were the enemy. 

A couple weeks ago when the USA intercepted those scud missiles
traveling from North Korea to Yemen and the USA 'reluctantly' allowed
the shipment to continue, Mr. Hussein spoke to Fox News, PBS and the
Christian Science Monitor and asked, 'why is it that North Korea and
Yemen can have scud missles, but Dubya says I cannot have them? I have
written twelve thousand pages attempting to 'prove' what does not
exist.' And thus far, the supposedly impartial inspectors from the
United Nations (where the USA refuses to pay its dues unless/until it
gets its way) have been unable to find any signs of weapons like that
either. And they have looked everywhere, but are afraid to quit looking
because Dubya will go spastic if they do. 

Dubya, in his rationalization of his illness, insists they must be
there 'someplace' and that by God they will be found, and confiscated. 
'Confiscated' as in what happens to guns taken by police from gang 
members in Chicago, El Lay and Washington, DC. Corrupt police officers
(and which ones are not?) put the guns back on the street in the hands
of other gang members. No Joey, its not an either/or situation like
you describe. At least, I think not. PAT]

------------------------------

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End of TELECOM Digest V22 #207
******************************
    
    
From editor@telecom-digest.org Thu Dec 26 01:54:49 2002
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Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2002 01:54:49 -0500 (EST)
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To: ptownson
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Subject: TELECOM Digest V22 #208

TELECOM Digest     Thu, 26 Dec 2002 01:55:00 EST    Volume 22 : Issue 208

Inside This Issue:                             Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    Microsoft Plans to Appeal Java Ruling (Monty Solomon)
    Penn's Specialist on Privacy Sees Her Niche Broadening (Monty Solomon)
    White House Scrambles to Defuse Privacy Concerns (Monty Solomon)
    Blogs Make the Headlines (Monty Solomon)
    ISP Chief: Spam Is 'A Thousand Times More Horrible Than ...' (M Solomon)
    U.S. Retailers Face Worst Holiday Sales in 30 Years (Monty Solomon)
    Country Road, Take Me to the Internet Superhighway (Monty Solomon)
    Verizon Blames Layoffs in Western New York on Loss of Business (J Stahl)
    Re: Critics Weigh In on Copyright Act (JDS)
    Re: Call Blocking Box For All Numbers From a Given Country? (Dave Phelps)
    Re: SBC Ameritech Hosed Me and Now I Get Even (Grog@lnubb.pbz)
    Re: www.dmcablows.com (Peter Dubuque)
    Importing .wav Files Into Bitware (*selah*)
    Re: Pop-ups Add New Twist (Walter Dnes)
    Re: www.dubya.com (Ed Ellers)
    My New Spy Cam Software and Web Page (TELECOM Digest Editor)
    Happy Holidays (Bob)

All contents here are copyrighted by Patrick Townson and the
individual writers/correspondents. Articles may be used in other
journals or newsgroups, provided the writer's name and the Digest are
included in the fair use quote.  By using -any name or email address-
included herein for -any- reason other than responding to an article
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GET SUED IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT IF YOU GET CAUGHT SPAMMING OR SENDING
VIRUSES. DON'T DO IT.

See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and
the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2002 11:26:13 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Microsoft Plans to Appeal Java Ruling


  
Sun Microsystems Inc. won a victory against the digital age
equivalent of Goliath when a judge ordered Microsoft Corp. to
clude updated Java programing language in its Windows
operating system.

Sun had argued during a three-day hearing earlier this month
that Microsoft has gained an unfair advantage by shipping
Windows _ used by more than 90 percent of the world's personal
computers _ with an outdated version of Java that's
inconsistent for its users.

U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz granted Sun a
temporary injunction Monday and said he would order Microsoft
to stop shipping the old version.

Microsoft said it will consider appealing the ruling. A
spokesman added that it was "premature" to comment on when the
latest version of Java will be included in Windows.

In asking for the injunction, Sun said that if it waited
until its $1 billion antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft was
settled, it would be too far behind to compete.

 http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=30669301

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2002 11:41:52 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Penn's Specialist on Privacy Sees Her Niche Broadening


By Shari Rudavsky, Globe Correspondent, 12/22/2002

When Lauren Steinfeld attended the University of Pennsylvania, she, 
like most other college students, didn't blink when her Social 
Security number became her student ID. Now the 1989 Penn alumna 
spends her days thinking about privacy issues at the Philadelphia 
school. In January, Steinfeld, who has a law degree from New York 
University, became Penn's chief privacy officer. Although some 
schools have appointed officials to oversee compliance with new 
federal health privacy laws, Penn officials said they know of no 
other university with a post that has such a broad scope. Steinfeld 
recently spoke to the Globe about her job and its impact on higher 
education.

http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/356/learning/Penn_s_specialist_on_privacy_sees_her_niche_broadening+.shtml

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2002 12:30:32 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: White House Scrambles to Defuse Privacy Concerns


By Roy Mark

The White House scrambled over the weekend to alleviate privacy
violation fears raised by its proposal to build a monitoring system as
an "early warning center" to track Internet use in the U.S. The
proposal is part of the final version of "The National Strategy to
Secure Cyberspace," expected to be released in early 2003.

According to reports last week, the Bush Administration would require
Internet service providers (ISPs) to build the system and to track
their users. Few details were released by the White House. The
proposal immediately raised concerns from privacy advocates who said
the idea may cross a line regarding current corporate and personal
privacy laws.

http://dc.internet.com/news/article.php/1560701

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2002 12:35:21 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Blogs Make the Headlines


By Noah Shachtman

It's safe to assume that, before he flushed his reputation down the 
toilet, Trent Lott had absolutely no idea what a blog was.

He may have a clue now. Internet opinion pages like Instapundit, run
by University of Tennessee law professor Glenn Reynolds, and Talking
Points Memo, from leftie political columnist Josh Marshall -- were
among the first to latch on to ABCNews.com's brief item on Lott's
racist comments during Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday bash.

And they kept focusing on Lott's hateful past -- until the national 
press corps finally had to take notice.

http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,56978,00.html

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2002 16:48:54 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: ISP Chief: Spam Is 'A Thousand Times More Horrible Than You Can


ISP Chief: Spam Is 'A Thousand Times More Horrible Than You Can Imagine'

By Mitch Wagner, InternetWeek

Go on. Ask Barry Shein about spam. But be prepared for an
earful. Shein is president of The World, a small, 10,000-user Internet
service provider in Boston. Founded in 1989, The World was a
pioneering commercial Internet service. It has survived competition
from the telecoms and weathered the dot-com meltdown, but Shein is
worried that it won't survive spam.

http://www.internetwk.com/story/INW20021219S0003

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2002 21:59:32 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: U.S. Retailers Face Worst Holiday Sales in 30 Years


    By Emily Kaiser

    CHICAGO, Dec 24 (Reuters) - U.S. retailers, reeling from a
lackluster holiday season that is forecast to be the weakest in
more than 30 years, may ring in the new year with steep
markdowns on clothing, accessories -- and profit forecasts.

    Analysts cut earnings estimates for retailers ranging from
sector leader Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE:WMT) to upscale jeweler
Tiffany & Co. Inc. (NYSE:TIF) on Tuesday, a day after major chain
stores reported another week of tepid sales in what was supposed
to be the biggest shopping period of the year.

    In a weekly report on Tuesday, the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi
and UBS Warburg forecast holiday sales in November and December
would be up an anemic 1.5 percent over last year, the smallest
gain since the banks began tracking weekly sales in 1970.

    That's a far cry from the 4 percent rise forecast by the
National Retail Federation, although the trade group still
believes its target is reachable. The NRF looks at total holiday
sales when calculating its forecast, while others including
BTM/UBSW focus on sales only at large chains.

     - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=30673839

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2002 23:47:37 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Country Road, Take Me to the Internet Superhighway, and Fast


High speed access reaches rural Wash. via cable connections

By Eli Sanders, Globe Correspondent, 12/25/2002

EPHRATA, Wash. - On the lightly trafficked main street in this small,
rural town, one store is advertising something local residents had
never seen before: ''Internet Connections at the Speed of Light.''

The connections arrived due to an innovative program reminiscent of
the public power projects that brought electricity to much of the
West. With a nudge from federal, state, and local agencies, high speed
Internet service providers are reaching rural areas via extra space on
fiber-optic cables owned by public power providers. Bob Lahmann, a
transmission account executive at the Bonneville Power Administration,
said that bringing broadband to the hinterlands seemed like a natural
for the federally chartered agency.

http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/359/nation/Country_road_take_me_to_the_Internet_superhighway_and_fast+.shtml

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2002 12:29:16 -0500
From: John Stahl <aljon@stny.rr.com>
Subject: Verizon Blames Layoffs in Western New York on Loss of Business


Dec. 20 -- Oil embargoes, wars, stagflation -- workers for New York's
local telephone company weathered all kinds of economic storms without
a layoff.  Until Thursday morning, when decades of job security ended.
About 180 workers throughout Western New York received pink-slips from
Verizon, most of them repair and maintenance staff.  The layoffs, part
of a 2,400 cutback statewide, were the first for blue-collar phone
workers since World War II, perhaps even before that, company and
union officials said.  

"This is the first (layoff) since we were NYNEX, Bell Atlantic and New
York Telephone," said Mary Jo Arcuri, business manager of
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2213.  The rare
action underscores the changes sweeping the telephone industry.  Under
the 1996 Telecommunications Act, competitors are beginning to offer an
alternative to the century-old Bell monopoly.

http://telecomcareers.net/SMF/doc_hitechemploy.html?SMContentIndex=4&SMContentSet=0

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Critics Weigh In on Copyright Act
From: JDS <t111@syntelsoft.com>
Organization: Prodigy Internet http://www.prodigy.com
Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2002 20:17:52 GMT


> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: ...

> ... Maybe the copyright people would settle
> for some arrangement where files could be copied a certain number of
> times on other devices (although played indefinitly on any one device)
> before shutting down the copying mechanism ...

Technological solutions to sociological problems never work.  For one
thing, there's always the "analog hole" which allows complete
circumvention of any copyright scheme.  And people will always find
ways to really beat the copy protection scheme -- especially when
digital media are involved, allowing software analysis and
manipulation.

But there is the larger question of what you're buying when you buy a
published work such as a musical recording or book.  By historical
practice and common agreement, you generally are purchasing a
transferrable perpetual license for the personal enjoyment of that
work.

For example, most people -- and the courts -- agree that if I bought
an LP back in 1971, I have the right to copy that to MP3 so that I can
listen to it today on my computer, and to an iPod, or a CD for my car
CD player.  I can copy it to my MP3 player on Thursdays and my iPod on
Wednesdays ... Hardware copy-protection schemes won't allow that.

I don't have or claim the right to publish it on the Internet or give
it away (unless its copyright has expired and it's moved into the
public domain -- alas nowawadays copyright protection is almost
perpetual).

But by way of preventing theft, the RIAA is going to make their
digital publications worth far less.  By analogy, most people will pay
$20 for a hardcover book that they read once and leave on the shelf
forever; how much would they pay if that book self-destructed after
that first reading, or if it worked only on that ancient computer that
you discarded many years ago?  We shall see how much people will be
willing to pay for highly restricted media licenses.

------------------------------

From: Dave Phelps <tippenring@deadspam.com>
Subject: Re: Call Blocking Box For All Numbers From a Given Country?
Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2002 15:34:48 -0600


In article <telecom22.207.6@telecom-digest.org>, 
jdg@diogenes.sacramento.ca.us says:

> It's time for LECs to similarly block their customers with PBXes from
> transmitting phony Caller ID information.  And for us to start a
> blacklist of LECs that won't.

That's an interesting idea, but if they are sending incorrect CLID info, 
what information do you blacklist? Even if you asked them who they were, 
and managed to get a real TN for them, how would you block it?


Dave Phelps
Phone Masters Ltd.
deadspam=tippenring

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note:  That sort of happens now when
individual customers of telco are allowed to block calls based
on the 'last call received'. I guess the only way it would work would
be if someone got blacklisted, no other telcos would agree to accept
any incoming calls from the blacklisted number. It would be hard to
keep it all straight however.   PAT]

------------------------------

From: Grog - nf3561@lnubb.pbz <uce@ftc.gov>
Subject: Re: SBC Ameritech Hosed Me and Now I Get Even
Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2002 17:09:25 GMT
Organization: Road Runner - NC


On Mon, 23 Dec 2002 12:25:17 -0000, sjsobol@JustThe.net (Steven J.
Sobol) wrote:

>> what about Money Magazine??
>> Money Magazine stated: "Excel Communications is as good an example
>> of entrepreneurship the world will ever see."

> Excel Communications is an MLM, and I don't trust MLMs.

I'll second that MLM gimmick.  Danger! Danger Will Robinson!


Grog

------------------------------

From: Peter Dubuque <peterd@panix.com>
Subject: Re: www.dmcablows.com
Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2002 16:23:22 UTC
Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and UNIX, NYC


> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: What would be wrong with the media
> company (let's call them 'publishers') supplying TWO copies of the
> media; the 'original' and the 'backup' copy. Do as you please ONE TIME
> with the backup copy. I bought some computer software once from a 
> company which did that; they gave you your copy to use, and a backup
> copy at the same time. Another possibility is the publisher would
> include a serial number with your purchase, and that serial number
> entitled you to call their office for one, two or even three
> additional copies. When you placed your order you could ask for one,
> two or three copies (in which case the serial number would so indicate
> that the order had been completely filled.) If I understand this
> matter correctly, most guys are not interested in cheating and making
> an infinite number of copies to use on the net, all their friends,
> etc, they are mainly interested in being sure they themselves can use
> the media as intended. Wouldn't including (or allowing for the
> shipping of) two or three extra copies of the media still turn out 
> less expensive for the publishers than the wholesale cheating which
> is going on now?   PAT]

The fundamental problem here, and one that's going to require far more
deep thought than just "give people an extra copy", is that media
companies' business model relies on scarcity.  Companies exclusively
market works by particular artists, sell higher-priced "limited
edition" works with often negligible added value, sell releases for a
limited time, etc., and control pricing by means of this scarcity.
And ultimately, works become unavailable when they stop being
profitable.

Today, however, with the easy ability for anyone to copy a recording
with a computer and distribute it without limit, there *is* no
scarcity.  "Limited edition" works are non-existent.  Packaging is
non-existent.  Costs for reproduction and distribution are
non-existent.  Costs for archiving old works are negligible, so things
need never go "out of print".  There's no reason for customers to ever
have to tolerate being told that "that item is no longer available,"
or to find it reasonable to pay high prices to subsidize an
unnecessary manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, and retail
network.

How can media companies survive in this new economic reality?  I don't
have all the answers, but I'm sure it boils down to the same rule that
has always led to successful businesses..."give your customers what
they want at a fair price."  That's not what the entertainment
industry is doing now.  Instead, their attitude is "your customers
will rob you blind if you let them, so treat them like criminals and
try to control everything they do with your product even after you've
got their money."

Why not take your entire back catalog of stuff you're not selling
anymore, put it online, and allow people to download entire albums for
a buck, with no restrictions on what they may do with them?  Price it
so that it's enough to cover your costs and make some profit (which
shouldn't be hard, since you're not making any money off it now), but
cheap enough that people aren't tempted to pirate the content.  Then
take the billions you're saving in research costs trying to implement
digital restrictions on your content, and use it to foster better
relationships with your customers?


Peter F. Dubuque - peterd@panix.com - Enemy of Reason(TM)     O-

------------------------------

From: soma@noedorsai.org (*selah*)
Subject: importing .wav files into bitware
Date: 25 Dec 2002 21:52:05 GMT
Organization: http://extra.newsguy.com


I'm having problems importing .wav files into bitware - they come out
sounding like they're playing on slow speed.

Would appreciate any help with this.

Thanks.

------------------------------

From: Walter Dnes <waltdnes@waltdnes.org>
Subject: Re: Pop-ups Add New Twist
Date: 26 Dec 2002 02:46:37 GMT
Reply-To: waltdnes@waltdnes.org


On Sun, 22 Dec 2002 00:54:41 -0500, Monty Solomon, <monty@roscom.com> wrote:

>  But a relatively new feature may make it harder for people to
>  avoid these windows. Using a technique called the "kick through,"
>  advertisers can direct a person to another Web site if they simply
>  move their cursor across the pop-up ad -- no clicking is necessary.

Let me guess ... Javascript and yet another reason to turn it off.
Here's my checklist for installing a web browser (or using a
pre-installed browser the first time) ...

   1) *PHYSICALLY* disconnect your machine from the internet.  I.e. on
      a LAN or ADSL or cable unplug the ethernet, and on a dialup unplug
      the modem line.
   2) Start up the browser.
   3) Set startup page to "blank".
   4) Turn off cookies.
   5) Turn off Java.
   6) Turn off Javascript ("Scripting" in MS IE.  Note that MS IE has
      several entries for different kinds of scripting.  Turn off each
      and every one).
   7) Find and rename the plugin (or ActiveX) file for F***wave/Slash,
      a.k.a Shockwave/Flash.
   8) Turn off "Install" option (yes, browsers do have the ability to
      install new software on your machine ... bleagh ... I'm sure that
      some skiddie will find a security exploit in that).
   9) In MS IE, disable all ActiveX controls.
  10) Close the browser, and open it again to make sure the settings
      have taken effect.
  11) Once the browser is locked down, you can re-connect your machine
      to the net.


Walter Dnes <waltdnes@waltdnes.org>
I'm not repeating myself; I'm an X Window user, I'm an ex-Windows user
Palladium ain't done till linux won't run


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Do you realize how many web sites there
are -- nice, good, seemingly innocuous sites which refuse to let you
in if you do the things Walter suggests above? Yahoo is one example:
*if* your cookies are mangled or missing or your browser begins
playing games with them then they refuse to let you in at all. A few
sites at least are courteous enough to say something like 'your
browser is refusing to login' so you can take the hint and turn on
what they require if you *really* want to see the site. But many of
them -- including the bank I use, refuse to say what is wrong, you
just get the login screen back; your first inclination is that maybe
you entered your password wrong. Even Yahoo waits until after you have
tried three times to login to come back with the message 'your browser
is refusing to accept our cookies' as their reasoning. After awhile
you get tired of seeing those things and just start leaving everything
wide open and using a laundry program each time you login/logout as
I do. Even chicagotribune.com is always complaining my cookies are
messed up, and it requires me to log out completely, then log back in
so they can rebuild them.   PAT]

------------------------------

From: Ed Ellers <ed_ellers@msn.com>
Subject: Re: www.dubya.com
Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2002 04:47:25 -0500


PAT, the TELECOM Digest Editor, noted:

> Any day now, I expect (President Bush)'s mental illness to deteriorate, and
> his Delusions of Grandeur to get to the point that we all turn into FOD."

This is really uncalled for.  But wait, it gets worse ...

> All Mr. Hussein is asking for is to be left alone.

The people of Kuwait would respectfully disagree.  So likely would a
number of the people of Iraq, some of whom were victims of attacks
with chemical weapons by Saddam's regime.

> I mean, he has supplied a twelve thousand page document saying they
> have no nuclear devices, which is more than Yemen or North Korea can
> say. How many different ways are there for him to say he does not
> have nuclear weapons?

Do you actually believe his claims, given his past record?

> What difference does it make in practical terms if a nuclear war
> starts as a result of Mr. Hussein, or the Yemen people or the North
> Korea people?

The difference is how each would be likely to use nuclear weapons;
based on Saddam's record, it seems likely that he would use them to
destroy Israel and make himself emperor of the Middle East.

> Thirty years ago we were absolutely convinced that Moscow and Nikita
> Krucshev were the enemy.

Back then, the Soviets behaved like an enemy.  See the Cuban missile
crisis as an example.

> A couple weeks ago when the USA intercepted those scud missiles traveling
> from North Korea to Yemen and the USA 'reluctantly' allowed the shipment to
> continue, Mr. Hussein spoke to Fox News, PBS and the Christian Science
> Monitor and asked, 'why is it that North Korea and Yemen can have scud
> missles, but Dubya says I cannot have them?

Because Iraq invaded Kuwait.  And it's not just the U.S. saying that,
but the UN.

> And thus far, the supposedly impartial inspectors from the United
> Nations (where the USA refuses to pay its dues unless/until it gets
> its way) have been unable to find any signs of weapons like that
> either. And they have looked everywhere, but are afraid to quit
> looking because (Bush) will go spastic if they do.

Spastic?  I have a very hard time that President Bush would exhibit
such behavior, or that *any President in reasonably recent history*
would have done so.  If he had such tendencies, they would undoubtedly
be revealed by someone, somewhere, who had an ax to grind.

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2002 23:33:04 EST
From: TELECOM Digest Editor <ptownson@telecom-digest.org>
Subject: My New Spy Cam Software and Web Page


In view of all the folks who are getting into web cams these days, I
decided to try it for myself. I've seen web site advertisements for
porno web pages where there were 'secret' cams hidden away in shower
rooms, dormitory rooms, etc. I thought that would be fun, so I have
installed a web cam in my computer room, and all of you get to try it
out ... 'to check out my cam' as the guys say on Yahooo Messenger.

If you would like to look at this cam during its beta testing stage
before I put it in full time service on http://weatherforecast.n3.net
you may do so by looking at the temporary page I have established for
testing purposes only: http://patrick-townson.n3.net

I can't tell you what you are likely to see from one minute to the
next.  I have a little script which constantly pushes via FTP the
pictures to the server; you then get the pics at the above address. I
use a javascript to refresh the pictures every few seconds, just like
they do on those secret cams hidden away in dormitory rooms, and men's
locker rooms, etc.

It seems to work best if you use Internet Explorer with Javascript
enabled, but other browsers work okay, like Netscape and Opera, but if
they do not update the picture every few seconds then you need to
refresh the picture manually. Since it changes every few seconds, a
digital clock on the screen identifies each picture as it is posted.
I would appreciate feedback from those guys  who watch what I do here
in my house all day and night. I'll leave that page up a couple days
or so; it really is eating up the CPUs. http://patrick-townson.n3.net


PAT

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2002 14:27:07 GMT
From: Robert S Ely (Bob) <rsely74@optonline.net>
Subject: Happy Holidays
Organization: Optimum Online


All,

Just wishing all netizens Happy Holidays and a happy, prosperous New
Year.

Robert S. Ely  (Bob)
rsely74@optonline.net
New Lisbon Developmental Center
Communications Systems Technician-3
robert.ely@dhs.state.nj.us
Work Phone:      1-609-894-4057
Work FAX:        1-609-726-0357
ICQ:             33390750
Yahoo Messenger: rsely74


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: And the same to you, Bob, and the rest
of the readers around here.  Here in Independence, to say we got a
white Christmas would be an understatement. How's twelve inches of
blowing, drifting snow sound to you? It began snowing around 10 AM on
Monday morning as had been predicted, and continued all day and into
the night. I was very smart, and following my Salvation Army duties
on Monday went into Marvin's and stocked up on groceries. After almost 
24 hours, it stopped snowing early Tuesday (Christmas Eve) morning. 
Marvins was absolutely swamped with shoppers Monday night and early
Tuesday; so was Walmart. Sometime mid-morning Tuesday the snow plows
started cleaning the main streets which are pretty well cleared by
now (late Wednesday) and I am told they are starting on the smaller
residential streets now. About an hour ago (11 PM Wednesday night) the
snow plow went past my house. By the weekend I suspect the streets
will be passable once again. Until then, I think I will stay here in
my house next to the fireplace with a glass of bourbon and water.
Anyway, happy holidays to one and all. PAT] 

------------------------------

TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not
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All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any
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should not be considered any official expression by the organization.

End of TELECOM Digest V22 #208
******************************
    
    
From editor@telecom-digest.org Fri Dec 27 16:29:45 2002
Received: from localhost (localhost [[UNIX: localhost]])
	by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.3nb1/8.11.3) id gBRLTjA17286;
	Fri, 27 Dec 2002 16:29:45 -0500 (EST)
Date: Fri, 27 Dec 2002 16:29:45 -0500 (EST)
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To: ptownson
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Subject: TELECOM Digest V22 #209

TELECOM Digest     Fri, 27 Dec 2002 16:29:00 EST    Volume 22 : Issue 209

Inside This Issue:                             Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Call Blocking Box For Numbers From a Given Country? (Richard D G Cox)
    Re: Call Blocking Box For Numbers From a Given Country? (John R. Levine)
    Re: Call Blocking Box For Numbers From a Given Country? (Alex Kasper)
    Phone Calls on the Cable Bill (Monty Solomon)
    Now Your Cellphone Can Remember Mom's Birthday (Monty Solomon)
    Cellphone Suits Targeting Firms Companies Whose Workers (Monty Solomon)
    Re: SBC Ameritech Hosed Me and Now I Get Even (John R. Levine)
    Cell Phone Donation Options (David L)
    Re: Critics Weigh In on Copyright Act (Hudson Leighton)
    Re: Critics Weigh In on Copyright Act (Ed Ellers)
    Re: www.dmcablows.com (73115.1041@compuserve.com)
    Announcement: No Archives Service This Weekend (Patrick Townson)

All contents here are copyrighted by Patrick Townson and the
individual writers/correspondents. Articles may be used in other
journals or newsgroups, provided the writer's name and the Digest are
included in the fair use quote.  By using -any name or email address-
included herein for -any- reason other than responding to an article
herein, you agree to pay a hundred dollars to the recipients of the
email. WE DO NOT PERMIT NAME/EMAIL ADDRESS HARVESTING FROM THIS
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GET SUED IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT IF YOU GET CAUGHT SPAMMING OR SENDING
VIRUSES. DON'T DO IT.

See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and
the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2002 14:11:33 GMT
From: Richard D G Cox <Richard@example.com>
Subject: Re: Call Blocking Box For All Numbers From a Given Country?
Reply-To: nospam@numbering.com
Organization: Mandarin Technology Limited


At 21:34 UT on Tue, 24 Dec 2002, Dave Phelps made the valid point:

>> It's time for LECs to similarly block their customers with PBXes
>> from transmitting phony Caller ID information.  And for us to start
>> a blacklist of LECs that won't.

> That's an interesting idea, but if they are sending incorrect CLID info, 
> what information do you blacklist?  Even if you asked them who they were,
> and managed to get a real TN for them, how would you block it?

A customer-end switch which is connected by an ISDN protocol, such as
Q931 or your local flavour or variant, can reject a call on presentation.
Mine is set to do that to certain types of telemarketer (no, I will not
go into more details than that!) - however a POTS (analog) connected
customer is SOL here.

A network switch -- i.e. within a Telco's curtilege -- should be
capable of rejecting calls where the presented Caller-ID is within a
specified set of ranges.  In many cases it would do that using CCITT
Signalling System 7.  Actually implementing this is completely
impractical; many calls travel around networks with invalid caller-ID:
which the person receiving the call never sees as it's marked
"unavailable" or similar.  A string of all zeroes is quite common,
particularly on international calls, as the various discount providers
do not want any receiving or tandem telcos in the path to know how the
call was routed -- in case THEY were to decide to block that traffic
for "commercial" reasons.

The only way these calls can be blocked is by the *originating* Telco
who would need to ensure any customer-sent Caller-ID was included in
the "Call-Detail-Record" (CDR) that switches produce, and matching the
details offline against the originating *port*: this would allow them
to disconnect customers that continued to send forged Caller-ID after
they had been given suitable warning.  (Online-checking in the switch
is impractical, due mainly to the high cost of the software upgrades
that woud be needed for the switch to do that).

Now we can, of course, all visualise local telcos doing this?  Turning
OFF what are likely to be their most profitable customers?  That's as
likely as Worldcom/UUNet taking any action against their spammers ...
nobody in Telco-land is going to voluntarily throw away a customer,
particularly given the financial state of the telco industry today!

Nor -- in most cases -- will it be possible for transit and
terminating Telcos to drop calls from the rogue telcos: they cannot
use Caller-ID to block calls precisely because it is forged, and
therefore cannot be trusted ... and they cannot disconnect individual
pipes because they have interconnect contracts which specify they must
"Connect and Keep Connected" the links betwen them -- so cutting off a
rogue network is likely to lead to litigation ... there typically
being nothing in the average interconnect contract which requires
Telco to validate any Caller-ID information provided and sent forward.

Yet this same forged Caller-ID will likely ALSO be that delivered up
when the Department of Homeland Security comes asking questions about
the origin of particular calls made to their terrorist suspects: and
when that information is needed urgently to prevent another terrorist
attack (say, from Iraqi or Al-Qaeda sympathisers) will NOT the best
time to find out that Telcos have been turning a blind eye to forged
Caller-ID!

[TELECOM Digest Editor Noted:

>  ... I guess the only way it would work would be if someone got
> blacklisted, no other telcos would agree to accept any incoming
> calls from the blacklisted number.

But they would then be blacklisting a forged number -- most likely
the valid number of a different customer -- and Caller-ID forgers
could easily use a "tumbler" system to send a DIFFERENT Caller-ID
on every call.  That's what the spammers do with their spam, and
we all know we can't block spam by the sender's name, don't we?

> It would be hard to keep it all straight however.   PAT]

Too right it would!


Richard D G Cox
Penarth, UK

------------------------------

From: johnl@iecc.com (John R. Levine)
Subject: Re: Call Blocking Box For All Numbers From a Given Country?
Date: 26 Dec 2002 21:47:15 -0500
Organization: I.E.C.C., Trumansburg NY USA


>> It's time for LECs to similarly block their customers with PBXes from
>> transmitting phony Caller ID information.  And for us to start a
>> blacklist of LECs that won't.

> That's an interesting idea, but if they are sending incorrect CLID info, 
> what information do you blacklist?

It is my impression that CO phone switches can be programmed to know
the valid CLID number range for a PBX, and to substitute in the main
number if a call from the PBX has no CLID or CLID outside that range.
Too bad telcos are almost all too lazy to do so.


John R. Levine, IECC, POB 727, Trumansburg NY 14886 +1 607 387 6869
johnl@iecc.com Village Trustee and Sewer Commissioner http://iecc.com/johnl 
Member, Provisional board, Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial E-mail

------------------------------

From: alex@nexspace.com (Alex Kasper)
Subject: Re: Call Blocking Box For All Numbers From a Given Country?
Date: 27 Dec 2002 02:29:54 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note:  That sort of happens now when
> individual customers of telco are allowed to block calls based
> on the 'last call received'. I guess the only way it would work would
> be if someone got blacklisted, no other telcos would agree to accept
> any incoming calls from the blacklisted number. It would be hard to
> keep it all straight however.   PAT]

This is actually an option in the Nortel C.O. Switches, you can
restrict a PRI Customer to sending only the numbers they control -- a
DID block for example.

However, considering the skill of some of the staff I have encountered
of late at our new mega telcos (i.e. Verizon) where I have had to
describe -- this to a network "engineer":

a) How PRI DID trunks CAN make outgoing calls.
b) The concept of SS7

 ... not to mention the hell I've gone through trying to fix some
incorrect CNAM (Caller ID Name) listings in a block of 500 DIDs ... I
said not to mention.

I doubt it will ever happen in our lifetime.

But maybe ... hey, if I set up a 900 calling card type service where a
caller could enter the number they're calling to AND FROM, would I be
breaking any laws? How long before I got shut down by the FCC or
killed by my provider?

 ... of course this would be for amusement purposes only.

Might be a fun project, just to prove a point. Might even make some
cash before I was arrested -- enough to pay my lawyers.


Alex Kasper

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2002 00:00:50 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Phone Calls on the Cable Bill


By WILL WADE

ALL Peter Odabashian wanted was a second phone line. But when the
phone company said it needed to run new wiring into his apartment,
which would cost nearly $300 and require waiting several weeks, he
found an alternative: the cable company.

Mr. Odabashian turned to the RCN Corporation, a cable company that 
offers telephone service as well as "The West Wing" and "The 
Sopranos." "RCN said it would install the line for free and throw in 
a month of service," said Mr. Odabashian, a film editor in New York 
who previously had cable service from Time Warner. "I signed up for 
the full works. Now I have two phone lines, TV and a cable modem from 
them."

Mr. Odabashian is one of a growing number of consumers who receive 
telephone service from a cable company instead of a telephone 
carrier. Faced with the increasing success of satellite television, 
cable companies are moving to retain customers by offering services 
that satellite companies cannot match. Phone traffic is part of that 
strategy.

Cable companies have spent millions in recent years to upgrade 
equipment to carry digital television and two-way Internet traffic. 
Adding a third information stream, voice, is not difficult. Not only 
does this reduce defections to satellite services, it also generates 
a new source of income. The cable industry's long-term goal is to 
deliver digital television, high-speed Internet access through cable 
modems, and telephone service; insiders call it the triple play.


http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/26/technology/circuits/26nucabl.html

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: To read articles from NYT, readers here
are invited to use the the group login name 'telecomdigest' and the
password 'telecomdigest' to avoid using a personal name/password in
this privacy-insecure world. Also, this same article was submitted by
<joeofseattle@yahoo.com> and I want to thank him for it as well.  PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2002 00:17:15 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Now Your Cellphone Can Remember Mom's Birthday


By JOE HUTSKO

HAVING all your contacts and appointments at hand is one of the most
convenient things about owning a hand-held organizer, and
synchronizing makes it easy to keep both the hand-held and your big
computer up to date. Press a button, and everything on the big
computer transfers to the pocket-size one. Add or change things on the
hand-held, and the next sync transmits the changes back to the mother
ship.

Millions of cellphone owners, on the other hand, tend to punch those
same names and numbers by hand into the phone rather than transferring
existing entries from a personal information manager like Microsoft
Outlook or Entourage on desktop or notebook computers.  As numbers are
updated on one side or the other, conflicts inevitably ensue: is my
friend's new home number the one on my computer, or the one on my
phone?

Thanks to new cellphones and to software from phone manufacturers and
others, saying goodbye to all that thumb-busting key-punching is
relatively easy. Make the connection, and the phone and computer can
exist in complete harmony. What's more, the latest cellphone
synchronization tools can also import other information like tasks and
Lotus Notes data, making it possible to leave the hand-held home and
make do with the phone, albeit with compromises.

The first consideration is how to connect your phone and computer. A
special U.S.B. cable made for your phone model is often the easiest
solution. If no cable is available at the cellphone store, check the
provider's or phone manufacturer's Web store. Such cables generally
cost $50 or less. If there is no specific cable for your phone model,
a third-party solution -- often paired with software -- may be the
answer.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/26/technology/circuits/26basi.html

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: To read articles from NYT, a user name
is 'telecomdigest' and the password is 'telecomdigest'.    PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2002 22:57:37 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Cellphone Suits Targeting Firms Companies Whose Workers Cause


Page 3A

Cellphone suits targeting firms Companies whose workers cause 
accidents face liability

By Laura Parker
USA TODAY

McLEAN, Va. -- As a 29-year-old technology lawyer on the rise, Jane 
Wagner drove a silver Mercedes and billed clients for the time she 
talked to them from her car. She routinely made as many as 40 
cellphone calls a day.

On March 8, 2000, during a call she made at 10:36 p.m., she hit and 
killed a 15-year-old girl, Naeun Yoon, on a busy highway in Fairfax 
County, Va., just outside Washington.

Now Yoon's parents have filed a civil suit against Wagner, who served 
a one-year jail term on work release after pleading guilty to leaving 
the scene of an accident. But in seeking $30 million in damages, 
Yoon's father, Young Ki Yoon, also is suing Wagner's former employer, 
the law firm Cooley Godward, based in San Francisco.

At the heart of the claim against the law firm are the cellphone 
calls that Wagner made when she was working. The suit alleges that 
the firm is partly liable for the accident because Wagner's job 
involved doing business -- in lawyers' parlance, amassing 'billable 
hours' -- by cellphone. Such calls, the suit says, were done 'with 
the expectation and acquiescence of Cooley Godward and served as a 
direct benefit to ... the law firm.'

The case, scheduled for trial in September, is part of a growing 
number of lawsuits against businesses whose employees are involved in 
car accidents while talking on cellphones. The Wagner and Cooley 
Godward trial could have costly implications for businesses across 
the nation whose productivity is tied to the hours their employees 
spend on mobile phones, which have expanded the boundaries of the 
modern office.

http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20021226/4730754s.htm

------------------------------

From: johnl@iecc.com (John R. Levine)
Subject: Re: SBC Ameritech Hosed Me and Now I Get Even
Date: 26 Dec 2002 23:27:08 -0500
Organization: I.E.C.C., Trumansburg NY USA


>> what about Money Magazine??  Money Magazine stated: "Excel
>> Communications is as good an example of entrepreneurship the world
>> will ever see."

It's true.  Excel took the miserable highly competitive low-margin
commodity long distance business and by adding the magic pixie dust of
MLM, persuaded hordes of math-challenged suckers, whoops, I mean
highly motivated grass-roots businessfolk that it's the opportunity of
a lifetime.


John R. Levine, IECC, POB 727, Trumansburg NY 14886 +1 607 387 6869
johnl@iecc.com Village Trustee and Sewer Commissioner http://iecc.com/johnl 
Member, Provisional board, Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial E-mail

------------------------------

From: davidlind@my-deja.com (David L)
Subject: Cell Phone Donation Options
Date: 25 Dec 2002 21:52:11 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


Ever wonder what happens to donated cellular handsets and which groups
benefit? This editorial sheds some light on handset recycling/donation.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/12/09/BU140937.DTL

NEW HOMES FOR OLD PHONES 

-- CollectiveGood 
http://www.collectivegood.com 

Independent program pays nonprofits for each mobile phone collected,
recycles unusable gear, sells working phones to Latin American
carriers. Donors can choose among 150 nonprofits, many of which cover
cost of shipping. .

-- Donate a Phone 
http://www.donateaphone.com 

Family of programs -- some for individual donors, others for
organizations and carriers -- managed by the CTIA Wireless Foundation,
an arm of the cellular industry's trade association. Call to Protect
program donates limited- function phones to victims of domestic
violence. .

-- Sprint Project Connect 
http://www.sprintpcs.com/projectconnect 

Program run by Wireless Foundation collects phones at Sprint PCS
stores, recycles some and sells others, donates 35 percent of resale
value to Easter Seals and the National Organization on Disability. .

-- Verizon Wireless HopeLine 
http://www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline 

Company-run mail-in collection program recycles or sells phones, uses
proceeds to purchase phones and donate airtime to victims of domestic
violence through human-services and law-enforcement agencies.

-- RadioShack Donate a Phone 
http://www.radioshackcorporation.com/cr/support.shtml 

Program run by Wireless Foundation will collect phones at RadioShack
stores through Dec. 31, and donate proceeds to an organization for
college students called Students in Free Enterprise.


David
DavNOlindiSPAMathotmaildotcom

------------------------------

From: hudsonl@skypoint.com (Hudson Leighton)
Subject: Re: Critics Weigh In on Copyright Act
Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2002 08:02:41 -0600
Organization: MRRP


In article <telecom22.208.9@telecom-digest.org>, JDS
<t111@syntelsoft.com> wrote:

> But by way of preventing theft, the RIAA is going to make their
> digital publications worth far less.  By analogy, most people will pay
> $20 for a hardcover book that they read once and leave on the shelf
> forever; how much would they pay if that book self-destructed after
> that first reading, or if it worked only on that ancient computer that
> you discarded many years ago?  We shall see how much people will be
> willing to pay for highly restricted media licenses.

Check out: 

http://www.baen.com/library/

They are a Science Fiction publisher who has started putting their
older titles online for free, as HTML, RTF, and others.  No copy
protection, no nothing.

And guess what?, their older title book sales started increasing!

I bought a book of theirs, and it had a CDRom in the back with that
book and about 20 more on it.  Since I was going into the Hospital for
a week this was a godsend!


-Hudson
http://www.skypoint.com/~hudsonl

------------------------------

From: Ed Ellers <ed_ellers@msn.com>
Subject: Re: Critics Weigh In on Copyright Act
Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2002 20:35:25 -0500


JDS <t111@syntelsoft.com> wrote:

> Technological solutions to sociological problems never work.  For
> one thing, there's always the "analog hole" which allows complete
> circumvention of any copyright scheme.

At the cost of some degradation of the signal.  That's why people are
getting so worked up over attempts to prevent digital copying.  (IMHO
the jury is still out over whether an analog dub from a CD really is
inferior to a digital "rip" of the same track, after both have been
encoded in MP3 at the usual 128 kbps.)


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Tell the Jury that the slightly
inferior signal is actually pretty good considering what you paid
for it. There really is no difference. An audiophile which very fancy
equipment could tell the difference; almost no one else. PAT]

------------------------------

From: 73115.1041@compuserve.com
Subject: Re: www.dmcablows.com
Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2002 08:39:13 -0700
Organization: CompuServe Interactive Services


Peter Dubuque <peterd@panix.com> wrote:

> How can media companies survive in this new economic reality?  I don't
> have all the answers, but I'm sure it boils down to the same rule that
> has always led to successful businesses..."give your customers what
> they want at a fair price."  That's not what the entertainment
> industry is doing now.  Instead, their attitude is "your customers
> will rob you blind if you let them, so treat them like criminals and
> try to control everything they do with your product even after you've
> got their money.

Agreed. If you really want to understand what the media companies are
doing and why they are so against opening their catalogs to individual
sales, you just need to look at the history of a company called
Personics,

Personics started up in the early 80s and tried to license catalogs
from the major record companies. They built kiosks and put them in
record stores around the country. The kiosks were capable of producing
licensed copies of cassettes on demand.

No inventory costs. The cassettes sold for a premimum compared to
prerecorded cassettes. The retailler made money, the record company
received license fees with no distribution costs. You'd think it was a
sure thing. Wrong.

The record companies would only allow certain songs to be included in
the machine catalog, usually obscure songs by unknown artists. And if
any of thoses songs proved to be too popular, the song was pulled from
the machine.

Why? The record companies thrive on artificial scarcity as Peter
described. But exactly the same logic applies why you can't buy
individual channels from your cable company. The media companies don't
want you to.

Their whole business model is built around selling you one or two
songs (or channels) you want and 18 that you don't want. They know
that most people rationalize the purchase of a CD by saying that it's
only a $1 or $2 per song and they would rather sell you two CDs for
$40, than 2 individual songs for $2.

The idea of individual song sales terrifies them. Personics tried to
sell mail order as well, was bought out by Warner Brothers and
eventually folded.

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Did you ever notice how many of the
'Best of X Greatest Hits' albums, tapes and CDs on the market are
maybe eighty percent rehashed from prior recordings but there are
always one or two selections you have never heard before?  To get
those one or two selections, you have to buy the entire thing with
a dozen or more works you already have two or three copies of? It
is a rip off, to be sure.   PAT]

------------------------------

From: Patrick Townson <editor@telecom-digest.org>
Subject: Heads Up Notice From LCS This Weekend
Date: Fri, 27 Dec 2002 14:00:00 EST


This afternoon I got notice from the sysadmin at LCS that there will
be a planned power outage on the campus of MIT (specifically LCS) all
day on Saturday, December 28 (that's tomorrow!). All computer systems
(and other things) will be down for 10-12 hours beginning prior to or
by 7 AM Saturday morning. Expect electrical power to come back on
'late in the day' or maybe Saturday evening. After power comes back
on, an hour or two later the computer systems will be up and running
again, including massis with our archives. So, FYI, no issues of the
Digest again until *maybe* Sunday afternoon, and no looking at the
TELECOM Archives (or my machine neighbor, the Info-Mac archives if you
wish) until real late Saturday night. In the meantime, if you are 
trying to find something to look at, try http://patrick-townson.n3.net
where you can spy on me if I happen to be sitting in my computer room
here. See ya again Sunday afternoon/evening.     PAT]

------------------------------

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All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any
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End of TELECOM Digest V22 #209
******************************
    
    
From editor@telecom-digest.org Sun Dec 29 17:05:08 2002
Received: from localhost (localhost [[UNIX: localhost]])
	by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.3nb1/8.11.3) id gBTM58q10994;
	Sun, 29 Dec 2002 17:05:08 -0500 (EST)
Date: Sun, 29 Dec 2002 17:05:08 -0500 (EST)
From: editor@telecom-digest.org
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To: ptownson
Approved: patsnewlist
Subject: TELECOM Digest V22 #210

TELECOM Digest     Sun, 29 Dec 2002 17:05:00 EST    Volume 22 : Issue 210

Inside This Issue:                             Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    SBC Yahoo! DSL Named Preferred Product; DIRECT-TV DSL Customers (Solomon)
    New Billboards Sample Radios as Cars Go By, Then Adjust (Monty Solomon)
    F.C.C. Lets Convicted Hacker Go Back on Net (Monty Solomon)
    Hotel Chains to Offer Wireless Internet (Monty Solomon)
    Long-Distance Bills Headed Up in 2003; New Fees, Rate Hikes (M. Solomon)
    Re: Phone Calls on the Cable Bill (Robert Woolley)
    Re: Phone Calls on the Cable Bill (Ed Ellers)
    Re: Critics Weigh In on Copyright Act (John Higdon)
    What am I Missing Here; Calling Cards (tsingtao55@yahoo.com)
    Re: Hughes to Shut Down High-Speed Internet Service (Michael A Covington)
    Pacific Bell Central Office Names (Emt Pilot)
    Why Won't My Sprint PCS Phone Roam? (Samsung SCH-3500) (Linc Madison)
    Re: Pop-ups Add New Twist (Walter Dnes)
    Question About This Basic SBC Yahoo DSL (John Smith)
    Last Laugh! Pat's Webcam (Greg Boop)
    At the Risk of Spamming my own Newsgroup (TELECOM Digest Editor)

All contents here are copyrighted by Patrick Townson and the
individual writers/correspondents. Articles may be used in other
journals or newsgroups, provided the writer's name and the Digest are
included in the fair use quote.  By using -any name or email address-
included herein for -any- reason other than responding to an article
herein, you agree to pay a hundred dollars to the recipients of the
email. WE DO NOT PERMIT NAME/EMAIL ADDRESS HARVESTING FROM THIS
JOURNAL. 'SALTED' EMAIL ADDRESSES APPEAR HEREIN TO VERIFY THIS. YOU
GET SUED IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT IF YOU GET CAUGHT SPAMMING OR SENDING
VIRUSES. DON'T DO IT.

See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and
the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Fri, 27 Dec 2002 20:49:35 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: SBC Yahoo! DSL Named Preferred Product for DIRECTV DSL Customers


SAN ANTONIO & CUPERTINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 27, 2002--

      SBC Internet Services and DIRECTV Broadband Sign Alliance
                to Offer Easy and Efficient Transition
              for More Than 70,000 DIRECTV DSL Customers

SBC (NYSE:SBC) Internet Services and DIRECTV Broadband today announced
an agreement by which SBC Yahoo! DSL becomes the preferred product for
more than 70,000 DIRECTV DSL(TM) customers in the SBC 13-state
operating territory. The agreement follows an announcement made by
Hughes Electronics Corporation on Dec. 13, 2002, that DIRECTV
Broadband will discontinue its "DIRECTV DSL" service and transition
existing customers to alternative service providers. DIRECTV Broadband
is a subsidiary of Hughes.

Under terms of the agreement, DIRECTV Broadband will exclusively
recommend to its customers in the SBC operating territory that they
transition to SBC Yahoo! DSL, making SBC Internet Services their
Internet Service Provider.

     - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=30695448

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 27 Dec 2002 23:03:39 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: New Billboards Sample Radios as Cars Go By, Then Adjust


By MATT RICHTEL

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 26 - Tom Langeland cannot hear your car radio.
But he purports to be able to figure out what you're listening to -
whether rock 'n' roll, sports, talk or news - in the privacy of your
speeding automobile.

Pursuing a business plan that has a science fiction bent but also 
some skeptics, Mr. Langeland intends to modify electronic freeway 
billboard advertisements by remote control to reflect your tastes, 
and those of thousands of other drivers.

As part of a $20 million investment, Mr. Langeland, a Sacramento-based
entrepreneur, has erected 10 billboards that can display both video
and text and can be programmed with changing messages and images. In
addition, the billboards include fledgling technology that is designed
to identify the radio frequencies of passers-by.

Mr. Langeland, chief executive of the Alaris Media Network, intends to
deduce demographic information from the radio stations drivers are
listening to and then display advertising aimed at them based on
income, sex, race and buying habit data. He said the idea was not to
single out individuals, but drivers en masse. For instance, if a
preponderance of rush-hour drivers are tuned to a radio station known
to have affluent or educated listeners, then the advertisements at
that time would be aimed at them.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/27/business/media/27ADCO.html


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: For reading NYT articles, where regis-
tration (and the resulting spam) is required, Digest readers are 
invited to login with our generic username 'telecomdigest' and the
password 'telecomdigest'. PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 28 Dec 2002 00:59:01 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: F.C.C. Lets Convicted Hacker Go Back on Net


By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 (AP) - A hacker once labeled by the federal
government as "the most wanted computer criminal in U.S. history" has
won a long fight to renew his ham radio license, and next month may
resume surfing the Internet.

The hacker, Kevin Mitnick, 39, of Thousand Oaks, Calif., served five 
years in federal prison for stealing software and altering data at 
Motorola, Novell, Nokia, Sun Microsystems and the University of 
Southern California. Prosecutors accused him of causing tens of 
millions of dollars in damage to corporate computer networks.

Mr. Mitnick was freed in January 2000. The terms of his probation, 
which expires on Jan. 20, require that he get government permission 
before using computers, software, modems or any devices that connect 
to the Internet. His travel and employment also are limited.

He has been allowed to use a cellphone and received permission this 
year to type a manuscript on a computer not connected to the Internet.


http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/27/technology/27HACK.html

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: See the other message in this issue for
login and password information for NYT.   PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 28 Dec 2002 14:28:06 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Hotel Chains to Offer Wireless Internet


By Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY

The hotel industry is embarking on a new high-tech venture: bringing 
wireless Internet to lounges and conference rooms.

Marriott said last week that it will install wireless Internet in the
public areas of 400 hotels by next spring. Hilton plans to equip 200
hotels with the service. Starwood, which operates the Westin,
Sheraton, St. Regis and W brands, is studying the issue.

Wayport, a company specializing in bringing high-speed Internet to
travelers, has rigged 475 hotels with wired and so-called Wi-Fi
wireless systems.

One luxury property, The Adolphus in Dallas, expects to have wireless 
access throughout the hotel, including guest rooms, next month.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/biztravel/2002-12-26-wireless_x.htm

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 28 Dec 2002 14:21:21 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Long-Distance Bills Headed Upward in 2003; New Fees, Rate Hikes


Page 1A
By Andrew Backover
USA TODAY

The days of falling long-distance phone bills may be over.

More new fees and rate increases are expected next year on top of a 
bevy of recent increases by No. 2 long-distance carrier MCI and 
others.

That's because phone companies have to raise more revenue to counter 
the effect of long-distance price wars and consumers turning to 
cellphones and e-mail. "I only see continued increases in 
long-distance rates," says Rich Sayers, who runs the Web site 
10-10PhoneRates.com.

For consumers, the higher costs could amount to a few extra bucks a 
month at a time when a sluggish economy has many cutting spending. 
One way to avoid increases is to shop for 'bundles', which give 
discounts for buying multiple services from one company.

Sprint waves a $5.95 monthly fee on one long-distance plan if 
customers also buy its wireless service. WorldCom's MCI sells 'The 
Neighborhood' plan, which offers unlimited long-distance and local 
calls for $50 to $60 a month.

http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20021227/4734465s.htm

------------------------------

From: Robert Woolley <rob@home.com.see.below.com>
Subject: Re: Phone Calls on the Cable Bill
Date: Fri, 27 Dec 2002 22:35:55 +0000


On Thu, 26 Dec 2002 00:00:50 -0500, Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
wrote:

> ALL Peter Odabashian wanted was a second phone line. But when the
> phone company said it needed to run new wiring into his apartment,
> which would cost nearly $300 and require waiting several weeks, he
> found an alternative: the cable company.

> Mr. Odabashian turned to the RCN Corporation, a cable company that 
> offers telephone service as well as "The West Wing" and "The 
> Sopranos." "RCN said it would install the line for free and throw in 
> a month of service," said Mr. Odabashian, a film editor in New York 
> who previously had cable service from Time Warner. "I signed up for 
>the full works. Now I have two phone lines, TV and a cable modem from 

In the UK, cablecos have provided a telephony alternative to BT
(British Telecom) for well over ten years.

Sadly, they tend to work on tarrifs that just undercut BT, but aren't
required to give open access in such areas as ADSL.


Rob
rob at robertwoolley dot co dot uk

------------------------------

From: Ed Ellers <ed_ellers@msn.com>
Subject: Re: Phone Calls on the Cable Bill
Date: Fri, 27 Dec 2002 20:42:26 -0500


Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com> wrote:

> Mr. Odabashian is one of a growing number of consumers who receive
> telephone service from a cable company instead of a telephone carrier.

A totally unscientific sample: Both neighbors on either side of me now
get their wireline service from Insight Communications, the cable
company here in Louisville (http://www.insight-com.com/ -- *not*
insight.com or insight-comm.com).  I would, too, just to spite
BellSouth -- and also because Insight's rates are somewhat lower --
but they don't offer call forwarding on busy, which I use to bounce
calls to my wireless phone.

For those unfamiliar with cable telephony, a quick description of how
it's provisioned: There is a box that goes on the outside wall of the
building, looking very much like the network interfaces that telcos
use these days for residential demarcs, but it contains A/D
converters, a DOCSIS modem and other goodies.  The service drop
carries 60V DC to power the unit, so the tap box (at the pole or in
the back yard) has to be set up to pass power to phone customers and
block it to those who only have TV and/or Internet services.  Like a
telco demarc, this has two access doors, one for the side where the
drop cable connects, the other for customer access.  On the customer
side there is a coaxial connector for the cable going to TV sets and
cable modems -- presumably this is locked off to block access if a
customer only takes phone service --- and screw terminals for inside
wire, with RJ11 jacks and plugs for test purposes as usual.  Insight's
boxes will support up to four lines, so if you want to add a line you
just run your inside wire to the appropriate jacks, call them to turn
on the service, and start writing larger monthly checks.

One thing I didn't like about Insight's installation was that the guy
just ran some wire (not sure if it was quad, Cat 3 or Cat 5) over from
the box to the screw terminals on the BellSouth demarc, after
unplugging the plug from the RJ11 test jack, instead of doing
something to bring the customer's inside wire over from the BellSouth
demarc to the Insight box.

------------------------------

From: John Higdon <no-spam@amadeus.kome.com>
Subject: Re: Critics Weigh In on Copyright Act
Organization: Green Hills and Cows
Date: Fri, 27 Dec 2002 17:14:10 -0800


In article <telecom22.209.10@telecom-digest.org>, Ed Ellers
<ed_ellers@msn.com> wrote:

> At the cost of some degradation of the signal.  That's why people are
> getting so worked up over attempts to prevent digital copying.  (IMHO
> the jury is still out over whether an analog dub from a CD really is
> inferior to a digital "rip" of the same track, after both have been
> encoded in MP3 at the usual 128 kbps.)

> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Tell the Jury that the slightly
> inferior signal is actually pretty good considering what you paid
> for it. There really is no difference. An audiophile which very fancy
> equipment could tell the difference; almost no one else. PAT]

Actually, by the time the tune is subjected to the compression of an
MP3, it doesn't matter how sophisticated the listener's equipment is.
For all intents and purposes, an analog rip of a given track will be
just as good as the digital rip. The only difference (to the person
performing the transfer) is the inconvenience of literally recording
the audio in real time, and then trimming it.

I made a private promise to myself about this. I have never downloaded
an MP3 in my life. I have never so much as given away one single rip
of any track from my library of thousands of CDs (but I rip them to
use in my iPod and in the car). Here's the promise: the first time I
am forced to make an analog rip of a so-called copy-protected CD, the
rips are all going up on a website. If I'm going to be forced to go to
extra effort just to be able to enjoy a CD I paid good money for,
others will benefit from that effort as well.

The reality is that I have pretty much given up buying CDs. I'm not
sure I want to even bother with the hassle, or the expense of buying a
CD player that can deal with the new crippled CDs.


John Higdon     | Email Address Valid | SF:  +1 415 428-COWS
+1 408 264 4115 |     Anytown, USA    | FAX: +1 408 264 4407

------------------------------

From: tsingtao55@yahoo.com
Subject: What am I Missing Here; Calling Cards
Date: Sat, 28 Dec 2002 01:22:56 GMT


I used to have long distance service through a reseller that I thought
was cheap, $0.05/min in California after 5pm and 0.09 during peak
time.  Interstate calls were $0.09 at all times.

What ate me up were not the call charges, I really don't make that
many LD calls on my landline (use my cell mostly), but the taxes.  For
a $2.50 LD bill, I would get near $6 in taxes each month.

So, I called SBC and discontinued LD.  Now I use an AT&T calling card
purchased at Sam's Club which costs $0.0347/min with no taxes.  I even
use it to dial around SBC's exorbitant local toll rates.  I just
programmed the 800 number and the card number into speed dial.

Why does AT&T sell these cards so cheap while they "rape" their
customers who have subscribed to them with monthly fees, etc.?

------------------------------

From: Michael A. Covington <look@www.covingtoninnovations.com.for.address>
Subject: Re: Hughes to Shut Down High-Speed Internet Service
Date: Sat, 28 Dec 2002 01:38:11 -0500


OneNetNut <onenetnut@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:telecom22.186.12@telecom-digest.org:

> Yep, they have a loving note on their website:
> http://www.directvdsl.com/ explaining why they are getting out of the
> DSL space (which I don't think they should have entered in the first
> place).

Yes ... I'm one of the people they left behind, and I'm now enjoying
my first day of service on SpeedFactory: same line, same price per
month, same data speed, and noticeably quicker DNS resolution. (Three
DNS, not two, and not all in the same place.)

My dumb question: Why is SpeedFactory making money when
DirecTVInternet wasn't making money?

One thing I suspect is that SpeedFactory doesn't try to sell to
Grandma ... they seem to target people like me, who know something
about configuring their own equipment.  (In fact I got it going even
though the DSL router arrived in a box with no documentation ... the
doc is in the mail to arrive tomorrow.)  This probably keeps their
support costs down.

Any other theories?

------------------------------

From: emtpilot@aol.com (Emt pilot)
Date: 28 Dec 2002 08:12:16 GMT
Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com
Subject: Pacific Bell Central Office Names


Hello,

Hoping anyone might be able to help with this question.  Does Pacbell
"name" their CO's?  For example, most of their CO's are named for the
community they are located in.  For more dense areas that have more
then one office in a community or city, how does Pacbell defferentiate
between offices?  Is it a simple as San Diego CO 1 and San Diego CO 2
 ... etc, or does each CO have a specific name (street, etc)?  I have a
list of Pac Bell exchanges but for some exchanges there are many CO's
with the same exchange name just different CLLI numbers.

I know Verizon in California names their CO's if more then one in an
exchnage area.  Example: There are two CO's in the Lancaster exchange,
1 CO is named "Lancaster" while the other is named "Antelope".  Just
wondering if Pacbell did the same thing and if anyone could foward the
list or database.

Thanks for the help.

Jon Jamieson
www.sewagehistory.com

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I know Ameritech in Chicago, IL has all
their central office buildings geographically named in most instances
by the streets or neighborhoods they are located in. And for each
formal central office name there is also an informal (in general use)
name for the same place. For instance, the central office which serves
the University of Chicago, located at 61st and Kenwood Streets is
known informally as 'Kenwood Bell'. Another example is 'Kedzie Bell'
which is located on the west side around Roosevelt Road and Kedzie 
Avenue. Those two, and several others were named back in the 1950's
after the streets they are located on and (obviously) the company
which originally owned them. Both of those two were originally very
large Traffic Department facilities (operator centers) on their 
second and third floors with the switching equipment on the first
floor. Officially, they were 'Chicago-Kenwood' and 'Chicago-Kedzie';
along with 'Chicago-Rogers Park', 'Chicago-Edgewater', 'Chicago-Superior'
'Chicago-Illinois/Dearborn', 'Chicago-Franklin', 'Chicago-Dearborn',
'Chicago-Wabash', and 'Chicago-Lakeview' just to name a few on the
north side and downtown areas of Chicago. Chicago-Wabash for many
years had the informal name 'the Wabash CannonBall' because for many
years after the other offices had gone to crossbar switching, the
folks in 312-922, 312-939 and a few other exchanges still had the
old fashioned (and very noisy) stepping switches. Literally, when 
one walked past the 65 East Congress Parkway building, the noise at
times was deafening. I know you did not ask about Chicago, but I
decided to tell you anyway. PAT]

------------------------------

From: Linc Madison <nobody@example.com>
Subject: Why Won't my Sprint PCS Phone Roam? (Samsung SCH-3500)
Date: Sat, 28 Dec 2002 02:27:16 -0800
Organization: LincMad.com Consulting
Reply-To: Telecom@LincMad.com


I've had a Sprint PCS phone, specifically a Samsung SCH-3500, for
almost three years now. In those three years, I have had two occasions
to attempt an outgoing call while outside Sprint's network. Both
times, the signal meter indicated I had a strong signal, and I did
everything the phone's manual said to do in order to make a roaming
call, but the calls never connected. I also just did a test here in
San Francisco with the same results. In addition, I also attempted an
incoming call while the phone was in analog roaming mode.

The only option I have for roaming is the analog cellular network, and
my phone doesn't display any ID for the specific carrier.

The first occasion was in early September 2002 in Susanville, CA. The
second was in mid-October near Woodbury, TN. The third test was today
in San Francisco, CA. In all three cases, I accessed the phone's menu
and changed "Roaming Mode" from "Sprint PCS only" to "Analog Roam."
The phone then searched for service and locked onto what appeared to
be a valid signal from an analog cell. I dialed the number, pressed
TALK, and pressed 1 to confirm that I really wanted to make a roaming
call.  The little telephone handset icon then blinked and blinked and
blinked, indicating that it was trying to establish a circuit for the
call. In all three cases, though, the icon just blinked, never
completing the call. I tried each call more than once, always with the
same result. On each attempt, I waited at least a full minute or two,
and in one case over six minutes. None of these calls was at any time
I would expect to be a peak usage hour.

My inference from my admittedly cursory knowledge of cellular roaming
is that my phone is not sending all the information that the analog
network needs to bill the call, and therefore the analog network is not
completing the circuit.

Does that sound like I'm on the right track? If so, what might it be
missing and how do I get it squared away? If not, what might the
problem be?

I talked to Customer Service today, and their only suggestion was to
take the phone in to a Sprint PCS retail store to see if they can
figure out what's going on. I probably will do that, but I figured I'd
start by asking people who might actually know something.


www dot LincMad dot com  / Telecom at LincMad dot com
Linc Madison  *  San Francisco, California

------------------------------

From: Walter Dnes <waltdnes@waltdnes.org>
Subject: Re: Pop-ups Add New Twist
Date: 29 Dec 2002 01:25:41 GMT
Reply-To: waltdnes@waltdnes.org


>  [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Do you realize how many web sites there
>  are -- nice, good, seemingly innocuous sites which refuse to let you
>  in if you do the things Walter suggests above? Yahoo is one example:
>  *if* your cookies are mangled or missing or your browser begins
>  playing games with them then they refuse to let you in at all.

Recent versions of Mozilla/Phoenix more granularity.  You can control
whom you do/don't allow to read/write cookies.  I believe IE can do
something similar with its "trusted-sites" zone.  This can be
acomplished manually also.  I post to two websites that require login.
They have the *OPTION* of either logging in each time, or having their
cookies. Cookies are definitely convenient there.  I opened up my
cookies, logged in, exited the browser, and set the cookie file to
read-only.  The login cookies are now safe.

With the cookie file set to read-only, I can throw the cookie
settings wide open.  All cookies will be accepted to memory while
browsing, but they will not be saved when I shut down the browser.


Walter Dnes <waltdnes@waltdnes.org>
I'm not repeating myself; I'm an X Window user, I'm an ex-Windows user
Palladium ain't done till linux won't run


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I need some help getting my cookies to
work  correctly. I use something called 'Proxomitron' which eliminates
all advertising on web pages and almost all pop-up windows. It uses
port 8080 to do its thing. My objective is to eliminate all ads and
pop up windows. I use it on my Opera browser and get the desired
results. But I like to read news on my.yahoo.com and chicagotribune.com
and my constantly scrolling ticker tape news comes from my.yahoo.com
among other places. Internet Explorer is the controlling browser on 
my Windows XP and Windows 98 machines. If I turn Proximotron on when 
using my IE browser, Yahoo and Chicago Tribune refuse to deal with me.
Yahoo just won't let me login to any department (including the
scrolling ticker-tape news headlines) and chicagotribune.com keeps
insisting my cookies are mangled up, and it wants me to completely log
out and log back in so it can reinstall its cookies. So I wound up
disconnecting Proxomitron from IE, but leaving it on Opera. So I use
the latter to read some things and I use IE for other things, and 
constantly close pop-up windows and see advertising on Yahoo. I wish
I knew how to properly set the options on Proxomitron. I also use a
'windows washer' program (like a laundry machine, with strong
detergent and lots of 'bleach') whenever I turn the computer on or
off. I've seen the 'laundry machine' grind up and sweep away as much
as ten megs worth of the filthy, foul smelling stuff each day. I 
suspect that may be tampering with the cookies also. I wish I could
use Proxomitron for IE stuff as well, but probably my computer is
all messed up internally. :(  Having had a brain aneurysm (my beloved
brain desease) doesn't help me with these matters either.   PAT]   

------------------------------

From: John Smith <anonymous@yahoo.com>
Subject: Question About This Basic SBC Yahoo DSL
Date: Sun, 29 Dec 2002 01:10:37 -0800
Organization: Posted via Supernews, http://www.supernews.com


My family friend just got basic SBC Yahoo DSL
(http://promo.yahoo.com/sbc/dsl/ ). They can only connect to the
Internet from one PC (XP Home Edition OS) directly to the DSL modem as
PPPoE.  I gave them my spare used 3Com router that works with other
ISPs (RoadRunner cable, Charter Communications cable, and Verizon
DSL), the 3Com router can quickly connect as PPPoE like the XP.  For
some reason I can't ping any IP number to the outside world but SBC
DSL tech support can ping the 3Com router and I always see the
router's security audit trail log with lots of intrusion attempts into
it, port scan, etc.  If I can't ping anyone to the outside world,
neither I can surf the Internet thru this 3Com router.

So what good it is if it can't be shared to other PCs in the house?

Can the DSL provider like SBC Yahoo DSL can do something so basic
subscribers can't share the Internet to several PCs in their home?

Are the broadband provider now discouraging their subscribers to use
routers and share the Internet to several PCs in their home?

------------------------------

From: Greg Boop <gboop@nc.rr.com>
Subject: Last Laugh! Pat's Webcam
Date: Sun, 29 Dec 2002 09:10:16 -0500


Somehow I had the image that Pat worked all day on the computer,
typing his responses to the digest while surrounded by a half-dozen
scantily clad women ... Unfortunately the web-cam has proven this
not to be true   :)


- Greg

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Mostly you are correct. I say 'mostly'
because last night real late, I got a phone call from a neighbor, a
young guy about 20 or so, who wanted to bring a 'friend' over here
since the said friend would be unwelcome at his house with his mother
being there, etc. I said okay, then toddled off to bed for a good
night's sleep. When I said it was a 'secret, hidden spy-cam' I mean I
have not mentioned it to any neighbors/friends, etc. Something woke me
up around 2:00 AM and I remembered I had not shut the computer and
camera off for the night. The cam is not hidden, it is in plain sight
on my desk top -- all three of them; still the dunce and his friend
did not know what they were or how they worked. I found the two of
them slightly indisposed here in the computer room, and as I rushed
over to shut off the cams/computer I proceeded to give them both one
of my Old Fashioned Editor's Notes; fire shooting from my nostrils,
etc. Enough hell for everyone, ample-plenty twice around. They both
looked terribly hurt; I then apologized for screaming at *them*; and
hastily assured them I was not angry about their actions, just at
having my website desecrated with the see-all cams taking pics, and
faithfully FTP'ing them off to the site, every ten seconds or so. I
*don't think* anyone was watching at the time; I would have heard
something by now if there had been one or more viewers, I am
sure. They had no idea the cams were there, let alone turned on; and
properly mortified they made a hasty retreat for friend's home, where
I guess 'getting caught' by my friend's mother would have been less of
an embarassment for them. The web-cam address is 
http://patrick-townson.n3.net .  PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 29 Dec 2002 14:50:20 EST
From: TELECOM Digest Editor <ptownson@telecom-digest.org
Subject: At the Risk of Spamming my own Newsgroup


At the risk of spamming my own newsgroup once again, I take this 
opportunity to remind you as we approach the end of December and
the end of 2002 that the first couple days of this week are the
monthly 'Share Days'; the days each month I attempt to show you that
TELECOM Digest is 'shareware'; not 'freeware'. I've done it this
time with a bit of humor, with the 'spy cam' so you could 'supervise
my work more closely' if you wished to do so. I am also going to
take especial care this time to try and be certain that this particular
issue of the Digest does not belch and backfire on its way through
nntpxmit out to the Usenet link, so the comp.dcom.telecom readers
(and in particular the one anonymous reader last time around) do 
not have any complaints. 

Anyway, if you would like to help me insure that my bills are all
paid in a timely manner this month and I get to close out the month
and the year in a financially responsible manner, now is the time
to do it. Go to any PayPal logo on the net (mine is best, at the
very bottom of the page http://telecom-digest.org ) and make whatever
contribution you feel is best. If you prefer, send your check or
money order payable to 'Telecom' in snail mail to:

          Telecom
          PO Box 50
          Independence, KS   67301
marked to my attention. On PayPal my name is 'editor@telecom-digest.org'.

By return mail in a week or two, you will get a copy of the latest
version of the Telecom Archives CD, (all 22 years of it) whether you
send it by snailmail or by PayPal where you can also use a credit/debit 
card as desired.  As always, my thanks, and wishes for a happy and 
prosperous new year for each of you.

Patrick Townson

------------------------------

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
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TELECOM Digest is a not-for-profit, mostly non-commercial educational
service offered to the Internet by Patrick Townson. All the contents
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and that of the original author.

Contact information:    Patrick Townson/TELECOM Digest
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Our attorney is Bill Levant, of Blue Bell, PA.

   In addition, gifts from Mike Sandman, Chicago's Telecom Expert
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Finally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such as
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Please make at least a single donation to cover the cost of processing
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All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any
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End of TELECOM Digest V22 #210
******************************
    
    
From: editor@telecom-digest.org
Message-Id: <200212310036.gBV0aWq25213@massis.lcs.mit.edu>
X-Authentication-Warning: massis.lcs.mit.edu: ptownson set sender to editor@telecom-digest.org using -f
To: ptownson
Approved: patsnewlist
Subject: TELECOM Digest V22 #211

TELECOM Digest     Mon, 30 Dec 2002 19:37:00 EST    Volume 22 : Issue 211

Inside This Issue:                             Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    Book Review: "Know Your Enemy", Honeynet Project (Rob Slade)
    SBC False Advertising / Overcharge?!?!?!  HELP (Jason)
    About Panasonic 1232 (Radoslaw)
    Strange Behaviour of Your Picture Page (Colin Sutton)
    Re: Pacific Bell Central Office Names (David L)
    Re: Pacific Bell Central Office Names (John Higdon)
    Re: Pacific Bell Central Office Names (Jeff Moss)
    Re: What am I Missing Here; Calling Cards (David L)
    Re: Question About This Basic SBC Yahoo DSL (Steven J. Sobol)
    Re: Why Won't my Sprint PCS Phone Roam? (Samsung SCH-3500) (Steven Sobol)
    Re: Call Blocking Box For All Numbers From a Given Country (joe@obilivan)
    Re: Pop-ups Add New Twist (Clarence Dold)
    FCC Grants InterLATA LD to Southwestern Bell, Bellsouth (Sam Etler)    
    Wanted: Used Gordon Kapes System 930 (Arun Mirchandani)

All contents here are copyrighted by Patrick Townson and the
individual writers/correspondents. Articles may be used in other
journals or newsgroups, provided the writer's name and the Digest are
included in the fair use quote.  By using -any name or email address-
included herein for -any- reason other than responding to an article
herein, you agree to pay a hundred dollars to the recipients of the
email. WE DO NOT PERMIT NAME/EMAIL ADDRESS HARVESTING FROM THIS
JOURNAL. 'SALTED' EMAIL ADDRESSES APPEAR HEREIN TO VERIFY THIS. YOU
GET SUED IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT IF YOU GET CAUGHT SPAMMING OR SENDING
VIRUSES. DON'T DO IT.

See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and
the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Rob Slade <rslade@sprint.ca>
Organization: Vancouver Institute for Research into User 
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2002 08:05:18 -0800
Subject: Book Review: "Know Your Enemy", Honeynet Project


BKKNYREN.RVW   20020916

"Know Your Enemy", Honeynet Project, 2002, 0-201-74613-1,
U$39.99/C$59.95
%A   Honeynet Project
%C   P.O. Box 520, 26 Prince Andrew Place, Don Mills, Ontario  M3C 2T8
%D   2002
%G   0-201-74613-1
%I   Addison-Wesley Publishing Co.
%O   U$39.99/C$59.95 416-447-5101 fax: 416-443-0948
%O  http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0201746131/robsladesinterne
%P   328 p. + CD-ROM
%T   "Know Your Enemy: Revealing the Security Tools, Tactics, and
      Motives of the Blackhat Community"

I have frequently said that any book with "hack," or any variant
thereof, in the title is automatically suspect.  This work helps prove
my point, first, because the Honeynet Project members have *not* used
the term (they refer to attackers as blackhats), and the text also
notes the problems with "exploit" type books: they list old and known
attacks, most of which are protected against, and say nothing about
the attackers and how they work.  Chapter one points out the value of
"knowing the enemy" and the beginnings of the Honeynet Project.

Part one describes the honeynet.  Chapter two explains what a honeynet
is, and the difference between one and the traditional honeypots.
Details on how a honeynet works, in terms of architecture, policies,
and the risks and responsibilities of operating one, are presented in
chapter three.  Building a honeynet, in chapter four, presents
specific details, although a number have already been given.

Part two concerns the analysis of data collected from the Honeynet.
Chapter five, on data analysis, points out the sources of data for
logging, much of which has already been discussed.  There is some more
information on what we can find, but limited explanation of how to
interpret it.  The discussion of analyzing a compromised system, in
chapter six, is more detailed and does a better job of explaining the
logs, but relies on a blackhat document, which, while better than most
such, still has the holes and gaps that characterize the genre.
Additional details are provided in advanced data analysis, plus some
material on data that is (and some that is not) useful in packets,
plus forensic (data recovery) considerations, in chapter seven.
(Interestingly, the Honeynet Project does not seem to be concerned
with wiping a drive in order to deny information to blackhats.)
Chapter eight examines data recovery tools and some results.

Part three explains what the project has determined about "the enemy"
by the types of attacks that have been launched and detected.  Chapter
nine is a general review of the random nature of attacks, the tools
seen, motives theorized, and trends in attacks.  The activities and
signatures of the Bymer worm are described in chapter ten.  An IRC
conversation between a group of blackhats is provided in chapter
eleven.  While there is some interest in the account, the transcript
occupies almost 100 pages (and almost a third of the total length of
the book).  Chapter twelve suggests the future activities of the
Honeynet Project.

Much of the material in the book is repeated, sometimes in a number of
places.  The text would definitely benefit from a tightening up of the
material.  In addition, the early examples are not thoroughly
explained, making the reader initially feel that only a firewall audit
log specialist would be able to understand what is being said.
However, most of the book is written clearly and well, and it is
definitely worth reading.

copyright Robert M. Slade, 2002   BKKNYREN.RVW   20020916

rslade@vcn.bc.ca  rslade@sprint.ca  slade@victoria.tc.ca p1@canada.com
Find book info victoria.tc.ca/techrev/ or sun.soci.niu.edu/~rslade/
Upcoming (ISC)^2 CISSP CBK review seminars (+1-888-333-4458):
    February 10, 2003   February 14, 2003   St. Louis, MO
    March 31, 2003      April 4, 2003       Indianapolis, IN

------------------------------

From: chillinachos@hotmail.com (Jason)
Subject: SBC False Advertising / Overcharge?!?!?!  HELP
Date: 29 Dec 2002 21:23:32 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


Ok folks, I'll try to keep this one from being too long (famous last
words):

I live in Austin, Texas.
I make a lot of calls to Ireland.
I use SBC for my local / long distance and international calls.

They provided me with an SBC calling card when I switched to them a
few months ago.

I used the calling card to make calls to Ireland from my office (so my
employer would not have to pay for my calls).

The bill came in and they have billed me $215.46 for 88 minutes.
Some of the calls are 1 minute long and they charge me $7.00 for one
minute.

The SBC website says (and I quote):

"SBC's Calling Card Services eliminates telephone "sticker shock" by
protecting consumers and businesses from high rates often associated
with calls made from some public pay phones. Our calling card gives
you easy access to local, long distance, and international phone
service virtually anywhere in the world. You can also request
additional cards for business associates"

So, I figured that when it says in the small print that a "surcharge
may apply" that it would be a reasonable percentage.

Under pricing for the calling card on their website it says:

"Pricing:
SBC Calling Card Services costs nothing to set up and is
available to all customers who already have phone service. You only
pay for the calls made using the card number."

I've tried to call SBC to dispute these charges.  After 1 hour on the
phone and speaking to 5 people they finally tell me that those charges
are right and that I should really only use the card in EMERGENCIES
because they charge all kinds of connection fees ($4 per call and
$1.75 per minute)

These rates are not listed anywhere that I can find.  I feel ripped
off.  Have I any protection against this??????

By the way, The 88 minutes if made from my home phone would have cost
approx $13 (thirteen) from my calling card its an extra $200.

I never got my complaint resolved with SBC in the end because after
one hour of talking to people I finally got put on hold and then
mysteriously cut off.

Can anyone advise me on what I should do.  I feel like they falsely
advertised their service due to the quoted text above.  Check out the
links of info on their calling card service at the following address.

http://www01.sbc.com/Products_Services/Residential/ProdInfo_1/1,1973,45--6-3-,00.html#30

Thanks for any advice.


J.

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: My experience (mine only) is that the
ONLY thing SBC understands are commission complaints. They are terribly
fraudulent with things like Privacy Manager for example. Some other
readers may make suggestions worth trying but I will suggest you cut 
to the chase -- keep it simple -- and file a complaint with your
local consumer organization and also with your state commission. And
split from SBC to one of the resellers as soon as possible and convenient
to do so. They hit me up for $40.00 (forty dollars) last month for
using their call trace (*57) feature trying to track down the source
of literally dozens of 'wrong number' calls from AT&T (of all people!)
who were sending ten zeros and 'name withheld' as their caller-ID
on my distinctive ringing line. And their DSL service, ooh-la-la, what
mounds of spam!  My mailbox on sbcglobal.net got wedged yesterday from
two days worth of spam; when I called in I was told 'your mailbox is
120 percent of capacity; we are going to return your mail to the
senders.'  When I asked them once again why they did not instead use
some kind of filters against spam, this tech guy got very self-righteous
with me about how Southwestern Bell does not dictate what you get in
your email. So I am sort of a prisoner; if I do NOT call in and clean
out my mailbox two or three times daily, it overflows and they return
all mail to the senders. You see, I skipped Saturday this past week.

Then I got in the middle of tossing out all the spam manually a pop-up
window from SBC telling me how I could subscribe for a fee to their
mail sorting service; if I pay them more than the fifty dollars per
month I do already, they *will* sort the spam out. So tech-desk, don't
get so self-righteous with me; its all money in your case. Yeah, I
would say just file commission complaints as a routine thing. "Excuse
me. Mr. Commissioner, I hate to disturb your lunch while you are
eating out of the hand of SWB, but could you please consider my
complaint?" Say the above to the commission, they get very annoyed
by it; but you know it is largely true.  PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 29 Dec 2002 23:57:46 +0100
From: Radoslaw  <no@spam.com>
Subject: About Panasonic 1232
Organization: home.pl news server


Hallo, My name is Radoslaw. I have a Panasonic KX-TD 1232. I don't
know a solutions my problem. I have a few digital line BRI. I have a
DISA. And now I calling to my office a first line, DISA is working OK,
and I want calling other connect BUT other line. ARS working correctly
and I make call from other line Analog. (CO to CO). SO Now is a
problem becouse when I outgoing call from other line analog my call is
very poor, I hear nothing, very very small signal. Please Can You help
me with this solutions ! Please.

Now I set (990) -3dB  in BIT. but still is very poor.


Regards, Radoslaw


: "TWORZAC REALIZUJEMY CELE"   ( r.w. - AD`2002 )
: ********************************************************************
: KTG o/K-ów: eMail: studio(at)post.pl : Mobile: (0-60) 988 98 98 :
: Zanim do mnie napiszesz: http://www.developer.krakow.pl/nospam

------------------------------

From: Colin Sutton <colin@sutton.wow.aust.com>
Subject: Strange Behaviour of Your Picture Page
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2002 16:37:39 +1100


When I select http://patrick-townson.n3.net I'm taken to the picture
page http://remarque.org/~ptownson/picture.page/ but there's no
picture, just a continuously changing message in the browser status
line "Downloading picture
http://remarque.org/~ptownson/picture.page/kabcam.jpg?10412263357064
 ..." where the number at the end is incrementing by somewhat over 1000
every second. In the time it's taken me to type this it's up to
10412264651418.

If I select http://remarque.org/~ptownson/picture.page/kabcam.jpg directly,
I see a picture of the top of your head, bent over a hot keyboard?


Colin Sutton

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note:  'patrick-townson.n3.net' is a redirect
which points to remarque.org as you discovered. If you choose to look
via the direct remarque.org address then after the picture.page/ you
should insert 'index.html' rather than 'kabcam.jpg' which is one
picture among some text on the page. After some correspondence with
Keith (author of Kabcam) I have learned some interesting and rather
dirty secrets about using USB hubs and heavy-drain devices like
cameras, and drivers for cameras, which I am getting into now. But
when I install this on my Winbook laptop with Windows 98 for the
Independence weather station I want it to work correctly.  PAT] 

------------------------------

From: davidlind@my-deja.com (David L)
Subject: Re: Pacific Bell Central Office Names
Date: 30 Dec 2002 04:23:33 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


emtpilot@aol.com (Emt pilot) wrote in message
news:<telecom22.210.11@telecom-digest.org>:

> Hoping anyone might be able to help with this question.  Does Pacbell
> "name" their CO's?  For example, most of their CO's are named for the
> community they are located in.  For more dense areas that have more
> then one office in a community or city, how does Pacbell defferentiate
> between offices?  Is it a simple as San Diego CO 1 and San Diego CO 2
>  ... etc, or does each CO have a specific name (street, etc)?  I have a
> list of Pac Bell exchanges but for some exchanges there are many CO's
> with the same exchange name just different CLLI numbers.

I'm going to hazard a guess from this older database lookup... there's
a map lookup as well.

Ratecenter name Example for Santa Rosa: 
SNRA JUNO
SNRA MAIN

Search by company name - TelcoData.us Telecommunications Database
http://www.telcodata.us/company.html?company=PACIFIC+BELL&results=1


David
DavNOLindiSPAMathotmaildotcom

------------------------------

From: John Higdon <no-spam@amadeus.kome.com>
Subject: Re: Pacific Bell Central Office Names
Organization: Green Hills and Cows
Date: Sun, 29 Dec 2002 15:10:17 -0800


In article <telecom22.210.11@telecom-digest.org>, emtpilot@aol.com
(Emt pilot) wrote:

> Hoping anyone might be able to help with this question.  Does Pacbell
> "name" their CO's?  For example, most of their CO's are named for the
> community they are located in.  For more dense areas that have more
> then one office in a community or city, how does Pacbell defferentiate
> between offices?  Is it a simple as San Diego CO 1 and San Diego CO 2
>  ... etc, or does each CO have a specific name (street, etc)?  I have a
> list of Pac Bell exchanges but for some exchanges there are many CO's
> with the same exchange name just different CLLI numbers.

The PacBell COs in the San Jose area are numbered (SJ12, SJ14, etc.)
but they have been traditionally known, at least internally, by their
first exchange names. For instance, SJ12 is known as "ALpine"; SJ14 is
known as "ANdrews". Some of the other COs: AXminster (corner of
Bellomy and Winchester in Santa Clara); CLayburn (White Road in San
Jose); CYpress (downtown).

Then there are the exceptions. The "Almaden" CO was originally an
unmanned office controlled from ANdrews. "Space Park" was added in
Santa Clara some time after the exchange names had long been
abandoned. The "Abel" CO in Milpitas has always been referred to as
such, even though it has been around since the AMhearst days. These
are all names derived from the streets or roads on which they are
located.

One of the complications for naming COs is the fact that many of them
serve more than one community. The ALpine CO serves the following
communities: San Jose, Cupertino, Campbell, and Saratoga. The ANdrews
CO serves San Jose and Campbell.

In fact, Campbell has an interesting situation. The city itself has no
CO. While it is a city large enough to have over a dozen prefixes, it
is served by two San Jose central offices. To the east of Highway 17,
it is served from ANdrews. Everyone on the west side of 17 is served
from the ALpine office. The latter office is located many miles to the
west of the Campbell city limits, and until recently DSL was out of
the question for anyone on the west side of town. SBC has been adding
fiber hubs to rectify that situation.

> I know Verizon in California names their CO's if more then one in an
> exchnage area.  Example: There are two CO's in the Lancaster exchange,
> 1 CO is named "Lancaster" while the other is named "Antelope".  Just
> wondering if Pacbell did the same thing and if anyone could foward the
> list or database.

I have poked through a number of PacBell internal databases and there
is no universal agreement among them regarding the naming of COs. My
knowlege comes from five decades of dealing with engineers and
technicians for the company.


John Higdon     | Email Address Valid | SF:  +1 415 428-COWS
+1 408 264 4115 |     Anytown, USA    | FAX: +1 408 264 4407

------------------------------

From: jeffmoss26@adelphia.net (Jeff Moss)
Subject: Re: Pacific Bell Central Office Names
Date: 29 Dec 2002 19:50:03 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


I was at my dad's office last week (they are an Ameritech Distributor)
and I threw away tons of Ameritech papers. There was a list of the
Cleveland area Central offices. I didnt keep it but I remember they
used really odd codes ex. Beachwood (30 sec away from my house) would
be BCHW1023i0 or something.

OT: Does anyone know if its possible to get a tour inside a Central
Office?

------------------------------

From: davidlind@my-deja.com (David L)
Subject: Re: What am I Missing Here; Calling Cards
Date: 30 Dec 2002 04:59:20 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


tsingtao55@yahoo.com wrote in message
news:<telecom22.210.9@telecom-digest.org>:

> I used to have long distance service through a reseller that I thought
> was cheap, $0.05/min in California after 5pm and 0.09 during peak
> time.  Interstate calls were $0.09 at all times.

> What ate me up were not the call charges, I really don't make that
> many LD calls on my landline (use my cell mostly), but the taxes.
> For a $2.50 LD bill, I would get near $6 in taxes each month.
> So, I called SBC and discontinued LD.  Now I use an AT&T calling card
> purchased at Sam's Club which costs $0.0347/min with no taxes.  I even
> use it to dial around SBC's exorbitant local toll rates.  I just
> programmed the 800 number and the card number into speed dial.

> Why does AT&T sell these cards so cheap while they "rape" their
> customers who have subscribed to them with monthly fees, etc.?

Legacy name recognition of ATT and advertising overload from non
competitive carriers leading to mass confusion, so people don't have
the time or don't think they can change.  IDT seems to be breaking the
barrier, now if IDT would just post INstate rates and taxes on their
website ... more obfiscation:(

Wish I could get around that darn SBC 12 mile "zone 3" first minute
 .05 rip off rate! Maybe if I can trick ATT to offer the expanded local
only service. Wonder if they could be forced to unbundle local toll
and LD?  Until then it's the cell phone for short zone 3 calls.

I'd bet many folks aren't capable of programming a speed dial phone or
are too impatient to set up and dial another step with a web based
calling card, even with the advanced "NO PIN" feature.

With all the included (often crappy sounding) wireless LD, people are
getting use to much better LD rates, even if it is essentially prepaid
and late night weekend weighted.

There's even better per minute rates in major metro areas, using local
access numbers instead of toll free numbers for calling cards.

You can have a discount LD carrier also handle local toll calls as
well, though there will still be taxes.

Hope the hungry tax collector doesn't take aim at untaxed calling card
revenue. The thrifty are saving loads!

David
DavNOLindiSPAMathotmaildotcom

------------------------------

From: sjsobol@JustThe.net (Steven J. Sobol)
Subject: Re: Question About This Basic SBC Yahoo DSL
Date: Sun, 29 Dec 2002 22:27:16 -0000
Organization: JustThe.net LLC


John Smith <anonymous@yahoo.com> wrote:

> So what good it is if it can't be shared to other PCs in the house?

> Can the DSL provider like SBC Yahoo DSL can do something so basic
> subscribers can't share the Internet to several PCs in their home?

No, but they can refuse to support it, although SBC ameritech.net tech
support employees didn't seem to care about the Netopia router I had
running off my SBC DSL line when I had SBC DSL.

There's no technical reason you shouldn't be able to get the router to
work, but don't expect SBC to support it.

> Are the broadband provider now discouraging their subscribers to use
> routers and share the Internet to several PCs in their home?

My new broadband provider at home (Adelphia, with their Powerlink
cable Internet service) doesn't have a problem with multiple computers
hooked up to their service, though they officially do not allow
servers ... their literature specifies that you may hook up as many as
four PCs. It varies by provider. Many SBC resellers might allow
multiple PCs and support routers.


Steve Sobol, CTO  JustThe.net LLC, Mentor On The Lake, OH
http://JustTheNetLLC.com/  888.480.4NET (4638)

A practicing member of the Geek Orthodox religion!

------------------------------

From: sjsobol@JustThe.net (Steven J. Sobol)
Subject: Re: Why Won't my Sprint PCS Phone Roam? (Samsung SCH-3500)
Date: Sun, 29 Dec 2002 22:29:08 -0000
Organization: JustThe.net LLC


Linc Madison <nobody@example.com> wrote:

> I've had a Sprint PCS phone, specifically a Samsung SCH-3500, for
> almost three years now. In those three years, I have had two occasions
> to attempt an outgoing call while outside Sprint's network. Both
> times, the signal meter indicated I had a strong signal, and I did
> everything the phone's manual said to do in order to make a roaming
> call, but the calls never connected. I also just did a test here in
> San Francisco with the same results. In addition, I also attempted an
> incoming call while the phone was in analog roaming mode.

Can you give more details? Have you checked over on
alt.cellular.sprintpcs as to why this might not be working?

Have you had a Sprint tech flash the firmware on your phone and/or
update your Preferred Roaming List?

My wife has a Sprint PCS phone but we don't ever roam off Sprint's
network, so I'll not be very useful in solving this problem.


Steve Sobol, CTO  JustThe.net LLC, Mentor On The Lake, OH
http://JustTheNetLLC.com/  888.480.4NET (4638)

A practicing member of the Geek Orthodox religion!

------------------------------

From: joe@obilivan.net
Subject: Re: Call Blocking Box For All Numbers From a Given Country?
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2002 14:59:13 GMT
Organization: Cox Communications


John R. Levine wrote:

> It is my impression that CO phone switches can be programmed to know
> the valid CLID number range for a PBX, and to substitute in the main
> number if a call from the PBX has no CLID or CLID outside that range.
> Too bad telcos are almost all too lazy to do so.

Add to "lazy" indifference and "what's in it for our LEC?"

------------------------------

From: dold@32.usenet.us.com
Subject: Re: Pop-ups Add New Twist
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2002 17:14:08 UTC
Organization: a2i network


> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: work correctly. I use something
> called 'Proxomitron' which eliminates all advertising on web pages
> and almost all pop-up windows. It uses port 8080 to do its thing. My
> objective is to eliminate all ads and pop up windows. I use it on my
> Opera browser and get the desired

I have set entries in \windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts for some of the
sites I don't want to see, pointing them to 127.0.0.1, so I still get popup
windows, but they all fail to show me anything but a little red x.
This isn't perfect, but just adding a few makes a big difference.

127.0.0.1 ad.doubleclick.net ads.x10.com ads.monster.com
127.0.0.futuresite.register.com 1 ad.trafficmp.com

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2002 13:10:10 CST
From: Sam Etler <etler@cs.wisc.edu>
Subject: FCC Grants InterLATA LD to SBC in CA; Bellsouth in FL and TN


Effective 12/30/2002, the FCC has granted SBC and Bellsouth the rights
to provide interLATA services in additional states.

The decisions are summarized in the Federal Register at 67 FR 79095
(SBC, also FCC Docket 02-330), and 67 FR 79098 (Bellsouth, also FCC
Docket 02-331).

SBC can now provide interLATA services in Texas, Missouri, Arkansas,
Kansas, Oklahoma, and now California.

Bellsouth can provide interLATA services in Alabama, Kentucky,
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Lousisiana, and now
Florida and Tennessee.

The Federal Register citation can be found linked at:

http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a021227c.html


sam

------------------------------

From: anjuman2@yahoo.com (Arun Mirchandani)
Subject: Wanted: Used Gordon Kapes System 930
Date: 30 Dec 2002 16:06:17 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


I am in the market for a used System 930 from Gordon Kapes. Do you
know where I might be able to buy such a thing? Its a T1 CO simulator.

------------------------------

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End of TELECOM Digest V22 #211
******************************
    
    
From editor@telecom-digest.org Tue Dec 31 21:38:31 2002
Received: from localhost (localhost [[UNIX: localhost]])
	by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.3nb1/8.11.3) id h012cVi06330;
	Tue, 31 Dec 2002 21:38:31 -0500 (EST)
Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 21:38:31 -0500 (EST)
From: editor@telecom-digest.org
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To: ptownson
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Subject: TELECOM Digest V22 #212

TELECOM Digest     Tue, 31 Dec 2002 21:38:00 EST    Volume 22 : Issue 212

Inside This Issue:                             Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    Foreign Affairs and ICANN: Privatizing Internet's Infrastructure (Hauben)
    Prison Call Overcharging (Jeff Nor Lisa)
    A Phone That Answers When Called (Monty Solomon)
    So Many Holes, So Few Hacks (Monty Solomon)
    Parents of Slain Woman Want to Stop Internet Brokers (Monty Solomon)
    Re: Pacific Bell Central Office Names (John Higdon)
    Re: Pacific Bell Central Office Names (John R. Levine)
    Re: Pacific Bell Central Office Names (Steven J. Sobol)
    Re: Pacific Bell Central Office Names (Alex Kasper)
    Re: Pop-ups Add New Twist (Grog - nf3561@lnubb.pbz)
    Re: Pop-ups Add New Twist (john@pdj01.cinci.rr.com)
    Re: Question About This Basic SBC Yahoo DSL (Barry Margolin)
    Re: Question About This Basic SBC Yahoo DSL (John R. Levine)
    Re: Question About This Basic SBC Yahoo DSL (Clarence Dold)
    Re: Question About This Basic SBC Yahoo DSL (JDS)

All contents here are copyrighted by Patrick Townson and the
individual writers/correspondents. Articles may be used in other
journals or newsgroups, provided the writer's name and the Digest are
included in the fair use quote.  By using -any name or email address-
included herein for -any- reason other than responding to an article
herein, you agree to pay a hundred dollars to the recipients of the
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GET SUED IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT IF YOU GET CAUGHT SPAMMING OR SENDING
VIRUSES. DON'T DO IT.

See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and
the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Ronda Hauben <ronda@panix.com>
Subject: Foreign Affairs and ICANN: Privatizing Internet's Infrastructure
Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 18:00:10 UTC
Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and UNIX, NYC


There is an article about ICANN in the November/December 2002 issue of
Foreign Affairs journal. The article "Governing the Internet"(pgs
15-20) by Zoe Baird admits the failure of ICANN as a way to privatize
the Internet's infrastructure. (ICANN is the Internet Corporation for
Assigned Names and Numbers, an entity created by the U.S. government
to privatize the domain name system, root server system, IP numbering
system and protocol creation process. These form the public
infrastructure of the Internet. Whoever controls these controls the
Internet.)

She writes: "The rapid growth of the Internet has led to a worldwide
crisis of governance."

However, the author seems to know nothing about the development of the
Internet or does she seem to care about its development.

She writes: "In the early years of Internet development, the
prevailing view was that government should stay out of Internet
governance; market forces and self-regulation would suffice to create
order and enforce standards of behavior."

This makes one wonder what she considers as the early years of
Internet development.

This coming new year (2003) is the 30th anniversary of the birth of
TCP/IP and the 20th anniversary of the cutover from the protocol NCP
on the ARPANET to TCP/IP, a protocol which made it possible to have an
Internet.

The early development of the Internet was done under government. The
form of government, however, was a good form, (unlike much we see
since). This form of government in the U.S.was an office within the US
Dept of Defense under the leadership of computer scientists.

If Zoe Baird were interested in understanding what is wrong with
ICANN, it would be appropriate to learn this history and understand
the lessons from it with regard to the future development of the
Internet.

Instead, she has a new proposal to replace ICANN. She is currently
President of an NGO, the Markle Foundation. Not surprisingly, she is
proposing that the new ICANN be designed to include NGO's and
Government and Industry.

This is as contrary to the Internet's origins as is ICANN.

Thus she acknowledges a serious problem. But her treatment of this
problem shows disdain for the Internet and its origins.

Yet it is significant that the problem ICANN represents should be
included in an issue of a journal like Foreign Affairs. This
demonstrates that the Internet is under the foreign policy purvue of
the US government and they are planning new means of trying to forge
that policy ignoring the nature and needs of the Internet and its
users.

This is an important challenge for the new year for netizens.

May we find ways to collaborate to take on challenges like this in
2004.


Ronda
rondaatpanix.com

P.S. I have recently heard from someone I know that there is an effort
of people to propose legislation that would be helpful toward various
forms of media in the U.S. In this context he asked what kind of
legislation would people propose regarding the Internet and its
development. This is a topic that would take serious discussion and
consideration. So hopefully there will be a way to have such
discussion in the new year.

Following are some of the more recent research and writing I have done
to try to understand the nature of the government institution that
made it possible to create the Internet, and the nature of the
international collaboration that was so crucial to the development of
the international computer communications metasystem that we call the
Internet.

part 0   http://www.columbia.edu/~rh120/other/lick101.doc
part I   http://www.columbia.edu/~rh120/other/arpa_ipto.txt
part II  http://www.columbia.edu/~rh120/other/basicresearch.txt
part III http://www.columbia.edu/~rh120/other/centers-excellence.txt
part IV  http://www.columbia.edu/~rh120/other/computer-communications.txt
part V   http://www.columbia.edu/~rh120/other/birth_internet.txt
part VI  http://www.columbia.edu/~rh120/other/misc/paper1031.txt

Also it is interesting that one of the laws passed by Congress
previously regarding the Internet had Netizens in its title.


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Although Ronda *is* correct historically
in saying the 'Interet began with ARPA' (a federal government agency)
the author of the magazine article is correct in saying things were
very loose and freewheeling in those early days. The federal employees
who were supposed to be in charge of things around here were not all
that intelligent and sophisticated about computers (remember, this was
in the late sixties and early seventies) so by default the net was
left in the hands of the 'geeks' who *did* know about it. Things were
left in that loose, relatively unorganized manner for the first
several years, probably until 1993 or so, which many netizens would
assert was the year our 'community' was pretty much run over by the
bulldozer of the web and the new crowd of people who came around. PAT]

------------------------------

From: hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com (Jeff Nor Lisa)
Subject: Prison Call Overcharging
Organization: Net Access BBS
Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 14:57:01 GMT


Inmates in prison may make collect calls to their families.  However,
the family is charged very steep fees for such calls -- much more than
today's routine collect call charges.  For example, $3 for the first
minute, $1 each additional minute.

This appears to be a common practice across the U.S.

People might argue "too bad, they're in prison!", but that misses
several important points:

It's not the inmate who's paying for the calls, but the family.
Further, such families are often poor.

There is no reason collect calls from a prison should cost any more
than collect calls from regular locations.  (And remember, routine
collect calls today are very expensive).  And the actual cost to the
prison for the cost is very little -- maybe 5c a minute, since states
have bulk contracts with toll carriers.  The collect charges are pure
gravy for the state.

Another consideration is that family contact is important for an
inmate's rehabilitation.  Many inmates are imprisoned far from the
homes, and too far for families to visit.  A rehabiliated inmate won't
commit fresh crimes upon his release.

Likewise, family contact reduces stress.  Stressed inmates get into
fights and start riots which are extremely costly.  In other words,
frequent family contact is good for society.

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: For God sakes, Lisa! How are you doing?
You used to be in discussions here quite frequently, then just dropped
away. I dunno where you been, but welcome back!  Now to address the
points raised in your article: You are, of course, quite correct. But
to the 'corrections industry' you are a very dangerous person with
very dangerous ideas. Prisoners who are rehabilitated are less likely
to return to prison, but where would the 'industry' be in that case?
Their intake agents who work the streets (police officers and parole/
probation officers, judges) would have to work harder to keep the
joints as full and overrun as they are now.

Consider it from their perspective: inmates are scum, and by extension
so are most of their families and friends. Why would you want to give
scum any sort of even break or fair shake in life?  All you are likely
to do is rehabilitate a few more of them, and make it harder on
yourself, your government budget and *your* co-workers, friends and
family, none of whom are scum, obviously. You *have* to keep prisoners
demoralized and at each other's throats in order for your system to
work. People like you need to understand that prisons are purely 
*voluntary* places. Consider for example if prisoners were by and
large in solidarity, and simply 'offed' a guard or other prison
official on a semi-regular basis?

What does all that have to do with the cost of phone calls from
prison?  Phone calls are deliberatly kept expensive for the same
reason states like Illinois (which gets ninety percent of its
prisoners from Chicago) builds all of its newer prisons hundreds of
miles away from Chicago; to assure that all the black ladies and their
babies have to ride the Salvation Army bus on an all-day trip when
they try to go and see their men who are in prison. Six hour bus ride
to get from Chicago to the prisons, six hour bus ride to get back
home, and a *thirty minute* allowed time for visiting when there. With
some luck, the Salvation Army bus will get sideswiped by a large
semi-truck on I-55 outside of Chicago as happened two years ago at
Christmas and all the passengers get killed including the bus driver
except for one little baby who somehow survived. That day the scummy
inmates didn't get their thirty minute Christmas visitors. No, Lisa,
the phone thing is deliberate. Its all part of the cruel joke called
'prisoner rights'. Years and years ago, no phone calls were allowed at
all, then the Supremes (a very liberal bunch at the time; no need to
worry about that now) told the prisons they had to allow *some* contact
with the outside world for rehabilitation purposes. The prisons decided
to retaliate by doing what the court required, but making it prohibitively
expensive. If the scum's wife takes a second job to pay the phone bills
then they can have phone calls. 

And look at the well-known problem of homosexual rape in prisons. Why
do you suppose the corrections industry essentially turns a blind eye
to that scandal?  Any man, homosexual or heterosexual who attempts to
maintain his dignity in that way is treated as a trouble maker, not 
the guys who attacked him. Its all part of the need the corrections
industry has to maintain control and keep their joints filled up and
expanding no matter what.  Lisa, you are *one hundred percent correct*
in your feelings about phones and prisons. But get used to it, nothing
is going to change anytime soon.   PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 01:32:23 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: A Phone That Answers When Called


By SABRA CHARTRAND

Phone systems today commonly include features like caller
identification, call waiting and automatic redial. But what is the
point of all the bells and whistles if you cannot get to a ringing
phone in time to answer it?

It has happened to everyone. Your work phone rings when you are deep
in paperwork or have just taken a bite of lunch. The home phone rings
when you are in the shower or have just started up the stairs. You
cannot pick up the receiver before the caller gives up or the
answering machine clicks on.

It happened to David Millrod more times than he could count. So he
invented and patented a phone that can be answered with a verbal
command.

A user can shout, "Answer phone!" from across the room, and the phone 
will open the line and play a message telling the caller to hold on 
until the user can pick up the call.


http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/30/technology/30PATE.html

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 01:58:13 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: So Many Holes, So Few Hacks


By Michelle Delio

Experts who discover and report security holes seem to be far more 
industrious than the malicious hackers willing or able to exploit 
those holes.

Despite the thousands of hackable holes that lurk in e-mail, on 
websites, in files and operating systems, most users' computers are 
never afflicted with more than the virtual version of a sniffle.

Few of the ominous potential traumas reported in 2002 turned out to 
have any real impact on most computer users. The Klez virus infected 
some machines and spawned spam that continues to clutter many e-mail 
inboxes. And the Linux Slapper worm made more work for some systems 
administrators for a while.

The rest of 2002's reported security holes appear to have languished, 
unexploited.

Some security experts suggest that malicious code attacks do happen 
but are dismissed by most users as just another wonky Windows 
software crash. But those same experts also cheerfully confess that 
most exploits aren't all that exploitable, and that the security 
industry profits by stirring up fear and frenzy.

Experts also wonder whether they and their colleagues devote entirely 
too much time to pouring over program code looking for possible 
exploits.


http://www.wired.com/news/infostructure/0,1377,56955,00.html

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 02:06:01 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Parents of Slain Woman Want to Stop Internet Brokers


Parents of slain woman want to stop Internet brokers from selling 
personal information

By Holly Ramer, Associated Press, 12/30/2002 01:23

NASHUA, N.H. (AP) In the days after his stepdaughter's murder, Tim 
Remsburg funneled his fury into phone calls to anyone he thought 
might help explain her death.

"At two o'clock in the morning, I was trying to get President 
Clinton's number. I couldn't sleep. I just wanted to rattle 
everyone's cages and get some answers," he said.

His stepdaughter, Amy Boyer, was 20 when she was shot to death Oct. 
15, 1999, by a former high school classmate, Liam Youens, who had 
paid an Internet information broker to track her down.

For the three years since the murder, her parents have fought to 
protect other potential victims, most recently by suing the broker 
for negligence and invasion of privacy.

The battle has worn them out, but the couple isn't giving up.

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/364/nation/Parents_of_slain_woman_want_to:.shtml

------------------------------

From: John Higdon <no-spam@amadeus.kome.com>
Subject: Re: Pacific Bell Central Office Names
Organization: Green Hills and Cows
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2002 16:52:51 -0800


In article <telecom22.211.7@telecom-digest.org>,
jeffmoss26@adelphia.net (Jeff Moss) wrote:

> I was at my dad's office last week (they are an Ameritech ...

> and I threw away tons of Ameritech papers. There was a list of the
> Cleveland area Central offices. I didnt keep it but I remember they
> used really odd codes ex. Beachwood (30 sec away from my house) would
> be BCHW1023i0 or something.

> OT: Does anyone know if its possible to get a tour inside a Central
> Office?

It is a lot harder than it used to be. For one thing, staff cutbacks
by the ILECs have left few people available to conduct such tours. I
would imagine in this post 9/11 world, security is probably another
issue.

That said, I can tell you that tours of central offices ain't what
they used to be in terms of excitement. In the electromechanical days,
there was something to see (and hear). Rotary ring generators with
mercury-wetted contacts, Strowger or crossbar switches clacking away,
and caverns of wirewrap created a mind-blowing experience, even for
the telecom-ignorant.

Today's CO is nothing more than racks and racks of nondescript
electronic equipment. A Lucent 5ESS (common modern CO switch) is a
sterile closed cabinet assembly. Its actual control and test locations
are probably off-prem at a regional maintenance center. A tour of a
modern central office is now about as exciting as a walk through a
server room.

Except ... you might want to look at the power room. This is where 
batteries that supply 48 VDC to the system live. And we're talking about 
LOTS of 48 volts ... on the order of thousands of amperes. Some of that 
power keeps the switch and ancillary equipment working. But most of it 
is providing loop current to all the subscribers as well as remote fiber 
hubs, etc.

The batteries are under constant floating charge. In the event of a
power failure, the batteries keep everything going smoothly until
local emergency power comes on line.


John Higdon     | Email Address Valid | SF:  +1 415 428-COWS
+1 408 264 4115 |     Anytown, USA    | FAX: +1 408 264 4407

------------------------------

From: johnl@iecc.com (John R. Levine)
Subject: Re: Pacific Bell Central Office Names
Date: 30 Dec 2002 22:22:39 -0500
Organization: I.E.C.C., Trumansburg NY USA


> OT: Does anyone know if its possible to get a tour inside a Central
> Office?

It entirely depends on the telco.  My small local ILEC has an annual
open house with CO tour.  Down the road, Verizon seems not to let
anyone into their COs ever without suitable badges.


John R. Levine, IECC, POB 727, Trumansburg NY 14886 +1 607 387 6869
johnl@iecc.com Village Trustee and Sewer Commissioner http://iecc.com/johnl 
Member, Provisional board, Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial E-mail

------------------------------

From: sjsobol@JustThe.net (Steven J. Sobol)
Subject: Re: Pacific Bell Central Office Names
Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 14:02:50 -0000
Organization: JustThe.net LLC


Jeff Moss <jeffmoss26@adelphia.net> wrote:

> I was at my dad's office last week (they are an Ameritech Distributor)
> and I threw away tons of Ameritech papers. There was a list of the
> Cleveland area Central offices. I didnt keep it but I remember they
> used really odd codes ex. Beachwood (30 sec away from my house) would
> be BCHW1023i0 or something.

http://dslreports.com/coinfo

> OT: Does anyone know if its possible to get a tour inside a Central
> Office?

Judging by what I've seen from the one CO I've been in, it's nothing
exciting.


Steve Sobol, CTO  JustThe.net LLC, Mentor On The Lake, OH
http://JustTheNetLLC.com/  888.480.4NET (4638)

A practicing member of the Geek Orthodox religion!

------------------------------

From: alex@nexspace.com (Alex Kasper)
Subject: Re: Pacific Bell Central Office Names
Date: 31 Dec 2002 15:29:00 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


In Los Angeles the Pac Bell (Now SBC) Central Offices are named after
the pre-1962 Exchange Names which roughly follows the surrounding
neighborhood.

For Example, in Hollywood, the office is HOllywood (323-46x) but which
now comprises 46x, 96x, 52x, and many more.

What's interesting is that the office names changed in the 40's when
dial service was introduced. Morningside, a manual exchange located on
Vermont, chnaged it's name to NOrmandy (323-66x), when they kicked out
the operators, added on to the building and filled the place with Step
equipment. (Now you can play Basketball in there - all DMS/ESS.)

Everyone still calls the office NOrmandy, but they now spell it
Normandie -- go figure.

------------------------------

From: Grog - nf3561@lnubb.pbz <uce@ftc.gov>
Subject: Re: Pop-ups Add New Twist
Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 05:58:45 GMT
Organization: Road Runner - NC


On Mon, 30 Dec 2002 17:14:08 UTC, dold@32.usenet.us.com wrote:

>> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: work correctly. I use something
>> called 'Proxomitron' which eliminates all advertising on web pages
>> and almost all pop-up windows. It uses port 8080 to do its thing. My
>> objective is to eliminate all ads and pop up windows. I use it on my
>> Opera browser and get the desired

> I have set entries in \windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts for some of the
> sites I don't want to see, pointing them to 127.0.0.1, so I still get popup
> windows, but they all fail to show me anything but a little red x.
> This isn't perfect, but just adding a few makes a big difference.

> 127.0.0.1 ad.doubleclick.net ads.x10.com ads.monster.com
> 127.0.0.futuresite.register.com 1 ad.trafficmp.com

I found this recently and I see very few ads now.
http://accs-net.com/hostess/


Grog

------------------------------

From: john@pdj01.cinci.rr.com
Subject: Re: Pop-ups Add New Twist
Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 16:33:15 GMT
Organization: Road Runner High Speed Online -- Northeast Ohio


In article <telecom22.211.12@telecom-digest.org>,
dold@32.usenet.us.com writes:

> I have set entries in \windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts for some of the
> sites I don't want to see, pointing them to 127.0.0.1, so I still get popup
> windows, but they all fail to show me anything but a little red x.
> This isn't perfect, but just adding a few makes a big difference.

> 127.0.0.1 ad.doubleclick.net ads.x10.com ads.monster.com
> 127.0.0.futuresite.register.com 1 ad.trafficmp.com

I handle this a different why at my house.  All the PCs are setup to
use a local UNIX machine as a name server.  I did this at first
because my ISP's name servers we very slow, they may have fixed it by
now.  What this gives me is that I cache all name lookups and avoid a
lot of traffic just translating names to address for sites we tend to
use.

Now for the real fun.  I setup the DNS server to be the master for
doubleclick.net, trafficmp.com, and about 30 other domains.  It kills
popups, and tons of other ads.  If they change to
ads2.doubleclick.net, it kills them also.

I also look at the outgoing logs on my router/firewall about once a
week and add in other domains like site-stats.com and hitztracker.com.
Both of these sites use cookies to track web visits.

------------------------------

From: Barry Margolin <barmar@genuity.com>
Subject: Re: Question About This Basic SBC Yahoo DSL
Organization: Genuity, Woburn, MA
Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 02:08:46 GMT


In article <telecom22.210.14@telecom-digest.org>,
John Smith  <anonymous@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Can the DSL provider like SBC Yahoo DSL can do something so basic
> subscribers can't share the Internet to several PCs in their home?

One technique I've heard rumors of is that the ISP's router decrements the
TTL of packets all the way to 1 before forwarding it, instead of just
decrementing it by 1 like normal routers do.  Then when the Customer's
router is forwarding the packet, it decrements it to 0, and drops the
packet because of TTL exceeded.

> Are the broadband provider now discouraging their subscribers to use
> routers and share the Internet to several PCs in their home?

Some ISPs prohibit routers in their TOS.  Not all of them enforce it,
though; in many cases it's just a clause that they can use if they want to
terminate some customers who use excessive bandwidth.


Barry Margolin, barmar@genuity.net
Genuity, Woburn, MA

*** DON'T SEND TECHNICAL QUESTIONS DIRECTLY TO ME, post them to newsgroups.
Please DON'T copy followups to me -- 
I'll assume it wasn't posted to the group.

------------------------------

From: johnl@iecc.com (John R. Levine)
Subject: Re: Question About This Basic SBC Yahoo DSL
Date: 30 Dec 2002 22:42:43 -0500
Organization: I.E.C.C., Trumansburg NY USA


>> Can the DSL provider like SBC Yahoo DSL can do something so basic
>> subscribers can't share the Internet to several PCs in their home?

Well, sort of.

There are two ways that ISPs set up DSL.  One treats your PC as part
of a big LAN, and uses a scheme called DHCP to assign its network
parameters.  The other treats your PC as a glorified dialup, and uses
a different scheme called PPPoE to assign parameters.  If you have to
log in with a user name and password to connect, that's PPPoE.  If the
DSL just starts up when you boot up your computer, that's DHCP.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that some DSL providers, such as
Verizon in New Jersey, directly support multiple PCs per connection.
That is, you can plug several PCs into a network hub, plug the DSL
modem into the hub, and each PC can log in using PPPoE and use a
remote connection.  Although it's technically possible to do this with
DHCP, I don't know of any DHCP providers who support it.

So the first answer is that if your DSL provider doesn't want to
support multiple PCs via PPPoE or DHCP, they don't have to.

On the other hand, if you get a router, which you should because
they're widely available for about $50 and include a firewall to keep
bad guys out, you plug the router into the DSL modem and all of your
PCs into the router.  If your PCs are physically all close to each
other, you can get a router with regular Ethernet jacks and run cables
to your PCs.  If not, for more money you can get a WiFi router with
antennas on top, plug WiFi cards into your PCs elsewhere in your
house, and communicate by radio.

The DSL provider only sees the router, which looks like a single DHCP
or PPPoE PC, and all the connections from the PCs appear (to the DSL
provider) to be coming from the router.  It's nearly impossible for a
DSL provider to tell how many PCs are behind your router.  So get a
router and plug your PCs into it.  Another advantage of a router
compared to separate PPPoE connections is that the router puts all of
your PCs on a LAN, so you can safely share disks and printers among
them, with the routers keeping outsiders from hacking in.

------------------------------

From: dold@94.usenet.us.com
Subject: Re: Question About This Basic SBC Yahoo DSL
Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 18:46:20 UTC
Organization: a2i network


John Smith <anonymous@yahoo.com> wrote:

> DSL), the 3Com router can quickly connect as PPPoE like the XP.  For
> some reason I can't ping any IP number to the outside world but SBC
> DSL tech support can ping the 3Com router and I always see the

With my cable modem only the MAC that it was set up with is
recognized.  The router that I added had an option to "clone MAC
address" so that it appears to be the same MAC as in the PC that was
"installed".

I don't know if DSL works the same way.  I had an SMC router installed
on my DSL, and I vaguely recall doing a clone ... or maybe the PPPoE
is what I'm remembering.

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Question About This Basic SBC Yahoo DSL
From: JDS <t111@syntelsoft.com>
Organization: Prodigy Internet http://www.prodigy.com
Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 16:22:16 GMT


> ... spare used 3Com router that works with other
> ISPs (RoadRunner cable, Charter Communications cable, etc
> ... I can't ping any IP number to the outside world...

Your router or client computers are set up wrong.  This should work fine.

In fact, you can do the entire SBC DSL setup without installing anything on 
a PC.  Program the router for PPPoE withL
    	userid:   dslreguser
        password: reguser

And go to Web page
        https://secure.pacbell.net/dyndsl

to get a permanent userid/password which you then put in the router
and in your news setups.

To debug your W*nd*ws client setup, you might run "ipconfig /all"
(WinNT/2K/XP) or winipcfg (95/98/ME) and see what you have - your DHCP
server, DNS server, and default gateway should all point to your
router.

Can you ping your router by its IP address?

------------------------------

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End of TELECOM Digest V22 #212
******************************
    
    
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Subject: TELECOM Digest V22 #213

TELECOM Digest     Wed, 1 Jan 2003 01:13:00 EST    Volume 22 : Issue 213

Inside This Issue:                             Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    IAS Bridge tool (vp)
    Re: Call Blocking Box For All Numbers From Given Country? (Ivan Yurkinov)
    Re: Call Waiting Prison and Telemarketers (CB)
    A Better Telephone Company (David Esan)
    NEC NEAX 2400 E&M Card Specs (Marc A. Sonnenberg)
    Do Not Call Lists and AT&T -- Lawsuit Against AT&T? (Gene)
    Re: New Billboards Sample Radios as Cars Go By (William H. Bowen)
    Re: Pacific Bell Central Office Names (Sam Etler)
    Christmas Carol (TELECOM Digest Editor)

All contents here are copyrighted by Patrick Townson and the
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GET SUED IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT IF YOU GET CAUGHT SPAMMING OR SENDING
VIRUSES. DON'T DO IT.

See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and
the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: dt1649651@yahoo.com (vp)
Subject: IAS Bridge tool
Date: 31 Dec 2002 15:09:11 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


Hope this tool may be useful for somebody who develops applications
using Mobitex network thru IAS server.

http://pluto.sivell.com/~vu/iasbridge/iasbridge.html

Happy New Year !!!

------------------------------

From: ivanyurkinov@yahoo.com.hk (Ivan Yurkinov)
Subject: Re: Call Blocking Box For All Numbers From a Given Country?
Date: 31 Dec 2002 15:33:43 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


alex@nexspace.com (Alex Kasper) wrote in message
news:<telecom22.209.3@telecom-digest.org>:

> But maybe ... hey, if I set up a 900 calling card type service where a
> caller could enter the number they're calling to AND FROM, would I be
> breaking any laws? How long before I got shut down by the FCC or
> killed by my provider?

>  ... of course this would be for amusement purposes only.> 

> Alex Kasper

Alex and Newsgroup Members,

Myself and business associates in Hong Kong would be interested in the
idea you have about the CLID TO and FROM.

We need this when calling into the US from HK.  We are an
international auction house and have been in business over 75 years.
We discreetly have to make calls on behalf of clients selling or
bidding on objects who desire that others not know who they are so not
as to increase bidding because others know their identity. I do not
think a 900 number call can be made from HK to US. Can you clarify
this?

Instead of calling a 900 number ... could we call a specially assigned
DID number on your Nortel Switch ... then via the outcall feature
being activated in conjunction with an IVR device we could enter the
tel number we are calling TO and any number we desire we are calling
FROM (default would be the DID number or a US based voicemail box
(VMB) accessible by tel or Internet or any other tel number such as my
US HQ Ofc in Seattle.

We would pay for this service and all calls made (service fee and long
distance charges). Payment can be made via American Express or Bank
Wire. We would also agree to post a $500 monetary deposit.

How soon could you set this up?  What would your service fees be?

I would sincerely appreciate you answering me in this group or
emailing me.


Thanks,

Ivan

------------------------------

From: CB <berry_s@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Call Waiting Prison and Telemarketers
Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 10:34:09 -0500


Then, of course, you have Call Waiting - Caller ID so you can look and
see who is trying to reach you and then make the appropriate decisions
as to wether you should terminate the first call and take the second,
ignore the second caller, etc.

jbl <jbl@spamblocked.com> wrote in message
news:telecom22.191.2@telecom-digest.org:

> In <telecom22.187.7@telecom-digest.org>,
> PAT answers Geoffrey Welsh:

>> Where would we be without this new technology?!?

>> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I wonder if it occurs to some of these
>> 'comedians' that occassionally two people are chatting about nothing
>> in particular and occassionally an important call may come in for
>> one or the other of them and they will wish to yeild their aimless
>> conversation in order to receive the important call?   PAT]

> Well, with CW at the least you know someone is trying to reach you.
> If you answer it, then you also know who.  That's what the new
> technology gets you.

> /JBL

> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Yeah, really it is ideal for folks
> where one line is not enough, yet two lines is too many. This idea
> of one and a half lines works out fine. But one caveat:  If there are
> two or three guys living together in one house, but only one phone
> line with 'call waiting' (which would seem okay), then invariably,
> when the call waiting arrives, the call is going to be for one of the
> other people there, so someone has to yield the line or be imposed upon
> as a result. Call waiting only really works when you have a single
> person in a house who can realistically only talk on one call at a
> time. When you get a second or third person there in residence, or
> have heavy use on the phone (for example a modem or fax) then you
> really need to have two or three actual phone lines. Ideally they
> would be in a hunt group, so that any resident there could have the
> flexibility of overflow in calls at any time.   PAT]

------------------------------

From: david_esan@hotmail.com (David Esan)
Subject: A Better Telephone Company
Date: 31 Dec 2002 08:38:02 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


After the recent complaints about PacHell, SBC, etc., I wondered about
our local telephone company Frontier, now owned by someone else, once
part of Global Crossing, but once an independent company, Rochester
Telephone.  Well, today this article appeared in the local paper.

You will note that no one can explain, or accept blame, for the
misdialing.  But at least they are accepting responsibility.

                    ===============

AOL, Frontier to give refunds
N.Y. arranges payments to affected customers

By Michael Wentzel 
Democrat and Chronicle 

(December 31, 2002)  Frontier customers hit with shockingly high
long-distance bills while connecting to America Online will get
refunds or credits through an agreement forged by the New York state
Attorney General's Office.

See the rest at: http://www.democratandchronicle.com/biznews/1231story1_business.shtml

Happy New Year!

------------------------------

From: marcs@tushaus.com (Marc A. Sonnenberg)
Subject: NEC NEAX 2400 E&M Card Specs
Date: 31 Dec 2002 09:10:04 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


I'd like to know if anyone out there has any specs on this particular
card.  I believe the card is PN-20DTA.  I'm looking for technical
stuff (wink timing, etc), if this is possible to find.

Thanks in advance!!

------------------------------

From: Gene <gene_invalid@hotmail.com>
Subject: Do Not Call Lists and AT&T -- How to Proceed With a Lawsuit
Date: 31 Dec 2002 19:28:12 GMT
Organization: Concentric Internet Services
Reply-To: Gene <gene_invalid@hotmail.com>


For years, I've told AT&T week after week not to call our home phone
number, and week after week we continue to get calls from from this
firm. The latest being this morning from their local service call
center in St. Louis.  1.800.288.2747

What I want to do is proceed with a civil lawsuit against AT&T for
damages, and to get fines applied to AT&T for continuing to make the
calls after I explicitly tell them to put us on their do not call
list.

Question: Does anyone know of any good web sites that explain similar
successful legal action against AT&T?

Question: Does anyone know the correct steps to file complaints
against AT&T?

I am in California.

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Those fools kept calling me on my
distinctive ring-ring line for a month or more, passing all zeros
and 'name withheld' on the caller ID. They would always ask for some
name or person unknown to me. The first couple times I just treated
it as a wrong number. Then it began to get annoying. See my comments
in other recent issues about the fights I had with Southwestern Bell
about their 'privacy manager' service which I had gotten to try and
deal with the problem.  PAT]

------------------------------

From: William H. Bowen <bill_bowen@attbi.com>
Subject: Re: New Billboards Sample Radios as Cars Go By, Then Adjust
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2002 21:12:34 -0800
Reply-To: bill_bowen@attbi.com


I live in Sacramento and have driven by the billboard near the CalExpo
site off Business 80 in north Sacramento (the first of these
"intelligent" billboards put up).

For nearly all of the first 3 weeks that sign was in operation the
display itself was so screwed up one could not even read most of the
info on the billboard (looked like a TV with the horizontal sync bar
in the pix itself about 1/4 the way across from the right edge), not
to even mention the flashing and numerous dead "pixels".  Last weekend
(last time I was up that way) the sign seems to be working a bit
better, but still has a few glitches.

If this fellow is going to charge advertisers good money to display
their wares on his sign, he needs to make it a bit more reliable in
the basic sign sense. THEN he can work on the trick stuff.


Regards,

  Bill Bowen
  bill_bowen@attbi.com
  Sacramento, CA

Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com> wrote:

> By MATT RICHTEL

> SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 26 - Tom Langeland cannot hear your car radio.
> But he purports to be able to figure out what you're listening to -
> whether rock 'n' roll, sports, talk or news - in the privacy of your
> speeding automobile.

> Pursuing a business plan that has a science fiction bent but also 
> some skeptics, Mr. Langeland intends to modify electronic freeway 
> billboard advertisements by remote control to reflect your tastes, 
> and those of thousands of other drivers.

> As part of a $20 million investment, Mr. Langeland, a Sacramento-based
> entrepreneur, has erected 10 billboards that can display both video
> and text and can be programmed with changing messages and images. In
> addition, the billboards include fledgling technology that is designed
> to identify the radio frequencies of passers-by.

> Mr. Langeland, chief executive of the Alaris Media Network, intends to
> deduce demographic information from the radio stations drivers are
> listening to and then display advertising aimed at them based on
> income, sex, race and buying habit data. He said the idea was not to
> single out individuals, but drivers en masse. For instance, if a
> preponderance of rush-hour drivers are tuned to a radio station known
> to have affluent or educated listeners, then the advertisements at
> that time would be aimed at them.

> http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/27/business/media/27ADCO.html

> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: For reading NYT articles, where regis-
> tration (and the resulting spam) is required, Digest readers are 
> invited to login with our generic username 'telecomdigest' and the
> password 'telecomdigest'. PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 20:59:37 CST
From: Sam Etler <etler@cs.wisc.edu>
Subject: Re: Pacific Bell Central Office Names


John Higdon wrote:

> That said, I can tell you that tours of central offices ain't what
> they used to be in terms of excitement.

and Steve Sobol wrote:

> Judging by what I've seen from the one CO I've been in, it's nothing
> exciting.

I'd agree that 5ESS and DMS-100/200/250/500 offices are pretty boring.
However, if you can find a No. 1A ESS office or a No. 4 ESS office you
might find it a bit more interesting.  While these switches aren't as
fun to watch and hear as a Step-By-Step or a Crossbar, they're
sufficiently old enough to look interesting and not be in boring
cabinets for the most part.

The problem is finding one you can get into.  I've never been in a 1A
ESS office and they are getting harder and harder to find these days
(the LERG lists about 180, how many are still active is hard to say).
I've been lucky enough to tour a 4ESS office but that took being a
large AT&T customer and about half a year of begging.  And that was
pre-9/11.

So if you can find an older office, it's rather interesting.


sam

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 1 Jan 2003 00:27:30 EST
From: TELECOM Digest Editor <ptownson@telcom-digest.org>
Subject: A Christmas Carol


Did you ever have a Christmas/New Year's Week which stood out in your
memory years later; one that you remembered over the years as one of
your memories that would not go away for whatever reason?  I've had a
few such occassions, but for various reasons, the winter of 1982-83
stands out for me.

That was the winter that was horribly cold in Chicago. Christmas and
New Years came on Saturday that year. Beginning about December 22,
the temperature dropped below zero, and stayed below  zero until
Saturday, Christmas Day. In fact, overnight low temperatures on the
23rd of December and again on Christmas Eve reached an all-time low
in Chicago -- *minus 27* below zero; I am told it reached -31 in
Lincolnwood/Niles, north suburbs. More about that in a minute, but my
memory of that year began a day or two before, around December 21 if
my memory is correct. I know it was a Monday night. I had finished 
doing something in downtown Chicago, and walked over to the subway to
get a train to go back to my home. 

As luck would have it, as I went down the stairs to the track level,
I saw a train waiting there and ran the rest of the way down the 
stairs in order to get on. I got on, the doors did not close, and
the train just sat there. Getting off and looking up the track, I
saw there were actually three trains ahead of us, all sitting and 
waiting. I 'assumed' by walking ahead to the earlier trains I could
ultimatly get home earlier, so I walked ahead to the train in the
front of the line, waiting silently, then I discovered the problem. 
Someone, in the spirit of the holidays, had *jumped* in front of the
first train. The motorman and conductor of that train were standing
there, the motorman with a ghastly look of horror on his face and 
tears in his eyes. The conductor was telling him, "well, don't feel
so upset, the dude was not doing it on account of you. He could have
chosen anyone." 

Looking down at the track, I saw a broken, very dismembered human
being. The individual on the tracks was wearing high heel shoes,
and a wig, but obviously a male, I suppose with some unresolved issues
in his troubled life. Up at the agent's booth, I saw two police 
officers approach the escalator which was running 'up'; one of the
cops took a key out his pocket, put it in the key switch and the
escalator immediatly switched gears and started running 'down'. The
police officers rode down in silence, bringing along with them a
'body bag' sort of thing. At the track level, one of the cops said
"did you get them to kill the power yet?" and the conductor talked
in his radio to someone (probably the Belmont tower) and within a
second or two, an annoucement came over the public address system
saying "power is off in the subway for a few minutes." You could
hear the hum of the train motors go silent, and see the overhead
lights in the train cars go off. Within a half second or so, the
batteries on each train kicked on and the car lights went back on,
powered by batteries. Although some people continued to sit in 
their seats on the train (no doubt pretending to read their news-
papers) most of the folks on board took advantage of this unscheduled
stop to get off the train and have a quick cigarette. 

The two police officers simply climbed down on the tracks and
began their gruesome job. In two or three minutes they were back up
on the platform with their body bag and stretcher, heading over to
the escalator, still running 'downward'. The one cop asks the other
one, "is the wagon man waiting upstairs?" The other cop assured him
it was up there waiting, and jovially tells a riddle story to the
other cop:  "Do you know why the wagon men always smoke cigars?" When 
the other cop says he has no idea, the first one tells him, "well,
that's because they want to kill the odor and stench in the back of
the wagon from the drunks they haul in."  Both cops get a big laugh 
out of that. Using the key switch once again, the cop starts the
escalator running 'upward' again, and with a jerk as it starts going
up, the one cop pushes the stretcher and cargo on it. "Be careful
going up; that stretcher got bumped" said the other cop. The first
cop replied, " I don't think the client will know the difference",
and they both laughed again and disappeared upward to the agent's
booth where they had come from. 

At track level, the conductor (who had more or less taken charge
of the scene; the motorman was still a nervous wreck by what had
happened), talked into his radio and a few seconds later the public
address system started talking again:  "At the count of ten, power
will be restored in the subway; leave the tracks now; ten -- nine --
eight -- seven --" (and backwards to zero), then after saying 'zero'
he said, "I repeat, power is being restored, better get out of the
way". The conductor said something in his radio, and we heard the
soft hum of the motors as they turned on and the lights in the train
went off of battery stand by and back on regular service. Passengers
began to crowd and push into the first train, even coming from a train
further back thinking they would get home now at last. By now there
were two more trains backed up there (five or six in total waiting)
all *mostly empty* except for the first train, which was crowded like
the poverbial can of sardines. Packed, standing/squeezing room only. 
The people who had stayed on the train during the entire affair
looked around smugly; they were the ones who still had seats, twice
or thrice as many of their fellow passengers were standing in the 
aisles or still trying to squeeze in the doorway, like frantic animals
anxious to get to their warm homes and supper. 

"All aboard, people, we are running twenty minutes late, step lively
please, I don't want to tell you twice", said the conductor, as 
people pushed each other out of the way to get on the train. 

The central dispatcher had forgotten he was still on the overhead
loud speaker; he *thought* he was talking on the telephone to the
conductor. Speaking (he thinks) to the conductor and motorman only on
the telephone in each car they use, dispatch says, "To clear things
up, train (number) run express to the end of the line at Howard. 
Conductor, repeat the annoucement to the passengers". No need for him
to say that, the passengers all heard it, and began storming back off
the train, like angry wasps whose nest had been molested. None the
less, the conductor, a true company man, repeated it in a feeble
voice through *his* loudspeaker to the passengers, 'this train will
run express to Howard ... Howard next stop' ... People who had been
sitting smugly had to get up, leave their seats and fight to get to
the door; their seats were not vacated two seconds until someone else
moved in. 

Now there is a huge crowd standing on the platform or moving toward
train number two ... the train at the front had pulled out. As to be
expected, the conductor on train two also chatted on the telephone
with dispatch, and soon came the announcement *he* would run express
to Howard Street also. Passengers who had fought and managed to get a
seat on train two had to get up and leave their seats again and find
the exit door.  The third and fourth trains in the backlog were
instructed to run express to some interim station, then the fifth or
sixth train (whichever one was the last, and in essence only a minute
or two late) ran normally. I *knew* what the routine would be by this
point and decided to sit on the bench there at track level and wait
it out. 

When the crowds waiting had thinned out by this point and all the
trains were back on schedule with intervals between them, along came
the station janitor, with his water hose and squee-jee mop. On the
radio, but to no one in particular, he mutters, "man on the tracks at
Randolph Street" and climbs down there. One would think no one had
heard him, but in fact the dispatcher on the radio did hear him and 
I suppose passed along the word over the telephone to train motormen
who would be along presently. The janitor hoses the blood and whatever
was left over from the 'incident' down the sewer there, uses his
squee-jee device to clean up a little there, then hastily gets back
up on the platform and dissappears. When the next train came through
a minute or so later, I took it home, but all the way home, I thought
about what had happened, and wondered what had been so painful to the
man that he had chosen to take the path he had. I still think about it
today sometimes. 

              ==================================

Three or four nights later was Christmas Eve. I had a part time job
as an audio/sound technician person for Chicago Temple, a rather 
grandiose, done in French provincial church downtown. They proposed
to continue their 137 year old (at that time) tradition of singing
Christmas Carols directly across the street from their building in
the Richard Daley Plaza area. They looked with much consternation as
the temperature got lower, and lower and lower the two days before
the evening of December 24. Finally, when it got to -27 degrees that
evening, a number of people said call it off, cancel it. But hardy
souls prevailed and said it *would go on as in the past*. No need to
break a tradition which had started in the 1840's and continued to
that year. The decision they reached was at 8:00 PM they would go
outside, across the street and sing *one stanza* of 'Hark the Herald
Angels Sing' then go back inside. I was outside in the cold a few
minutes longer than anyone else; I had to set up the tape recording
machine, and take it down and back inside. 

              ====================================


The next day was Christmas; some of my relatives came over for the
day to have dinner, etc. By mid-afternoon, the temperature had
actually climbed up to five degrees *above* zero. Poet Emily Dickinson
said one time that 'God gave us our relatives; thank God we can choose
our friends.' and never was there a truer message. The family all got
on the way back home by about 4 PM, and I set off to meet some friends
of mine that evening at Berghoff's Restaurant downtown. I took the
subway downtown, and got off at Adams Street, a main downtown area. 

As I came upstairs to the street level, the thing I noticed was the
entire intersection and for a block going west on Adams Street was
like a frozen lake of water. Over near the restaurant, I saw a truck
parked there which said on its side, 'City of Chicago, Water Distribution'
and next to it, a 'keep the city clean' trash can had been pulled
over, filled with lumber and trash, and set on fire. Two men were 
standing there at the fire, trying to stay warm. I found out they were
the supervisors of the men nearby who were in a *large, deep* hole in
the street; about fifteen feet deep, sort of wide. The two men who
were down there in the hole were wearing hip boots, and standing in
water which swirled around their legs. They had tools and were doing
some digging or replacing of pipe, I could not tell which. I was a 
bit fascinated by it and the supervisor noticed me there, and said
"would you like to work here?  I have a tool about the right size for
you," and he reached over to back of the truck. 

I assured him I was just watching, and asked him "How much do you pay
those guys?"  His answer was, "twenty dollars per hour, and this being
Christmas they get double-time pay from the City, and the union
requires that there be two men on the job for safety reasons." He
continued, "I guess this 'heat wave' we are having today caused the
problem. A main pipeline got frozen and broke, the City lost a million
gallons of water overnight last night." He called me 'governor'.
Very shyly, he reached inside his inside coat pocket and pulled out a
flask of whiskey. He took a swig, then handed it to his partner who
also drank deeply. Then he glanced at me, and offered the flask,
inviting me to join him and his partner there. I took a drink also,
and we stood there for a couple minutes more talking.

Then he said to me, "I want to show you something," and from the
inside of the back of their truck he pointed to a large glass jar 
filled with dollar bills and coins, etc. He continued, "our crew, and
some of the ladies in the office at Water Works have taken up a
collection; we use it every year to pay past due utility bills for
people in poor neighborhoods who are about to get service cut off.
Would you be interested in giving also?" Then he passed his flask
around again, and we all had another drink. I took a twenty dollar
bill from my purse and put it in his jar. He said, "I want to give 
you a Christmas present also," and he produced another jar with lots
of pin-on-your-coat buttons. One said, 'a resident of Chicago, and
proud of it' with  a little flag on it, another button had a flag and
said something like 'your water works because I work there.' or 
something to that effect. I took the 'resident of Chicago and proud
of it' button. 

He offered the flask again, but for me at least, the whiskey had
started lying to me, 'how good I feel and how warm I am' and I thought
it best to depart. I walked into Berghoff's restaurant where the
majority of the patrons were eating, blissfully unaware of the workmen
outside repairing the water pipe. Even my friends were a bit annoyed
because I was later than planned getting there.

So that was the Holiday Week twenty years ago for me. 

Anyway, best New Year wishes to each and everyone of you. I'll be back
on Thursday for another issue of the Digest. Please don't forget if
you want to help *me* dig out of my own holes and begin the year
in a better financial position, then use PayPal to make a donation
in any appropriate (for you) amount.

  http://telecom-digest.org    at the very bottom of the page is
a PayPal template. At any PayPal template my name is
'editor@telecom-digest.org'

If you prefer snailmail, the address is:

Telecom
PO Box 50
Independence, KS   67301-0050


Patrick Townson

------------------------------

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Our attorney is Bill Levant, of Blue Bell, PA.

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   have enabled me to replace some obsolete computer equipment and
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   been widely recognized by Digest readers as a reliable and very
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   a free catalog today at http://www.sandman.com 
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Finally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such as
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All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any
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End of TELECOM Digest V22 #213
******************************
    
    
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Subject: TELECOM Digest V22 #214

TELECOM Digest     Thu, 2 Jan 2003 02:16:00 EST    Volume 22 : Issue 214

Inside This Issue:                            Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    Reconciling the CD Requests (TELECOM Digest Editor)
    Member-Accessible DSL in a Community Rec Center? (AES/newspost)
    FCC Grants InterLATA LD to Qwest in Various States (Sam Etler)
    Re: So Many Holes, So Few Hacks (Gene)
    Free Caller ID? (John)
    AOL/Telco (Mis)Billing, was Re: Better Telephone Company (Danny Burstein)
    Requiem for the Disappearing Pay Phone (Eric De Mund)
    Broadcast School Reunion (Janet Leonard)
    Re: A Better Telephone Company (John R. Levine)
    Re: Do Not Call Lists and AT&T - How to Proceed With Lawsuit (AES/news)
    Re: Do Not Call Lists and AT&T - How to Proceed With Lawsuit (Stan)
    Re: Do Not Call Lists and AT&T - How to Proceed With Lawsuit (J Kelly)
    Re: Pacific Bell Central Office Names (Tony Pelliccio)
    Re: Pacific Bell Central Office Names (Jeff Moss)
    Re: A Christmas Carol (Mark Brader)

All contents here are copyrighted by Patrick Townson and the
individual writers/correspondents. Articles may be used in other
journals or newsgroups, provided the writer's name and the Digest are
included in the fair use quote.  By using -any name or email address-
included herein for -any- reason other than responding to an article
herein, you agree to pay a hundred dollars to the recipients of the
email. WE DO NOT PERMIT NAME/EMAIL ADDRESS HARVESTING FROM THIS
JOURNAL. 'SALTED' EMAIL ADDRESSES APPEAR HEREIN TO VERIFY THIS. YOU
GET SUED IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT IF YOU GET CAUGHT SPAMMING OR SENDING
VIRUSES. DON'T DO IT.

See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and
the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Wed, 1 Jan 2003 17:28:18 EST
From: TELECOM Digest Editor <ptownson@telecom-digest.org>
Subject: Reconciling the CD Requests


On Wednesday, Joey Lindstrom and I exchanged *much* correspondence
regards the CD orders. There have been a large number of CDs sent
out, and in fact there were quite a few on Tuesday/Wednesday alone.

By now, *everyone* should have a CD who requested one, with the 
exception of people who *mailed in their requests via snail mail
up to around December 15*  or they will be arriving in the next
day or two in that 'gray area' between December 1 and 15. Mail gets
here when it gets here  although I tell Joey Lindstrom immediatly
on receipt of the mail.

Regards PayPal, orders received up to around December 20 *may* in fact
be there already, or certainly will arrive in a day or two. Basically,
any orders from anytime up to early/mid-December should be in your
hands. Anything before the Christmas mail rush.

The rest of the orders (such as the past few days) should be in your
hands if not by today or tomorrow then certainly by the fifth of the
month more or less. **Keep me posted on arrival/non-arrival, etc
please.**


PAT

------------------------------

From: AES/newspost <siegman@stanford.edu>
Subject: Member-Accessible DSL in a Community Rec Center?
Date: Wed, 01 Jan 2003 14:11:54 -0800


We're thinking about trying to establish an elementary broadband
internet connection that could be accessed and shared by unit owners
inside the recreation center of a vacation townhouse community.  The
community has120 units total, but only a small fraction of these might
use the service.  One proposal is the following:

*  Obtain DSL (or maybe cable modem) service into the manager's private 
office in the rec center, thus having it available for routine use by 
the manager.

*  In addition, run one or a couple of Ethernet ports (or maybe wi-fi 
service) into the adjoining public area of the rec center, thereby 
allowing unit owners who have signed up with the association to bring 
over their laptops and connect to the same service (including during 
times when the manager's office is closed).

Expected total usage would be small, both by manager and owners. This
is a largely nonresidential community; vacationing owners would
probably only drop over occasionally to check mail on their home
accounts or do a bit of web surfing.

We'd like to keep the system simple (one DSL line, one ISP account, no
individual email addresses or accounts, no usage charges, and in
general minimal bookkeeping and record keeping at all levels).

At the same time we'd like to try to limit the public access to
authorized owners only (since they'll probably be chipping in to cover
the annual costs), and not have the public ports turn into a wide open
gateway for local teenagers or computer gamers.

Any ideas on these latter points?  Are there inexpensive DSL routers, 
switches, firewalls, or gateways that could store a small set of 
passwords (maybe 20 of them) for obtaining public access from the public 
ports through to the DSL line?

(I imagine this could all be done in software within the manager's 
computer, but he's not a computer jock and it's only an elderly PC; 
something independent of the manager's machine would be desirable.)

Any ideas appreciated.  Email cc of responses appreciated.


"Power tends to corrupt.  Absolute power corrupts absolutely."  
Lord Acton (1834-1902)
"Dependence on advertising tends to corrupt.  Total dependence on 
advertising  corrupts totally." (today's equivalent)  

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 1 Jan 2003 14:02:38 CST
From: Sam Etler <etler@cs.wisc.edu>
Subject: FCC Grants InterLATA LD to Qwest in Various States


Effective 1/2/2003, the FCC has granted Qwest the rights to provide
InterLATA services in Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, North
Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

The decisions are summarized in the Federal Register at 68 FR 119 (also
FCC Docket 02-332).

The Federal Register citation can be found linked from:

http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a030102c.html


sam

------------------------------

From: Gene <gene_invalid@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: So Many Holes, So Few Hacks
Date: 01 Jan 2003 20:15:51 GMT
Organization: Concentric Internet Services
Reply-To: Gene <gene_invalid@hotmail.com>


They do not spend enough time on it.  If the industry doesn't do it,
our enemies will.  Being someone who manages web sites and actual
servers for multiple companies (some large and some very small), I can
definitely guarantee you that hackers routinely try the Microsoft IIS
hacks to gain access to public servers.  I even have one obscure
domain name that maybe gets 15 hits a day on average, and at least 5
of those hits each day are people trying to run Windows commands by
exploiting potential security holes.  I have much more popular servers
that are continuously bombarbed with the same exact hack attempts.  It
is almost like there are a group of people on the Internet who are
running a crawler across the entire web using their own private search
engine to try and hack every site on the web.  If you are running
Microsoft IIS on the Internet, you had better make sure whoever is
managing your server is routinely watching and analyzing log files and
double-checking and triple-checking that their sites are not being
hacked: new directories and files appearing on your servers, etc.
I've seen some public web servers that hackers quietly turned into
public file servers to distribute files.

------------------------------

From: jriker1@yahoo.com (John)
Subject: Free Caller ID?
Date: 1 Jan 2003 13:59:51 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


I live in Illinois and we have Ameritech for our local phone company.
My friend recently got one of those Panasonic 2.4 GHz phones with
caller id on it.  He did not order the service or anything, yet our
names and numbers are showing up on their phone.  Any idea why this
is?  Thanks.


JR

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Telco -- especially Ameritech -- does
not give anything for free. Telco -- especially Ameritech -- is notorious
about accounting and billing errors. Has your friend yet received any
bills at this new phone number?  If not, watch and see what the bill
reflects when it begins arriving each month. If he is already getting
bills on the number, and caller  ID is not one of the items on the
bill, then he should consider himself lucky, and hope that one of
their 'routine audits' from time to time does not eventually catch up
with the error. Needless to say, if he ever moves to new premises or
for any other reason invokes a service rep to look at and examine
his bill, his 'free ride' on caller ID may come to an end. If a
routine audit does eventually find the error, most telcos have a
policy of only back-billing for a year, and sometimes they wil write
it off and start fresh.

I had this happen to me about twenty years ago. I was living in a 
near-north side apartment hotel in Chicago with switchboard service
for the tenants. I ordered a private phone for my apartment. It took
a *full year* before Illinois Bell decided to start billing me for it.
And that was only because some damn phreak made a couple of phraud 
long distance calls which were coin-rated and they had to bill me. I
had what Bell referred to as 'unlimited extended call-pack' which
meant there were never any additional charges to anywhere in the old
area 312. I was *most careful* never to dial a long distance call on
that phone. Anyway, some phreak made a credit card call or somehow
billed my number. When the charges finally came through the accounting
department, no record of my number was found; the charges went into a
suspense ledger pending an investigator personally looking at the
charges and trying to figure them out. This time the investigator
dialed my number -- expecting to get an intercept, no such number
message -- but instead it rang open on my end (I was not at home),
so the investigator called the plant or central office and asked them
what they knew. He was told it had been in service for about a year,
and that apparently 'someone' had never sent the paperwork to the
accounting office; only to plant to get the number turned on. Lazy,
incompetent service reps!  The investigator saw to it the paperwork
got into accounting, and he personally back-billed me for service for
the eleven months the phone had been there to date. 

So you can never tell for sure about these things. Your friend may or
may not ever get a bill for the caller ID service. But better tell
him to not *ever* get into an argument with some smart-mouth service
rep who takes it on herself to review his service entirely.    PAT] 

------------------------------

From: danny burstein <dannyb@panix.com>
Subject: AOL/Telco (Mis)Billing, was Re: A Better Telephone Company
Date: Wed, 1 Jan 2003 06:21:48 UTC
Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and UNIX, NYC


[ additions added at end ]

In <telecom22.213.4@telecom-digest.org> david_esan@hotmail.com (David
Esan) writes:

> After the recent complaints about PacHell, SBC, etc., I wondered about
> our local telephone company Frontier, now owned by someone else, once
> part of Global Crossing, but once an independent company, Rochester
> Telephone.  Well, today this article appeared in the local paper.

> You will note that no one can explain, or accept blame, for the
> misdialing.  But at least they are accepting responsibility.

>                    ===============

> AOL, Frontier to give refunds
> N.Y. arranges payments to affected customers

> By Michael Wentzel 
> Democrat and Chronicle 

> (December 31, 2002)  Frontier customers hit with shockingly high
> long-distance bills while connecting to America Online will get
> refunds or credits through an agreement forged by the New York state
> Attorney General's Office.

> See the rest at: http://www.democratandchronicle.com/biznews/1231story1_business.shtml

First, of course, no one's willing to push the true solution to this 
repeated problem, which is a rationalization of telco rates. In this day 
and age there's no jusitification for any sort of long distnace charges. 
(Well, aside from making money for the telcos).

Anyway, given those constraints, NYS's Attorney General did well.

Quoting from the press release:

	"Attorney General Eliot Spitzer today announced that his
office has reached an agreement with America Online, Inc. (AOL) and
Frontier Telephone Company of Rochester, Inc. (Frontier) to provide
$200,000 in refunds and credits to over 400 Rochester-area America On
Line (AOL) customers for long distance charges they incurred last
winter while using the Internet.

	http://www.oag.state.ny.us/press/2002/dec/dec30a_02.html

Oh, he's also got one describing a settlement in which the credit card 
company "First USA" will cut back, at least a bit, on sleaziness:

	"Attorney General Eliot Spitzer today announced a settlement
that will provide new protections against misleading telemarketing
campaigns for more than 53 million credit card holders.

	"First USA Bank N.A. - the largest issuer of Visa credit cards
- and also known as Bank One Delaware NA, has agreed to implement
broad reforms in its relationships with third-party vendors to ensure
that non-deceptive marketing campaigns are used in soliciting the
bank's credit card holders.  Specifically, under the agreement, First
USA must prohibit vendors from engaging in deceptive solicitations.

	http://www.oag.state.ny.us/press/2002/dec/dec31a_02.html
	

Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key
		     dannyb@panix.com 
[to foil spammers, my address has been double rot-13 encoded]

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 1 Jan 2003 00:41:57 -0800
From: Eric De Mund <ead@ixian.com>
Subject: Requiem for the Disappearing Pay Phone
Reply-To: Eric De Mund <ead@ixian.com>
Organization: Ixian Systems, Inc.


Pat,

As seen on Slashdot. Forwarded FYI.

    Requiem for the Disappearing Pay Phone
        from the endangered-species dept.
        posted by timothy[1] on Monday December 30, @21:38 (news)
        http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=02/12/31/0129208

    StarEmperor[2] writes "This Washington Post article[3] describes the
    steady disappearance of pay phones as cell phones become more
    commonplace. Many pay phones, which used to generate hundreds of
    dollars per month in revenue, are now used so infrequently that they
    cost money to operate. I wonder what kind of environmental hazard is
    posed by junking thousands of pay phones?"

    [ensuing discussion elided]

    Links:
    1. http://www.monkey.org/~timothy/
    2. http://www.starempires.com/
    3. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49017-2002Dec28.html

Happy New Year to you and yours, and thanks for another year of the
TELECOM Digest.


"Chess is a cramped game. It is like a knife fight in a phone booth." --Wayne
Folta

Eric De Mund <ead@ixian.com> | Ixian Systems, Inc. | 53 49 B2 23 AF 6C 20 81
http://www.ixian.com/ead/    | Mountain View, CA   | ED DD 4C 81 AA C9 D1 A5

------------------------------

From: jml@jagat.com (Janet Leonard)
Subject: Broadcast School Reunion
Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 01:09:22 -0500


Hi Patrick,

Glad to find your website.  I'm hoping you might know some other
broadcasters that went to Grahm Jr College in Boston. Many radio
personalities attended Grahm. The college closed in 1979 and we're
trying to contact any former students for a reunion in Boston October
10-13, 2003.

You may wish to look at the website
http://hometown.aol.com/mhasson/GrahmHome.html

also checkwww.northeastairchecks.com

and    grahm.northeastairchecks.com

Hope to hear from you.

Janet Leonard
jml@jagat.com

------------------------------

Date: 1 Jan 2003 12:13:53 -0500
From: johnl@iecc.com (John R. Levine)
Subject: Re: A Better Telephone Company
Organization: I.E.C.C., Trumansburg NY USA


> You will note that no one can explain, or accept blame, for the
> misdialing.  But at least they are accepting responsibility.

>                    ===============

> AOL, Frontier to give refunds
> N.Y. arranges payments to affected customers

Most peculiar.  This happens a lot when there's an area code split,
software that automatically selects the number to call doesn't realize
that the user's area code has changed, so it selects the closest
number in the old area code.  In this case, it was a big problem
because Rochester to Buffalo is an expensive inter-LATA call.  If this
was what happened (and I suspect it was), it's 100% AOL's fault.

On the other hand, it's just barely possible that Frontier screwed up
the reprogramming of some of its switches so that calls dialed without
an area code were misrouted to Buffalo, so they figured it was cheaper
to pay to make the problem go away than fester in court for years
trying to make sense of mountains of logs and phone bills.


John R. Levine, IECC, POB 727, Trumansburg NY 14886 +1 607 387 6869
johnl@iecc.com Village Trustee and Sewer Commissioner http://iecc.com/johnl 
Member, Provisional board, Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial E-mail

------------------------------

From: AES/newspost <siegman@stanford.edu>
Subject: Re: Do Not Call Lists and AT&T -- How to Proceed With a Lawsuit
Date: Wed, 01 Jan 2003 14:21:15 -0800


In article <telecom22.213.6@telecom-digest.org>, Gene
<gene_invalid@hotmail.com> wrote:

> For years, I've told AT&T week after week not to call our home phone
> number, and week after week we continue to get calls from from this
> firm. The latest being this morning from their local service call
> center in St. Louis.  1.800.288.2747

> What I want to do is proceed with a civil lawsuit against AT&T for
> damages, and to get fines applied to AT&T for continuing to make the
> calls after I explicitly tell them to put us on their do not call
> list.

Supports my long-held  view that Do Not Call lists are a basically 
unworkable idea, for multiple reasons, beginning with the fact that 
enforcement ends up as an expensive, time-consuming, and  mostly 
hopeless burden on the callee.

I suggest the only realistic solution for this whole problem is 
legislation requiring that all telemarketing, etc., calls be made using 
Caller ID and carrying a distinctive area code set aside for this 
purpose.  Recipients could then easily protect themselves by filtering 
and rejecting such calls, before the phone ever rings.

(This won't ever be implemented, however -- *because it would work*.)


"Power tends to corrupt.  Absolute power corrupts absolutely."  
Lord Acton (1834-1902)
"Dependence on advertising tends to corrupt.  Total dependence on 
advertising  corrupts totally." (today's equivalent)  

------------------------------

From: Stan <stanncno1spam@noispam.yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Do Not Call Lists and AT&T -- How to Proceed With a Lawsuit
Date: Wed, 01 Jan 2003 08:10:29 GMT
Organization: RoadRunner - Carolina


Gene <gene_invalid@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:telecom22.213.6@telecom-digest.org...

> Question: Does anyone know the correct steps to file complaints
> against AT&T?

Last year (2002), I filed two complaints with the FCC regarding AT&T's
blatant disregard for 'do not call' requests on my two phone
lines. The FCC took notice and action and I received some nice form
letters from both parties regarding my addition to AT&T's 'do not
call' list. Form list or no, it did finally work.

To file a complaint, use this link to the FCC web site:

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html


-Stan

------------------------------

From: J Kelly <usenet-replies002@pileof_remove-me_monkeycrap.com>
Subject: Re: Do Not Call Lists and AT&T -- How to Proceed With a Lawsuit
Date: Wed, 01 Jan 2003 09:33:12 -0600
Organization: pileofmonkeycrap


On 31 Dec 2002 19:28:12 GMT, Gene <gene_invalid@hotmail.com> wrote:

> For years, I've told AT&T week after week not to call our home phone
> number, and week after week we continue to get calls from from this
> firm. The latest being this morning from their local service call
> center in St. Louis.  1.800.288.2747

> What I want to do is proceed with a civil lawsuit against AT&T for
> damages, and to get fines applied to AT&T for continuing to make the
> calls after I explicitly tell them to put us on their do not call
> list.

> Question: Does anyone know of any good web sites that explain similar
> successful legal action against AT&T?

> Question: Does anyone know the correct steps to file complaints
> against AT&T?

Check out the private citizen website http://www.privatecitizen.com
They have info available to sue telemarketers.  You may have to join
or pay for their book to get the info.  I signed up with them a couple
months ago and telemarketing calls have pretty much stopped here, I
was getting 10-12 "hang-up" calls a day before joining.  About a month
after joining they seem to have stopped.

Anyone know who the hell US Telecom is?  That is one outfit that I
have had trouble with in the recent past.  Whenever I ask for a copy
of their do not call policy I mysteriously get cut off.  They seem to
have stopped calling about 3 weeks ago as well, so maybe they are on
the list Private Citizen maintains.

------------------------------

From: Tony Pelliccio <tonypo1@cox.takemeout2.net>
Subject: Re: Pacific Bell Central Office Names
Organization: The Ace Tomatoe and Cement Company
Date: Wed, 01 Jan 2003 08:47:20 GMT


In article <telecom22.212.7@telecom-digest.org>, johnl@iecc.com says...
>> OT: Does anyone know if its possible to get a tour inside a Central
>> Office?

> It entirely depends on the telco.  My small local ILEC has an annual
> open house with CO tour.  Down the road, Verizon seems not to let
> anyone into their COs ever without suitable badges.

Yeah, Verizon is petrified to let anyone see those humming boxes. I
did get a chance to look at Brooks Fiber's 5ESS some times ago. It
just isn't the same as the old mechanical beauties. Yeah, they're
feature rich but they just don't make em' like they used to.

In article <telecom22.212.8@telecom-digest.org>, sjsobol@JustThe.net
says:

> Jeff Moss <jeffmoss26@adelphia.net> wrote:

>> I was at my dad's office last week (they are an Ameritech Distributor)
>> and I threw away tons of Ameritech papers. There was a list of the
>> Cleveland area Central offices. I didnt keep it but I remember they
>> used really odd codes ex. Beachwood (30 sec away from my house) would
>> be BCHW1023i0 or something.

> http://dslreports.com/coinfo

Verizon uses nice simplistic names for switches here in RI. 

PRVDRIWA is the switch on Washington Street in downtown Providence. 
PRVDRIBR is the swtich on Broad Street on the southern side of the city. 
NPRVRIMS is the switch on Mineral Spring Avenue in North Providence. 
EPRVRINB is the swtich on North Broadway in East Providence. 


Tony

------------------------------

From: jeffmoss26@adelphia.net (Jeff Moss)
Subject: Re: Pacific Bell Central Office Names
Date: 1 Jan 2003 07:16:18 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


Thanks for the info.

I am guessing that the one near me is a 5ESS. They just finished
adding space to the CO so competitors could put equipment in there. I
asked a tech who was at a job I did with my dad's company.  I could
ask someone at his office if they have any contacts to get a tour.

------------------------------

Subject: Re: A Christmas Carol
Date: Wed,  1 Jan 2003 02:45:56 EST
From: msb@vex.net (Mark Brader)


Pat writes:

> I saw a train waiting there and ran the rest of the way down the 
> stairs in order to get on. I got on, the doors did not close, and
> the train just sat there. Getting off and looking up the track, I
> saw there were actually three trains ahead of us, all sitting and 
> waiting. I 'assumed' by walking ahead to the earlier trains I could
> ultimately get home earlier ...

For those not familiar with the Chicago transit system, this may
sound a bit odd -- as though Pat was walking through the tunnel
between stations.  Actually, there are two subway lines in the city
center that each have a *continuous* platform alongside the tracks
for about 3,000 feet.  Normally each train makes 3 or 4 stops along
this section.

This arrangement gives the CTA maximum flexibility: street entrances
can be located all along the section, independent of the actual stops,
and the number of stops can even be changed if they think it desirable.

Thanks for the stories, Pat.

Mark Brader      |       Caution
msb@vex.net      |       Do not run on the stairs
Toronto          |       Use the hand rail
                                  -- notice at British train station

My text in this article is in the public domain.

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: You are quite welcome, Mark. There are
all sorts of stories about the <C>hicago <T>ransit <A>trocity, for 
example what slum landlords they are regards the lack of upkeep at
their non-transit use facilities (such as buildings they own but rent
out which formerly had been transit facilities, or buildings which are
located underneath the elevated tracks in various areas.) They've had
two of their repair shops burn down under mysterious circumstances in
the past few years. Did you ever see what a dump! a complete wreck the
old 'Uptown Station' building at Wilson Avenue has become since CTA
took it over from North Shore Railroad line forty years ago?  CTA has
not put five cents worth of work in the property since. What spare
money they get (they are always crying poor-mouth since back in the
days when fares were five cents to last year when the fares got up
to a dollar seventy five cents or so.) When the legislature gives them
a little money, it immediatly goes into fancy dinners and chauffer
driven limousines for their executives, none of whom would ever be
caught dead riding on a CTA train or bus. Of course, its all just 
politics as usual in the heavily Democratic-controlled party in 
Chicago; a very corrupt organization in a very corrupt city. More 
and more citizens there are referring to it as the Chicago Transit
Atrocity rather than 'Authority'; it may soon be going the way of the
CHA -- Chicago Housing Atrocity -- into federal receivership, until/
unless they get things in order. God, I am *so glad* to be done with

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------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V22 #214
******************************
    
    
    
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Subject: TELECOM Digest V22 #215

TELECOM Digest     Thu, 2 Jan 2003 21:55:00 EST    Volume 22 : Issue 215

Inside This Issue:                            Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    Public Interest Registry Assumes Control of .ORG Domain (Anne Shroeder)
    UCLA Winter Short Courses in Communications Engineering (Bill Goodin)
    Re: Pacific Bell Central Office Names (Joel B. Levin)
    Re: Why Won't my Sprint PCS Phone Roam? (Samsung SCH-3500) (Joel Levin)
    Re: Pacific Bell Central Office Names (Sam Etler)
    Re: Pop-ups Add New Twist (Phil Earnhardt)
    Re: So Many Holes, So Few Hacks (Michael A. Covington)
    Re: Call Waiting Prison and Telemarketers (Clarence Dold)
    Modular ICS + Startalk (Harry)
    Very Newbie Reboot Question (Reed Loefgren)

All contents here are copyrighted by Patrick Townson and the
individual writers/correspondents. Articles may be used in other
journals or newsgroups, provided the writer's name and the Digest are
included in the fair use quote.  By using -any name or email address-
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VIRUSES. DON'T DO IT.

See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and
the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Anne Shroeder <anne@isoc.org>
Subject: Public Interest Registry Assumes Control of .ORG Domain
Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 10:56:04 -0500


Contact: Julie Williams 703-464-7005, x 111; cell 703-402-6715
E-mail: JWilliams@PIR.org

PUBLIC INTEREST REGISTRY ASSUMES CONTROL OF .ORG DOMAIN NAME REGISTRY
IN HISTORIC TRANSITION Largest domain redelegation in the history of
the Internet commences

Reston, VA - January 2, 2003 - The Public Interest Registry (PIR)
today announced that it has assumed the role of registry operator for
the .ORG top-level domain in a smooth handoff from former operator
VeriSign Global Registry Services.  This historic transition, which
commenced yesterday when PIR officially assumed control of registry
operations, marks the beginning of the largest transfer of data from
one registry to another in the history of the Internet.

"We are pleased to begin the transition process," said David Maher,
chairman of the PIR board.  "We have put together a solid transition
team and are working together toward a smooth, stable transition
resulting in no interruption of service for .ORG registrants."

In order to minimize disruption, a 25-day phase-in period has begun
during which VeriSign will still provide back-end technical services.
This will allow those that sell .ORG domain names more time to prepare
for the transition.  On January 25, 2003, the technical services for
the registry will be cutover from VeriSign to Afilias Limited, PIR's
chosen back-end service provider.

The .ORG domain, which has come to be associated with noncommercial
organizations, is the Internet's fifth largest top-level domain,
housing over 2.4 million domain names worldwide.  PIR was created to
manage the .ORG registry by the Internet Society (ISOC), and is
committed to setting a new standard for registry services in its
management of .ORG that will meet the unique needs and interests of
noncommercial organizations around the world.

Earlier this year, the Board of Directors of the Internet Corporation
for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) selected ISOC's proposal from
among 11 organizations bidding to operate the .ORG top-level domain.
VeriSign's contract as registry operator for .ORG expired on December
31, 2002.  As such, it is relinquishing .ORG to comply with an
agreement entered into with the ICANN and the U.S. Department of
Commerce in May 2001.

ABOUT PIR

Public Interest Registry (www.PIR.org) is a not-for-profit corporation
created to manage the .ORG domain.  PIR's mission is to manage the
.ORG domain in a way that supports the continuing evolution of the
Internet as a research, education and communications infrastructure,
and educates and empowers the noncommercial community to most
effectively utilize the Internet.  PIR is based in Reston, VA.

PIR was created by the Internet Society (www.ISOC.org).  ISOC is a
not-for-profit, open membership organization founded in 1991 and is
dedicated to ensuring the open evolution, development and use of the
Internet for the benefit of all people.  It provides leadership in
addressing issues that confront the future of the Internet, and is the
organizational home for the groups responsible for Internet
infrastructure standards.

For additional information on PIR and the .ORG registry, please visit
www.PIR.org.

------------------------------

From: bgoodin@unex.ucla.edu
Subject: UCLA Winter Short Courses in Communications Engineering
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 11:32:09 -0800
Organization: University of California, Los Angeles


This winter, UCLA Extension will present the following communications
engineering short courses on the UCLA campus in Los Angeles.

January 6-10, 2003, "Digital Signal Processing: Theory, Algorithms,
and Implementation".  The instructor is Robert W. Stewart, PhD,
Faculty Member, Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering,
University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom, $1995.

http://www.uclaextension.org/unexVirtual.cfm?d=/shortcourses/winter2003/03WiN7070.cfm

January 13-17, 2003, "Satellite Communications Networks and
Applications: Selecting the Right Technology and Methodology".  The
instructors are Bruce Elbert, MSEE, MBA, Managing Director,
Application Strategy Consulting, and David J. Bell, MSEE, Senior
Member Technical Staff, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, $1995.

http://www.uclaextension.org/unexVirtual.cfm?d=/shortcourses/winter2003/03WiN7073.cfm

January 13-17, 2003, "Digital Avionics Systems".  The instructors are
Cary R. Spitzer, MS, President, AvioniCon, Inc.; Robert P. Lyons, Jr.,
MSEE, Colonel, USAF, and Deputy Director, Air Force Material Command
Acquisition Center of Excellence; and Michael J. Morgan, Vice
President, Advanced System Development, Avidyne, Inc., $1995.

http://www.uclaextension.org/unexVirtual.cfm?d=/shortcourses/winter2003/03WiN7072.cfm

January 22-24, 2003, "Using Design Patterns, Frameworks, and CORBA to
Develop Object-Oriented Communication Systems".  The instructor is
Douglas C. Schmidt, PhD, Associate Professor, Computer Science
Department, University of California, Irvine, $1395.

http://www.uclaextension.org/unexVirtual.cfm?d=/shortcourses/winter2003/03WiN7076.cfm

January 27-30, 2003, "Practical Cryptography for Computer and Network
Security".  The instructors are Vwani P. Roychowdhury, PhD, Professor,
Electrical Engineering Department, UCLA; and P. Oscar Boykin, PhD,
Research Scientist, Electrical Engineering Department, UCLA, $1695.

http://www.uclaextension.org/unexVirtual.cfm?d=/shortcourses/winter2003/03WiN7078.cfm

February 3-6, 2003, "Satellite-Based Communications, Navigation, and
Surveillance for Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM)".  The instructors
are Cary R. Spitzer, MS, President, AvioniCon, Inc.; Wayne Aleshire,
Captain, United Airlines; Chris Benich, Director, CNS/ATM Solutions
Center of Excellence, Honeywell Aerospace Electronic Systems; and Roy
T. Oishi, ARINC Fellow and Chairman, Airlines Electronic Engineering
Committee, ARINC, Inc., $1695.

http://www.uclaextension.org/unexVirtual.cfm?d=/shortcourses/winter2003/03WiN7080.cfm

February 10-12, 2003, "Field Programmable Gate Arrays for Digital
Signal Processing and Communications".  The instructor is Robert W.
Stewart, PhD, Faculty Member, Department of Electronic and Electrical
Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom, $1395.

http://www.uclaextension.org/unexVirtual.cfm?d=/shortcourses/winter2003/03WiN7393.cfm

February 13-14, 2003, "DSP-Based Carrier and Timing Recovery
Techniques in Digital Modems".  The instructor is Fred Harris, MS,
Cubic Signal Processing Chair Professor of Electrical and Computer
Engineering, San Diego State University, $1095.

http://www.uclaextension.org/unexVirtual.cfm?d=/shortcourses/winter2003/03WiN7079.cfm

February 20-21, 2003, "Satellite Link Budget Training Using SatMaster
Pro Software".  The instructor is Bruce R. Elbert, MSEE, MBA,
President, Application Technology Strategy, Inc., $1095.

http://www.uclaextension.org/unexVirtual.cfm?d=/shortcourses/winter2003/03WiN7828.cfm

February 24-25, 2003, "Space-Time Coding".  The instructors are
Michael P. Fitz, PhD, Professor, Electrical Engineering Department,
UCLA; Hesham El Gamal, PhD, Assistant Professor, Electrical
Engineering Department, Ohio State University, Columbus; and Giuseppe
Caire, PhD, Professor, Department of Mobile Communications, Institute
Eurecom, Sophia-Antipolis, France, $1095.  

http://www.uclaextension.org/unexVirtual.cfm?d=/shortcourses/winter2003/03WiN7394.cfm

February 26-28, 2003, "Wireless Sensor Networks and Their Tactical
Applications".  The instructors are William J. Kaiser, PhD, Professor,
Electrical Engineering Department, UCLA; William M. Merrill, PhD,
Senior Development Engineer, Sensoria Corporation; Frederic Newberg,
PhD, Senior Design Engineer, Sensoria Corporation; Greg Pottie, PhD,
Professor, Electrical Engineering Department, UCLA; and Kathy Sohrabi,
PhD, Senior Development Engineer, Sensoria Corporation, $1395.

http://www.uclaextension.org/unexVirtual.cfm?d=/shortcourses/winter2003/03WiN7436.cfm

March 3-4, 2003,  "System Modeling and Diagnostics Using Bayesian
Networks".  The instructor is Adnan Darwiche, PhD, Assistant
Professor, Computer Science Department, UCLA, $1095.

http://www.uclaextension.org/unexVirtual.cfm?d=/shortcourses/winter2003/03WiN7086.cfm

For additional information and complete descriptions of all short
courses, please visit our website, http://uclaextension.org/shortcourses/,

or:

(310) 825-3344  phone 
(310) 206-2815  fax

shortcourses@uclaextension.org 

All of these courses may also be presented on-site at company
locations.

------------------------------

From: jbl <jbl@spamblocked.com>
Subject: Re: Pacific Bell Central Office Names
Date: Wed, 01 Jan 2003 23:17:23 -0700
Organization: On the desert
Reply-To: jbl@spamblocked.com


In <telecom22.212.6@telecom-digest.org>, John Higdon
<no-spam@amadeus.kome.com> wrote:

> In article <telecom22.211.7@telecom-digest.org>,
> jeffmoss26@adelphia.net (Jeff Moss) wrote:

>> OT: Does anyone know if its possible to get a tour inside a Central
>> Office?

> It is a lot harder than it used to be. For one thing, staff cutbacks
> by the ILECs have left few people available to conduct such tours.
> I would imagine in this post 9/11 world, security is probably
> another issue.

> That said, I can tell you that tours of central offices ain't what
> they used to be in terms of excitement....

In the early days of the ARPAnet we at BBN were doing a lot of
business with the engineers at various long-lines facilities,
particularly in Boston at the AT&T Boston-5 test board.  My colleague
and I were interested in getting a tour of the workings, and went to
the guy who was more or less our liaison to AT&T (this was Bob Kahn)
to see if he could arrange something.  He suggested that my colleague
and I should just talk to our pals at Boston-5 directly and not
involve any higher-ups in either company.  The head engineer there
agreed, provided we would also show them what we were doing too (the
idea of being able to remotely monitor and test fifteen independent
wideband lines all around the country from one place in Cambridge was
completely new and bewildering to them in 1970-71).

We got a great tour, and they had a good time too.

Hmmm.  And now Verizon probably owns the building that Boston-5 was
in, though not of course that long-lines operation, and BBN is part of
Verizon.  Who'd 'a' thought?


JBL

------------------------------

From: jbl <jbl@spamblocked.com>
Subject: Re: Why Won't my Sprint PCS Phone Roam? (Samsung SCH-3500)
Date: Wed, 01 Jan 2003 23:23:45 -0700
Organization: On the desert
Reply-To: jbl@spamblocked.com


In <telecom22.210.12@telecom-digest.org>, Linc Madison
<nobody@example.com> wrote:

> I've had a Sprint PCS phone, specifically a Samsung SCH-3500, for
> almost three years now. In those three years, I have had two occasions
> to attempt an outgoing call while outside Sprint's network. Both
> times, the signal meter indicated I had a strong signal, and I did
> everything the phone's manual said to do in order to make a roaming
> call, but the calls never connected. I also just did a test here in
> San Francisco with the same results. In addition, I also attempted an
> incoming call while the phone was in analog roaming mode.

It worked for me on my phone in New Hampshire once or twice.

In Arizona, where coverage was much sparser, I was still able to connect
to services.  However Sprint at the time did not have roaming contracts
where I was (and there were and are lots of places where Sprint had no
coverage).  Connecting to services meant that I could have dialed 911 if
I'd needed to; but when I tried to call a real number, it denied me the
privilege or, in another case offered to let me key in a credit card
number (which I didn't try as I didn't have time and it wasn't so
important anyhow).  So it's either your phone or your region that's the
problem.

[I've since dropped Sprint, partly because I needed a new phone and
someone else had good cheaper phones and at least equivalent plans (I
think Sprint would have modified my plan nicely to retain me if I'd given
them the chance), and more important, my home location, which is marginal
on Sprint, was known to me to have better coverage on the new service.]


JBL

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 02:02:00 CST
From: Sam Etler <etler@cs.wisc.edu>
Subject: Re: Pacific Bell Central Office Names


> Verizon uses nice simplistic names for switches here in RI. 

> PRVDRIWA is the switch on Washington Street in downtown Providence. 
> PRVDRIBR is the swtich on Broad Street on the southern side of the city. 
> NPRVRIMS is the switch on Mineral Spring Avenue in North Providence. 
> EPRVRINB is the swtich on North Broadway in East Providence. 

These are what are known as CLLI codes (Common Language Location
Identifier).  The codes above refer to the building that the switch is
in.  The switch itself will have a CLLI code such as PRVDRIWADS2.
PRVD is the city, RI the state, WA the building code, DS2 the
equipment or location within that building (I've seen where cages
within a datacenter have their own code as opposed to incidental
equipment in that cage).

So for instance at the PRVDRIWA office these are some of the codes in
use:

PRVDRIWA06T	DMS-200 Tandem
PRVDRIWA23W	No. 2 STP
PRVDRIWADS2	DMS-100 Local switch

There's others as well since most equipment in a CO will have a CLLI
code.  The last three alphanumerics can give an indication to the
general type of equipment.  nnT is often a tandem.  nnW is often a STP
or SCP.  DSn is a digital switch.  CGn is a non-digital electronic
switch (1A ESS for instance, stands for Control Group).  RSn is a
digital remote switch.  CMn is a Cellular Mobile switch.  You'll
rarely see them, but SGn was used for Step switches (Selector Group)
and MGx for Crossbars (Marker Group).

Some carriers (AT&T for instance) combine CLLI codes to create Trunk
Group identifiers.  So for instance the wonderfully cryptic
SNJSCA0241TSNTDCABXN021701 indicates:

A Location: SNJSCA0241T (San Jose, CA 4ESS)
Z Location: SNTDCABXN02 (Santa Clara, CA datacenter cage)
1701: BTFN (Base Traffic Number) of the Trunk Group on that 4ESS

CLLI codes are managed by Telcordia.  They also allocate CLEI
(Equipment Identifier) codes, CLFI (Facility Identifier) codes, CLCI
(Circuit Identifier) codes, and other various codes.


sam

------------------------------

From: Phil Earnhardt <pae@dim.com>
Subject: Re: Pop-ups Add New Twist
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 06:45:38 -0700


On Sun, 22 Dec 2002 00:54:41 -0500, Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
wrote:

> Pop-up advertisements, already the bane of millions of Web surfers, 
> are becoming more intrusive.

Mozilla (downloadable from www.mozilla.org) now allows you to
categorically disable pop-up windows.
Preferences->Advanced->Scripts&Windows has a check-box to enable
unrequested windows. By un-checking this, all JavaScript pop-ups are
gone. This is distinct from links that open a new window when you
click them. These are windows you're [implicitly] requesting; spammers
don't use this feature. Mozilla has a check-box to disable these
windows, but I see no reason to disable them.

Mozilla also has another option to change the behavior of animations
to running only once or not at all. This kills the banner
advertisements where the advertisements suck processor resources
infinitely cycling through color maps or "vibrating" the
advertisement. And you apparently stop winning the "If this box is
flashing, you're a winner!!!" advertisements. ;-)

Running with these two features has dramatically altered my browsing
experience. I forget how hostile the web is until I use a computer
that isn't configured this way.

Netscape 7, based on Mozilla, also has both of these features
available. However, they do not have the the check-box to disable the
opening of unrequested windows. Fortunately, you can still add the
preference by just adding the line:

user_pref("dom.disable_open_during_load", true);

to your user.js or prefs.js. On windows machines, this file is in a
hidden directory and it must be edited when Netscape 7 is not running.
The site http://techaholic.net/ns7.html is a good resource for info
about Mozilla/Netscape 7.

Categorically disabling pop-ups will break some sites that use them
for non-advertising purposes. My guess is that such sites will rapidly
abandon this Javascript feature precisely because users are turning
them off. If you still use sites that use pop-ups, you can run with
Mozilla and turn the feature on as you need it.

There is one "digital divide": households that have Internet access
vs. households that don't. Some point to a second divide: high-speed
digital access vs. dial-up access. I think there's a third divide that
may be more important than the second: users who know how to take
effective countermeasures against unsolicited commercial intrusions
(e.g. unsolicited commercial email, pop-up advertising, etc.) and
those who don't.


--phil

------------------------------

From: Michael A. Covington <look@www.covingtoninnovations.com.for.address>
Subject: Re: So Many Holes, So Few Hacks
Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 10:56:37 -0500


Gene <gene_invalid@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:telecom22.214.4@telecom-digest.org:

> They do not spend enough time on it.  If the industry doesn't do it,
> our enemies will.  Being someone who manages web sites and actual
> servers for multiple companies (some large and some very small), I can
> definitely guarantee you that hackers routinely try the Microsoft IIS
> hacks to gain access to public servers.

Yes -- This happens to us too; many times a day, almost exactly the same
commands are tried, and they always fail.  (Microsoft's IIS Lockdown Kit
with URLSCAN does its job.)  My understanding is that we are actually
looking at viruses doing the probing automatically.  What they'd do if they
got in, I'm not sure.

------------------------------

From: dold@75.usenet.us.com
Subject: Re: Call Waiting Prison and Telemarketers
Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 18:53:40 UTC
Organization: a2i network


CB <berry_s@hotmail.com> wrote:

> Then, of course, you have Call Waiting - Caller ID so you can look and
> see who is trying to reach you and then make the appropriate decisions
> as to wether you should terminate the first call and take the second,
> ignore the second caller, etc.

I had that feature in a house where three people were sharing a phone.
Technically, it is an annoyance, as you now get to hear, not only the call
waiting tone, but apparently the caller ID burst of modem data.
Nice feature, bad implementation.

------------------------------

From: harryhydro@hotmail.com (harry)
Subject: Modular ICS + Startalk
Date: 2 Jan 2003 07:01:43 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


Hi:

    I hope I'm giving you enough info.  This ICS has system version
SP: 30JBM03 NAT.  In the past we've tried to put a Startalk on but had
problems that was stated to be System Version issues..  Is this ture
or is this system capable of supporting a Startalk?

Thanks!

Harry

------------------------------

From: reedl@tatteredcover.com (Reed Loefgren)
Subject: Very Newbie Reboot Question
Date: 2 Jan 2003 13:53:57 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com/


I have an SX-2000 Light system. I have never rebooted it except when
the power failed. I've looked in the docs I have and cannot find
mention of a command to reboot (or shutdown) except for: PROGrammed
Reboot SCHedule <blah> <blah>. I don't want to schedule a repetitive
reboot.

'spose I could issue 'reboot' but are there any systems that need to
be offline before I do this, or does reboot handle all this, like a PC
would?

Thanks for the handholding,


rl

------------------------------

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End of TELECOM Digest V22 #215
******************************

From editor@telecom-digest.org Thu Jan  2 22:50:41 2003
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To: ptownson
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Subject: TELECOM Digest V22 #216

TELECOM Digest     Thu, 2 Jan 2003 22:51:00 EST    Volume 22 : Issue 216

Inside This Issue:                            Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    Happy Birthday, Internet; But Which One? (Patrick Townson via Yahoo)
    FBI Nabs DirecTV-Sharing Student (Monty Solomon)
    $100K Reward for Stolen ID Data (Monty Solomon)
    Out the Door (Monty Solomon)
    There's No Place Like Home / Why American Teens Don't ... (Monty Solomon)
    U.S. TV Shows Losing Potency Around World (Monty Solomon)
    Professors Vie With Web for Class's Attention (Monty Solomon)
    Pact Lifts an Obstacle to HDTV Transition (Monty Solomon)
    Apple Releases iCal 1.0.1 and iSync 1.0 (Monty Solomon)
    TiVo, Best Buy Teamed to Deliver Short Film by Standard (Monty Solomon)
    EarthLink Announces High-Speed 'Safety Net' Program for DirecTV (Solomon)
    State Tracking Of Auto Movements By GPS Called 'Nutty' (Monty Solomon)
    Re: Free Caller ID? (joe@obilivan.net)
    Caller ID Problems (J. Kelly)
    Re: Call Waiting Prison and Telemarketers (John Higdon) 

All contents here are copyrighted by Patrick Townson and the
individual writers/correspondents. Articles may be used in other
journals or newsgroups, provided the writer's name and the Digest are
included in the fair use quote.  By using -any name or email address-
included herein for -any- reason other than responding to an article
herein, you agree to pay a hundred dollars to the recipients of the
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GET SUED IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT IF YOU GET CAUGHT SPAMMING OR SENDING
VIRUSES. DON'T DO IT.

See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and
the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 3 Jan 2003 02:56:08 -0000
From: Patrick Townson <ptownson@telecom-digest.org>
Subject: Happy Birthday, Internet; But Which One?


Did the Internet have its 20th birthday on January 1, or was it more
like its 33rd birthday as many claim?  Here is the full story, as it
appeared in Yahoo! News today.

Some Honoring Internet's 'Birthday'
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20030103/ap_on_hi_te/techbits_internet_bday


Patrick Townson

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 18:03:22 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: FBI Nabs DirecTV-Sharing Student


By Associated Press
11:46 AM Jan. 02, 2003 PT

WASHINGTON -- The FBI arrested a Russian college student Thursday who
was accused of stealing and distributing hundreds of secret documents
about new antipiracy technology from DirecTV, the nation's leading
satellite television company.

The student, identified as Igor Serebryany, 19, of Los Angeles, was
accused of sending over the Internet hundreds of sensitive documents
describing details about DirecTV's latest "access card" technology --
credit-card devices controlling which of the company's 11 million
U.S. subscribers can view particular channels.

http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,57039,00.html

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 18:05:17 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: $100K Reward for Stolen ID Data


By Associated Press
01:55 PM Jan. 02, 2003 PT

PHOENIX -- A government contractor posted a $100,000 reward Tuesday 
in the theft of Social Security numbers and other personal records of 
500,000 military service members and their families in 16 states.

The theft of computer hard drives from TriWest Healthcare Alliance 
could turn into one of the largest identity thefts on record if the 
information is misused, the Federal Trade Commission said.

On Tuesday, prosecutors and TriWest jointly announced the reward for 
information leading to the arrest and conviction of thieves who broke 
into Phoenix-based TriWest's office Dec. 14 and stole the equipment.

The theft came as the Defense Department is working to computerize 
the medical records of all military personnel.

The stolen computers have no connection to the larger project, but 
Pentagon officials are "going to learn from this issue and do what's 
necessary" to protect sensitive information, spokesman Jim Turner 
said.

The stolen hard drives contained names, addresses, phone numbers, 
medical claim histories and Social Security numbers.

http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,57045,00.html

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 18:12:44 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Out the Door


By BOB HERBERT

Merry Christmas. Get lost.

That, essentially, was the message Robert Pagein received from his 
employers -- make that former employers -- at Verizon Communications.

Mr. Pagein, who is married and has a year-old son, was a field
technician who had worked for the phone company for four years. One of
the lures of the job was its stability. The pay wasn't great, but it
was steady. If you were disciplined you could pay your bills, take a
vacation every year or so, and put a little aside.

That's the way it works in theory. In reality, Mr. Pagein was one of
2,400 Verizon workers in New York who were shown the door just a few
days before Christmas. Those workers formed the bulk of a pre-holiday
wave of terminations that claimed the jobs of 3,500 Verizon employees
in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states.

Mr. Pagein will not be destitute. His wife is working and he has a
college degree. But the cold-blooded way in which he and his fellow
workers were lopped off the employment rolls by Verizon, and the
phenomenal gap that exists between the compensation available to the
company's ordinary workers and the fabulous, multimillion-dollar
packages taken home by executives at the top of the Verizon pyramid,
has shaken his faith in a system he believed in.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/01/opinion/01HERB.html


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Welcome aboard, Mr. Pagein. A lot of us
have given up on the 'system' in the past few years. You are our newest
member in a growing club.  Don't forget when reading NYT articles, you
are invited to login using 'telecomdigest' with password 'telecomdigest'
to preserve your own privacy.   PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 18:23:51 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: There's No Place Like Home / Why American Teens Don't Want ...
There's No Place Like Home


Why American Teens Don't Want the New Cell Phones.

By Brendan I. Koerner

The past year was a thoroughly rotten one for America's wireless
industry, stung by price wars and tumbling demand. Pretty much
everyone who wants a cell phone already has one, and they're none too
eager to buy new $300-$400 handsets simply for the luxury of a sleeker
faceplate or a tidier address book. The only way for the mobile market
to grow is to get users psyched about data services, such as
downloading games, transmitting pictures, or the Short Messaging
Service, the wireless equivalent of instant messaging.  Which is why
T-Mobile hired Catherine Zeta-Jones to hawk its next-generation phones
and why Verizon's running those Euro-cool "Hello, Moto!" commercials
that trumpet cell phones as go-anywhere gaming machines.


http://slate.msn.com/id/2076197/

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 16:14:10 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: U.S. TV Shows Losing Potency Around World


By SUZANNE KAPNER

LONDON - Want to catch the latest episode of the CBS hit "C.S.I." in 
France? Tune in Saturdays at 11 p.m. How about the CBS show "Judging 
Amy" in Singapore? Try weekdays at midnight.

Those programs would have been candidates for prime time several 
years ago. But today American dramas and sitcoms -- though some 
remain popular -- increasingly occupy fringe time slots on foreign 
networks, industry executives say. Instead, a growing number of shows 
produced by local broadcasters are on the air at the best times.

"Whereas American TV shows used to occupy prime-time slots, they are
now more typically on cable, or airing in late-night or weekend
slots," said Michael Grindon, president of Sony Pictures Television
International.

The shift counters a longstanding assumption that TV shows produced in
the United States would continue to overshadow locally produced shows
from Singapore to Sicily. The changes are coming at a time when the
influence of the United States on international affairs has chafed
friends and foes alike, and some people are expressing relief that at
least on television American culture is no longer quite the force it
once was.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/02/business/businessspecial/02TUBE.html

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 17:07:15 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Professors Vie With Web for Class's Attention


By JOHN SCHWARTZ

Universities are rushing toward a wireless future, installing networks
that let students and the faculty surf the Internet from laptop
computers in the classroom, in the library or by those ponds that
always seem to show up on the cover of the campus brochure.

But professors say the technology poses a growing challenge for them:
retaining their students' attention.

In a classroom at American University in Washington on a recent 
afternoon, the benefits and drawbacks of the new wireless world were 
on display. From the back row of an amphitheater classroom, more than 
a dozen laptop screens were visible. As Prof. Jay Mallek lectured 
graduate students on the finer points of creating and reading an 
office budget, many students went online to Blackboard.com, a Web 
site that stores course materials, and grabbed the day's handouts 
from the ether.

But just as many students were off surfing. A young man looked at 
sports photos while a woman checked out baby photos that just arrived 
in her e-mailbox.

The screens provide a silent commentary on the teacher's
attention-grabbing skills. The moment he loses the thread, or fumbles
with his own laptop to use its calculator, screens flip from classroom
business to leisure. Students dash off e-mail notes and send instant
messages. A young man who is chewing gum shows an amusing e-mail
message to the woman next to him, and then switches over to read the
online edition of The Wall Street Journal.


http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/02/technology/02WIRE.html

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 17:07:27 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Pact Lifts an Obstacle to HDTV Transition


By ERIC A. TAUB

THE switch from analog to digital high-definition television has been 
slow and bumpy. But representatives of the consumer electronics and 
cable television industries predict that a new set of rules 
negotiated last month will accelerate the transition.

Soon purchasers of new high-definition, or HD, TV sets will be able 
to receive programming through their cable systems as easily as they 
now can with an analog set, by plugging a standard cable into the 
back of the television. Today most HDTV sets require a separate 
set-top box to receive digital cable programming, and the 
transmission standards differ from cable system to cable system.

Under an agreement between representatives of the Consumer 
Electronics Association and the National Cable and Telecommunications 
Association, new cable-ready HDTV's to be introduced in the next few 
years will be plug-and-play; they will no longer need a separate box 
to receive digital broadcasts, HDTV versions of pay services or any 
other available basic cable or pay-TV programming.

Up to now there has been no industry standard for how the cable 
companies transmit high-definition programming, so an HDTV-capable 
set-top box designed for one system may not work with another. The 
consumer electronics industry has long argued that consumers have 
delayed buying digital televisions because they did not know how to 
connect them to their cable services, did not know if they could 
record HDTV programs, did not want to use a separate converter box, 
or feared that the sets would become obsolete.


http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/02/technology/circuits/02teev.html

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 17:13:29 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Apple Releases iCal 1.0.1 and iSync 1.0


                  Apple Releases iCal 1.0.1 and iSync 1.0
                More Than 1 Million Copies of iCal Distributed

CUPERTINO, Calif., Jan. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Apple(R) (NASDAQ:AAPL) today
announced the immediate availability of iCal 1.0.1, an update to
Apple's innovative calendar program that lets users manage multiple
calendars and share them over the Internet, and the release of iSync
1.0, Apple's breakthrough synchronization software.  Since the
introduction of iCal in September, more than 1 million copies of iCal
have been distributed and more than 200,000 calendars have been
published online.


http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=30736310

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 17:15:18 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: TiVo, Best Buy Teamed to Deliver Short Film by Standard Film


                       Living Rooms of TiVo Households

   Best Buy Sponsored Short Film 'Waiting for Woody' Written, Starring and
    Directed by Grant Heslov and Featuring Performances by George Clooney,
       Jennifer Aniston, Richard Kind, Samantha Mathis and Tate Donovan

SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- TiVo
(NASDAQ:TIVO), the creator of and leader in television services for
digital video recorders (DVR), achieved yet another landmark this week
when it became the first DVR to team with an advertising partner, Best
Buy, to deliver original content that features some of the top names
in Hollywood.  "Waiting for Woody," a 30-minute short film produced by
the Standard Film Trust of Los Angeles, includes appearances from
Hollywood luminaries George Clooney and Jennifer Aniston. It made its
TiVo debut on Jan. 1.

http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=30739068

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 17:16:56 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: EarthLink Announces High-Speed 'Safety Net' Program for DirecTV


EarthLink Announces High-Speed 'Safety Net' Program for DirecTV DSL Customers

  ISP With Largest National High-Speed Footprint Announces Special Offer for
   Customers to Stay Connected and Switch to EarthLink High Speed Internet

ATLANTA, Jan. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- EarthLink (NASDAQ:ELNK)
today announced a High-Speed Internet "Safety Net" program enabling
eligible DirecTV DSL customers to easily transition their service to
EarthLink high speed with no activation and equipment fees.  New,
eligible customers can transition to EarthLink DSL and pay only $21.95
a month for the first three months of service.  In addition, EarthLink
is offering customers a dial-up promotion featuring 45 days of free
dial-up Internet access, as well as special offers for new customers
opting for EarthLink's high-speed cable or satellite service.  DirecTV
DSL, which serves approximately 160,000 customers, announced in
December that it would cease operations later this month.

http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=30739430

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 17:57:45 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: State Tracking Of Auto Movements By GPS Called 'Nutty'


By Marc Morano
CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer
January 02, 2003

(CNSNews.com) - If a proposal by an Oregon State task force becomes
law, the government would be able to use satellite equipment to keep
track of each driver's mileage and tax that driver accordingly in
order to pay for road repairs.

Even the state administrator who proposed the plan thinks citizens 
"should be concerned" about the possibility of civil liberties 
violations. And Chris Edwards, director of fiscal policy at the free 
market Cato Institute, told CNSNews.com, "I think it's nutty and I 
don't think it's ever going to happen.

<http://www.CNSNews.com/ViewPolitics.asp?Page=\Politics\archive\200301\POL20030102a.html>

------------------------------

From: joe@obilivan.net
Subject: Re: Free Caller ID?
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 10:00:34 GMT
Organization: Cox Communications


So, you figure because no one likes TPC that it is okay to accept "free"
services, such as Caller ID in this case, that are tariffed for sale?

Sounds like two-wrongs-make-a-right syndrome.

> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Telco -- especially Ameritech -- does
> not give anything for free. Telco -- especially Ameritech -- is notorious
> about accounting and billing errors. Has your friend yet received any
> bills at this new phone number?  If not, watch and see what the bill
> reflects when it begins arriving each month. If he is already getting
> bills on the number, and caller  ID is not one of the items on the
> bill, then he should consider himself lucky, and hope that one of
> their 'routine audits' from time to time does not eventually catch up
> with the error. Needless to say, if he ever moves to new premises or
> for any other reason invokes a service rep to look at and examine
> his bill, his 'free ride' on caller ID may come to an end. If a
> routine audit does eventually find the error, most telcos have a
> policy of only back-billing for a year, and sometimes they wil write
> it off and start fresh.

> I had this happen to me about twenty years ago. I was living in a
> near-north side apartment hotel in Chicago with switchboard service
> for the tenants. I ordered a private phone for my apartment. It took
> a *full year* before Illinois Bell decided to start billing me for it.
> And that was only because some damn phreak made a couple of phraud
> long distance calls which were coin-rated and they had to bill me. I
> had what Bell referred to as 'unlimited extended call-pack' which
> meant there were never any additional charges to anywhere in the old
> area 312. I was *most careful* never to dial a long distance call on
> that phone. Anyway, some phreak made a credit card call or somehow
> billed my number. When the charges finally came through the accounting
> department, no record of my number was found; the charges went into a
> suspense ledger pending an investigator personally looking at the
> charges and trying to figure them out. This time the investigator
> dialed my number -- expecting to get an intercept, no such number
> message -- but instead it rang open on my end (I was not at home),
> so the investigator called the plant or central office and asked them
> what they knew. He was told it had been in service for about a year,
> and that apparently 'someone' had never sent the paperwork to the
> accounting office; only to plant to get the number turned on. Lazy,
> incompetent service reps!  The investigator saw to it the paperwork
> got into accounting, and he personally back-billed me for service for
> the eleven months the phone had been there to date.

> So you can never tell for sure about these things. Your friend may or
> may not ever get a bill for the caller ID service. But better tell
> him to not *ever* get into an argument with some smart-mouth service
> rep who takes it on herself to review his service entirely.    PAT]

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I can assure you that if it had been
the other way around -- where TPC owed me money, and that did happen
just two months ago -- TPC would have had no concern about refunding
it to me. They would have -- and in fact did -- let it go until I just
happened to review my account on line one day and saw where I had a 
new 'credit balance-do not pay' situation. Then I discovered that on
October 6 they had made the usual deduction from my bank account (I 
pay by autodraft) then again on October 26 took it out a second time. 
When *I* called to complain about it, they first tried to tell me they
would just use it for the next month's bill. When I made my usual
(almost monthly, it seems) call to the Commission offices in Topeka,
I got a call the next day from the usual flunky in the chairman's
office who said she would refund it. I didn't hold my breath waiting,
but about two weeks later I got the refund. Listen Joe, I am getting
to be *so tired* of being a service rep for my own account with those
people. If I have to audit my account on line a couple times per month
to see the lastest stunt they have pulled, then they can do the same 
for me. PAT]
------------------------------

From: J Kelly <usenet-replies002@pileof_remove-me_monkeycrap.com>
Subject: Caller ID Problems
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 09:08:08 -0600
Organization: http://extra.newsguy.com


Does anyone have any suggestions on resolving a problem I have been
having with Caller ID for the past 13 months?

Here's is what is happening: When I receive some *Local* calls,
generally either from a business or a county/municipal office, I only
recieve the last 4 digits of the number.  Instead of seeing
319-334-1234 I will only get 1234 on the display.  Any display, even a
brand new one plugged in all by itself, nothing else on the line.
Name appears as Unavailable.

Residential callers in the same exchange will appear correctly with
their name displayed, as do long distance and cellular calls (without
the name of course on cellular calls).  

This all started one magical day when I was switched from Qwest to
McLeod USA local service service.  Of course, McCleod being the CLEC
blamed Qwest (it is their switch after all) and Qwest of course blamed
McLeod saying they probably have a bad switch configuration, as if
McLeod had their own switch here (they don't).

I switched back to Qwest a month later to hopefully resolve that
problem, and the problem of not having any long distance service due
to McLeod/Qwest totally screwing up my line so that an invalid PIC was
selected.  That fixed nothing.  Eventually Qwest addmitted the long
distance thing was human error on their part and trasnferred me to
someone in the switch engineering group who fixed it.

Still, over a year later, they cannot seem to find a problem with the
caller id and blame McLeod USA, who is most likely the carrier of all
the callers showing up incorrectly.

Dozens of trouble tickets later, nothing has been found, each trouble
ticket results in a tech making a call from the CO and saying "look ,
it works" and closing the ticket out.

Anything suggestions to get this fixed would be appreciated.

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Try not paying them for a couple months
until *they* get around to calling you to ask for it. Then when they
do, tell them you want the Caller ID fixed once and for all.   PAT]

------------------------------

From: John Higdon <no-spam@amadeus.kome.com>
Subject: Re: Call Waiting Prison and Telemarketers
Organization: Green Hills and Cows
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 18:59:54 -0800


In article <telecom22.215.8@telecom-digest.org>, dold@75.usenet.us.com 
wrote:

> CB <berry_s@hotmail.com> wrote:

>> Then, of course, you have Call Waiting - Caller ID so you can look and
>> see who is trying to reach you and then make the appropriate decisions
>> as to wether you should terminate the first call and take the second,
>> ignore the second caller, etc.

> I had that feature in a house where three people were sharing a phone.
> Technically, it is an annoyance, as you now get to hear, not only the call
> waiting tone, but apparently the caller ID burst of modem data.
> Nice feature, bad implementation.

Actually, I kind of like it. I used to miss the anemic Call-Waiting tone 
constantly. Ever since the passing of the 1A-ESS switches, the tone can 
be easily missed if one is not paying attention ... or talking. When the 
CID bursts started appearing with the CW tone, it could no longer be 
ignored.


John Higdon     | Email Address Valid | SF:  +1 415 428-COWS
+1 408 264 4115 |     Anytown, USA    | FAX: +1 408 264 4407

------------------------------

TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not
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It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated 
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TELECOM Digest is a not-for-profit, mostly non-commercial educational
service offered to the Internet by Patrick Townson. All the contents
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Our attorney is Bill Levant, of Blue Bell, PA.

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All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any
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End of TELECOM Digest V22 #216
******************************
    
    
    
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Subject: TELECOM Digest V22 #217

TELECOM Digest     Fri, 3 Jan 2003 22:53:00 EST    Volume 22 : Issue 217

Inside This Issue:                            Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    WorldCom Ups Rates for Consumers, Not Businesses (Monty Solomon)
    Over 140,000 Join List to Block Telemarketers (Monty Solomon)
    Signup Begun to Ward Off Telemarketers (Monty Solomon)
    Government Openness at Issue as Bush Holds On to Records (Monty Solomon)
    Student Charged in DirecTV Theft (Monty Solomon)
    Companies in U.S. Sing Blues as Europe Reprises 50's Hits (Monty Solomon)
    Re: Very Newbie Reboot Question (Geoffrey Welsh)
    Re: Caller ID Problems (John Higdon)
    Re: Caller ID Problems (Paul A Lee)
    Re: Caller ID Problems (Tony Pelliccio)
    Re: Free Caller ID? (Ed Ellers)
    Re: Free Caller ID? (Rich Greenberg)
    Re: Free Caller ID? (joe@obilivan.net)
    Re: Prison Call Overcharging (Dave Phelps)
    Re: Modular ICS + Startalk (Dave Phelps)
    RBOCs Charging Extra $10/Month For More Than One DSL Host (P. Earnhardt)
    Re: Why Won't my Sprint PCS Phone Roam? (Samsung SCH-3500) (Linc Madison)
    Re: Out the Door (Ron Chapman)
    Re: Pact Lifts an Obstacle to HDTV Transition (John Stahl)
    Rural WV and High Speed Internet (Kim Brennan)
    Fido Operator Staves Off Bankruptcy (Joey Lindstrom)

All contents here are copyrighted by Patrick Townson and the
individual writers/correspondents. Articles may be used in other
journals or newsgroups, provided the writer's name and the Digest are
included in the fair use quote.  By using -any name or email address-
included herein for -any- reason other than responding to an article
herein, you agree to pay a hundred dollars to the recipients of the
email. WE DO NOT PERMIT NAME/EMAIL ADDRESS HARVESTING FROM THIS
JOURNAL. 'SALTED' EMAIL ADDRESSES APPEAR HEREIN TO VERIFY THIS. YOU
GET SUED IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT IF YOU GET CAUGHT SPAMMING OR SENDING
VIRUSES. DON'T DO IT.

See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and
the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 19:26:39 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: WorldCom Ups Rates For Consumers, Not Businesses


By Jessica Hall

    PHILADELPHIA, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Bankrupt telephone and data
services company WorldCom Inc. <WCOEQ.PK> <MCWEQ.PK> has hiked
long-distance calling rates for residential customers, but
corporate customers still can bargain for sweet deals on
large-scale voice and data contracts, analysts said on Friday.

    WorldCom has raised consumer long-distance fees four times
since it filed for bankruptcy in July, marking a reversal of
the ferocious price wars of the late 1990s that drove calling
rates down to pennies-a-minute.

    But prices in the corporate market remain flat-to-slightly
lower as WorldCom scrambles to retain its lucrative clients and
rivals swoop in to nab customers skittish over WorldCom's
bankruptcy and $9 billion accounting scandal.

     - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=30748299

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 19:38:03 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Over 140,000 Join List to Block Telemarketers


By Bruce Mohl, Globe Staff, 1/3/2003

More than 140,000 people signed up for the state's do-not-call list in
its first two days of official operation, indicating that
Massachusetts consumers have a strong interest in curtailing the flow
of telemarketing calls coming into their homes.

Anne L. Collins, deputy director of the state's office of consumer
affairs, said about 20,000 Massachusetts residents signed up in the
days leading up to the official opening of the list on New Year's
Day. On Wednesday and yesterday, she said, another 140,000 signed up.


http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/003/business/Over_140_000_join_list_to_block_telemarketers+.shtml

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 19:51:08 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Signup Begun to Ward Off Telemarketers


By Associated Press, 1/1/2003

Massachusetts has launched its 'Do Not Call' registry, which allows 
residents to block telemarketing calls to their homes, and state 
officials are expecting a huge response.

The registry was set up quietly over the weekend, ahead of the 
announced Jan. 1 start date, and officials said more than 10,000 
people have already signed up.

Massachusetts has about 3 million residential phone lines, and state 
officials are predicting about a million of those consumers will sign 
up within the first month.


http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/001/metro/Signup_begun_to_ward_off_telemarketers+.shtml

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 21:00:01 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Government Openness at Issue as Bush Holds On to Records


By ADAM CLYMER

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2 - The Bush administration has put a much tighter
lid than recent presidents on government proceedings and the public
release of information, exhibiting a penchant for secrecy that has
been striking to historians, legal experts and lawmakers of both
parties.

Some of the Bush policies, like closing previously public court
proceedings, were prompted by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and are
part of the administration's drive for greater domestic security.
Others, like Vice President Dick Cheney's battle to keep records of
his energy task force secret, reflect an administration that arrived
in Washington determined to strengthen the authority of the executive
branch, senior administration officials say.

Some of the changes have sparked a passionate public debate and
excited political controversy. But other measures taken by the Bush
administration to enforce greater government secrecy have received
relatively little attention, masking the proportions of what dozens of
experts described in recent interviews as a sea change in government
openness.

A telling example came in late 2001 when Attorney General John 
Ashcroft announced the new policy on the Freedom of Information Act, 
a move that attracted relatively little public attention.

Although the new policy for dealing with the 1966 statute that has 
opened millions of pages of government records to scholars, reporters 
and the public was announced after Sept. 11, it had been planned well 
before the attacks.

The Ashcroft directive encouraged federal agencies to reject requests 
for documents if there was any legal basis to do so, promising that 
the Justice Department would defend them in court. It was a stark 
reversal of the policy set eight years earlier, when the Clinton 
administration told agencies to make records available whenever they 
could, even if the law provided a reason not to, so long as there was 
no "foreseeable harm" from the release.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/03/politics/03SECR.html

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 21:05:47 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Student Charged in DirecTV Theft


By JENNIFER 8. LEE

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2 - A 19-year-old University of Chicago student was
arrested in Los Angeles today and charged with stealing trade secrets
from DirecTV, the nation's leading satellite television provider.

Federal prosecutors said that Igor Serebryany of Los Angeles would be 
charged under the rarely used 1996 Economic Espionage Act with 
stealing the documents -- which described the latest technology to 
control access to DirecTV -- and releasing them on the Internet. He 
faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Prosecutors said Mr. Serebryany, a sophomore at the University of 
Chicago, stole confidential papers about DirecTV's latest generation 
of satellite television smart cards from the law firm of Jones, Day, 
Reavis & Pogue. Mr. Serebryany, who worked for an outside document 
preparation company, was imaging papers for a civil lawsuit over 
DirecTV's card technology.

Jones Day represents DirecTV in a lawsuit against NDS, the company 
that designs encrypted satellite cards for DirecTV. According to 
prosecutors, Mr. Serebryany sent hundreds of digital documents to 
three satellite pirate Web sites in September and October.

The confidential documents contained technical specifications for 
DirecTV's Period 4 generation of satellite smart cards, as well as 
correspondence between NDS and DirecTV discussing the card's 
architecture and design, according to DirectTV. The technical details 
about the card are valuable because the three previous generations of 
DirecTV access cards have already been hacked by pirates.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/03/technology/03PIRA.html

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 21:08:14 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Companies in U.S. Sing Blues as Europe Reprises 50's Hits


By ANTHONY TOMMASINI

European copyright protection is expiring on a collector's trove of
1950's jazz, opera and early rock 'n' roll albums, forcing major
American record companies to consider deals with bootleg labels and
demand new customs barriers.

Already reeling from a stagnant economy and the illegal but widespread
downloading of copyrighted music from the Internet, the recording
companies will now face a perfectly legal influx of European
recordings of popular works.

Copyright protection lasts only 50 years in European Union countries,
compared with 95 years in the United States, even if the recordings
were originally made and released in America. So recordings made in
the early- to mid-1950's - by figures like Maria Callas, Elvis Presley
and Ella Fitzgerald - are entering the public domain in Europe,
opening the way for any European recording company to release albums
that had been owned exclusively by particular labels.

Although the distribution of such albums would be limited to Europe in
theory, record-store chains and specialty outlets in the United States
routinely stock foreign imports.

Expiring copyrights could mean much cheaper recordings for music
lovers, but they do not bode well for major record companies. (These
copyrights apply to only the recordings, not the music recorded.) The
expected crush of material entering the public domain has already sent
one giant company, EMI Classics, into a shotgun marriage with a
renegade label that it had long tried to shut down to protect its
lucrative Callas discography. The influx also has the American record
industry talking about erecting a customs barrier.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/03/arts/music/03COPY.html

------------------------------

From: Geoffrey Welsh <geoffrey_welsh@bigfoot.com>
Subject: Re: Very Newbie Reboot Question
Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 15:56:27 -0500


Reed Loefgren <reedl@tatteredcover.com>:

> I have an SX-2000 Light system. I have never rebooted it except when
> the power failed.

DISCLAIMER: I do not speak for Mitel, nor for any Mitel dealer, nor have I
ever received any formal Mitel training.

After a respectable amount of downtime-free (thanks to a decent UPS
and lots of spare batteries) running time, a couple of the lines
between our SX-2000 and our Mitel Mail system started acting
unreliably.  Our dealer's technician told us to reboot it.  When
prompted for advice on how, he said just shut it off and on again.

So, long after business hours, we basically simulated a power failure
by switching off the UPS rather than flip individual switches (we have
several cabinets.)

Everything came back fine.

Of course, that's no guarantee that you'll be blessed by the same fate!

------------------------------

From: John Higdon <no-spam@amadeus.kome.com>
Subject: Re: Caller ID Problems
Organization: Green Hills and Cows
Date: Fri, 03 Jan 2003 09:02:06 -0800


In article <telecom22.216.14@telecom-digest.org>, J Kelly
<usenet-replies002@pileof_remove-me_monkeycrap.com> wrote:

> Here's is what is happening: When I receive some *Local* calls,
> generally either from a business or a county/municipal office, I only
> recieve the last 4 digits of the number.  Instead of seeing
> 319-334-1234 I will only get 1234 on the display.  Any display, even a
> brand new one plugged in all by itself, nothing else on the line.
> Name appears as Unavailable.

Misconfigurations of the originating PBX can cause this. Your former 
telco apparently was "filling in" the missing data, such as area code 
and prefix and your new telco does not. 

Not sure who's responsibility this might be, but the root cause of the 
problem is associated with the callers' equipment, not your telco or 
your CID terminal equipment.

> Still, over a year later, they cannot seem to find a problem with the
> caller id and blame McLeod USA, who is most likely the carrier of all
> the callers showing up incorrectly.

> Dozens of trouble tickets later, nothing has been found, each trouble
> ticket results in a tech making a call from the CO and saying "look ,
> it works" and closing the ticket out.

I'll bet that they ultimately discover the problem in the originating 
PBXes.

John Higdon     | Email Address Valid | SF:  +1 415 428-COWS
+1 408 264 4115 |     Anytown, USA    | FAX: +1 408 264 4407

------------------------------

From: Paul A Lee <palee@riteaid.com>
Subject: Re: Caller ID Problems
Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 10:31:04 -0500


In TELECOM Digest V22 #216, J Kelly
<usenet-replies002@pileof_remove-me_monkeycrap.com> wrote (in part):

> Here's is what is happening: When I receive some *Local* calls,
> generally either from a business or a county/municipal office, I only
> recieve the last 4 digits of the number.  Instead of seeing
> 319-334-1234 I will only get 1234 on the display.  Any display, even a
> brand new one plugged in all by itself, nothing else on the line.
> Name appears as Unavailable.

It could be that the calls are coming from a PBX via ISDN-PRI trunks,
and the originating telco expects the CPID from the PBX, which doesn't
deliver complete information. Some telcos overlook the CPID from the
PBX and send the BTN (billing telephone number) of the subscriber site
as CPID for all calls. Perhaps while you were switching telcos, some
CPID and/or trunking changes were being made at the offices you're now
seeing four digits only from.

I've dealt with a Nortel Meridian system that defaults to delivering
the extension number (last four digits) only. To get it to send
accurate, complete CPID requires some major reprogramming. Some other
PBXs may behave like the Nortel in this regard.

The agencies and businesses that you're seeing four digits and no name
from may not be aware of what's being sent with their calls. Chances
are, if they're not aware of it, there will be no way to explain it to
them, either.


Paul A Lee            <palee@riteaid.com>         Voice: +1 717 730-8355
Sr Telecom Engineer   [Voice & Transmission]        Fax: +1 717 975-3789
Rite Aid Corporation, Telecomm, 30 Hunter Lane, Camp Hill, PA 17011-2410

------------------------------

From: Tony Pelliccio <tonypo1@cox.takemeout2.net>
Subject: Re: Caller ID Problems
Organization: The Ace Tomatoe and Cement Company
Date: Fri, 03 Jan 2003 06:55:52 GMT


In article <telecom22.216.14@telecom-digest.org>, usenet-replies002
@pileof_remove-me_monkeycrap.com says:

> Does anyone have any suggestions on resolving a problem I have been
> having with Caller ID for the past 13 months?

> Here's is what is happening: When I receive some *Local* calls,
> generally either from a business or a county/municipal office, I only
> recieve the last 4 digits of the number.  Instead of seeing
> 319-334-1234 I will only get 1234 on the display.  Any display, even a
> brand new one plugged in all by itself, nothing else on the line.
> Name appears as Unavailable.

The problem he's experiencing is because the PBX's used by those 
business and government agencies are probably fed via PRI and their 
switches (More likely than not AT&T/Lucent/Avaya G3i) lets the agency 
set the outbound caller-ID information. 


Tony

------------------------------

From: Ed Ellers <ed_ellers@msn.com>
Subject: Re: Free Caller ID?
Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 23:44:37 -0500


<joe@obilivan.net> wrote:

> So, you figure because no one likes TPC that it is okay to accept "free"
services, such as Caller ID in this case, that are tariffed for sale?

> Sounds like two-wrongs-make-a-right syndrome.

It's the telco's job to provision the line properly.  If they turn on
something extra by mistake, it's not my obligation to tell them.  In a
situation like this the customer is blameless (unlike, for example,
one where a cable TV customer climbs the pole to remove a trap in
order to get HBO for free).

------------------------------

From: richgr@panix.com (Rich Greenberg)
Subject: Re: Free Caller ID?
Date: 3 Jan 2003 10:00:57 -0500
Organization: Organized?  Me?


> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: 

> happened to review my account on line one day and saw where I had a 
> new 'credit balance-do not pay' situation. Then I discovered that on
> October 6 they had made the usual deduction from my bank account (I 
> pay by autodraft) then again on October 26 took it out a second time. 

This is exactly why I let NOBODY autodraft my account.  I get the
paper bill, its due date is (say) Jan 16.  It goes on a stack on my
desk, and whenever a few have accumulated I log on to electronic bill
pay from my bank and pay them.  In most cases I will set the pay-on
date to the day before the due date, Jan 15 in this example.

Haven't had a problem with it yet, takes about the same time & effort
as writing a check and mailing it, and costs $0.00 instead of $0.37.


Rich Greenberg   Work:  Rich.Greenberg atsign worldspan.com   +1 770-563-6656
N6LRT   Marietta, GA, USA   Play: richgr atsign panix.com     +1 770-321-6507
Eastern time zone.   I speak for myself & my dogs only.     VM'er since CP-67
Canines:Val(Chinook,CGC,TT), Red & Shasta(Husky,(RIP))        Owner:Chinook-L
Atlanta Siberian Husky Rescue. www.panix.com/~richgr/   Asst Owner:Sibernet-L

------------------------------

From: joe@obilivan.net
Subject: Re: Free Caller ID?
Date: Fri, 03 Jan 2003 10:47:59 GMT
Organization: Cox Communications


> (I pay by autodraft)

That is a dangerous practice to permit TPC unfettered access to your
bank account.  Just imagine one of those erroneous long distance or
"enhanced" services hitting your bill, then the TPC wipes out your
bank account.  Now, you get to argue with them while they have your
money and your outstanding checks all bounce.

A lot of folks don't realize how volitile electronic debit
authorizations can be, unlike credit card charges where they don't get
your money until you decide to let them have it.  Electronic debits
should be limited to recurring charges that are fixed in amount, such
as a mortgage or car payment.

"Let the buyer beware" is really on-target with electronic debit
authorizations.

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Although the problems you discuss are
very real, I still find it easier for me to use autodraft for my
regular, recurring bills, such as gas and electric. Both of those
bills are fixed amounts (budget plan) so I know what they will be. The
cable bill is also a fixed amount and autodrafted. City of Independence
water/sewer/garbage pickup is also a fixed amount (with a small tolerance)
each month for a year at a time, so is also autodrafted. The only bill
which can be trouble is Southwestern Bell. But I have two things in my
favor there; or maybe three. I have numerous blocks on my line with my
okay:  no 900 calls, billed number screeing, and I make most of my
long distance calls on the cellphone or AOL-by-Phone (they are free in
most cases), but I still keep a one hundred minute package of time for
LD on my phone, which costs six dollars. So by and large, my phone and
DSL service are fixed at about $90 per month. I do not expect many
surprises there; aggravations from SWB, yes; surprises, no. Also, SWB
puts the new bill on line for review four weeks before they actually
debit it, and finally, I have a very friendly and understanding bank
manager. My bank statements are on line also. It is unimaginable to me
that anyone could make off with any money from my account, but I do
watch my balance and the various debits which go through rather closely.
When a bank only has seven or eight employees, period, and each of
them has a key to the front door, there is not a lot to worry about 
where the bank is concerned. I do understand your thoughts however,
and if I were still living in Chicago, IL or another large city where
no one cares about anything, I'd probably not do autodraft either.  PAT]  

------------------------------

From: Dave Phelps <tippenring@deadspam.com>
Subject: Re: Prison Call Overcharging
Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 00:40:14 -0600


In article <telecom22.212.2@telecom-digest.org>, hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com 
says:

> Inmates in prison may make collect calls to their families.  However,
> the family is charged very steep fees for such calls -- much more than
> today's routine collect call charges.  For example, $3 for the first
> minute, $1 each additional minute.

> This appears to be a common practice across the U.S.

[snip]

Of course it is. These jailcell phones are being installed in jails in 
my area that charge similar outrageous amounts. The local PD gets 40-50% 
of the take. What representative, councilperson, or mayor will argue 
with that? It's much more convenient as well because an officer or 
jailer doesn't have to take a prisoner out of the cell, to a phone, dial 
the number, etc. These phones are installed in the cells, so the 
prisoner can use the phone whenever they like. 

Convenience, reduced manpower requirements, and make a profit? Seems 
like a no-brainer to our ethically-challenged politicians.


Dave Phelps
deadspam=tippenring

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Now, if they could only set more
reasonable and fair rates, it would be hard to quarrel with the idea.
But they won't. That's where ethics and challenges come into it. There
are a lot of very difficult problems in corrections, not the least of
which is corrections employees who have a vested interest in keeping
their jobs, and that assurance is best met by making sure the inmate
population continues to rise month after month, year after year.
Keeping inmates out of touch with their family and friends and the
rest of society is one way to insure the return rate will continue to
stay very high. What's wrong with your final sentence, Dave, is that
corrections is not supposed to be a profit making enterprise.   PAT] 

------------------------------

From: Dave Phelps <tippenring@deadspam.com>
Subject: Re: Modular ICS + Startalk
Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 00:55:29 -0600


In article <telecom22.215.9@telecom-digest.org>, harryhydro@hotmail.com 
says:

>     I hope I'm giving you enough info.  This ICS has system version
> SP: 30JBM03 NAT.  In the past we've tried to put a Startalk on but had
> problems that was stated to be System Version issues..  Is this ture
> or is this system capable of supporting a Startalk?

I don't believe the Startalk will work properly with MICS 2.0 and later.


Dave Phelps
Phone Masters Ltd.
deadspam=tippenring

------------------------------

From: Phil Earnhardt <pae@dim.com>
Subject: RBOCs Charging Extra $10/Month For More Than One Host on DSL
Date: Fri, 03 Jan 2003 00:33:00 -0700
Organization: http://extra.newsguy.com


Apparently, at least one of the RBOCs is charging an extra $10/month
to hook up multiple computers to the same DSL feed. Given that their
DSL modems have both DHCP and NAT, how could the RBOC's ISP tell that
you had more than one computer inside the modem's firewall? Even if it
could, what would keep you from having your "one computer connected to
the Internet" be a router/firewall?

$10/month sounds really steep for this, especially when routers with 4
switched ports cost around $60 to purchase.

Does anybody know the companies are thinking? If you know how to do
this yourself, do they really care?

phil

------------------------------

From: Linc Madison <nobody@example.com>
Subject: Re: Why Won't my Sprint PCS Phone Roam? (Samsung SCH-3500)
Date: Fri, 03 Jan 2003 02:19:27 -0800
Organization: LincMad.com Consulting
Reply-To: Telecom@LincMad.com


In article <telecom22.211.10@telecom-digest.org>, Steven J. Sobol
<sjsobol@JustThe.net> wrote:

> Can you give more details? Have you checked over on
> alt.cellular.sprintpcs as to why this might not be working?

John Levine pinpointed the problem. The specific phone I have (Samsung
SCH-3500) has three roaming options: "Sprint PCS" (no roaming),
"Analog" (roaming only, on the analog cellular network), or
"Automatic" (prefer PCS, but also roam on digital or analog
networks). I was using the "Analog" setting, under the mistaken
impression that it was equivalent to "Automatic" in areas with no PCS
service. I figured it would save me the time of first trying to get a
PCS signal before dropping over onto the roaming side. It turns out I
was shutting out digital roaming options. It is also possible that the
analog network wouldn't accept my call because I was on a digital
phone in an area with digital service.

I can't test the theory right at the moment, though, because putting
the phone in "Automatic" mode here just pops it into the PCS network.
I'll give it a try the next time I'm travelling outside PCS territory.


www dot LincMad dot com  / Telecom at LincMad dot com
Linc Madison  *  San Francisco, California

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 07:33:52 -0500
From: Ron Chapman <ronchapman@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: Out the Door


In article <telecom22.216.4@telecom-digest.org>, Monty Solomon
<monty@roscom.com> wrote:

> Mr. Pagein will not be destitute. His wife is working and he has a
> college degree. But the cold-blooded way in which he and his fellow
> workers were lopped off the employment rolls by Verizon, and the
> phenomenal gap that exists between the compensation available to the
> company's ordinary workers and the fabulous, multimillion-dollar
> packages taken home by executives at the top of the Verizon pyramid,
> has shaken his faith in a system he believed in.

> http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/01/opinion/01HERB.html

You know, over the past couple of years it's become obvious to me that
the white collar worker is the ne