From editor@telecom-digest.org Fri Aug 27 14:54:23 2004 Received: (from ptownson@localhost) by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.6p3/8.11.6) id i7RIsNg19292; Fri, 27 Aug 2004 14:54:23 -0400 (EDT) Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004 14:54:23 -0400 (EDT) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <200408271854.i7RIsNg19292@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 V23 #401 TELECOM Digest Fri, 27 Aug 2004 14:54:00 EDT Volume 23 : Issue 401 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson U.S. Says Over 100 Arrested in Internet Crime Sweep (Monty Solomon) NBC Sees Last-Minute Olympic Profit Boost (Monty Solomon) Re: OS Preference (Fred Atkinson) Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind (Lisa Hancock) Re: Cincinnati Bell Alternatives (Tony P.) Re: Book Review: Fighting Spam for Dummies, Levine/Young/Church (Levine) Europe's Coming Leader in Broadband is France (Marcus Didius Falco) Forced Ads on Auto Response System (Lisa Hancock) NorVergence & the FTC (North Jersey Media Group Inc.) Response to "Hundreds Arrested in Internet Crime Sweep" (Withheld) Perfisans Delivers New Chip to Key Motherboard Makers (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. =========================== Addresses herein are not to be added to any mailing list, nor to be sold or given away without explicit written consent. Chain letters, viruses, porn, spam, and miscellaneous junk are definitely unwelcome. We must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands against crime. Geoffrey Welsh =========================== See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004 17:36:24 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: U.S. Says Over 100 Arrested in Internet Crime Sweep By Andy Sullivan and Peter Kaplan WASHINGTON, Aug 26 (Reuters) - More than 100 people have been arrested in the largest global crackdown to date on identity theft, hacking and other Internet-based crimes, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft said on Thursday. The arrests followed a three-month investigation into a range of crimes from reselling co-workers' Social Security numbers to disabling Web sites, Ashcroft said. - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=43320357 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004 17:41:49 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: NBC Sees Last-Minute Olympic Profit Boost LOS ANGELES, Aug 26 (Reuters) - NBC Universal, riding high on a Summer Olympics that appears on track to set a record for viewership, will beat early forecasts and turn a profit of $60 million to $70 million for its coverage of the Games from Athens, an NBC executive said on Thursday. With ratings running ahead of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, executives said the network was able to release some advertising inventory that had been held back in case of a "make goods" situation, in which networks offer free time to advertisers if they fall short of ratings commitments. The released time translated into $20 million to $25 million in extra business, all of which went to the bottom line, said one executive who asked to remain anonymous. NBC had previously said it expected Athens to be as profitable as Sydney, which sources pegged at around $50 million. Through 12 days of competition, NBC's prime-time coverage of the Athens games was up 8 percent in the ratings compared with Sydney, according to Nielsen Media Research. Similarly, the other NBC Universal networks carrying the Games -- MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Bravo and Telemundo -- were also up sharply. While it was too early to say definitively what sort of effect the Games would have on the networks, particularly their non-Olympic programming, NBC Universal said there were some early positive indications. - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=43314507 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004 13:47:02 PDT Subject: Re: OS Preference From: Fred Atkinson What's wrong with upgrading the hard drive? They are cheap these days? I just got through upgrading from a machine with a ten gigabyte hard drive to a thirty gigabyte hard drive and installed Windows 2000 on the new machine. Fred On Tue, 24 Aug 2004 12:30:47 PDT, in comp.dcom.telecom you wrote: > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Isn't Win 98 or Win 2000 actually > preferable and more flexible for most people anyway? PAT] > It depends :-) The computer I am typing on right now is Win98. The > main reason it's not getting updated is it's 4 GB Hard Drive. 2000 & > XP are too big. > The computer next to it is a laptop running Win2000. Not my choice, > but the IT setup is 5 year old Os's on 5 year old machines :-( > My two home machines (one laptop and on desktop) both run XP > Home. It's stable, supports USB2.0, and matches the newer hardware. My > rule of thumb is if you have at least 128 Mb of RAM, 20 GB of hard > drive and no offending hardware; run XP. The added features justify > it. > Mark L. Smith smith@stones.com http://smith.freehosting.net ------------------------------ From: hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com (Lisa Hancock) Subject: Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind Date: 26 Aug 2004 14:05:17 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com SELLCOM Tech support wrote > I just went from a "poor Microsoft why are they persecuting it" to a > "Microsoft is really really dangerous and something needs to be done" > in only a few short hours. What caused this great change of heart > you might ask? The answer is "XP". I held out for as long as I could > without buying it, but ... In the IBM mainframe world, if you happen to have an old program from 40 (forty) years ago, you can still run it without change on current machines and operating systems. The backward compatibility is there. (Yes, most old programs would have needed Y2k changes, and there was changes from COBOL to COBOL-II/MVS, but basically everything is the same). Actually, if you had programs that were 50 (fifty) years old from an earlier generation of IBM mainframes (ie 1401 or 7090 series from the 1950s) you could STILL run them without change, too. I know of people who did just that until at least the mid 1990s. The 1948 Western Electric rotary phone on my desk works just fine, by the way. The Centrex ESS still accepts rotary dial pulses and the ringing current still rings the telephone. Voice clarity is fine. Those are pretty good records of supporting someone's software/ hardware investment. I don't think Microsoft chooses to follow that way of doing business. On the other hand, Microsoft keeps rolling out new and changed operating systems year after year. As a person of limited means who tends to keep his computers for as long as possible, my personal software becomes "obsolete" and this creates problems. Intel keeps making faster and faster chips. At work, when they upgraded me from MS Word 6.0 to Word 2000, I discovered that my macros were obsolete and had to be recoded, plus other things were changed around. I had to WASTE considerable time getting things back to how I liked them. People say the new products have new features, but most of us do not NEED the new features. I do plenty of writing and Word 6.0 met all of my needs just fine. As to chip speed, it's like using an atom bomb to kill a rabbit. Many years ago, the people at GM (by Alfred Sloan IIRC) came up with the idea of a new model year, so as to encourage people to buy new cars even if they didn't need them; just to have something new and fancy. To me, Microsoft and Intel copied the same business formula. Most of us (except those who like to play around with stuff) could really do their work in DOS on a 286, maybe 386 for heavy duty needs. Everything else is window dressing. But Intel/MS wouldn't make any money if people kept their computers until they wore out. So they keep adding features and hyping them up. When Win95 came out, I could not believe people were so excited they were lining up overnight outside stores! Likewise when the Pentium came out. I will keep using my 1996 home computer with its 14.4 modem until it dies and I am forced to upgrade. Of course they've told me the hard drive isn't compatible with new machines (surprise, surprise), so I'll have to recopy my software. Some programs were on 5" floppies originally -- how I am supposed to copy those over? (I had hoped to simply move my hard drive to the new machine and go from there.) I see that DOS under Win2000 has limitations that I don't care for, but I'm screwed. MS doesn't want me doing anything in DOS, it wants me to buy all new software. [public replies only, please] ------------------------------ From: Tony P. Subject: Re: Cincinnati Bell Alternatives Organization: ATCC Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004 22:02:56 GMT In article , alg@aracnet.com says... > While you won't find my CLEC in Cincinnati I'd bet some of your local > CLECs are just as good. Here's what I'd try: Interview a couple of > the larger ones serving your area and tell them what level of business > they might get from you. Then install a PRI (or T-1) on a 60 day > trial basis (gratis if possible and with no disconnect penalty) and > see how they do. How's their installation interval? Have they > configured the trunks to work with your equipment correctly (or do you > have to spend hours troubleshooting with them)? Does the LD work as > you expect? Things like that. Reminds me of when we switched to Brooks Fiber at a former job. Thing is we only had 20 lines in the building. Unfortunately we were about two blocks away from Brooks fiber ring. So the solution was to have Verizon fiber drawn into the building and hooked up to a channel bank on premises (Our switch couldn't take a PRI type feed at the time.) From what I was told, Brooks was losing about $10K per month on our account. But the service was rock solid. Now it's MCI. Oh well. ------------------------------ Date: 27 Aug 2004 05:15:33 -0000 From: John Levine Subject: Re: Book Review: Fighting Spam for Dummies, Levine/Young/Church Organization: I.E.C.C., Trumansburg NY USA I generally don't reply to flames from anonymous cowards who have so little confidence in what they say that they sent mail from fake addresses and don't sign their messages, but now and then I make an exception. > Spamassassin *does* run on Windows desktops. >> From the spamassassin home page, at > Note: This is the home page for the main open-source SpamAssassin > distribution. Packages downloaded here contain UNIX-oriented > front-end scripts. Versions for Windows, commercial versions, and > other front-ends, are listed on the wiki. > Note well: "Versions for Windows..." > Neat trick for a package that "doesn't run on Windows", isn't it? Had Mr. A.C. spent a few seconds and actually taken a look at the Wiki he refers to, he would find a bunch of little used add-on packages that let you set up a proxy mail server on your Windows box that they say can be set up to run mail through a version of spamassassin. I believe that they can be made to work, but I don't know anyone who uses spamassassin that way, and I certainly wouldn't recommend any of them to the nontechnical users who are the target of our book, because they're way too hard to manage and update. Spamassassin is a swell package. Indeed, it's so swell that we describe it in some detail in pages 186-188 of the server filtering chapter which apparently neither the original reviewer nor Mr. A.C. bothered to read. So like I said, it's a short book, if you're interested in anti-spam advice, flip through it at your local bookstore and decide for yourself. To download a PDF of chapter 1, visit the publisher's catalog page for the book at http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesTitle/productCd-0764559656.html and click on the Read Excerpt link below the picture of the cover. Regards, John Levine johnl@iecc.com Primary Perpetrator of The Internet for Dummies, Information Superhighwayman wanna-be, http://www.johnlevine.com, Mayor "I dropped the toothpaste", said Tom, crestfallenly. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004 02:15:47 -0400 From: Marcus Didius Falco Subject: Europe's Coming Leader in Broadband is France http://economist.com/printedition/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=3D3111474 http://economist.com/printedition/PrinterFriendly.cfm?Story_ID=3D3111474 The attached GIF (graph of broadband) is located at http://economist.com/images/20040821/CWB428.gif European telecoms The broader art of deregulation From The Economist print edition Surprisingly, Europe's coming leader in broadband is France WHEN it comes to promoting vigorous free-market competition, France does q not spring to mind. Yet in broadband telecoms, at least, French consumers enjoy one of the most competitive markets in Europe. A new report from Ovum, a consultancy, calls France's performance stellar and predicts that it will soon overtake Germany as the European country with the most broadband-enabled telephone lines. The champion of France's broadband boom is Iliad, a young telecoms firm that offers some of the most advanced services in Europe. For a mere AC30 ($37) a month, Iliad's service, sold under the (not entirely accurate) Free brand, provides high-speed internet access, digital television and free nationwide phone calls. This is less than half the price of a similar bundle elsewhere in Europe in the few countries where it is even available. No wonder Iliad has become France's second-largest broadband-internet provider, having signed up 768,000 customers since launching its triple-play combination in October 2002. Iliad's success owes much to Autority de Regulation des Telocommunications (ART), France's telecoms regulator. ART has been getting tough with France Telecom, the dominant, partly state-owned phone company. Three years ago, ART forced the incumbent to allow its rivals to use the local loop copper wires that run from telephone exchanges to homes. ART insisted that this unbundling happen at some of the lowest prices in Europe. France had the highest rate of broadband growth in Europe last year. It has the second-largest number of unbundled local loops in Europe and, proportionately, one of the highest (see chart). Unbundled loops free rival telephone firms from the grip of the incumbent. New entrants, such as Iliad, connect the lines directly to their own equipment, inside local exchanges. This takes time and money: two years and over AC100m in Iliad's case. But then a firm can provide TV, internet and telephone services to its customers over an ordinary phone line which its rivals cannot do. Indeed, Iliad's reputation now precedes it. Under half of its customers use unbundled lines: the rest were attracted to the firm by its record of innovation. Some industry insiders mutter that ART's intervention unfairly favours new entrants. Lower prices for the local loop may discourage the development of alternatives to the phone network. Why build a competing infrastructure when you can hire the existing one on favourable terms? Yet the folks at ART seem pleased with themselves. Consumers are happy too. The clement regulatory environment has allowed Iliad to develop a nifty vertically integrated business model. Iliad designs its own set-top boxes, runs its own optical network around France and has even built the kit that sits in the local exchanges. In the age of outsourcing, this do-it-yourself approach may seem untrendy but it lets the firm save money and cut prices for consumers, says Olivier Rosenfeld, Iliad's finance chief. Amazingly, in the midst of a land grab for customers, Iliad is already making money, turning a AC34m profit on revenues of AC293m in 2003. So successful has been France's regulatory intervention that other regulators are now following suit at least in Europe. According to the Paris-based OECD, prices for unbundling have fallen in ten European countries since 2002, in some cases even making French levels now look relatively pricey. (In America, unbundling has become quite controversial State regulators have fought local phone companies to encourage local-loop unbundling but with little success. The Federal Communications Commission has, as ever, been split on the matter.) In Britain, once in the vanguard of telecoms deregulation, high prices meant that only 8,000 local loops (out of 23m) were unbundled at the end of 2003. In May, pressured by regulators, BT, the incumbent, said it would cut prices for unbundled loops by up to 70%, moving in line with the European average. France's telecoms market, like its trains, seems to have overtaken Britain's. Copyright 2004 The Economist Newspaper and The Economist Group. All rights reserved. *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. This Internet discussion group is making it available without profit to group members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of literary, educational, political, and economic issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. I believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner, in this instance, Economist Newspaper. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ------------------------------ From: hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com (Lisa Hancock) Subject: Forced Ads on Auto Response System Date: 27 Aug 2004 07:03:18 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com I called my credit card bank to check my balance and got their automated response system. Before it would give me the information, it forced me to listen to some ads for extra services (ie card protection, etc). Then it added salt in the wound by asking me TWICE if I wanted this package. That is, once I said no, it repeated part of the spiel then asked me again if I was sure I didn't want it. Companies have really gotten irritating with their telephone customer service. First they shoved automated response down our throats. I have no problem with that if I have a routine question, indeed, it's faster for routine questions. However, there are times when I need to talk to a competent human, and I get very annoyed how they make it very tough to break through. Now, they have these ads. I would change credit cards, except there's a catch. There are very few credit companies out there anymore, most cards are issued by huge institutions, and smaller banks contract with them for service. Whatever happened to monopoly enforcement? Does anyone think this concentration of commerce in a few hands is a good thing? [public replies only please] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004 10:30:23 -0400 From: North Jersey Media Group Inc. Reply-To: dor@writeme.com Subject: NorVergence and the FTC Hi, NorthJersey.com is North Jersey's web site featuring stories from The Record and Herald News newspapers. David FTC Probes Phone Lease Scandal MARTHA McKAY The Federal Trade Commission is asking questions about a bankrupt Newark phone company at the center of a growing leasing scandal. To read more, click on link below or copy and paste it into your web browser. http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkyJmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2NTc0NTY0 Visit http://www.northjersey.com each day for the latest North Jersey information and news. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004 12:02:50 -0400 From: Withheld by Request Subject: Response to "Hundreds Arrested in Internet Crime Sweep" Pat, this is not for publication, especially not under my name (what you choose to post is up to you, but I'm getting tired of dealing with those who don't wish to have their view of reality disturbed in any way, especially by something like truth). However I just thought you might find this article interesting, given some of the recent discussions on how journalists don't bother to check facts once they are handed a press release by the government. What do you want to bet that even if these guys have done nothing illegal, the powers that be will not just drop the charges and go away? In my mind it should be considered journalistic malpractice to just take a government press release and rewrite it as though it were 100% factual, since it almost never is! http://p2pnet.net/story/2269 UDGNET to AP, DoJ, FBI - p2pnet.net News:- Yesterday we reported the first criminal action launched by US police agencies against a specific p2p group. Name of the group? The Underground Network. p2pnet heard from the group's the Answer Man, as he refers to himself with more than a hint of irony: Now read on >>>>>>>>>>>>> Hello everyone. As many now may know, the FBI and DoJ have executed search warrants on some of us, and questioned others (myself included). It's unfortunate they cannot get their facts straight before spouting off to the press. (Same goes for the press ... they really should be checking their facts.) To those who have no clue what I'm talking about, try Google News. (search for: underground network p2p) If you read an article, and came here looking for answers or are curious as to what's going on, I'm about to fill you in. After all, I'm the "Answer Man". (Was odd to hear the FBI refer to me by that title as too.) There have been many misconceptions in the handful of articles I've read. They all claim to be the same article by Curt Anderson of the Associated Press. Funny how I've read 30 different versions of the same article, written by the same person. It's difficult to tell how many facts were blatently wrong to begin with, but it's downright upsetting how many are currently wrong. I could never begin to explain all the misconstuded facts, as I haven't read them all. However, I would like to clear up a few "facts" I've read about a place I've been involved in for some time. That place: The Underground Network. First off, I've yet to figure out the "100 Gigabyte minimum requirement" claim for joining the network. What is it to join the network anyway? What is the network? These are the questions so many have wrong. If you're talking about the forums ... which is the only thing there IS to join in any sense, then there are no requirements. Well, no requirements past having access to a computer, the Internet, and an email account, plus being older then 13 (or lying that you are). It's the standard "requirements" of any other vB forum. There are thousands of them out there. Check Google. So that must not be what they are talking about when they say "members are required to share 100gb of copyrighted material to join" (quoting a story posted to the Register.co.uk). Excuse me? If they are talking about the hubs, well, you don't "join the network" to login to a hub. You connect to one of the hubs with our name in it. That's really all there is to it. We are just a collection of people with similar interests (read the forums to learn some of them) who also help eachother out in the hubs. To join a hub (like all other 13,000+ Direct Connect hubs out there, besides ours), you need a preset "minshare" that the hub decides. That is, files you are willing to share with other users in that hub. We do NOT police these files beyond the stuff we KNOW is illegal (underage porn, beastality, etc). Beyond that we are very clear with one point: THE USER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR SHARE! If you connect to one of the hubs with our name on it and are sharing files you shouldn't, then YOU made a boo-boo. Not us. The media and the FBI seem to have missed this point. I've seen write-ups about how much info "is stored on" or "passes through hubs". They claim "up to 60,000 movies and 18 million songs a day" (again, quoting an article). EXCUSE me? No ... the hubs don't hold a SINGLE byte of digital information. They don't even transfer any of it from user to user in fact. Did anyone bother to do the research? They didn't call the protocol and application "Direct Connect" because it sounded pretty. Once you are in the hub as a USER (not a member -- nothing to join), you DIRECTLY CONNECT to the other users in the hub. Not too complicated ... yet the FBI "infiltrated and investigated for 3 months" and they still have the facts wrong. John Ashcroft has some explaining to do. It's a scary world we live in if our own government gathers and uses their facts this way. Oh there is so much else. Yes, users are required to share to connect to the hub. It can be a FREE open source (non-copyrighted) Linux operating system downloaded from http://www.LinuxISO.org. It could be programs YOU wrote that you want to distribute. It could be a song YOU recorded to MP3 that you want the world to hear. That's up to you. That's the USER'S responsibility. We do not condone or encourage piracy of any form. Unfortunately this fact also escaped the powers that be. A 'hub' is simply a meeting place for people to come to and have fun, chat, and share what THE USER decides they want to (and is responsible for). The hub operator DOES NOT in ANY way share or distrubute ANY material, copyrighted or otherwise. Browse around the forums. You will see what we do. We chat with each other on current events. We help each other with hardware or software troubles. We joke around and have fun. We provide a shoulder to cry on if you had a bad day. We share knowledge and information, just like every other forum on the planet. We don't ask, suggest, or force you to share illegal files or spread copyright material ourselves. (In fact, frequently we will remind people that it's not welcome on our forums. Once again, browse around and see for yourself.) Those "facts" are simply fabrication of the press, or worse, the FBI/DoJ. I'll repeat what I told the special agent this morning when he came knocking: You guys are on a wild goose chase. You're going after the wrong people in this scenario. Instead of the administrators and hub owners, you need to be worrying about the USERS that are sharing 100+ GBs of these files the FBI claimed they downloaded. The hub owner didn't push that file on you. YOU requested it, then DIRECTLY CONNECTED to the other user to download it. The hubs simply provide a meeting place for people with like interests. You can chat, get help, or share files. What you do is up to YOU. The "organization" and "admins" of the network are also misunderstood. We are not some massive group plotting against anyone. It's just everyday people with some free time that have tried to help out others when they could. Look at my posts, for example, and you'll see what I mean. I was made an "administrator of the network" simply because I have computer knowledge and could help users/"members" when necessary. I like to help -- it's what makes me tick. That isn't a crime. Each person does their own thing. Some help keep the forums running well. Some help keep the website up. Others help the hub owners with their computer problems. No one is a "ring leader". No one organizes any "warez" rings or checks the non-existant "minimum requirements of members". Misconstrued facts + false information = ignorance and inno- cent people having their hard earned personal property seized. Nothing more, nothing less. Don't be one of the ignorant ones -- know the facts and realize the truth. Hopefully this will clear up a few misconceptions and blatant lies about what the Underground Network is. I certainly hope the press will dig into the REAL facts, and actually tell the truth. I also hope that the FBI/DoJ will realize their mistake(s) and not cause any more undue harm to us. Thank you for reading. (Thursday 26th August 2004) [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: No, the government won't just drop the falsely-laid charges and go away. The thing in court about 'how do you plead, guilty or not guilty' is a total fiction because if you were not guilty police would not have not arrested you to start with. Everyone knows that. They *have* to give you that option due to the requirements of the USA constitution, which as any good police officer would tell you is a total abomination. I mean, imagine, giving all that scum the same freedoms and liberties as the few (very damn few! mainly us and our wives and immediate families and our co-workers in the corrections industry) good people are allowed to have. Next thing you know, they'll be expecting us to apologize when we make mistakes in who we arrest. Any good citizen knows you cannot harbor grudges or have hard feelings just because your home was ransacked and looted by the government and police. The FBI was here in Independence last week (not for me, thank goodness!) rummaging around in that 'hundreds arrested' case. I didn't see them, but our cab driver who knows all and sees all told me about it when he was bringing me home from Marvin's with my groceries yesterday. I am sure they did not come all the way down here from Wichita, KS and stay overnight at AppleTree Inn just to go back home empty handed. They always make such a big production out of whatever they do (a caravan of many cars and agents in order to arrest some nerd, ransack his house, steal his computers). The cab driver told me they were over at Arco Building (among other things there is the offices of TerraWorld) to serve a search warrant or two, and I am sure they did not go back to Wichita all heart broken and disillusioned on account of some scum who got away from them. I wonder now, with the 'hundreds arrested' if Bush, or Ashcroft or some others of their crowd will make a tie-in to 'terrorism' which is their favorite thing this year. What do you want to bet some one or more persons in the movie, music and other entertainment industry put them up to this latest attack on people? The next major outburst by police will be **August 31 or September 1** in New York before the Republicans have their convention. Watch and see. Police will go crazy, and riot just like they did in 1968 at the Democratic event in Chicago. Of course they will blame it all on the citizens, even when eventually some higher authority (such as Governor Dan Walker in Illinois in 1968) proves it was a police riot. Watch the middle to end of next week in New York as police deliver the November election victory to guess who. Their hero, their friend. PAT] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004 16:01:00 +0400 From: Editor Subject: Perfisans Delivers New Chip to Key Motherboard Makers http://www.pressreleasenetwork.com Networking Technology Company Continues Proactive Execution of Strategic Plan for Launch of Next-Generation Chip Los Angeles, CA - August 27, 2004 (PRN): Perfisans Networks Corporation (OTC BB: PFNH), a next generation technology company focused on the burgeoning Gigabit Ethernet market, announced today that it has delivered its high speed, leading edge, cost-effective, system-on-chip (SOC) integrated circuits to leading manufacturers of PC motherboards in the Asia Pacific region for evaluation, prior to the full worldwide rollout of the next generation chip as the next step in the execution of the Company's strategic plan. Steve Gormley, vice president of the Company, stated that, "we believe that, once accepted and approved by the PC motherboard manufacturers, the SOC circuits will represent a revolutionary next generation technology." Mr. Gormley stated "We believe that the Perfisans' chip will run up to 10 times faster than most Ethernet chips and will also be up to three times faster than most enabled 1Gbps systems. The Perfisans' technology will provide quick and painless acceleration of the computer data delivery with the effective performance of an additional processor. Quite simply, applications will run faster and files will download and upload faster." About the ENA1001 The ENA1001 is a sophisticated System-on-a-Chip device, and uses Innovative chip architectures to bring far greater speeds to the Windows 2000 and XP customer base. The advanced features include significant cost/performance benefits to a wide array of Internet server applications that spend a significant portion of time processing network data. ENA1001 TOE technology can also be deployed in Fast Ethernet (FE) applications. The Internet server applications will further benefit from significantly reduced capital costs by not having to replace existing systems in order to upgrade with Perfisans technology. These applications will be able to offload the processing intensive TCP/IP communication protocol by employing Perfisans ENA1001 LAN on Motherboard configuration or through Perfisans ENA1001 (TOE) enabled Network Interface Cards (NIC). Network system manufacturers, in turn, will achieve reduced design cycle times, lower product development costs and faster times to market, by using Perfisans production-ready board level designs. The ENA1001's suite of TOE functions include: checksum assistance in Tx and Rx, TCP segmentation of Tx traffic, IP de-fragmentation and TCP reassembly assistance on Rx, and VLAN header insertion/removal. About Perfisans Holdings, Inc. Founded in 2001, Perfisans Holdings, Inc. is an emerging ASIC design house focused on developing leading edge, cost-effective, system-on- chip (SOC) integrated circuits (IC) and delivering innovative solutions that address the performance needs of next generation network systems. Rapidly being recognized by industry leaders for its innovative network interface products, the Company's technologies have applications in telecommunication, data communication, storage networks, content delivery networks, broadband networks, and rich streaming media. More information can be obtained from the Company's web site at www.perfisans.com. Contacts: For the Company: Steve Gormley 888.847.6972 x264 ir@perfisans.com Investor Relations: Michael Briola Executive Vice President Trilogy Capital Partners, Inc. michael@trilogy-capital.com 800.251.1770 editor@pressreleasenetwork.com http://www.pressreleasenetwork.com ------------------------------ 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, Yahoo Groups, and other forums. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. TELECOM Digest is a not-for-profit, mostly non-commercial educational service offered to the Internet by Patrick Townson. All the contents of the Digest are compilation-copyrighted. You may reprint articles in some other media on an occasional basis, but please attribute my work and that of the original author. Contact information: Patrick Townson/TELECOM Digest Post Office Box 50 Independence, KS 67301 Phone: 620-402-0134 Fax 1: 775-255-9970 Fax 2: 530-309-7234 Fax 3: 208-692-5145 Email: editor@telecom-digest.org Subscribe: telecom-subscribe@telecom-digest.org Unsubscribe:telecom-unsubscribe@telecom-digest.org This Digest is the oldest continuing e-journal about telecomm- unications on the Internet, having been founded in August, 1981 and published continuously since then. Our archives are available for your review/research. We believe we are the oldest e-zine/mailing list on the internet in any category! URL information: http://telecom-digest.org Anonymous FTP: mirror.lcs.mit.edu/telecom-archives/archives/ (or use our mirror site: ftp.epix.net/pub/telecom-archives) Email <==> FTP: telecom-archives@telecom-digest.org Send a simple, one line note to that automated address for a help file on how to use the automatic retrieval system for archives files. You can get desired files in email. ************************************************************************* * TELECOM Digest is partially funded by a grant from * * Judith Oppenheimer, President of ICB Inc. and purveyor of accurate * * 800 & Dot Com News, Intelligence, Analysis, and Consulting. * * http://ICBTollFree.com, http://1800TheExpert.com * * Views expressed herein should not be construed as representing * * views of Judith Oppenheimer or ICB Inc. * ************************************************************************* ICB Toll Free News. Contact information is not sold, rented or leased. One click a day feeds a person a meal. Go to http://www.thehungersite.com Copyright 2004 ICB, Inc. and TELECOM Digest. All rights reserved. Our attorney is Bill Levant, of Blue Bell, PA. ************************ DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE JUST 65 CENTS ONE OR TWO INQUIRIES CHARGED TO YOUR CREDIT CARD! REAL TIME, UP TO DATE! SPONSORED BY TELECOM DIGEST AND EASY411.COM SIGN UP AT http://www.easy411.com/telecomdigest ! ************************ Visit http://www.mstm.okstate.edu and take the next step in your career with a Master of Science in Telecommunications Management (MSTM) degree from Oklahoma State University (OSU). This 35 credit-hour interdisciplinary program is designed to give you the skills necessary to manage telecommunications networks, including data, video, and voice networks. The MSTM degree draws on the expertise of the OSU's College of Business Administration; the College of Arts and Sciences; and the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology. The program has state-of-the-art lab facilities on the Stillwater and Tulsa campus offering hands-on learning to enhance the program curriculum. Classes are available in Stillwater, Tulsa, or through distance learning. Please contact Jay Boyington for additional information at 405-744-9000, mstm-osu@okstate.edu, or visit the MSTM web site at http://www.mstm.okstate.edu ************************ In addition, gifts from Mike Sandman, Chicago's Telecom Expert have enabled me to replace some obsolete computer equipment and enter the 21st century sort of on schedule. His mail order telephone parts/supplies service based in the Chicago area has been widely recognized by Digest readers as a reliable and very inexpensive source of telecom-related equipment. Please request a free catalog today at http://www.sandman.com --------------------------------------------------------------- Finally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such as yourself who provide funding in amounts deemed appropriate. Your help is important and appreciated. A suggested donation of fifty dollars per year per reader is considered appropriate. See our address above. Please make at least a single donation to cover the cost of processing your name to the mailing list. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. End of TELECOM Digest V23 #401 ****************************** From editor@telecom-digest.org Fri Aug 27 23:50:28 2004 Received: (from ptownson@localhost) by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.6p3/8.11.6) id i7S3oSk22791; Fri, 27 Aug 2004 23:50:28 -0400 (EDT) Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004 23:50:28 -0400 (EDT) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <200408280350.i7S3oSk22791@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 V23 #402 TELECOM Digest Fri, 27 Aug 2004 23:48:00 EDT Volume 23 : Issue 402 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson OnHD.TV (Monty Solomon) Oral Arguments in Grokster & Ch. 4, 5 of "Free Culture" (Monty Solomon) EFFector 17.31: Induce Act Update - Turning Up the Heat (Monty Solomon) Outsource Firm Sues in India / Alleged Code Theft Highlights (M Solomon) Siemens Cites Problem With New Phones (Monty Solomon) Army Says JetBlue Data Use Was Legal (Monty Solomon) Nokia, Vodafone Eye Java For Wireless Revolution (Eric Friedebach) Re: Forced Ads on Auto Response System (Rich Greenberg) Re: Norvergence Employees Bilked Out of More Than Just Paycheck (Strom) Re: Book Review: Fighting Spam for Dummies, Levine/Young/Church (Sobol) Handset Tester (Joe Elichaa) MSN & Hotmail Improper Spam Filtering? (friendly) Re: NBC Sees Last-Minute Olympic Profit Boost (Joseph) Video of Old Telephone Exchanges (Rick Miller) Re: Response to "Hundreds Arrested in Internet Crime Sweep" (B Margolin) Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind (friendly) VOIP Connects Workers as They Flee Convention Site (J Decker-VOIP News) 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. =========================== Addresses herein are not to be added to any mailing list, nor to be sold or given away without explicit written consent. Chain letters, viruses, porn, spam, and miscellaneous junk are definitely unwelcome. We must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands against crime. Geoffrey Welsh =========================== See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004 13:55:16 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: OnHD.TV Excerpt from About OnHD.TV OnHD.TV is the first entertainment guide to High-Definition TV. The site is for HDTV owners and people who are considering buying one. OnHD.TV provides show reviews and previews, HDTV-specific viewing recommendations and HDTV shopping tips among consumer-related information. http://www.onhd.tv/ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004 14:32:02 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Oral Arguments in Grokster & Ch. 4, 5 of "Free Culture" EFF has put up the oral arguments in Grokster[MP3] [Ogg], so you can hear the music industry lawyers try to persuade an unpersuadable court that P2P users are all or at least 90% thieves and that P2P systems like Grokster should be shut down like Napster was. The following exchange will give you a feel for the event. One attorney argues to the court that "the Internet is not a license to steal," and that "there's nothing different from what they're doing from organizing and instructing the participants in a trafficking network that is trading in counterfeit materials". One of the judges interrupts him and says: "Let me say what your problem is. You can use these harsh terms, but you are dealing with something new. And the question is, Does the statutory monopoly that Congress has given you reach out to that something new, and that's a very debatable question. You don't solve it by calling it theft. You have to show why this court should extend a statutory monopoly to cover the new thing. That's your problem. So address that, if you would, rather than use abusive language." You don't want to miss listening to the attorney's reaction to that rebuke. http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20040823002045984 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004 13:45:14 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: EFFector 17.31: Induce Act Update - Turning Up the Heat EFFector Vol. 17, No. 31 August 26, 2004 donna@eff.org A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation ISSN 1062-9424 In the 303rd Issue of EFFector: * Action Alert: Induce Act Update - Turning Up the Heat * This Song Belongs to You and Me * E-voting on Trial in Maryland - Stand Up for Voting Integrity! * EFF Court Docket: What's Next? * MiniLinks (11): Grokking Grokster * Administrivia http://www.eff.org/effector/17/31.php ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004 16:42:01 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Outsource Firm Sues in India / Alleged Code Theft Highlights By Karl Schoenberger Mercury News In a case that exposes the intellectual-property risks of outsourcing in India, a small San Carlos software company has sued Mumbai police for refusing to investigate the alleged theft of proprietary source code by an employee at its Indian subsidiary. Sandeep Jolly, the founder and chief executive of Jolly Technologies, said U.S. technology companies should beware of the risks of doing business in his native land at a time when many are taking advantage of the cost savings of offshoring and entrusting sensitive software development and testing work to Indian contractors. Protection of intellectual property is still a new concept for lawmakers, police and prosecutors, he said. http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/9500402.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004 17:08:19 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Siemens Cites Problem With New Phones FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- Siemens AG said Friday it anticipates unspecified additional costs from a software problem with new mobile phones that has led retailers to suspend sales. The German electronics company said five models of its new 65 series could under certain circumstances emit a piercing melody into users' ears if the battery fails during a call. Hearing damage could result "in extreme cases," the company said in a statement. - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=43336931 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004 23:28:59 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Army: JetBlue Data Use Was Legal By Ryan Singel An Army data-mining project that searched through JetBlue's passenger records and sensitive personal information from a data broker to pinpoint possible terrorists did not violate federal privacy law, according to an investigation by the Army's inspector general. The inspector general's findings (PDF) were accepted by some, but critics say the report simply highlights the inability of the country's privacy laws to cope with 21st-century anti-terrorism efforts. News of the Army project came to light in September 2003 when JetBlue admitted it had violated its privacy policy by turning over 5.1 million passenger records to Torch Concepts , an Alabama-based defense contractor. Torch subsequently enhanced the JetBlue data with information about passengers' salaries, family size and Social Security numbers that it purchased from Acxiom , one of the country's largest data aggregators. The Army says it was testing the data-mining technology as part of a plan to screen visitors to Army bases. ... http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,64647,00.html ------------------------------ From: friedebach@yahoo.com (Eric Friedebach) Subject: Nokia, Vodafone Eye Java For Wireless Revolution Date: 27 Aug 2004 10:54:00 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com Greg Levine, 08.26.04, Forbes.com Back to basics. As technology and its applications grow ever more complex, two mobile telephone titans are teaming to tackle the obstacle they see holding back a utopia of smart phones: simplifying the software. Nokia and Vodafone -- led by Chief Executive Jorma Ollila and CEO Arun Sarin, respectively -- issued a joint statement Thursday declaring their determination to render universal the software utilizing Java. http://www.forbes.com/2004/08/26/0826autofacescan03.html Eric Friedebach /Favorite OnStar commercial: crying woman drops keys in toilet/ ------------------------------ From: richgr@panix.com (Rich Greenberg) Subject: Re: Forced Ads on Auto Response System Date: 27 Aug 2004 15:24:51 -0400 Organization: Organized? Me? In article , Lisa Hancock wrote: > I called my credit card bank to check my balance and got their > automated response system. > Before it would give me the information, it forced me to listen to > some ads for extra services (ie card protection, etc). Then it added > salt in the wound by asking me TWICE if I wanted this package. That > is, once I said no, it repeated part of the spiel then asked me again > if I was sure I didn't want it. Two things you can try: 1) When asked to key in your card number or whatever, just enter nothing. MOST systems will time out and give you a human, assuming rotary dial. A few tell you to call back from a TT phone and dump you. 2) Try their web site instead. And when you do reach a human, complain. Rich Greenberg N6LRT Marietta, GA, USA 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, Red & Shasta (RIP),Red, husky Owner:Chinook-L Atlanta Siberian Husky Rescue. www.panix.com/~richgr/ Asst Owner:Sibernet-L ------------------------------ From: nstrom@ananzi.co.za (Nathan Strom) Subject: Re: Norvergence Employees Bilked Out of More Than Just a Paycheck Date: 27 Aug 2004 12:52:16 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com Isaiah Beard wrote in message news:: > Full story at: http://tinyurl.com/4zyan > (registration required unfortunately) I just made an account "telecomdigest" with password "telecomdigest" for those who don't want to register. [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Thank you! PAT] ------------------------------ From: Steve Sobol Subject: Re: Book Review: Fighting Spam for Dummies, Levine/Young/Church Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004 12:55:27 -0700 Organization: Glorb Internet Services, http://www.glorb.com John Levine wrote: > Had Mr. A.C. spent a few seconds and actually taken a look at the Wiki > he refers to, he would find a bunch of little used add-on packages > that let you set up a proxy mail server on your Windows box that they > say can be set up to run mail through a version of spamassassin. I > believe that they can be made to work, but I don't know anyone who > uses spamassassin that way, and I certainly wouldn't recommend any of > them to the nontechnical users who are the target of our book, because > they're way too hard to manage and update. It's interesting. I've always assumed that spamassassin DOES run on Windows. It's a PERL program. What part of the package is platform- specific? JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services, http://JustThe.net/ Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) / sjsobol@JustThe.net PGP Key available from your friendly local key server (0xE3AE35ED) Apple Valley, California Nothing scares me anymore. I have three kids. ------------------------------ From: Joe Elichaa Subject: Handset Tester Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004 16:41:53 -0400 Organization: Posted via Supernews, http://www.supernews.com I am looking for a real good handset tester that will measure values and be able to compare these values to other handsets. Does anybody know of such device? Thank you, Joe ------------------------------ From: friendly Subject: MSN & Hotmail Improper Spam Filtering? Organization: AT&T Worldnet Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004 22:22:10 GMT Recently I've noticed that both MSN and Hotmail are putting emails in the junk mail folder that are clearly not junk mail and come from sources that wouldn't ordinarily be associated with spam. Is there something new going on with spam filters? Where does one go at MS(MSN or Hotmail) to find why a particular email was identified as junk mail? I've recently noticed this for a number of different/independ- ent MSN and Hotmail accounts with completely separate senders(nothing in common except MSN or Hotmail recipients). ------------------------------ From: Joseph Subject: Re: NBC Sees Last-Minute Olympic Profit Boost Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004 18:01:12 -0700 Reply-To: JoeOfSeattle@yahoo.com On Thu, 26 Aug 2004 17:41:49 -0400, Monty Solomon wrote: > LOS ANGELES, Aug 26 (Reuters) - NBC Universal, riding high on a Summer > Olympics that appears on track to set a record for viewership, will > beat early forecasts and turn a profit of $60 million to $70 million > for its coverage of the Games from Athens, an NBC executive said on > Thursday. And it's no wonder! With the coverage interrupted *every* five minutes for a commercial. ------------------------------ From: rickmillerenterprises@hotmail.com (Rick Miller) Subject: Video of Old Telephone Exchanges Date: 27 Aug 2004 18:12:21 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com It's been awhile since I've posted here -- the last (and first) time I've posted here was about a year (?) ago, asking about old telephone equipment, vestiges of old / historical phone stuff still on the network. Well, last week I found it at the New England Museum of Telephony, they've got lots of old switching hardware, including SxS switches, a #3 crossbar (both working!), an Automatic Electric relay switch (I don't recall the exact type) a Leich switch, many frames of #5 crossbar, and various kinds of other neat old stuff. While there, I shot some video of the switching gear in operation, on MiniDV tape ... its good quality video but I'm not that great of a cameraperson. (grin) My question is this: Once I get the video transferred and edited to my liking, where should I host the video? I could host it on my own system, but I'm not sure my ISP would be happy about that. Anyone out there with a Telecom related webpage that might be willing to host the file? Or, what might be the first of many files if I further document the sights and sounds of these old switches? Thanks! -Rick Miller [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I would be happy to house them in the Telecom Archives here so anyone using our web pages could see them. PAT] ------------------------------ From: Barry Margolin Subject: Re: Response to "Hundreds Arrested in Internet Crime Sweep" Organization: Symantec Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004 21:58:03 -0400 In article , Withheld by Request wrote: > You guys are on a wild goose chase. You're going after the wrong > people in this scenario. Instead of the administrators and hub owners, > you need to be worrying about the USERS that are sharing 100+ GBs of > these files the FBI claimed they downloaded. The hub owner didn't push > that file on you. YOU requested it, then DIRECTLY CONNECTED to the > other user to download it. The hubs simply provide a meeting place for > people with like interests. You can chat, get help, or share > files. What you do is up to YOU. That's what Napster did, but it didn't stop them from being shut down. Even though these organizations don't directly perform the copying, they *facilitate* it. And you know damn well what kind of material most of your users are sharing -- you know your user base, and you encourage it because that's your bread and butter. Regarding the "lies" in the article, I take that to be imprecise reporting, which is what we see for pretty much *all* news articles about anything high-tech. I don't know anything about these file-sharing networks (I've never even fired up the iMusic that came on my Mac), but I'll bet there's an "inner circle" of well-known members, and that's what they might have been referring to when they mentioned how hard it was to "join the network". Kind of like what narcotics officers have to do to meet a major distributor, as distinguished from buying a few joints from a dealer on the street. In order to find out who the big players are in the piracy networks, they have to get in good with them by appearing to be one of them. Sure, anyone can join the network, but the main bad guys aren't going to start giving out their real names to them. Barry Margolin, barmar@alum.mit.edu Arlington, MA *** PLEASE post questions in newsgroups, not directly to me *** [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: This is purely IMO, but narcotics police officers, like officers who specialize in Vice matters, are the underside of a corrupted system to begin with. Total losers, all the way around. PAT] ------------------------------ From: friendly Subject: Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind Organization: AT&T Worldnet Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2004 02:06:02 GMT Thanks for describing MS great products that most the world chooses to use because they are superior and cost effective and kept very up to date. Make sure and get XP SP2 as it's a big improvement and installs seemlessly for the large majority of users. ------------------------------ From: Jack Decker Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004 20:41:21 -0400 Subject: VOIP Connects Workers as They Flee Convention Site Reply-To: VoIPnews@yahoogroups.com http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1640338,00.asp By Ellen Muraskin Opinion: With the Republican National Convention descending on New York, Midtown employees are avoiding the office. Infinity Consulting is using Cisco IP phones and M5's IP Centrex service to stay connected from the outer boroughs and New Jersey. Let's review: Why is IP telephony relatively indifferent to physical location? Because the IP telephony server, whether an in-house IP PBX or the softswitch of your VOIP service provider, maps your public "phone" number to the IP address you log in with, every time you log on, or every time you activate the phone that logs on for you. And why is this a good thing? Because you can take your IP phone or the soft phone running on your laptop, plug it in to any broadband tap, and have an extension to a shared, Centrex-style or dedicated enterprise phone system. The server/softswitch registers your new IP address and can take calls from you or send them to you, just the way an IM server sends IM messages wherever you log in. And why is this a good thing for businesses? Because their remote workers can work wherever they like, as long as there's broadband and a VOIP-accommodating firewall. And why is this an especially good thing this week for Infinity Consulting Group, an IT services firm with an office on West 31st Street in Manhattan? Because Infinity Consulting's New York office is across the street from Madison Square Garden, where this week the Republican National Convention and its attendant battalions of security forces, not to mention protestors will make navigating everyday New York congestion look like a luge run. Full story at: http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1640338,00.asp How to Distribute VoIP Throughout a Home: http://michigantelephone.mi.org/distribute.html If you live in Michigan, subscribe to the MI-Telecom group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MI-Telecom/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VoIPnews/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: VoIPnews-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ ------------------------------ 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, Yahoo Groups, and other forums. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. TELECOM Digest is a not-for-profit, mostly non-commercial educational service offered to the Internet by Patrick Townson. All the contents of the Digest are compilation-copyrighted. You may reprint articles in some other media on an occasional basis, but please attribute my work and that of the original author. Contact information: Patrick Townson/TELECOM Digest Post Office Box 50 Independence, KS 67301 Phone: 620-402-0134 Fax 1: 775-255-9970 Fax 2: 530-309-7234 Fax 3: 208-692-5145 Email: editor@telecom-digest.org Subscribe: telecom-subscribe@telecom-digest.org Unsubscribe:telecom-unsubscribe@telecom-digest.org This Digest is the oldest continuing e-journal about telecomm- unications on the Internet, having been founded in August, 1981 and published continuously since then. Our archives are available for your review/research. We believe we are the oldest e-zine/mailing list on the internet in any category! URL information: http://telecom-digest.org Anonymous FTP: mirror.lcs.mit.edu/telecom-archives/archives/ (or use our mirror site: ftp.epix.net/pub/telecom-archives) Email <==> FTP: telecom-archives@telecom-digest.org Send a simple, one line note to that automated address for a help file on how to use the automatic retrieval system for archives files. You can get desired files in email. ************************************************************************* * TELECOM Digest is partially funded by a grant from * * Judith Oppenheimer, President of ICB Inc. and purveyor of accurate * * 800 & Dot Com News, Intelligence, Analysis, and Consulting. * * http://ICBTollFree.com, http://1800TheExpert.com * * Views expressed herein should not be construed as representing * * views of Judith Oppenheimer or ICB Inc. * ************************************************************************* ICB Toll Free News. Contact information is not sold, rented or leased. One click a day feeds a person a meal. Go to http://www.thehungersite.com Copyright 2004 ICB, Inc. and TELECOM Digest. All rights reserved. Our attorney is Bill Levant, of Blue Bell, PA. ************************ DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE JUST 65 CENTS ONE OR TWO INQUIRIES CHARGED TO YOUR CREDIT CARD! REAL TIME, UP TO DATE! SPONSORED BY TELECOM DIGEST AND EASY411.COM SIGN UP AT http://www.easy411.com/telecomdigest ! ************************ Visit http://www.mstm.okstate.edu and take the next step in your career with a Master of Science in Telecommunications Management (MSTM) degree from Oklahoma State University (OSU). This 35 credit-hour interdisciplinary program is designed to give you the skills necessary to manage telecommunications networks, including data, video, and voice networks. The MSTM degree draws on the expertise of the OSU's College of Business Administration; the College of Arts and Sciences; and the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology. The program has state-of-the-art lab facilities on the Stillwater and Tulsa campus offering hands-on learning to enhance the program curriculum. Classes are available in Stillwater, Tulsa, or through distance learning. Please contact Jay Boyington for additional information at 405-744-9000, mstm-osu@okstate.edu, or visit the MSTM web site at http://www.mstm.okstate.edu ************************ In addition, gifts from Mike Sandman, Chicago's Telecom Expert have enabled me to replace some obsolete computer equipment and enter the 21st century sort of on schedule. His mail order telephone parts/supplies service based in the Chicago area has been widely recognized by Digest readers as a reliable and very inexpensive source of telecom-related equipment. Please request a free catalog today at http://www.sandman.com --------------------------------------------------------------- Finally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such as yourself who provide funding in amounts deemed appropriate. Your help is important and appreciated. A suggested donation of fifty dollars per year per reader is considered appropriate. See our address above. Please make at least a single donation to cover the cost of processing your name to the mailing list. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. End of TELECOM Digest V23 #402 ****************************** From editor@telecom-digest.org Sat Aug 28 15:54:52 2004 Received: (from ptownson@localhost) by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.6p3/8.11.6) id i7SJspH29245; Sat, 28 Aug 2004 15:54:52 -0400 (EDT) Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2004 15:54:52 -0400 (EDT) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <200408281954.i7SJspH29245@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 V23 #403 TELECOM Digest Sat, 28 Aug 2004 15:54:00 EDT Volume 23 : Issue 403 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Re: Book Review: Fighting Spam for Dummies, Levine/Young/Church (noname) Re: VOIP Connects Workers as They Flee Convention Site (Jim Burks) Vonage VOIP and Apartment Intercom (NoSpamPlease) Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind (Marcus Didius Falco) Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind (Tony P.) Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind (Steve Sobol) Re: U.S. Says Over 100 Arrested in Internet Crime Sweep (Tony P.) Re: Forced Ads on Auto Response System (Tony P.) Be Sure to Check Out http://kerry-or-bush-2004.us.tt (P. 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. =========================== Addresses herein are not to be added to any mailing list, nor to be sold or given away without explicit written consent. Chain letters, viruses, porn, spam, and miscellaneous junk are definitely unwelcome. We must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands against crime. Geoffrey Welsh =========================== See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: noname@example.invalid Subject: Re: Book Review: Fighting Spam for Dummies, Levine/Young/Church Organization: We Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2004 12:38:08 +0000 In article , John Levine wrote: > I generally don't reply to flames from anonymous cowards who have so > little confidence in what they say that they sent mail from fake > addresses and don't sign their messages, but now and then I make an > exception. What _I_ said was of no importance. The facts, complete with authoritative source references that *anybody* can verify, spoke for themselves. Nice to see you starting off with ad hominems, too. When you can't argue the facts, what else is left? >> Spamassassin *does* run on Windows desktops. >>> From the spamassassin home page, at >> Note: This is the home page for the main open-source SpamAssassin >> distribution. Packages downloaded here contain UNIX-oriented >> front-end scripts. Versions for Windows, commercial versions, and >> other front-ends, are listed on the wiki. >> Note well: "Versions for Windows..." >> Neat trick for a package that "doesn't run on Windows", isn't it? > Had Mr. A.C. spent a few seconds and actually taken a look at the Wiki > he refers to, he would find a bunch of little used add-on packages > that let you set up a proxy mail server on your Windows box that they > say can be set up to run mail through a version of spamassassin. Mr. A.C. _had_ previously done so. And (a) played with SpamD, to see how it worked, (b) recommended it to a number of only 'somewhat' computer literate acquaintances who have had *no*trouble* installing and running the SpamD implementation. With _no_ help whatsoever from anyone, beyond the published directions. Mr. A.C. *is* a 'techie', _my_ experience with installing/configuring would in no way be typical. Precisely why I mention direct knowledge of real-world experiences of non-technical users. As for it being a proxy, there are only _three_ *possible* ways to filter mail 'on the desktop'. One being 'internally' to the mail-reader program, the second being to 'post-process' the 'inbox' _outside_ of the mail-reader program, after you have downloaded the new mail, *before* reading it. The third being through a 'proxy'. When the 'internal' capabilities of the mail-reader program are 'inadequate', you are pretty much restricted to the 'proxy' approach, as I don't know of any generally available tools that perform after-the-fact editing on the inbox. Proxies have the added advantage that they will work with _any_ mail-reader, where an after-the-fact file-editor must be tailored to the internal file format of the specific mail-reader employed. > believe that they can be made to work, but I don't know anyone who > uses spamassassin that way Your 'limited' exposure, I guess. :) There are enough such users out there that there is a commercial market, albeit a niche one, for it. > and I certainly wouldn't recommend any of them to the nontechnical > users who are the target of our book, because they're way too hard > to manage and update. For 'SpamD' -- the free tool -- I won't argue with that. As far as 'recommending' it to that user-base goes. The commercial implementation is a whole 'nuther story as regards ease-of-install/-update. Standard Windows 'wizard'. Question: did you, or did you _not_, know that the resources listed on the wiki existed at the time you wrote your rebuttal to the review? If you did not know, then your research skills are called into question. If you _did_ know, on the other hand, then your previous public statement as to *why* you excluded spamassassin from the filtering 'on the desktop' discussion is disingenuous, at best. Either way, the credibility of the author/work is called into question. > Spamassassin is a swell package. Indeed, it's so swell that we > describe it in some detail in pages 186-188 of the server filtering > chapter which apparently neither the original reviewer nor > Mr. A.C. bothered to read. Mr. A.C. read your previous remarks, where you said, _contrary_to_fact_, that "spamassassin runs ... not on the Windows desktop." Mr. A.C. addressed *that* demonstrable, and demonstrated, factual error. Mr. A.C. would have said _nothing_, *IF*, for example, you had simply stated that you had deliberately omitted spamassassin from the 'desktop' solutions discussion 'because it requires skill-levels beyond that of our target audience', or words to that effect. That _is_ a valid reason for not mentioning a product. Claiming you didn't mention it because "it does not exist" (not the exact words you used, but an accurate rendition of the meaning), when the product _does_ in fact exist, is either deliberate deception, or a by-product of ignorance. 'Which one' applies may be important to some, but the simple existence of the contra-factual claim -- without considering 'why' -- is sufficient to raise questions as to the reliability of the rest of your information. Alphonse Coward (no relation to Noel) ------------------------------ From: Jim Burks Subject: Re: VOIP Connects Workers as They Flee Convention Site Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2004 12:06:33 GMT Organization: Road Runner High Speed Online http://www.rr.com Jack Decker wrote in message news:telecom23.402.17@telecom-digest.org: > http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1640338,00.asp > By Ellen Muraskin > Opinion: With the Republican National Convention descending on New > York, Midtown employees are avoiding the office. Infinity Consulting > is using Cisco IP phones and M5's IP Centrex service to stay connected > from the outer boroughs and New Jersey. My company has a large sales office in the office tower over Madison Square Garden, and we upgraded our Avaya in the building to support VoIP for both PC softphones and hard VoIP sets so the users could work from other offices on the data network, or via VPN from home. Jim Burks ------------------------------ From: cmclagan@yahoo.com (NoSpamPlease) Subject: Vonage VOIP and Apartment Intercom Date: 28 Aug 2004 07:24:47 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com I live in an apartment with an Enterphone "No Phone Bill" system. I recently signed up for Vonage VOIP before realizing there would be an issue of how I'll get front-door buzzes after I discontinue my Verizon service. My thinking so far is that maybe I can "reverse-split" the hookup to my phone by plugging it into BOTH the VT1000 adapter and the old hardwired line that the Enterphone uses. Presumably there would be a problem if the door buzzes while I'm on a call, but that happens infrequently enough that I could live with it. My concern, before I try this out, is that the voltage (if any) from the Enterphone might fry the VT1000, since I assume that a phone splitter would allow the volts to cross over from the landline to the pair going into the adapter. Four questions: 1) Am I right about the voltage risk? 2) If I disconnect the Verizon service will the Enterphone still supply a voltage that could damage the adapter? 3) If Enterphone does not supply voltage, but I try to test the arrangement before disconnecting Verizon, will I be at risk? 4) Are there any special devices I might use that would help me deal with this situation? Is there any hope? I really don't want to have to limit my Enterphone use to a single wired phone (I use 4 cordless extension phones and don't want to have to run to the kitchen every time the door is buzzed.) Thanks, ccm ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2004 00:24:05 -0400 From: Marcus Didius Falco Subject: Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind At 02:54 PM 8/27/04, > I will keep using my 1996 home computer with its 14.4 modem until it > dies and I am forced to upgrade. Of course they've told me the hard > drive isn't compatible with new machines (surprise, surprise), so I'll > have to recopy my software. Some programs were on 5" floppies > originally -- how I am supposed to copy those over? (I had hoped to > simply move my hard drive to the new machine and go from there.) I had two floppy drives in my old machine, a 3 1/2 drive A: and a 5 1/4 drive B: I "upgraded" my processor, motherboard, and video card. Imagine my surprise to learn that my new motherboard can't handle two floppies, and auxiliary floppy cards are no longer available, nor are motherboards that CAN handle two floppies. I can open the machine to switch cables, and then activate the 5 1/4 drive in the bios, but that's a pain in the anatomy. What I should do, when I get a round tuit, is get a USB external drive (3 1/2), and then activate the 5 1/4 internal as the boot drive on the motherboard. Since floppies are used only for "backward compatibility" -- to access the archives of most of the last 20 years, except for the last couple which are on CD or DVD, this will probably keep me going. ------------------------------ From: Tony P. Subject: Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind Organization: ATCC Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2004 14:56:37 GMT In article , hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com says: > SELLCOM Tech support wrote: >> I just went from a "poor Microsoft why are they persecuting it" to a >> "Microsoft is really really dangerous and something needs to be done" >> in only a few short hours. What caused this great change of heart >> you might ask? The answer is "XP". I held out for as long as I could >> without buying it, but ... > In the IBM mainframe world, if you happen to have an old program from > 40 (forty) years ago, you can still run it without change on current > machines and operating systems. The backward compatibility is there. > (Yes, most old programs would have needed Y2k changes, and there was > changes from COBOL to COBOL-II/MVS, but basically everything is the > same). > Actually, if you had programs that were 50 (fifty) years old from an > earlier generation of IBM mainframes (ie 1401 or 7090 series from the > 1950s) you could STILL run them without change, too. I know of people > who did just that until at least the mid 1990s. IBM paid a heavy price to support those old applications. The 370 series allowed virtual machines so they could just emulate a 1401 or 7090 to run those applications and pass the IO back to the VM/CMS manager for display. > The 1948 Western Electric rotary phone on my desk works just fine, by > the way. The Centrex ESS still accepts rotary dial pulses and the > ringing current still rings the telephone. Voice clarity is fine. Definitely -- they were built for a minimum service life of thirty years. That they've lasted nearly twice that is a good indicator of the quality WE was able to achieve. It would be interesting to find out how much in today's dollars the manufacture of a 302 would cost. I bet it would be a few hundred dollars or more. > On the other hand, Microsoft keeps rolling out new and changed > operating systems year after year. As a person of limited means who > tends to keep his computers for as long as possible, my personal > software becomes "obsolete" and this creates problems. Intel keeps > making faster and faster chips. Planned obsolescence. It's been with us at least since World War II and will continue to be with us. If something works for me I use it until *I* outgrow it, not when the marketing people say I should trade in or buy new. I'm actually at the point now where I need to upgrade my system but am loathe to accept Win XP as it's default OS. So what I'll probably do is buy a new machine with no OS and put Win2K on it, or dual-boot and throw a Linux partition on there too. Oh hell, I may just go pure Linux at that point if SCO doesn't kill it. [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: That is sort of what I have here now on one machine: a custom built (more or less) computer with two actual hard drives (C and F); two CD-DVD drives (D and E), one of which (E) is a writer as well; a removable USB drive with 62 MB on it (the little 'finger-like' thing which fits in a USB socket) called (G) and of course the 1.44 mb floppy (A). There is a slot to install another another 1.44 mb floppy if desired and a space to install a larger old style 5 1/2 inch floppy if I wanted, or another CD-DVD thing if I wished, but I do not know where those latter two slots (if I were to fill them with devices) would plug in; the ribbon connectors inside are all in use as I recall. The original hard drive (C) started out at one time with Win-XP but that got me so nervous I swapped it for Win-2000, then when the new larger (80GB) hard drive was installed the Win-2000 was put on it instead (it was named [and strapped] into the 'C' position); the older original drive took a new position (F) and it was re-formatted and had Linux 9.0 installed on it. (Not Red Hat, I think it is Debian?) When I boot, it defaults after seven or eight seconds to Linux unless I tap a key and get it to boot into Win-2000. Now that Mike Rowesoft has released a new 'service pack' for Win-XP I am sorely tempted to 'upgrade' my bastardized C drive to use XP again, and I do have a product key that supposedly works on XP, but truth be told, I am **very leary** to get into such a mess on my own. You must understand, I really do not know what I am doing here; a few of you readers who have taken pity on an old, brain-diseased man have walked me through what has happened up to now over the telephone and I followed your advice and gotten this far. But from what I am reading here in the Digest, one little change or another in the hardware and I will be asked to re-register it all again. Maybe I should leave well enough alone. I was quite pleased recently to get far enough along in this odessey to get a wireless laptop (actually a very ancient IBM Think Pad with Win 95 installed from the factory but upgraded to Win 98 which I installed a wireless PCMCIA card in) which a reader donated to me working with a wireless NetGear router so I can sit in my back yard on hot summer days to work on this Digest. Am I pressing my luck trying to go further on all this? PAT] ------------------------------ From: Steve Sobol Subject: Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2004 08:49:18 -0700 Organization: Glorb Internet Services, http://www.glorb.com friendly wrote: > Thanks for describing MS great products that most the world chooses to > use because they are superior and cost effective and kept very up to > date. Make sure and get XP SP2 as it's a big improvement and installs > seemlessly for the large majority of users. Whatever. Even Microsoft is suggesting that users be careful deciding whether and how to deploy SP2. http://tinyurl.com/4bzpa http://tinyurl.com/3kse3 (Describing an over 100-page document on HOW TO APPLY A SERVICE PACK!) Apparently Bill Gates is employing Usenet sock-puppets these days. Anonymous sock-puppets, even. This isn't even an entertaining troll. JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services, http://JustThe.net/ Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) / sjsobol@JustThe.net PGP Key available from your friendly local key server (0xE3AE35ED) Apple Valley, California Nothing scares me anymore. I have three kids. [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Would you please explain what is a 'sock-puppet' (anonymous or otherwise)? Thanks. PAT] ------------------------------ From: Tony P. Subject: Re: U.S. Says Over 100 Arrested in Internet Crime Sweep Organization: ATCC Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2004 15:03:20 GMT In article , monty@roscom.com says: > By Andy Sullivan and Peter Kaplan > WASHINGTON, Aug 26 (Reuters) - More than 100 people have been arrested > in the largest global crackdown to date on identity theft, hacking and > other Internet-based crimes, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft said > on Thursday. > The arrests followed a three-month investigation into a range of > crimes from reselling co-workers' Social Security numbers to disabling > Web sites, Ashcroft said. > - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=43320357 I notice that the FBI is finally consolidating the fraud cases. Anytime the loss is less than roughly $20K it isn't worth investigating because of the costs associated with the investigation. It's good to see the FTC is making the FBI perform one of its functions. Now if we could only get the intelligence side to talk to the CIA we'd be all set. ------------------------------ From: Tony P. Subject: Re: Forced Ads on Auto Response System Organization: ATCC Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2004 15:08:11 GMT In article , hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com says: > I called my credit card bank to check my balance and got their > automated response system. > Before it would give me the information, it forced me to listen to > some ads for extra services (ie card protection, etc). Then it added > salt in the wound by asking me TWICE if I wanted this package. That > is, once I said no, it repeated part of the spiel then asked me again > if I was sure I didn't want it. I work for a government agency that has a brand new vm but doesn't use it because the head honcho believes that every phone should be answered by a human being. The down side of that is that we have centrex groups assigned to all the different units so people can dial in directly without going through the switchboard. Costs a fair bit per month. ------------------------------ From: Patrick Townson Subject: The Forthcoming Election Discussion Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2004 15:00:00 EDT Just a pitch for a temporary web site of my own, for your use in cussing and discussing the upcoming presidential election. I'd appreciate your use of the board and your uncensored, unmoderated thoughts on two important social issues of the day, one being the forthcoming election between Bush and Kerry; the other topic being Same Sex Marriage (and other general discussion.) Please point your browsers to http://kerry-or-bush-2004.us.tt and I thank you in advance. PAT ------------------------------ TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. 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Please make at least a single donation to cover the cost of processing your name to the mailing list. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. End of TELECOM Digest V23 #403 ****************************** From editor@telecom-digest.org Mon Aug 30 15:20:17 2004 Received: (from ptownson@localhost) by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.6p3/8.11.6) id i7UJKF117635; Mon, 30 Aug 2004 15:20:17 -0400 (EDT) Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 15:20:17 -0400 (EDT) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <200408301920.i7UJKF117635@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 V23 #404 TELECOM Digest Mon, 30 Aug 2004 15:19:00 EDT Volume 23 : Issue 404 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind (Nick Landsberg) Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind (SELLCOM Tech support) Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind (Shalom Septimus) Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind (Daniel W. Johnson) Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind (Lisa Hancock) Re: Video of Old Telephone Exchanges (Jim Haynes) You Can Still Send a Western Union Mailgram (Jim Haynes) Re: Handset Tester (Ian) VoIP Troubleshooter Web Site Updated (Alan Clark) Re: VOIP Connects Workers as They Flee Convention Site (Lisa Hancock) Re: Forced Ads on Auto Response System (Lisa Hancock) Re: Phone Card Inquiry (Tom Smith) Re: Vonage VOIP and Apartment Intercom (DevilsPGD) Re: Ups and Downs (Tom Smith) LNP Wireless to Voip Possible? (John Munsey Jr) Cable Addresses? (Mike Riddle) Specific Telephone Numbers (Curious) Re: Verizon Cable TV? (Lisa Hancock) AOL VoIP in 2005 (Jack Decker - VOIP News) Last Laugh! Boom! (Lisa Minter) 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. =========================== Addresses herein are not to be added to any mailing list, nor to be sold or given away without explicit written consent. Chain letters, viruses, porn, spam, and miscellaneous junk are definitely unwelcome. We must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands against crime. Geoffrey Welsh =========================== See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Nick Landsberg Reply-To: SPAMhukolautTRAP@SPAMattTRAP.net Subject: Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind Organization: AT&T Worldnet Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2004 20:30:55 GMT Tony P. wrote: > In article , hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com > says: >> SELLCOM Tech support wrote: [ SNIP ] >> The 1948 Western Electric rotary phone on my desk works just fine, by >> the way. The Centrex ESS still accepts rotary dial pulses and the >> ringing current still rings the telephone. Voice clarity is fine. > Definitely -- they were built for a minimum service life of thirty years. > That they've lasted nearly twice that is a good indicator of the quality > WE was able to achieve. > It would be interesting to find out how much in today's dollars the > manufacture of a 302 would cost. I bet it would be a few hundred > dollars or more. I wouldn't even begin to try to estimate that, nor would it make any sense in today's marketplace. Back in the days when *The Phone Company* owned everything (including that phone on your nightstand), it actually made perfect economic sense to design and build everything for that kind of a service life. The time and labor cost of a) dispatching a repair technician every two years or so /per phone/ b) having to maintain a larger labor force of technicians, even if all they did was replace phones in place rather than actually repair them, and c) manufacturing more phones as the old ones could no longer be repaired (remember the not insignificant costs of running more factories) would quickly overshadow the cost of manufacturing a phone which needed (almost) no maintenance. So, in this particualr case, it seems that the old book "Quality is Free" from the early 80's had more than a grain of truth in it. But that was then and now is now. We now "repair" our own phones by throwing them into the trash heap and replacing them with new ones we purchase at the local Wal-Mart or Staples. Sorry, I digress. NPL [ More Snipped ] "It is impossible to make anything foolproof because fools are so ingenious" - A. Bloch ------------------------------ From: SELLCOM Tech support Subject: Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind Organization: www.sellcom.com Reply-To: support@sellcom.com Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2004 21:15:58 GMT friendly posted on that vast internet thingie: > Thanks for describing MS great products that most the world chooses to > use because they are superior and cost effective and kept very up to > date. Make sure and get XP SP2 as it's a big improvement and installs > seemlessly for the large majority of users. That is certainly an excellent point. I guess that some picky sorts might quibble regarding your choice of the word "chooses". Steve at SELLCOM http://www.sellcom.com Discount multihandset cordless phones by Siemens, AT&T, Panasonic, Motorola Vtech 5.8Ghz; TMC ET4000 4line Epic phone, OnHoldPlus, Beamer, Watchguard! Brick wall "non MOV" surge protection. Uniden 2line 5.8GHz cordless If you sit at a desk www.ergochair.biz you owe it to yourself. ------------------------------ From: Shalom Septimus Subject: Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 06:23:04 -0400 Reply-To: druggist@pobox.com On Sat, 28 Aug 2004 08:49:18 -0700, Steve Sobol wrote: > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Would you please explain what is a > 'sock-puppet' (anonymous or otherwise)? Thanks. PAT] Remember that Spanish comedian that had a sock on his hand that he would talk to? Senor Wences, I think was his name. He'd talk, and the sock (with a face drawn on it) would answer him. The insane Central American dictator in the movie "The Inlaws" did the same sort of thing without the sock (he had the face drawn right on his thumb and forefinger, if I remember correctly -- been a while since I saw that picture). In the context of Usenet, a sock-puppet is what you call it when someone posts a message, and "someone else" posts a message agreeing with or supporting the first one, but when you check the headers you find that all the messages are sent by the same person using different aliases. Essentially he's trying to make it look like he's got a vast groundswell of support, but in reality it's just the sock on his hand answering him. Presumably, what Steve meant was that this "friendly" who posted the original message was just a sock on BG's hand, giving us his message while making it look like it came from someone else. Shalom ------------------------------ From: panoptes@iquest.net (Daniel W. Johnson) Subject: Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind Date: 29 Aug 2004 11:06:02 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Would you please explain what is a > 'sock-puppet' (anonymous or otherwise)? Thanks. PAT] In the context of usenet, a sock-puppet is an alter-ego established by an individual for the purpose of posting messages that agree with his views, thus making it appear that the individual in question has more support than (s)he really does. http://www.spamfaq.net/terminology.shtml#sock ------------------------------ From: hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com (Lisa Hancock) Subject: Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind Date: 30 Aug 2004 11:27:07 -0700 Tony P. wrote: >> Actually, if you had programs that were 50 (fifty) years old from an >> earlier generation of IBM mainframes (ie 1401 or 7090 series from the >> 1950s) you could STILL run them without change, too. I know of people >> who did just that until at least the mid 1990s. > IBM paid a heavy price to support those old applications. The 370 > series allowed virtual machines so they could just emulate a 1401 or > 7090 to run those applications and pass the IO back to the VM/CMS > manager for display. A slight correction -- VM/CMS was not needed for predecessor machine emulation; we did emulation but not on VM. Emulation was a combination of firmware and software. >> The 1948 Western Electric rotary phone on my desk works just fine, by >> the way. The Centrex ESS still accepts rotary dial pulses and the >> ringing current still rings the telephone. Voice clarity is fine. > It would be interesting to find out how much in today's dollars the > manufacture of a 302 would cost. I bet it would be a few hundred > dollars or more. On the one hand, sturdy construction and components would make an exact duplicate of a 302 or 500 set expensive to build, although my guess is in quantity mass production about $50-$100. However, the components within are obsolete and more modern components would likely be cheaper. Building durable versions of said components would probably put the basic phone, mass produced, at $35 (which is still three times a plain phone.) Unfortunately, these prices would require mass production, but the demand isn't there, so unit prices would be higher. There's a company making high grade radio tubes under the Western Electric name that are extremely expensive; I suspect this is due to low volume and special purpose. (I wonder what tubes for say guitar amps cost at a music store?) > Planned obsolescence. It's been with us at least since World War II > and will continue to be with us. If something works for me I use it > until *I* outgrow it, not when the marketing people say I should trade > in or buy new. In the case of an automobile you can get away with driving an old car, it doesn't become incompatible with roads. But an old computer is harder to use in the world. A big problem I have is that most websites today require very high bandwidth and my modem is not fast enough; new modems require a higher operating system so I can't get one. I still use plain old "Quick Basic" which I have on 5" disks; and that is a pain to transfer over. I had Adobe 4, I had to upgrade to 5 to read stuff. Now I have to go to Adobe 6. My Netscape 3 hardly works. > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: That is sort of what I have here now > on one machine: a custom built (more or less) computer with two actual > hard drives (C and F); two CD-DVD drives (D and E), one of which (E) > is a writer as well; a removable USB drive with 62 MB on it (the > little 'finger-like' thing which fits in a USB socket) called (G) and > of course the 1.44 mb floppy (A). There is a slot to install another > another 1.44 mb floppy if desired and a space to install a larger > old style 5 1/2 inch floppy if I wanted, or another CD-DVD thing if > I wished, but I do not know where those latter two slots (if I were > to fill them with devices) would plug in; the ribbon connectors inside > are all in use as I recall. The problem is that many of us neither have the skills nor the time to do all of the above. I remember on my prior machine the big hoopla when DOS 5.0 came out. I bought a copy, and discovered it would do nothing for me on my 286 with 640K. I took off the EDIT/QBASIC but left the O/S in the box. I did find the EDIT extremely useful and use it extensively to this day. But I don't want to be bothered with operating system changes or multiples. ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Video of Old Telephone Exchanges Reply-To: jhaynes@alumni.uark.edu Organization: University of Arkansas Alumni From: haynes@alumni.uark.edu (Jim Haynes) Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2004 20:34:05 GMT Or, see www.open-video.org and while you're there, look at "Telegram for America", a 1956 advertisement for Western Union. jhhaynes at earthlink dot net ------------------------------ Subject: You Can Still Send a Western Union Mailgram Reply-To: jhaynes@alumni.uark.edu Organization: University of Arkansas Alumni From: haynes@alumni.uark.edu (Jim Haynes) Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2004 20:37:22 GMT Because I just received one today. There's a toll-free number on the back to reply by Mailgram - 800-325-6000 The reason for the mailgram is that someone has been trying unsuccessfully to reach me by phone. I have only one phone line, and I guess they don't have my email address. I have a U.S. Robotics V.92 modem that is supposed to ring the phone when a call-waiting tone comes on the line. It does that, but apparently only sporadically. jhhaynes at earthlink dot net ------------------------------ From: google@bathfordhill.co.uk (Ian) Subject: Re: Handset Tester Date: 28 Aug 2004 13:43:04 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com Joe Elichaa wrote in message news:: > I am looking for a real good handset tester that will measure values > and be able to compare these values to other handsets. Does anybody > know of such device? Thank you, Joe Ok; what values? Do you mean sound ? If so are you looking at bandwidth or quality? Basicly though a signal generator, speaker, Mic and Scope will do the job. Ian ------------------------------ From: alan@telchemy.com (Alan Clark) Subject: VoIP Troubleshooter Web Site Updated Date: 28 Aug 2004 17:55:32 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com We have updated the VoIP Troubleshooter web site, and will be adding a forum shortly. The site contains useful information on VoIP performance problems and online troubleshooting tools. Any comments or suggestions for content are welcome. Alan Clark Telchemy ------------------------------ From: hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com (Lisa Hancock) Subject: Re: VOIP Connects Workers as They Flee Convention Site Date: 28 Aug 2004 19:32:33 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com Jack Decker wrote: > And why is this a good thing? Because you can take your IP phone or > the soft phone running on your laptop, plug it in to any broadband > tap .... _Any_ broadband tap? Wouldn't it have to have sufficient capacity and reliability to transmit voice in an acceptable manner and reliability? When you're not at home, who pays for public broadband taps? [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I thought by definition, a 'broadband' line was a line with a big enough pipe to do most of those things. And wherever you are or are not (at home, for example) isn't 'public broadband' usually defined as some person or organization (ranging from a university or a Starbucks place or some internet cafe or even a private individual who supplies internet service to a large assortment of regular people with no particular discrimination in what they are actually using it for? Note, the statement was not 'plug it into any 56K dialup line'. Broadband, by definition is a large internet pipe. 'Public broadband' is what places have for their guests or customers to use. PAT] ------------------------------ From: hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com (Jeff nor Lisa) Subject: Re: Forced Ads on Auto Response System Date: 28 Aug 2004 19:36:57 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com richgr@panix.com (Rich Greenberg) wrote: > 1) When asked to key in your card number or whatever, just enter > nothing. MOST systems will time out and give you a human, assuming > rotary dial. A few tell you to call back from a TT phone and dump > you. Unfortunately, they've gotten wise to people doing nothing and demand a number or cut you off. One company says to _speak_ your number and responses. ------------------------------ From: Tom Smith Subject: Re: Phone Card Inquiry Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2004 05:38:20 GMT Organization: AT&T Worldnet John R. Levine wrote: >> I'm looking for a prepaid phone card to call from the US to Europe. >> Without any payphone surcharges. What would you recommend? Breaking news. The pay phone owners are going to get their money for use of their phones. If some one else does not collect on their behalf, you will pay them directly. So you should be interested in asking for comparisons on cost differences for payphone usage. ------------------------------ From: DevilsPGD Subject: Re: Vonage VOIP and Apartment Intercom Reply-To: bond-jamesbond@crazyhat.net Organization: EasyNews, UseNet made Easy! Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2004 06:22:51 GMT In message cmclagan@yahoo.com (NoSpamPlease) wrote: > 1) Am I right about the voltage risk? Yes. > 2) If I disconnect the Verizon service will the Enterphone still > supply a voltage that could damage the adapter? Probably -- If it simulates a ring, it will. > 3) If Enterphone does not supply voltage, but I try to test the > arrangement before disconnecting Verizon, will I be at risk? Possibly. > 4) Are there any special devices I might use that would help me deal > with this situation? A two line cordless phone system? > Is there any hope? I really don't want to have to limit my Enterphone > use to a single wired phone (I use 4 cordless extension phones and > don't want to have to run to the kitchen every time the door is > buzzed.) How often does your door get buzzed? Can I get a w00t w00t? ------------------------------ From: Tom Smith Subject: Re: Ups and Downs Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2004 06:34:50 GMT Organization: AT&T Worldnet TELECOM Digest Noted in a response to Clive Dawson: > Unlike King Midas, where everything he touched turned to gold, > everything I touch turns to shit it seems. It is called the "fecal touch." I have long had it, and often wish I could pass it on in a game of tag. [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: By now, I *should* be able to remember that I am an older, disabled senior citizen. I *should* be able to remember to just sit and watch television all day, take my medication on a regular basis, enjoy my meals on wheels when Southeast Kansas Meals on Wheels comes around each day, feed and care for my cat and my recently-arrived Fox Terrior and **keep my hands off of things I am curious about**. I wonder why I resent doing that so much and have to keep on touching things and winding up with these stinking messes? PAT] ------------------------------ From: john@munsey.net (John Munsey Jr) Subject: LNP Wireless to Voip Possible? Date: 29 Aug 2004 03:06:43 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com Should I be able to port my current wireless phone number to a Voip account(T-mobile)? I have read wireless to wireless and wireline to wireless, but cannot find any info either way on wireless to Voip. Any definitive info is appreciated. ------------------------------ From: Mike Riddle Organization: Solitary, Poor, Nasty, Brutish & Short Subject: Cable Addresses? Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2004 12:59:49 -0500 -- "To Reply Replace the Obvious 'mriddle'" [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: The above header arrived here with no text of any sort from Mike Riddle. Since the subject had a question mark after it, my assumption is his question may have been 'What is a Cable Address' or 'Do they still have them'. The answer would be yes they still have them, although rarely used (in the sense that 'cable messages' these days are rare. When they were prevelant (when telegrams were prevelant) they functioned like 'vanity numbers' or 'easy to remember' telex/TWX numbers. A business place or organization in its advertising would often times give their address, their telephone number and their 'cable address', typically one or two words you could say to the telegraph clerk when you wished to send a message to that place. A couple cable addresses I remember were 'Symphony' which referred to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (in place of its longer telex number) and 'Beacon Hill' although I do not remember who that one was for. Just as modern day telco charges extra to give you an easy to remember number, so did Western Union charge extra, and although domestic messages were called 'telegrams' and international messages were called 'cables' or 'cablegrams', in either case easy to remember word phrases in place of numbers were called 'cable addresses'. Some cable addresses also functioned like modern day '800 toll free numbers' but not absolutely unless the subscriber agreed to pay for them. I hope this answer to Mike Riddle is satisfactory, given that no text showed up with the header; and thanks for the old memory! PAT] ------------------------------ From: curious11112001@yahoo.com (Curious) Subject: Specific Telephone Numbers Date: 29 Aug 2004 21:43:49 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com I'm looking for TDD [not TTY] numbers, fax numbers, and dial-up modem numbers in: 1. Stamford, Connecticut 2. Switzerland 3. Holland 4. Canada 5. France 6. Russia 7. Germany 8. London 9. Italy Thanks in advance. ------------------------------ From: hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com (Lisa Hancock) Subject: Re: Verizon Cable TV? Date: 30 Aug 2004 09:28:10 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com Danny Burstein wrote: > Verizon has been doing a couple of in house tests using hi capacity > DSL circuitry to provide switched video [a], which they hope to market > as an alternative to cable systems. The Phila Inqr (www.philly.com) had an article on this in general. It stated that one change is that the new cabling will run fibre right to the house, cable uses fibre to the neighborhood only, then coax to the house (which is how cable serves my area). The Baby Bells are looking to provide a package of TV, telephone, and Internet. They recognize their losing traditional telephone customers. At the same time, the big cable companies plan to introduce telephone service over their networks. Given the price gouging, poor reliability, and community disrespect by the cable company, I am looking forward to Verizon's service offering. How this will work out for the consumer in terms of quality and price remains to be seen. It's very possible that competition will lower cable's price, but only slightly since Verizon will want to make big profits too and not go too far down in a price war. ------------------------------ From: Jack Decker Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 11:36:34 -0400 Subject: AOL VoIP in 2005 Reply-To: VoIPnews@yahoogroups.com http://www.broadbandreports.com/shownews/53185 Beta testers receiving gear Can you say crowded market? Some users in our VoIP forum have been invited into an upcoming AOL VoIP beta. AOL has signed up Level3 as a partner, been hiring for the division, and is expected to launch the product sometime in 2005. Once again the company will wind up competing with itself; Time Warner Cable's Digital Phone service is expected to go live over the next six months. Article and reader comments at: http://www.broadbandreports.com/shownews/53185 How to Distribute VoIP Throughout a Home: http://michigantelephone.mi.org/distribute.html If you live in Michigan, subscribe to the MI-Telecom group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MI-Telecom/ ------------------------------ From: Lisa Minter Subject: Last Laugh! Boom! Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2004 15:18:00 -0500 A Bomb Shelter With Class If you're sure the end is near, QSleeper.com might be the site for you. The online company sells the yet-to-be-produced Quantum Sleeper, a bed that promises to protect you from biochemical terrorist attacks, kidnappers and stalkers, even natural disasters while you sleep. The bulletproof beds can be outfitted with TVs, DVD players, computers and refrigerators. Tin foil hat not included. ------------------------------ 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, Yahoo Groups, and other forums. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. TELECOM Digest is a not-for-profit, mostly non-commercial educational service offered to the Internet by Patrick Townson. All the contents of the Digest are compilation-copyrighted. You may reprint articles in some other media on an occasional basis, but please attribute my work and that of the original author. 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Please make at least a single donation to cover the cost of processing your name to the mailing list. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. End of TELECOM Digest V23 #404 ****************************** From editor@telecom-digest.org Mon Aug 30 22:37:21 2004 Received: (from ptownson@localhost) by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.6p3/8.11.6) id i7V2bKP20463; Mon, 30 Aug 2004 22:37:21 -0400 (EDT) Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 22:37:21 -0400 (EDT) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <200408310237.i7V2bKP20463@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 V23 #405 TELECOM Digest Mon, 30 Aug 2004 22:37:00 EDT Volume 23 : Issue 405 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Telecom Update (Canada) #446, August 30, 2004 (Angus TeleManagement) Postwar Bell System - Controversy? (Jeff nor Lisa) Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 (Jim Haynes) Looking for Receive-Only VoIP (Mark Atwood) Sprint Settlement Notice: Free Sprint Phone Card (ninja_fanatic) Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind (Paul A Lee) Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind (Steve Sobol) Presidential Debate on Tuesday, August 31 Probably on TV (Pat Townson) Re: Last Laugh! Boom! (Thomas A. Horsley) Re: Specific Telephone Numbers (Tony P.) Re: LNP Wireless to Voip Possible? (John R. Levine) Comcast to Market New Video Recorder (Monty Solomon) Last Laugh! Visiting the Doctor's Office (Lisa Minter) 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. =========================== Addresses herein are not to be added to any mailing list, nor to be sold or given away without explicit written consent. Chain letters, viruses, porn, spam, and miscellaneous junk are definitely unwelcome. We must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands against crime. Geoffrey Welsh =========================== See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 15:57:05 -0400 From: Angus TeleManagement Subject: Telecom Update (Canada) #446, August 30, 2004 ************************************************************ TELECOM UPDATE ************************************************************ published weekly by Angus TeleManagement Group http://www.angustel.ca Number 446: August 30, 2004 Publication of Telecom Update is made possible by generous financial support from: ** ALLSTREAM: www.allstream.com ** BELL CANADA: www.bell.ca ** CISCO SYSTEMS CANADA: www.cisco.com/ca ** CYGCOM INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGIES: www.cygcom.com ** GROUP TELECOM: www.360.net ** JUNIPER NETWORKS: www.juniper.net ** PRIMUS CANADA: www.primustel.ca ** SPRINT CANADA: www.sprint.ca ** TELUS: www.telus.com ************************************************************ IN THIS ISSUE: ** Ottawa Ends Wireless Spectrum Cap ** Telus Merges Sales Groups, Plans Staff Cuts ** Federal Mediator Enters Aliant Strike ** Local Resellers to Get Toll Compensation ** Bell Buys Spectrum From Kedar ** Wi-LAN Reports Loss, Replaces Staff ** Telus Says Competitors Failing to File IXPL Reports ** Mitel Launches Call Accounting ** Rogers Upgrades Wireless Desktop ** Rogers Picks Azaire for Hotspots ** Spotwave Raises $12 Million ** Court Denies Verisign Challenge to Icann ** Com Dev Back in the Black ** Living With Converged Networks ============================================================ OTTAWA ENDS WIRELESS SPECTRUM CAP: Industry Canada has rescinded the rule that limits the amount of radio spectrum a cellular telephone company can hold. The change removes a major barrier against mergers and acquisitions in the mobile phone industry: Telus, which is currently trying to buy Microcell, could be the first major beneficiary. http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/en/sf05645e.html TELUS MERGES SALES GROUPS, PLANS STAFF CUTS: Telus says it will combine its Client Solutions (large business) and Business Solutions (small and medium business) sales units into one by October. Joe Natale, current President of Client Solutions, will head the merged unit; Business Solutions President John Maduri has left the company. FEDERAL MEDIATOR ENTERS ALIANT STRIKE: Following a public appeal by labour ministers and premiers from all four Atlantic provinces, federal Labour Minister Joe Fontana has asked Aliant and its unions to meet with a federal mediator today. The strike began on April 23; the two sides have not met since July. ** The union is seeking enhanced pensions and benefits, and greater job security in face of efforts by the company's owner, BCE, to move back-office functions to Bell Canada. LOCAL RESELLERS TO GET TOLL COMPENSATION: Responding to an application by West Coast Teltech and A&A Call Link Telesolutions, the CRTC has reversed a previous ruling, now saying that "one-hop resellers" are entitled to compensation for lost business when local calling areas are expanded. (See Telecom Update #382, 390) www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2004/dt2004-56.htm BELL BUYS SPECTRUM FROM KEDAR: The newsletter Report on Wireless says that the high-speed wireless net Bell Canada plans to build in Alberta will use spectrum acquired from Mobilexchange Spectrum, a company controlled by telecom entrepreneur Mike Kedar. Kedar acquired six wireless licences in the 24 GHz range in January from Wispra, which had paid $74 million for them in the 1999 auction but never launched service. (See Telecom Update #417, 445) Wi-LAN REPORTS LOSS, REPLACES STAFF: Wi-LAN Inc's third quarter revenue was $6.1 million, down from $7.5 million a year ago. The company had a net loss of $4 million. CEO Sayed-Amr El-Hamamsy says that as a result Wi-LAN is "replacing under-performing marketing and sales personnel, including some senior executives," and is looking for two new vice-presidents to head sales and marketing. TELUS SAYS COMPETITORS FAILING TO FILE IXPL REPORTS: Telus says that competitors have not informed the CRTC about routes where they are offering inter-exchange private line service, which would trigger deregulation of Telus' IXPL service on those routes. Telus has asked the CRTC for stiffer reporting requirements. www.crtc.gc.ca/PartVII/eng/2004/8640/t66_200408915.htm MITEL LAUNCHES CALL ACCOUNTING: Mitel Networks has introduced the IP Telephony Accounting Solution, a utility that monitors and reports on corporate telephone usage. It includes fraud detection, validation of carrier billing, and call flow forecasting. ROGERS UPGRADES WIRELESS DESKTOP: Enhanced Wireless Desktop version 4.4, released last week by Rogers Wireless, supports e-mail synchronization with the Treo 600 smartphone and other devices. Subscribers to any of Rogers' Wireless Data Service plans can obtain Enhanced Wireless Desktop at no additional charge. ROGERS PICKS AZAIRE FOR HOTSPOTS: After an RFP process that began last December, Rogers Wireless has selected California- based Azaire Networks to provide secure authentication and authorization services in Rogers Wi-Fi hotspots across Canada. The software will allow customers to pay by credit card or have their charges applied to a Rogers Wireless account. SPOTWAVE RAISES $12 MILLION: Ottawa-based Spotwave Wireless, a developer of in-building wireless coverage technology, has raised $7 million in new venture capital, and received a $5 million line of credit from Royal Bank. COURT DENIES VERISIGN CHALLENGE TO ICANN: A U.S. federal court has thrown out Verisign's suit charging the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers with antitrust violations. Verisign launched the suit when ICANN ordered it to stop transferring customers who mis-typed web addresses to its own website. COM DEV BACK IN THE BLACK: Com Dev International, a Cambridge-based satellite components maker, reports May-June sales of $32.4 million, 42% higher than last year. Profits were $4.2 million, similar to the previous quarter and an improvement from a $1.6 million loss a year ago. (See Telecom Update #413) LIVING WITH CONVERGED NETWORKS: It's one thing to decide to merge enterprise voice and data on a common IP network; it's quite another to make it work properly. The September Telemanagement includes a feature report on "Designing Converged Networks for Manageability," including a seven-step troubleshooting checklist. Also in this issue: ** IP Centrex Comes of Age: a review of hosted services from Telus, Bell, and OneConnect. ** A Buyers Guide to Broadband-IP Phone Services: what to watch for (and watch out for) including a summary of services now available in Canada from nine companies. Subscribers to Telemanagement Online can read the new issue on our website now. To receive Telemanagement every month -- including unlimited access to Telemanagement's extensive online content -- phone 800-263-4415 ext 500 or visit www.angustel.ca/teleman/tm-sub-online.html. ============================================================ 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 www.angustel.ca 2. The e-mail edition is distributed free of charge. To subscribe, send an e-mail message to: join-telecom_update@nova.sparklist.com To stop receiving the e-mail edition, send an e-mail message to: leave-telecom_update@nova.sparklist.com Sending e-mail to these addresses will automatically add or remove the sender's e-mail address from the list. Leave subject line and message area blank. We do not give Telecom Update subscribers' e-mail addresses to any third party. For more information, see www.angustel.ca/update/privacy.html. =========================================================== COPYRIGHT AND CONDITIONS OF USE: All contents copyright 2004 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: hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com (Lisa Hancock) Subject: Postwar Bell System - Controversy? Date: 30 Aug 2004 14:04:58 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com The people, business, and government of the United States put aside their differences for the duration of WW II. Everyone was united to defeat the enemy. However, the minute the war ended old issues erupted with a fury. What was the public image of the Bell System during those years? For background: The public demanded the servicemen be brought home at once, even though it would take months for ships and trains to get them home. Business demanded an end to price controls though that result in rapid inflation due to scarcity of consumer goods. The public demand consumer goods even though it would take time to convert factories from war to domestic production and get raw materials. In politics, the Dems and Repubs were at each other's throats. Communism was a big issue because of Stalin's aggression and the discovery of communist spies in government and labs. Did the Bell System get hit with the communist witchhunts? (There really were active communist spies and agents out there, but the McCarthyites missed them and went after innocent people instead). Did the Bell System make it's people sign loyalty oaths or conduct background checks for past party membership as did other organizations? [AFAIK, the Bell System was not affected by this.] The Bell System had a huge backlog of service requests to fulfill and it took years to catch up. New housing developments had a payphone battery on a corner until home phones could be installed. Did the public or regulators get impatient with the Bell System as time wore on? Looking backward, did the Bell System do all it could to meet the demand for service -- were new W/E plants built, were new installers hired and exchanges expanded on a timely basis? I've seen their publicity literature and they said they were doing all those things, but in hindsight, were they doing the best possible? Also, as the postwar era wore on and phones got installed, it became a bigger part of our culture. I believe thanks to carrier, long distance rates were reduced. Were there any "intellectuals" who criticized the growth of the telephone and Direct Distance Dialing? The official Bell System history doesn't really go into this sort of thing. It is more technical, describing all the innovations that were put into service in those years. As mentioned, the publicity documents (ie employee newsletters) talked of the big effort the company was making to meet the backlog, but that is not an objective source. ------------------------------ Subject: Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 Reply-To: jhaynes@alumni.uark.edu Organization: University of Arkansas Alumni From: haynes@alumni.uark.edu (Jim Haynes) Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 21:15:34 GMT See Who's Who in Engineering for 1940s-1950s Chicago native Walt Zenner was a graduate of Armour Institute, now Illinois Institute of Technology. He worked for Teletype Corp. from 1925 until he retired in 1965, when he was V.P. of R&D. Then he co-founded Extel. This is an obituary from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for Walt Zenner who passed away on August 27 at the age of 100. Zenner, Walter J. Publication Date: August 29, 2004 Born in Chicago February 21, 1904, passed away august 27, 2004. Survived by his wife, Lois A. (nee Martin) Zenner; sons, John "Jack" (Diana) Zenner and Tom Zenner; daughters, Mary (Harold) Webster and Chris (Larry) Litwin; 11 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mildred in 1975. Mr. Zenner was an inventor of communication products covered by 115 US patents and was vice president of research and development of Teletype Corp. from 1928 to 1964. He was also co-founder and chairman of Extel Corp. an early manufacturer of both dot matrix and ink jet printers of his design. Friends may visit on Monday from 4 to 8PM at the Funeral Home and on Tuesday from 1PM until time Funeral Servcie 2PM at First Congregational Church in Mukwonago (231 Roberts Dr., Mukwonago). Burial Wednesday 1PM at Mt. Emblem Cemetery, Elmhurst, IL. Memorials to First Congregational Church of Mukwonago or Kiwanis Manor in East Troy. SCHMIDT & BARTELT VAN VALIN Funeral and Cremation Service 315 Main St. (Hwy ES) Mukwonago jhhaynes at earthlink dot net [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Wasn't an electronic item common in radios and television sets specifically named after him which was called the 'Zenner Diode'? In a brief summary, will someone tell us what was the purpose of the 'Zenner Diode'? PAT] ------------------------------ Subject: Looking For Receive-Only VoIP From: Mark Atwood Organization: EasyNews, UseNet made Easy! Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 20:52:27 GMT I'm looking for a VoIP provider that can receive a call on a NANP number, but cannot call out. I expect that such a service would be relatively less expensive to provide (no need to pay termination charges to anyone else). Are any of the players doing this? Mark Atwood | When you do things right, people won't be sure mra@pobox.com | you've done anything at all. http://www.pobox.com/~mra | http://www.livejournal.com/users/fallenpegasus ------------------------------ From: ninja_fanatic@yahoo.com (ninja_fanatic) Subject: Sprint Settlement Offer: Free Sprint Phone Card Date: 30 Aug 2004 14:52:08 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com If you're interested in a free $50 phone card from Sprint check out this link: http://www.casualcaller.com/images/settlementclaimform.pdf. If you were ever a Sprint customer, you can make a claim by filling out the form and sending it in! ------------------------------ From: Paul A Lee Subject: Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 16:36:06 -0400 Organization: Rite Aid Corporation In TELECOM Digest V23 #404, Shalom Septimus wrote (in part): > Remember that Spanish comedian that had a sock on his hand > that he would talk to? Senor Wences, I think was his name. > He'd talk, and the sock (with a face drawn on it) would > answer him. The insane Central American dictator in the movie > "The Inlaws" did the same sort of thing without the sock (he > had the face drawn right on his thumb and forefinger, if I > remember correctly -- been a while since I saw that picture). Senor Wences himself used a drawn-on face, rather than a sock -- on his Ed Sullivan appearances, at least. I dimly recall that he would pull a black wristlet onto his arm, draw the face on his thumb and the base of his index finger, and put a tiny wig over his knuckles as Sullivan backed away and the lights went down. There was another Wences character on the Sullivan show that was just an articulated puppet head in a box, as I vaguely recall it. Paul A Lee Sr Telecom Engineer Rite Aid Corporation HL-IS-COM (Telecomm) V: +1 717 730-8355 30 Hunter Lane, Camp Hill, PA 17011-2410 F: +1 717 975-3789 P.O. Box 3165, Harrisburg, PA 17105-3165 W: +1 717 805-6208 ------------------------------ From: Steve Sobol Subject: Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 13:06:14 -0700 Organization: Glorb Internet Services, http://www.glorb.com Shalom Septimus wrote: > In the context of Usenet, a sock-puppet is what you call it when > someone posts a message, and "someone else" posts a message agreeing > with or supporting the first one, but when you check the headers you > find that all the messages are sent by the same person using different > aliases. Essentially he's trying to make it look like he's got a vast > groundswell of support, but in reality it's just the sock on his hand > answering him. > Presumably, what Steve meant was that this "friendly" who posted the > original message was just a sock on BG's hand, giving us his message > while making it look like it came from someone else. Bingo. This is precisely what I meant. The poster to which I was replying sounded an awful lot like a Microsoft shill. JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services, http://JustThe.net/ Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) / sjsobol@JustThe.net PGP Key available from your friendly local key server (0xE3AE35ED) Apple Valley, California Nothing scares me anymore. I have three kids. ------------------------------ From: Patrick Townson Subject: Presidential Debate on Tuesday, August 31 to be Televised Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 20:39:06 -0500 The first multi-party presidential debate of the 2004 election cycle comes to New York on August 31st. Michael Badnarik, the Libertarian candidate, and Green Party candidate David Cobb, have confirmed that they will participate in the event, scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church, 502 West 41st Street. Other presidential candidates, including President Bush, Democratic challenger John Kerry, Constitution Party candidate Michael Peroutka and Independent Ralph Nader have been invited to participate, as well. The debate will be moderated by Walt Kane of News 12 New Jersey and Robert Richie of the Center for Voting and Democracy. "President Bush and Senator Kerry have been involved in 'sensitive negotiations' over debates for some time," says Badnarik, 50, of Austin, Texas. "But it isn't rocket science. We've secured a location, moderators, and a format that gives every candidate a chance to address the issues. If Bush and Kerry want a debate, they've got one. If they don't -- well, that's a statement in and of itself." The debate, which will be preceded by an all-candidate press conference, allows each candidate a five minute opening statement, a three minute closing statement, and two minutes to answer questions posed by the moderators and the audience. The debate will be open to the public, without "set-asides" for the campaigns. "In other words," says Badnarik's communications director, Stephen Gordon, "the real public, not the fan club, will have a chance to grill the candidates." ------------------------------------------------- In addition to the debate at 7:00 p.m. EST, Tuesday, there will be a fundraiser at 5:30 and a press conference at 6:00 p.m. the same day. You are all invited to attend the debate and associated activities. The event is free of charge to the public. However, seating is limited. In order to help defray the costs of the activity, your donation of $50 ensures you a seat in one of the front rows of the event. You may make this donation by calling our debate coordinator, Donald Meinshausen, at (551)358-4591 or by e-mail at freedonnow@yahoo.com. At this moment, it seems likely, albeit with no guarantees, that this debate will be televised. We will do our best to keep you informed of which media will be covering this event. If you can't attend the debate, but wish to help defray some of the costs involved, please contact Donald at (551)358-4591 or by e-mail at freedonnow@yahoo.com today. Please pass this message to other lists and people who might be interested in attending or watching this debate. Paid for by Badnarik/Campagna 2004. On Usenet in cooperation with several moderated newsgroups which have agreed to post it. ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Last Laugh! Boom! From: tom.horsley@att.net (Thomas A. Horsley) Organization: AT&T Worldnet Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 00:17:57 GMT Actually, I've always wanted something like that (I always though of it as a "personal sarcophagus"), but I'm not all that worried about terrorist attacks, I just want to avoid air conditioning and/or heating the whole house when I'm only gonna be using the few square feet of bed for the next several hours -- that and to keep out the sound of the noisy dog barking next door :-). >>==>> The *Best* political site >>==+ email: Tom.Horsley@worldnet.att.net icbm: Delray Beach, FL | Free Software and Politics <<==+ ------------------------------ From: Tony P. Subject: Re: Specific Telephone Numbers Organization: ATCC Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 00:52:24 GMT In article , curious11112001 @yahoo.com says: > I'm looking for TDD [not TTY] numbers, fax numbers, and dial-up modem > numbers in: > 1. Stamford, Connecticut > 2. Switzerland > 3. Holland > 4. Canada > 5. France > 6. Russia > 7. Germany > 8. London > 9. Italy > Thanks in advance. I believe CT might be 711. ------------------------------ From: johnl@iecc.com (John R. Levine) Subject: Re: LNP Wireless to Voip Possible? Date: 30 Aug 2004 21:39:04 -0400 Organization: I.E.C.C., Trumansburg NY USA > Should I be able to port my current wireless phone number to a Voip > account(T-mobile)? I have read wireless to wireless and wireline to > wireless, but cannot find any info either way on wireless to Voip. All the VoIP carriers I know of that offer POTS phone numbers get them from CLECs, so for portability purposes a VoIP line is a wireline line. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 20:52:30 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Comcast to Market New Video Recorder By Peter J. Howe, Globe Staff | August 29, 2004 Starting tomorrow, Comcast Corp. will begin marketing an enhanced cable box to New Englanders that will accelerate a revolution that is changing television-watching habits, and the television industry itself. The Motorola box, which includes a TiVo -style digital video recorder, will allow millions of subscribers to watch shows on their own schedule and skip through the advertisements. Although the technology has been available for a few years, most notably from industry leader TiVo, the adoption of the digital video recording by the region's dominant cable provider signals that this disruptive technology is about to go mainstream. The Comcast digital video recorder, built around a large hard drive, will be able to store 50 hours of regular programming or 10 hours of high-definition format shows, while also letting people pause and rewind shows as they are broadcast live. Comcast will charge $9.95 a month for the system with no upfront installation charge, a steep discount from TiVo, which charges at least $99 for a stand-alone recorder plus $12.95 for monthly service. About 5 percent of US households now own digital video recording systems, a figure that is expected to rise to 22 percent by 2008, according to The Yankee Group, a Boston market research firm. Even though the numbers are small, industry executives expect growing DVR usage to roil the $58 billion US television advertising market, as increasing numbers of consumers, particularly the most affluent who are most likely to rent the devices, get the power to program their own television viewing, and ignore the traditional 30-second television spot. http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/08/29/comcast_to_market_new_video_recorder/ ------------------------------ From: Lisa Minter Subject: Last Laugh! A Visit to Doctor's Office Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 14:46:22 -0500 There's nothing worse than a snotty doctor's receptionist who insists you tell her what is wrong in a room full of other patients. I know most of us have experienced this. You got to love the way this old guy handled it. An 86-year-old man walked into a crowded doctor's office. As he approached the desk, the receptinist said, "Yes sir, what are you seeing the doctor for today?" "There's something wrong with my dick," he replied. The receptionist became irritated and said, "You shouldn't come into a crowded office and say things like that." "Why not? You asked me what was wrong and I told you," he said. The receptionist replied, "You've obviously caused some embarrassment in this room full of people. You should have said there is something wrong with your ear or something and then discussed the problem further with the doctor in private. " The man replied, "You shouldn't ask people things in a room full of others, if the answer could embarrass anyone." The man walked out, waited several minutes and then reentered. The receptionist smiled smugly and asked, "Yes?" "There's something wrong with my ear," he stated. The receptionist nodded approvingly and smiled, knowing he had taken her advice. "And what is wrong with your ear, sir?" "I can't piss out of it," the man replied. The doctor's office erupted in laughter. ------------------------------ 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, Yahoo Groups, and other forums. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. TELECOM Digest is a not-for-profit, mostly non-commercial educational service offered to the Internet by Patrick Townson. All the contents of the Digest are compilation-copyrighted. You may reprint articles in some other media on an occasional basis, but please attribute my work and that of the original author. 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Please make at least a single donation to cover the cost of processing your name to the mailing list. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. End of TELECOM Digest V23 #405 ****************************** [Note: Issue 406 got delayed in mailing and appears here after issue 407. It goes 405, 407, 406 then 408.] From editor@telecom-digest.org Tue Aug 31 15:26:00 2004 Received: (from ptownson@localhost) by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.6p3/8.11.6) id i7VJQ0e28005; Tue, 31 Aug 2004 15:26:00 -0400 (EDT) Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 15:26:00 -0400 (EDT) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <200408311926.i7VJQ0e28005@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 V23 #407 TELECOM Digest Tue, 31 Aug 2004 15:25:00 EDT Volume 23 : Issue 407 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson HBO CGMS-A Copyright Protection (Monty Solomon) Startup Launching Web-To-TV Video Service (Monty Solomon) Verizon Wireless Takes a Bite Out of 'Spam' (Monty Solomon) Verizon Issues Consumer Alert: Beware of Pop-Up Internet Ads (M Solomon) Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service (Monty Solomon) Caller ID Falsification Service (Sent by a Gnu) (ytm4jpc02@sneakemail) Re: Forced Ads on Auto Response System (Brian Inglis) Re: Forced Ads on Auto Response System (John David Galt) Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind (Paul Vader) Re: Verizon Cable TV? (Isaiah Beard) Re: Considering VoIP For Home? Think Twice About AT&T CallVantage (Chip) Re: Looking For Receive-Only VoIP (John Bartley) Re: Looking For Receive-Only VoIP (John R. Covert) Re: Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 (Ned Protter) Re: Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 (Klay Anderson) Re: Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 (Justin Time) Re: Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 (Paul A Lee) Re: Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 (William Warren) Re: Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 (Robert Bonomi) Re: You Can Still Send a Western Union Mailgram (Lisa Hancock) 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. =========================== Addresses herein are not to be added to any mailing list, nor to be sold or given away without explicit written consent. Chain letters, viruses, porn, spam, and miscellaneous junk are definitely unwelcome. We must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands against crime. Geoffrey Welsh =========================== See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 23:20:39 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: HBO CGMS-A Copyright Protection CGMS-A: May 21 Affiliate Letter http://www.homeboxoffice.com/to/cgms_a_affiliate_letter.pdf CGMS-A: CSR Q & A http://www.homeboxoffice.com/to/cgms_a_attachment_qa.pdf HBO Copyright Protection Background http://www.hbo.com/corpinfo/cgmsafaq.shtml ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 23:34:45 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Startup Launching Web-To-TV Video Service By MAY WONG AP Technology Writer SAN MATEO, Calif. (AP) -- The promise of Internet-based video has long been hamstrung by copyright and piracy worries, slow dial-up connections, technical challenges and consumer disdain for watching blotchy videos on their home computers. But a Silicon Valley startup is tackling those obstacles, hoping to become the first major provider of cinema straight from the Internet to the living room boob tube. - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=43367705 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 23:40:43 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Verizon Wireless Takes a Bite Out of 'Spam' Nation's Leading Wireless Carrier Wins Legal Injunction Against RI-Based Wireless Spammer; Champions Customer's Right to Privacy BEDMINSTER, N.J. and WOBURN, Mass. Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless today announced it was granted a permanent, legal injunction against Rhode Island resident Jacob Brown, a known 'spammer' who knowingly executed a systematic spam attack on wireless phones owned by Verizon Wireless customers. The Honorable Mary L. Cooper, United States District Judge in Trenton, New Jersey, permanently enjoined Jacob Brown from sending further spam to Verizon Wireless customers. Brown and his cohorts distributed unsolicited short text messages (also referred to as 'spam') offering mortgage loans and directing individuals to adult Web sites. Additionally, these individuals 'spoofed' and disguised themselves by using IP addresses of innocent persons to distribute messages, creating identification protection for the guilty and an undercurrent of insecurity for innocent people. The company, which has long championed a customer's right to privacy and 'spam-free' wireless environment, believed legal action was necessary to deter future wireless phone 'attacks' that force customers to pay for unsolicited commercial spam messages each time one reaches their phone. The action taken against Jacob Brown is the latest of many legal filings by Verizon Wireless against wireless 'spammers.' Last year, for example, Verizon Wireless filed two suits against wireless spammers in federal court in Georgia -- which were disseminating repeated, unsolicited, text messages to Verizon Wireless customers -- and succeeded in stopping those spam attacks. These are believed to be some of the only legal actions taken in the nation against wireless spammers. - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=43367241 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 23:48:39 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Verizon Issues Consumer Alert: Beware of Pop-Up Internet Ads Beware of Pop-Up Internet Ads and 'Modem Hijacking' Scheme - Aug 30, 2004 11:41 AM (PR Newswire) Consumers Who Click 'yes' to Pop-Up Ad Questions Without Reading The Fine Print Could Be Agreeing to Have Their Modems Programmed to Automatically Dial Expensive International Long-Distance Calls NEW YORK, Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers should read the fine print before clicking "yes" or "I accept" to questions that appear on so-called pop-up ads while browsing the Web. They could be agreeing to install software on their computers that then dials international locations. The result could be significant, and perhaps unexpected, international long-distance charges for which the customer is responsible. This scam, known as "modem hijacking," occurs when a computer user sees certain ads pop up on the screen while visiting a Web site. If the user clicks on the pop-up, a series of questions appears asking the user to choose a "yes," "I agree," or a similarly phrased button to agree to the terms and conditions of the ad. A positive response to the question triggers a software download to the user's computer - which will then automatically dial the international phone numbers at random times without the customer knowing it. The Federal Trade Commission, in response to increasing incidents involving this scam, has posted a consumer alert on its website at: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alert/modmalrt.htm. - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=43373331 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 08:50:55 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service By Kevin Poulsen ,SecurityFocus Aug 27 2004 2:37PM Overdue debtors beware: You may not be able to rely on Caller I.D. to screen out those annoying bill collectors much longer. A California entrepreneur has a plan to bring the hacker technique of Caller I.D. spoofing to the business world, beginning with collection agencies and private investigators. Slated for launch next week, Star38.com would offer subscribers a simple Web interface to a Caller I.D. spoofing system that lets them appear to be calling from any number they choose. "It creates an extra avenue for them to have someone pick up the phone," says founder Jason Jepson. Caller I.D. spoofing has for years been within the reach of businesses with certain types of digital connections to their local phone company, and more recently has become the plaything of hackers and pranksters exploiting permissive voice over IP systems. But Star38.com appears to be the first stab at turning Caller I.D. spoofing into a commercial venture. Jepson claims the service will charge a twenty-five cent connection fee for each call, and seven to fourteen cents per minute. http://securityfocus.com/news/9419 ------------------------------ Date: 31 Aug 2004 08:02:49 -0000 Subject: Caller ID Falsification Service (Sent by a Gnu) From: ytm4jpc02@sneakemail.com --------------- To reply by email, "Gnu" must be included in the subject line --------------- Pat, I came across this at Slashdot this morning -- I figured it might interest you. Cheers, Frank Pizer http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/08/30/1620237 "A US website will offer Caller ID falsification service ... slated for launch this week, Star38.com would offer subscribers a simple Web interface to a Caller ID spoofing system that lets them appear to be calling from any number they choose. [...] SecurityFocus took the site for a test drive, and found it worked as advertised. The user fills out a simple Web form with his phone number, the number he wants to call, and the number he wants to appear to be calling from. Within two seconds, the system rings back, and patches the user through to the destination. The recipient sees only the spoofed number displayed on Caller ID. Any number works, from nonsense phone numbers like "123 4567" to the number for the White House switchboard." [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Well, you know what is good for the goose is also good for the gander as they say. Debtors can also use that service to spoof the skip tracers and bill collectors. For example, a common technique used by skip tracers who cannot find your phone number anywhere is to send you a letter from some bogus company telling you that you have won a prize; to claim the prize all you have to do is call us on this (toll free) number and punch in the 'extension' number shown. The letter is vague enough that they do not have to award any prizes, but they do match up *your* phone number (which is what they really wanted; you cannot hide it when you call an 800 number) and the specifics of your alleged indebtedness (the 'extension' number you were asked to punch in when you called), and you can be sure you will get a callback rather soon from some no-nonsense person who would like to speak with you about your debt. They don't all bother with the ruse of telling you that you won a prize, some skip tracers employ young ladies to write cozy, friendly, occassionally lurid letters using pink felt tip markers to guys (males, it seems, make up the majority of skip-traceable [or hard-core] debtors) claiming to be a long-lost friend (of the opposite sex of course; what guy would not fall for that one and eagerly return the call). "Call me on my office line at 800-xxx-xxxx and ask for extension xxxxx so we can renew our friendship." Men are always getting lured into that trap I am sorry to say. Now imagine for a minute if you *did* return those absolutely wicked, nosy, spying phone calls to (a) claim your 'prize' or (b) meet the person who had been 'flirting' with you but you returned the call via this new web site phalsification service and gave your caller ID blast as 202-456-1414 or whatever. But this new web site costs money for your phalse ID calls; why should you have to pay for the service when you could use your FWD/Pulver phone (which can call USA toll frees and gives an NYC 212 number for the caller-ID blast.) Wheeee! And a good time was had by all. PAT] ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 09:40:45 GMT From: Brian Inglis Subject: Re: Forced Ads on Auto Response System Reply-To: Brian.Inglis@SystematicSW.ab.ca Organization: Systematic Software On 28 Aug 2004 19:36:57 -0700 in comp.dcom.telecom, hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com (Jeff nor Lisa) wrote: > richgr@panix.com (Rich Greenberg) wrote: >> 1) When asked to key in your card number or whatever, just enter >> nothing. MOST systems will time out and give you a human, assuming >> rotary dial. A few tell you to call back from a TT phone and dump >> you. > Unfortunately, they've gotten wise to people doing nothing and demand > a number or cut you off. One company says to _speak_ your number and > responses. What happens if you use the switch hook to pulse dial a number? Thanks. Take care, Brian Inglis Calgary, Alberta, Canada Brian.Inglis@CSi.com (Brian[dot]Inglis{at}SystematicSW[dot]ab[dot]ca) fake address use address above to reply ------------------------------ From: John David Galt Subject: Re: Forced Ads on Auto Response System Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 19:46:42 -0700 Organization: Diogenes the Cynic Hot-Tubbing Society >> 1) When asked to key in your card number or whatever, just enter >> nothing. MOST systems will time out and give you a human, assuming >> rotary dial. A few tell you to call back from a TT phone and dump >> you. > Unfortunately, they've gotten wise to people doing nothing and demand > a number or cut you off. One company says to _speak_ your number and > responses. Then say something that isn't a number. Sometimes the system will pass what you've said on to a human, who can intervene. ------------------------------ From: pv+usenet@pobox.com (Paul Vader) Subject: Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 15:23:26 -0000 Organization: Inline Software Creations Paul A Lee writes: > There was another Wences character on the Sullivan show that was just > an articulated puppet head in a box, as I vaguely recall it. Close the door. * * PV something like badgers--something like lizards--and something like corkscrews. ------------------------------ From: Isaiah Beard Subject: Re: Verizon Cable TV? Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 11:33:52 -0400 Lisa Hancock wrote in message news:telecom23.404.17@telecom-digest.org: > Given the price gouging, poor reliability, and community disrespect > by the cable company, I am looking forward to Verizon's service > offering. Funny that. Considering the poor reliability, price gouging and community disrepect earned by Verizon, I couldn't wait to get VoIP over a cable broadband connection and drop Verizon for good. :) I guess it depends on where you live. Cable and telephone have both been prevailing regulated monopolies for a long time, and depending on where you live, one or the other is the lesser of two evils that you must pick from. If only DBS didn't have such a horrible latency problem, we could all drop both services. ------------------------------ From: Chip G Subject: Re: Considering VoIP For Home? Think Twice About AT&T CallVantage Organization: Comcast Online Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 16:27:05 GMT charlie3 wrote in message news:telecom23.399.14@telecom-digest.org: > I'm having a good experience with Vonage. I've found customer support > to be available and competent. > Because of Vonage, every call I make is free. Because of Vonage > simultaneous ring people need only one number to find me. I move the > Vonage box to seasonal locations where I have broadband avialable. > I expected some glitches and planned accordingly, mostly by having a > cell phone for backup. (Vonage automatically rings my cell phone > during network outages or when the vonage box is in my luggage between > locations. If I don't pickup, Vonage records a voice message which is > available via the web, landline, cell phone or Vonage phone.) > We can argue that personal computers should not be adopted for record > keeping and communications because hard drives crash and data can be > lost. Paper and pencil are more reliable than computer disks. Paper > and pencil is a lot simpler and more people know how to use them. All > the above is true but that didn't stop the advance of computers. > (Today I do so little handwriting, my already bad style is getting > noticably worse.) > When enough people cancel POTS service, as I have, the traditional > phone companies fixed costs for POTS services will rise so close to > revenues they won't be able to sustain the service. VOIP users like > me will vigorously protest being taxed to subsidize a communications > dinasaur we've abandoned. Thank you for the comments Charlie. Could you expand a little on your comments about using your cell phone to answer calls dialed at your Vonage number? I like the notion ... it is one of the main reasons I tried AT&T CallVantage. With Vonage, if you are outside your cell coverage area or the cellular network does not cause your phone to ring but rather go straight to voicemail on the cell phone, is the Vonage service smart enough to cause the call to keep ringing on the other destinations or to go to the voicemail box associated with it as opposed to dropping the caller into the voicemail box affiliated with the cell phone? Thanks! Chip ------------------------------ From: John Bartley Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 09:40:23 -0800 Subject: Re: Looking For Receive-Only VoIP On Mon, 30 Aug 2004 20:52:27 GMT, Mark Atwood wrote: > I'm looking for a VoIP provider that can receive a call on a NANP > number, but cannot call out. Yeah. Me, too. Anybody know? John Bartley K7AAY No answers to this e-mail address, please: It's a spam trap. Instead, johnbartley[three][at]yahoo[dot]com - substitute for content within [brackets] for correct address. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 13:52:33 EDT From: John R. Covert Subject: Re: Looking For Receive-Only VoIP Yes, you can get that (in the USofA) completely free; they finance the operation on the penny or so a minute they get for the incoming call from the PSTN. One operation doing this is at http://www.ipkall.com. They'll give you a free number in an exchange south of Seattle. No choice of where they put you. You get a web interface which allows you to forward your number to any SIP proxy, such as Free World Dialup, or your own SIP server, as you find most useful. There is no outgoing at all. /john ------------------------------ From: Ned Protter Subject: Re: Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 01:42:03 -0400 Organization: Posted via Supernews, http://www.supernews.com > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Wasn't an electronic item common in > radios and television sets specifically named after him which was > called the 'Zenner Diode'? In a brief summary, will someone tell us > what was the purpose of the 'Zenner Diode'? PAT] A zener diode usually serves as a voltage regulator. Most kinds of diodes are intended to conduct in one direction only. With enough reverse voltage, they will conduct the other way. This damages the diode. Clarence Melvin Zener was an American mathematician and theoretical physicist who figured out that it would be possible to manufacture a diode that would break down at a desired reverse voltage and not be damaged. Bell Labs found that he was right. If you manufacture a zener to break down at ten volts and feed it a small reverse current, ten volts will appear across the doide. If you need a higher current capacity for that ten-volt supply, you can use that zener as a reference for a power transistor. Zeners are commonly included within integrated circuits. Some radios and TVs had an item called the Zennith. IIRC, it was applied after the Quality was installed. ------------------------------ From: Klay Anderson Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 06:54:29 -0600 Organization: Klay Anderson Audio, Inc. Subject: Re: Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 In article , TELECOM Digest Editor responded to the obituary notice haynes@alumni.uark.edu (Jim Haynes) wrote: > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Wasn't an electronic item common in > radios and television sets specifically named after him which was > called the 'Zenner Diode'? In a brief summary, will someone tell us > what was the purpose of the 'Zenner Diode'? PAT] No, the correct term is zener diode (pronounced zee-nar). With a zener diode (as opposed to a conventional diode) as the reverse voltage is increased the leakage current remains essentially constant until the breakdown voltage is reached where the current increases dramatically. This breakdown voltage is the zener voltage for zener diodes. While for the conventional rectifier or diode it is imperative to operate below this voltage, the zener diode is intended to operate at that voltage, and so finds its greatest application as a voltage regulator. They are named for Dr. Clarence Melvin Zener of Southern Illinois University, inventor of the device. Regards, Klay Anderson http://www.klay.com 1-800-FOR-KLAY ------------------------------ From: a_user2000@yahoo.com (Justin Time) Subject: Re: Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 Date: 31 Aug 2004 06:32:33 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com haynes@alumni.uark.edu (Jim Haynes) wrote in message news:: > See Who's Who in Engineering for 1940s-1950s > Chicago native Walt Zenner was a graduate of Armour Institute, now > Illinois Institute of Technology. He worked for Teletype Corp. from > 1925 until he retired in 1965, when he was V.P. of R&D. Then he > co-founded Extel. > This is an obituary from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for Walt > Zenner who passed away on August 27 at the age of 100. > Zenner, Walter J. > Publication Date: August 29, 2004 > Born in Chicago February 21, 1904, passed away august 27, 2004. > Survived by his wife, Lois A. (nee Martin) Zenner; sons, John "Jack" > (Diana) Zenner and Tom Zenner; daughters, Mary (Harold) Webster and > Chris (Larry) Litwin; 11 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. He > was preceded in death by his first wife, Mildred in 1975. Mr. Zenner > was an inventor of communication products covered by 115 US patents > and was vice president of research and development of Teletype Corp. > from 1928 to 1964. He was also co-founder and chairman of Extel Corp. > an early manufacturer of both dot matrix and ink jet printers of his > design. Friends may visit on Monday from 4 to 8PM at the Funeral Home > and on Tuesday from 1PM until time Funeral Servcie 2PM at First > Congregational Church in Mukwonago (231 Roberts Dr., Mukwonago). > Burial Wednesday 1PM at Mt. Emblem Cemetery, Elmhurst, IL. Memorials > to First Congregational Church of Mukwonago or Kiwanis Manor in East > Troy. > SCHMIDT & BARTELT > VAN VALIN > Funeral and Cremation Service > 315 Main St. (Hwy ES) Mukwonago > jhhaynes at earthlink dot net > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Wasn't an electronic item common in > radios and television sets specifically named after him which was > called the 'Zenner Diode'? In a brief summary, will someone tell us > what was the purpose of the 'Zenner Diode'? PAT] Pat, its ZENER - one N. zener (or Zener) (zeener) n.a semiconductor diode across which the reverse voltage remains almost constant over a wide range of currents, used esp. to regulate voltage. [1955-60; after U.S. physicist Clarence Melvin Zener (born 1905)] Rodgers Platt ------------------------------ From: Paul A Lee Subject: Re: Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 11:14:32 -0400 Organization: Rite Aid Corporation In TELECOM Digest V23 #405, our esteemed Editor wrote (in part): > Wasn't an electronic item common in radios and television sets > specifically named after [Walter J. Zenner] which was called > the 'Zenner Diode'? In a brief summary, will someone tell us > what was the purpose of the 'Zenner Diode'? Different guy. Clarence Zener was a physicist who conceived and described the semiconductor property that Bell Labs exploited to come up with the diode they named for him. Zener diodes maintain a constant voltage drop over a range of current when reverse-biased. That makes them good reference voltage sources for voltage regulators and other voltage control circuits. Paul A Lee Sr Telecom Engineer Rite Aid Corporation HL-IS-COM (Telecomm) V: +1 717 730-8355 30 Hunter Lane, Camp Hill, PA 17011-2410 F: +1 717 975-3789 P.O. Box 3165, Harrisburg, PA 17105-3165 W: +1 717 805-6208 ------------------------------ From: William Warren Subject: Re: Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 Organization: Comcast Online Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 03:34:27 GMT > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Wasn't an electronic item common in > radios and television sets specifically named after him which was > called the 'Zenner Diode'? In a brief summary, will someone tell us > what was the purpose of the 'Zenner Diode'? PAT] See http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/zener%20diode "The effect was discovered by the American physicist Clarence Melvin Zener (December 1, 1905 - July 15, 1993). Zener was an American physicist who described the electrical property exploited by the Zener diode, which Bell Labs named after him. Zener was a theoretical physicist with a background in mathematics who also wrote on a range of subjects including superconductivity, metallurgy, and geometric programming. Zener was born in Indianapolis, IN. It is pronounced "ZEN-ur". " Zener diodes have a precisely designed "breakdown" voltage, at which point they conduct "backwards". They are used for voltage regulators in low voltage circuits, and require current limiting (usually a series resistor) to prevent damage from the reverse current flow. HTH. William (Filter noise from my address for direct replies.) ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 Organization: Robert Bonomi Consulting From: bonomi@host122.r-bonomi.com (Robert Bonomi) Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 05:09:14 +0000 In article , TELECOM Digest Editor noted in response to the printed obituary: > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Wasn't an electronic item common in > radios and television sets specifically named after him which was > called the 'Zenner Diode'? In a brief summary, will someone tell us > what was the purpose of the 'Zenner Diode'? PAT] A Zenner diode is most commonly used as a simple voltage regulator/stablizer. It conducts if the applied voltage is greater than whatever level it is built for, and doesn't conduct if the voltage is lower than that value. ------------------------------ From: hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com (Lisa Hancock) Subject: Re: You Can Still Send a Western Union Mailgram Date: 31 Aug 2004 09:33:22 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com haynes@alumni.uark.edu (Jim Haynes) wrote > Because I just received one today. There's a toll-free number on > the back to reply by Mailgram - 800-325-6000 The Western Union website IIRC says Mailgrams are no longer provided. Could it be that the Mailgram is provided by a separate company? ------------------------------ 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, Yahoo Groups, and other forums. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. TELECOM Digest is a not-for-profit, mostly non-commercial educational service offered to the Internet by Patrick Townson. All the contents of the Digest are compilation-copyrighted. You may reprint articles in some other media on an occasional basis, but please attribute my work and that of the original author. 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End of TELECOM Digest V23 #407 ****************************** [Note: Issue 407 reached the archives before 406 which follows now.] From editor@telecom-digest.org Tue Aug 31 19:22:19 2004 Received: (from ptownson@localhost) by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.6p3/8.11.6) id i7VNMIV00638; Tue, 31 Aug 2004 19:22:19 -0400 (EDT) Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 19:22:19 -0400 (EDT) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <200408312322.i7VNMIV00638@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 V23 #406 TELECOM Digest Tue, 31 Aug 2004 19:17:00 EDT Volume 23 : Issue 406 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson PBX, NBX? (Calvin) Spoofing Caller-ID (Jack Adams) Re: Handset Tester (Justin Time) Re: Specific Telephone Numbers (Nathan Strom) Verizon "Fios" FTTH network (was Verizon Cable TV?) (Neal McLain) Latest NorVergence Bankruptcy Hearing News (8/26/04)? (Satchel Paige) Re: VOIP Connects Workers as They Flee Convention Site (Isaiah Beard) Re: Phone Card Inquiry (Isaiah Beard) Re: Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 (Sam Etler) Re: Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 (Jack Adams) Re: Caller ID Falsification Service (Sent by a Gnu) (T. Sean Weintz) Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service (Thomas A. Horsley) Re: Last Laugh! A Visit to Doctor's Office (DevilsPGD) 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. =========================== Addresses herein are not to be added to any mailing list, nor to be sold or given away without explicit written consent. Chain letters, viruses, porn, spam, and miscellaneous junk are definitely unwelcome. We must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands against crime. Geoffrey Welsh =========================== See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: paxsonc001@hawaii.rr.com (Calvin) Subject: PBX, NBX? Date: 31 Aug 2004 00:29:48 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com Hi all, I work for a small school and we are getting ready to upgrade our very old Meridian phone system to something a bit newer ... however we are having a tough time deciding what to use. Are there any good websites out their that we can use as a resource to figure out some of the differences? For instance, what is the difference between an Avaya Diffinity and a Partner? What systems do viop? How does a Cisco system compare to a 3com nbx? Any guidance would be appreciated. A little about us: We are located on a 3 acre campus. We have a network running between about 12 small buildings. We want to install about 20 extensions, as well as a couple of analog cordless phones. We want to be able to use our existing network to minimize wiring costs/ maximize flexability. What else would you like to /need to know? Ask me anything and i will tell you what I can. Thanks in advance, Cal ------------------------------ From: adamsjac@telcordia.com (Jack Adams) Subject: Spoofing Caller-ID Date: 31 Aug 2004 06:22:46 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com I'm guessing that this firm uses in-band 202 signalling to "overwrite" any normal CLID message that's been launched from ISUP. Technically, it isn't a big deal. It's been a while since I knew what was required but if memory serves this is prohibited under some sort of law? I recall that this was not permitted but I don't know for sure if it was for legal or regulatory reasons. Then again, all of this seems to be fair game these days. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/30/caller_id_falsify/ ------------------------------ From: a_user2000@yahoo.com (Justin Time) Subject: Re: Handset Tester Date: 31 Aug 2004 06:49:00 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com google@bathfordhill.co.uk (Ian) wrote in message news:: > Joe Elichaa wrote in message > news:: >> I am looking for a real good handset tester that will measure values >> and be able to compare these values to other handsets. Does anybody >> know of such device? Thank you, Joe > Ok; what values? > Do you mean sound ? > If so are you looking at bandwidth or quality? > Basically though a signal generator, speaker, Mic and Scope will do > the job. > Ian I have a dog that can give your handsets a good reliability test. He loves to chew things. Rodgers Platt ------------------------------ From: nstrom@ananzi.co.za (Nathan Strom) Subject: Re: Specific Telephone Numbers Date: 31 Aug 2004 07:28:40 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com curious11112001@yahoo.com (Curious) wrote in message news:: > I'm looking for TDD [not TTY] numbers, fax numbers, and dial-up modem > numbers in: > 1. Stamford, Connecticut I'm not sure why you want them, but there are tons of fax numbers in Stamford (area code 203), as it's a very business-oriented city. Try: http://www.google.com/search?q=stamford+203+fax and double check with http://www.fonefinder.net to make sure that it's actually a Stamford exchange. The incumbent carrier is SBC, formerly SNET. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 16:06:26 -0500 From: Neal McLain Subject: Verizon "Fios" FTTH network (was Verizon Cable TV?) Lisa Hancock (hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com) in TD V23#404 wrote: > The Phila Inqr (www.philly.com) had an article on this in > general. I assume the article you're referring to is "Cable's new rival: Phone lines" by Wendy Tanaka . > It stated that one change is that the new cabling will run > fibre right to the house, cable uses fibre to the neighborhood > only, then coax to the house (which is how cable serves my > area). That's why it's called FTTP (fiber to the premises) or FTTH (fiber to the home). Monte Solomon posted an article about this network in TD V23#340 ("Verizon Fios - Fiber-to-the-Premises Network") . > Given the price gouging, poor reliability, and community > disrespect by the cable company, I am looking forward to > Verizon's service offering. > How this will work out for the consumer in terms of quality and > price remains to be seen. It's very possible that competition > will lower cable's price, but only slightly since Verizon will > want to make big profits too and not go too far down in a price > war. Or that Verizon's video service will incur many of the same costs that cable companies face: - Copyright royalty fees: 1% to 2% of basic-tier revenue. - Programming license fees: 25% to 35% of upper-tier revenue. - Franchise fees: 6% to 7% of total revenue. - Free channel capacity for public-, educational-, and government-access facilities. - Support for whatever other fancy goodies (color studios, I-net, free basic service for schools and municipal buildings) that the LFA originally extracted from the incumbent cable company. Barring changes in federal law, these costs will apply even if Verizon uses the IPTV technology that Danny Burstein described in footnote [a] of his post in TD V23#394 . Which is, of course, precisely why Verizon is trying to get federal law changed. Verizon Vice Chairman and President Lawrence Babbio advocates the following: "... Wireline telephone companies that offer video as part of broadband services should not have to obtain cable franchises in every local jurisdiction, since they already have the right of way to deploy networks. Revenue needs of local governments can be met without the delay and red tape inherent in the franchising process. "Adopt a national policy that pre-empts other levels of government. Local jurisdictional borders do not apply to the realm of the Internet. Current policy subjects investments to the conflicting agendas and interpretations of regulatory agencies at every level of government." Source: Verizon News Release "Verizon Taking Lead to Transform Telecommunications Industry, Bring Technology Benefits to Consumers." Aug. 24, 2004. . Eliminating local-franchise requirements would definitely lower Verizon's costs. But you can rest assured that the cable industry will oppose any regulatory relief for telcos unless they get the same relief. Verizon's FIOS system in Keller, Texas is now up and running. One of its first subscribers has posted some pictures of the install at . Neal McLain nmclain@annsgarden.com ------------------------------ From: dor@writeme.com (Satchel Paige) Subject: Latest NorVergence Bankruptcy Hearing News (8/26/04)? Date: 31 Aug 2004 12:01:34 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com Does anyone have information or links to what latest actions were taken at NorVergence's most recent U.S. Bankruptcy hearing in Newark, New Jersey? I believe the date of the most recent hearing was on August 26, 2004. ------------------------------ From: Isaiah Beard Subject: Re: VOIP Connects Workers as They Flee Convention Site Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 11:13:56 -0400 Lisa Hancock wrote in message news:telecom23.404.9@telecom-digest.org: > Jack Decker wrote: >> And why is this a good thing? Because you can take your IP phone or >> the soft phone running on your laptop, plug it in to any broadband >> tap .... > _Any_ broadband tap? Wouldn't it have to have sufficient capacity and > reliability to transmit voice in an acceptable manner and reliability? I agree with Pat. If the connection is not reliable enough or fails to supply sufficient bandwidth, then by definition it is not broadband. > When you're not at home, who pays for public broadband taps? That's up to you and the person or entity supplying the connection. I know quite a few hotels that offer in-room broadband connections as a courtesy (others charge an additional fee on top of the room rental, but if you carefully plan your travel you'll realize they're ripping you off). There are also wireless connections that are public; some are free, some charge a fee. Regardless, if I'm going to be using such a connection, then I'll take my VoIP phone with me and have it available for my use, just as if I was at home. ------------------------------ From: Isaiah Beard Subject: Re: Phone Card Inquiry Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 11:15:53 -0400 I think this is part of why payphones are slowly becoming extinct. The telephone industry as a whole seems to think that when competition threteans it, it can demand more fees and higher prices. Not so. Tom Smith wrote in message news:telecom23.404.11@telecom-digest.org: > John R. Levine wrote: >>> I'm looking for a prepaid phone card to call from the US to Europe. >>> Without any payphone surcharges. What would you recommend? > Breaking news. The pay phone owners are going to get their money for > use of their phones. If some one else does not collect on their > behalf, you will pay them directly. > So you should be interested in asking for comparisons on cost > differences for payphone usage. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 13:32:42 -0500 (CDT) From: Sam Etler Subject: Re: Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Wasn't an electronic item common in > radios and television sets specifically named after him which was > called the 'Zenner Diode'? In a brief summary, will someone tell us > what was the purpose of the 'Zenner Diode'? PAT] It's actually a Zener Diode (one 'n') and is named after Clarence Melvin Zener. Bell Labs named the diode after him since he discovered the electrical properties associated with them. A good description of Zener Diodes is located here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zener_diode sam ------------------------------ From: adamsjac@telcordia.com (Jack Adams) Subject: Re: Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 Date: 31 Aug 2004 12:57:03 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com While sorry to hear of Walter Zenner's passing, I can pretty much assure Pat and others that the "Zener" diode was not named after him. Noted for it's "avalanche" effect, the diode provides a reference voltage pretty much independant of the current through the device. haynes@alumni.uark.edu (Jim Haynes) wrote in message news:: > See Who's Who in Engineering for 1940s-1950s > Chicago native Walt Zenner was a graduate of Armour Institute, now > Illinois Institute of Technology. He worked for Teletype Corp. from > 1925 until he retired in 1965, when he was V.P. of R&D. Then he > co-founded Extel. > This is an obituary from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for Walt > Zenner who passed away on August 27 at the age of 100. > Zenner, Walter J. > Publication Date: August 29, 2004 > Born in Chicago February 21, 1904, passed away august 27, 2004. > Survived by his wife, Lois A. (nee Martin) Zenner; sons, John "Jack" > (Diana) Zenner and Tom Zenner; daughters, Mary (Harold) Webster and > Chris (Larry) Litwin; 11 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. He > was preceded in death by his first wife, Mildred in 1975. Mr. Zenner > was an inventor of communication products covered by 115 US patents > and was vice president of research and development of Teletype Corp. > from 1928 to 1964. He was also co-founder and chairman of Extel Corp. > an early manufacturer of both dot matrix and ink jet printers of his > design. Friends may visit on Monday from 4 to 8PM at the Funeral Home > and on Tuesday from 1PM until time Funeral Servcie 2PM at First > Congregational Church in Mukwonago (231 Roberts Dr., Mukwonago). > Burial Wednesday 1PM at Mt. Emblem Cemetery, Elmhurst, IL. Memorials > to First Congregational Church of Mukwonago or Kiwanis Manor in East > Troy. > SCHMIDT & BARTELT > VAN VALIN > Funeral and Cremation Service > 315 Main St. (Hwy ES) Mukwonago > jhhaynes at earthlink dot net > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Wasn't an electronic item common in > radios and television sets specifically named after him which was > called the 'Zenner Diode'? In a brief summary, will someone tell us > what was the purpose of the 'Zenner Diode'? PAT] ------------------------------ From: T. Sean Weintz Subject: Re: Caller ID Falsification Service (Sent by a Gnu) Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 15:48:43 -0400 Organization: Posted via Supernews, http://www.supernews.com PAT wrote: > Now imagine for a minute if you *did* return those absolutely wicked, > nosy, spying phone calls to (a) claim your 'prize' or (b) meet the > person who had been 'flirting' with you but you returned the call via > this new web site phalsification service and gave your caller ID > blast as 202-456-1414 or whatever. But this new web site costs money > for your phalse ID calls; why should you have to pay for the service > when you could use your FWD/Pulver phone (which can call USA toll > frees and gives an NYC 212 number for the caller-ID blast.) Wheeee! > And a good time was had by all. PAT Most of these numbers are 800 (or 877, etc.) numbers that have ANI for number identification. The new service will spoof caller ID, but will NOT spoof ANI. What they will see on the ANI info will be the billing number of the spoofing service, not the number you gave the spoofing service to use for spoofing. [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: In any event it won't give my actual ANI or caller ID, which is what I would be concerned about. PAT] ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service From: tom.horsley@att.net (Thomas A. Horsley) Organization: AT&T Worldnet Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 21:47:55 GMT > Slated for launch next week, Star38.com would offer subscribers a > simple Web interface to a Caller I.D. spoofing system that lets them > appear to be calling from any number they choose. "It creates an extra > avenue for them to have someone pick up the phone," says founder Jason > Jepson. Excellent! In no time at all, Caller ID will be absolutely useless, then the phone companies will start giving away the service instead of charging extra for it so the folks who make caller ID boxes and phones can unload all their hardware just before they stop supporting caller ID completely :-). (And I'll have lived through the whole era without ever having caller ID :-). >>==>> The *Best* political site >>==+ email: Tom.Horsley@worldnet.att.net icbm: Delray Beach, FL | Free Software and Politics <<==+ ------------------------------ From: DevilsPGD Subject: Re: Last Laugh! A Visit to Doctor's Office Reply-To: bond-jamesbond@crazyhat.net Organization: EasyNews, UseNet made Easy! Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 06:59:50 GMT In message Lisa Minter wrote: > "And what is wrong with your ear, sir?" > "I can't piss out of it," the man replied. > The doctor's office erupted in laughter. ROFL. Off topic, but cute. Thanks! 'Tis far better to have snipped too much than to never have snipped at all. [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I thought it was cute also, and although Lisa Minter did not make a good editor for this Digest, she has had a few excellent stories for Last Laugh! items now and then. 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, Yahoo Groups, and other forums. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. TELECOM Digest is a not-for-profit, mostly non-commercial educational service offered to the Internet by Patrick Townson. All the contents of the Digest are compilation-copyrighted. You may reprint articles in some other media on an occasional basis, but please attribute my work and that of the original author. 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Please make at least a single donation to cover the cost of processing your name to the mailing list. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. End of TELECOM Digest V23 #406 ****************************** [Note: 407 reached the archives prior to 406 so they are reversed here, and issue 408 follows next, then regular order resumes. PAT] From editor@telecom-digest.org Wed Sep 1 14:23:50 2004 Received: (from ptownson@localhost) by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.6p3/8.11.6) id i81INo708930; Wed, 1 Sep 2004 14:23:50 -0400 (EDT) Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2004 14:23:50 -0400 (EDT) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <200409011823.i81INo708930@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 V23 #408 TELECOM Digest Wed, 1 Sep 2004 14:21:00 EDT Volume 23 : Issue 408 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Vonage(R) Now Available Nationally at Office Depot (Decker - VOIP News) Bright House Launches Online Phone Service (Jack Decker - VOIP News) AT&T Chief Refuses to 'Miss' VoIP (Jack Decker - VOIP News) Quintum Configuration AXM 800 (Waez) AT&T System 25 Help (REC Networks) Sendmail Searches for Antispam Testers (Monty Solomon) Re: Considering VoIP For Home? Think About AT&T CallVantage (charlie3) Re: Spoofing Caller-ID (John R. Covert) Re: Spoofing Caller-ID (Fileseeker) Re: Spoofing Caller-ID (Hank Karl) Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service (DevilsPGD) Re: Caller ID Falsification Service (Sent by a Gnu) (Tim@Backhome.org) Re: Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 (AES/newspost) Re: Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 (Kenneth P. Stox) Re: Verizon Cable TV? (Lisa Hancock) Re: PBX, NBX? (Justin Time) Re: You Can Still Send a Western Union Mailgram (Jim Haynes) Re: You Can Still Send a Western Union Mailgram (Ray Normandeau) Moderator's 'Home Brew' Computer (Mark Smith) 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. =========================== Addresses herein are not to be added to any mailing list, nor to be sold or given away without explicit written consent. Chain letters, viruses, porn, spam, and miscellaneous junk are definitely unwelcome. We must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands against crime. Geoffrey Welsh =========================== See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Jack Decker Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2004 09:27:23 -0400 Subject: Vonage(R) Now Available Nationally at Office Depot Reply-To: VoIPnews@yahoogroups.com http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/09-01-2004/0002242001&EDATE= Vonage is now Available in Nearly 7,000 Retail Stores EDISON, N.J., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Vonage, the leading broadband phone company, today announced Office Depot will now sell its affordable, enhanced IP-communications services in over 700 of its stores and online at http://www.officedepot.com . High-speed Internet customers, who have a standard telephone, can sign up for Vonage service by purchasing one of two Vonage starter kits at Office Depot, both featuring Linksys devices. Either device offers customers the ability to select one of several flat-rate, full-featured residential and small business broadband telephony calling plans in the U.S. and Canada starting at $14.99. "The national roll out of Vonage's broadband telephony product at Office Depot presents a great opportunity, which will allow us to prove the value of our products on retail shelves," said Daniel Elwell, director of New Business Development for Vonage. "We are looking forward to transform the telecommunications industry with successful sales margins with one of the nation's top retailers, as Office Depot's market savvy and educated sales representatives demonstrate the value of broadband phone service to an untapped market segment." Full press release at: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/09-01-2004/0002242001&EDATE= How to Distribute VoIP Throughout a Home: http://michigantelephone.mi.org/distribute.html If you live in Michigan, subscribe to the MI-Telecom group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MI-Telecom/ ------------------------------ From: Jack Decker Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2004 09:29:34 -0400 Subject: Bright House Launches Online Phone Service Reply-To: VoIPnews@yahoogroups.com http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040901/NEWS/409010364/1178 By LOUIS HAU St. Petersburg Times Bright House Networks said Monday it has launched Internet phone service throughout Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, putting the Tampa Bay area's dominant cable company in direct competition with Verizon Communications. Bright House plans to add phone service in Pasco County and Polk County by the end of September and in Hernando and Citrus counties by the end of December. [.....] But Bright House's offering also differs from those competing Internet services in key ways. Most importantly, Bright House says that emergency 911 calls made through its phone service will be routed directly to an emergency dispatcher, who will be able to trace the call immediately. Vonage and AT&T route such calls to an intermediary office, which forwards the call to an emergency dispatcher. In addition, a customer signing up for Bright House's phone service doesn't need to purchase a high-speed broadband connection to use it. Instead, a highspeed modem is included in the price of the service. "We're here to replace your existing phone service, not to be an adjunct to it," said Terri McNulty, vice president of high-speed online services for Brigh House Tampa Bay. Full story at: http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040901/NEWS/409010364/1178 ------------------------------ From: Jack Decker Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 17:21:55 -0400 Subject: AT&T Chief Refuses to 'Miss' VoIP Reply-To: VoIPnews@yahoogroups.com http://news.com.com/2008-7352_3-5329496.html By Dawn Kawamoto and Ben Charny Staff Writer, CNET News.com David Dorman, AT&T's chief executive, is determined not to let history repeat itself. Ma Bell -- under prior management in the 1990s -- let the Internet revolution slip from its grasp, as companies like America Online, EarthLink and MSN grabbed the lead in providing Internet access. Now amid cutthroat pricing, rival MCI's emergence from bankruptcy, and a regulatory climate that led AT&T to step away from consumer telephone service, the company is relying on voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, as one of the tools to accelerate growth in its business segment. That segment, which comprises about 75 percent of AT&T's approximately $30 billion in annual revenue, may not receive a huge windfall in revenue from Net telephony. But VoIP, which allows businesses and consumers to make inexpensive phone calls via the Internet, plays a significant role in AT&T's long-term strategy of being the next HBO-like service to cable companies and the Baby Bells. Dorman, who recently met with reporters and editors from CNET News.com, talked about his company's views and strategy on VoIP and AT&T's CallVantage program. Full story at: http://news.com.com/2008-7352_3-5329496.html ------------------------------ From: pexavoip@yahoo.ca (Waez) Subject: Quintum Configuration AXM 800 Date: 31 Aug 2004 16:31:33 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com When we set the IVR to other than type 0 or 1, we get a busy tone, no IVR prompts. The tenor logs are : ch |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:47:720 CasManager: [2,0,1,1] Received message fr om cas: Setup. ch |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:47:720 CallInfo [5]: origCalled.digit() callingp arty () . ch |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:47:720 CasManager: [2,0,1,1] Sent message to cas : Call-Proc. ch |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:47:720 Routing requested for: public(1) orig= pu blic(0) normalized=1111* route code= tg=0. ch |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:47:720 1 match(es) found: 0 ch |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:47:720 Route response [5]: result=1 cause=0. ch |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:47:720 TermIVRradius [5]: peerRcvSetup excp |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:47:720 Exceeds muximum ports allowed: 0, 0 excp |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:47:720 Failed to allocate a Full Duplex channel. excp |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:47:725 TermIVRradius [5]: Dsp allocate error. ch |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:47:725 TermIVRradius [0]: Aborting IVR cause=41. ch |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:47:725 OBCSM[5]: Release from peer=0x962be998 ca use=0x29 redir=. ch |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:47:725 OBCSM[5]: Trying another route. ch |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:47:725 Route response [5]: result=0 cause=34. ch |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:47:725 CallInfo [5]: account =67.69.33.212. ch |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:47:725 CallInfo [5]: SetAcctSessionTime(10937296 07),discTicks 1093729607, connTicks 0 ch |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:47:725 CallInfo [5]: cause =41. ch |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:47:725 CallInfo [5]: send stopAccount. ch |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:47:725 CasManager: [2,0,1,1] Sent message to cas : Alert. ch |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:47:725 CasManager: [2,0,1,1] Received message fr om cas: InbandSigDone. ch |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:47:725 tsi connect: 000 1002 10 ch |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:49:950 CasManager: [2,0,1,1] Received message fr om cas: RelComp. ch |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:49:950 CallInfo[5]: disconnected event. cause=16 legno=0. ch |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:49:950 CallInfo [5]: account =67.69.33.212. ch |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:49:950 CallInfo [5]: SetAcctSessionTime(10937296 09),discTicks 1093729609, connTicks 0 ch |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:49:950 CallInfo [5]: cause =16. ch |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:49:950 CallInfo [5]: send stopAccount. ch |01/01| 2004/08/28|21:46:49:950 tsi disconnect: 000 1002 10 How can I resolve that? And also how can we get the IVR prompts for the other languages? We tried to create other folders in IVR folder ( thru ftp ), but we can't. How can we do that ? Thanks. ------------------------------ From: REC Networks Subject: AT&T System 25 Help Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 22:14:12 -0700 I have just got my hands on an AT&T System 25. I believe that it has the last release (R3V3). It has a ZTN142C processor card. The second card is a ZTN131. I am trying to build an octopus cord with a 25 pair Amphenol (telco) connector on one end a a 9 pin female D-Sub connector on the other end. The AT&T installation manual shows a possible pinout of the first data port (for the administration terminal) as: 26-RD SG-1 27- DCD-2 28-DTR TD-3 Does anyone know how to wire this up so I can access my system? Any help would be appreciated. Rich Eyre for REC Networks REC Networks - http://www.recnet.com - Bringing you fun and culture since 1984. http://www.animehardcoreradio.net - Anime Hardcore Radio - 24 hour a day anime! ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2004 08:26:26 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Sendmail Searches For Antispam Testers By Robert Lemos Staff Writer, CNET News.com Sendmail has taken a first stab at software to authenticate the source of e-mail messages, a technology that will be key to preventing the proliferation of spam. The company released a module for its Sendmail e-mail server software that attempts to verify the source of messages to help Internet users block mail from unwanted senders. The technique is part of a developing Internet standard known as Sender ID . http://news.com.com/2100-1032-5330638.html ------------------------------ From: charlie@cdsdetroit.com (charlie3) Subject: Re: Considering VoIP For Home? Think Twice About AT&T CallVantage Date: 1 Sep 2004 09:01:16 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com I have Vonage set to ring my cell and Vonage phone simultaneously so I can answer the call with either phone. At home I hear both phones ring at the same time. I have voicemail set up so that Vonage voicemail picks up the call before cell phone voicemail so all my voice messages are on Vonage. I can check Vonage voice mail with the cell phone, a land line, over the internet or from the Vonage phone. If the cell phone was in range during the missed call I will see a missed call message on the cell phone and often the missed call number as well. I don't see the missed call name on the cell phone unless the caller is in my cell phone list. If the Vonage box is disconnected or the network is down I have Vonage set to forward all calls to my cell phone. Vonage will forward calls only to one non Vonage phone but to more than one Vonage account. It would be convenient for me if Vonage would allow more than one non Vonage phone for simultaneous ring but that limitation is not enough to push me to another provider. My Vonage account has my 20+ years home phone number ported to it. Unlike old fashioned call forwarding, simultaneous ring is set and forget. People need only one number to find me. They don't need to know I have a cell phone. My cell phone minutes at home are zero so I need half the cell minutes of most people who rely on cell phones. When I pick up my Vonage phone I hear a dial tone, my call goes through, the person I'm talking to does not notice we are on an internet phone. When I leave the house the house phone is clipped to my belt, there is no cell phone number as a practical matter. Occaisionally my network goes down or the Vonage box is disconnected for travel. Then the cell phone backs me up both for incoming and outgoing calls. These occasions have been so rare there has been little impact on my cell phone minutes. There is a learning curve with VOIP. Expect some glitches. I advise my friends who are interested to have either a cell phone or traditional phone for backup. I also advise forwarding the house phone to the Vonage phone for a testing period of a few months before porting the house phone to Vonage. For me Vonage is the right product for the right price. If the quality of service stays as it is I won't be needing a tradiational house phone now or in the future. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2004 07:15:02 -0400 (EDT) From: John R. Covert Subject: Re: Spoofing Caller-ID Jack Adams wrote: > I'm guessing that this firm uses in-band 202 signalling to "overwrite" > any normal CLID message Your guess would be wrong. As the article said, "Caller ID spoofing has for years been within the reach of businesses with certain types of digital connections to their local phone company, and more recently has become the plaything of hackers and pranksters exploiting permissive voice over IP systems." Using in-band 202 signalling would only spoof an ancient, poorly designed, caller-id box, and would not even be noticed on a cellphone or by caller-id on call-waiting. And even for landline phones, all CID boxes made in recent memory only accept one caller-id, the one sent immediately after the first ring, when the caller does not yet have an in-band connection, and cannot be spoofed once the in-band connection is set up when the called party goes off-hook. In band spoofing also wouldn't change what appears on my phone bill which lists the caller ID and name of all incoming callers. This firm is clearly doing it the way the article stated. Now that Ma Bell is no longer in complete control of everything, this has become very easy to do. If you'd like a demonstration, contact me. nospamtd is not my email username, but a good guess would probably be right. And I'll tell you what number you're calling from, even if you blocked caller ID (but not if you're coming from somewhere that sends no calling number information at all). /john ------------------------------ From: Fileseeker Subject: Re: Spoofing Caller-ID Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2004 10:34:18 -0400 Organization: Cox Communications Jack Adams wrote in message news:telecom23.406.2@telecom-digest.org: > I'm guessing that this firm uses in-band 202 signalling to "overwrite" > any normal CLID message that's been launched from ISUP. Technically, > it isn't a big deal. > It's been a while since I knew what was required but if memory serves > this is prohibited under some sort of law? I recall that this was not > permitted but I don't know for sure if it was for legal or regulatory > reasons. > Then again, all of this seems to be fair game these days. > http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/30/caller_id_falsify/ So called "Orange" boxes of both the h/w and s/w variety have been available for several years. They overwrite the CID device with sound files that can cause user defined numbers to appear on CID. Only works with CID/call waiting boxes. ------------------------------ From: Hank Karl Subject: Re: Spoofing Caller-ID Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2004 12:01:40 -0400 Organization: NETPLEX Internet Services - http://www.ntplx.net/ On 31 Aug 2004 06:22:46 -0700, adamsjac@telcordia.com (Jack Adams) wrote: > I'm guessing that this firm uses in-band 202 signalling to "overwrite" > any normal CLID message that's been launched from ISUP. Technically, > it isn't a big deal. It may not be in-band 202 signaling. There's been discussion in either c.d.t or c.d.voice-over-ip regarding the ability of VoIP providers to spoof caller-id. You need a VoIP device that allows you to fill in the desired caller-id, and a service that has SS7 connectivity, and will pass the caller-id without verification. Its also "well known" that some CO switches may not verify the supplied caller-id on a PRI, so all you need is a PBX that lets you configure your own caller-id. > It's been a while since I knew what was required but if memory serves > this is prohibited under some sort of law? I recall that this was not > permitted but I don't know for sure if it was for legal or regulatory > reasons. > Then again, all of this seems to be fair game these days. > http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/30/caller_id_falsify/ ------------------------------ From: DevilsPGD Subject: Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service Reply-To: bond-jamesbond@crazyhat.net Organization: EasyNews, UseNet made Easy! Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2004 02:32:40 GMT In message tom.horsley@att.net (Thomas A. Horsley) wrote: >> Slated for launch next week, Star38.com would offer subscribers a >> simple Web interface to a Caller I.D. spoofing system that lets them >> appear to be calling from any number they choose. "It creates an extra >> avenue for them to have someone pick up the phone," says founder Jason >> Jepson. > Excellent! In no time at all, Caller ID will be absolutely useless, > then the phone companies will start giving away the service instead of > charging extra for it so the folks who make caller ID boxes and phones > can unload all their hardware just before they stop supporting caller > ID completely :-). There is a simple fix. Add a bankruptcy-shielded $1,000,000 fine (Including asset forfeiture) for anyone who spoofs CID, if the victim complains. This would include anyone who authorized, enabled or assisted the CID spoofing, including telcos which failed to take appropriate steps to prevent their customers from spoofing CID, principles of the company who spoofed the CID, and the actual individual who made the call. Complaints would be registered by dialing *55, which would not only "tag" The call in the telcos database, but immediately inform you whether ANI and CID matches. The fine would be paid 25% to the recipient of the call, 25% to the telco (which would be the telco's incentive to offer *55), 25% to the bounty hunter and/or repo crew to collect the assets, and 25% to the gov't. Court costs would come from the repo crew and gov't shares equally. I can bet that after approximately five such fines across the US as a whole, CID spoofing would be a thing of the past. Now ... What if you can't trace where the call originated, one of the telcos happened to "lose" the ANI information? Welp, the buck stops when you can't trace the call any further. In other words, each telco that the call passes through is responsible for payment unless they can demonstrating where the call entered their network. HAM AND EGGS: A day's work for a chicken; A lifetime commitment for a pig ------------------------------ From: Tim@Backhome.org Subject: Re: Caller ID Falsification Service (Sent by a Gnu) Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2004 00:31:52 -0700 Organization: Cox Communications > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Well, you know what is good for the > goose is also good for the gander as they say. Debtors can also use > that service to spoof the skip tracers and bill collectors. For > example, a common technique used by skip tracers who cannot find your > phone number anywhere is to send you a letter from some bogus company > telling you that you have won a prize; to claim the prize all you have > to do is call us on this (toll free) number and punch in the 'extension' > number shown. The letter is vague enough that they do not have to > award any prizes, but they do match up *your* phone number (which is > what they really wanted; you cannot hide it when you call an 800 number) > and the specifics of your alleged indebtedness (the 'extension' number > you were asked to punch in when you called), and you can be sure you > will get a callback rather soon from some no-nonsense person who would > like to speak with you about your debt. They don't all bother with the > ruse of telling you that you won a prize, some skip tracers employ > young ladies to write cozy, friendly, occassionally lurid letters > using pink felt tip markers to guys (males, it seems, make up the > majority of skip-traceable [or hard-core] debtors) claiming to be a > long-lost friend (of the opposite sex of course; what guy would not > fall for that one and eagerly return the call). "Call me on my office > line at 800-xxx-xxxx and ask for extension xxxxx so we can renew our > friendship." Men are always getting lured into that trap I am sorry > to say. > Now imagine for a minute if you *did* return those absolutely wicked, > nosy, spying phone calls to (a) claim your 'prize' or (b) meet the > person who had been 'flirting' with you but you returned the call via > this new web site phalsification service and gave your caller ID > blast as 202-456-1414 or whatever. But this new web site costs money > for your phalse ID calls; why should you have to pay for the service > when you could use your FWD/Pulver phone (which can call USA toll > frees and gives an NYC 212 number for the caller-ID blast.) Wheeee! > And a good time was had by all. PAT] These jerks claim they are going to offer the service only to collection agencies and such. I believe it will force the FCC to expand its 1995 Calller ID ruling to prevent spoofing. The FCC still owes everyone a further decision from that 9 year old ruling pertaining to whether, or when, PBXes must send calling party number identification (the calling party's part of the caller id "deal.") ------------------------------ From: AES/newspost Subject: Re: Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 17:01:02 -0700 In article , Sam Etler wrote: > A good description of Zener Diodes is located here: > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zener_diode A nice description indeed -- except it says the pronunciation is "ZEN-ur", which I would take to mean as in "Zen Buddhism", and I've always heard it pronounced as "ZEEN-ur" (or "ZINE-ur", as in "magazine"). ????? ------------------------------ From: Kenneth P. Stox Organization: Imaginary Landscape, LLC. Subject: Re: Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2004 02:22:04 GMT Jim Haynes wrote: > See Who's Who in Engineering for 1940s-1950s > Chicago native Walt Zenner was a graduate of Armour Institute, now > Illinois Institute of Technology. He worked for Teletype Corp. from > 1925 until he retired in 1965, when he was V.P. of R&D. Then he > co-founded Extel. For those who don't know the joke, Extel was short for Ex-teletype. ------------------------------ From: hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com (Lisa Hancock) Subject: Re: Verizon Cable TV? Date: 1 Sep 2004 07:01:13 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com Isaiah Beard wrote: > Funny that. Considering the poor reliability, price gouging and > community disrepect earned by Verizon, I couldn't wait to get VoIP > over a cable broadband connection and drop Verizon for good. :) I have found Verizon service to be very good. My long distance costs went down and service quality went up when they were allowed to offer their own long distance. I dumped AT&T. Verizon had to enlarge their central office and worked hard with the town to preserve nearby Victorian homes (which they owned; one was the exchange 50 years ago) as well as make the building fit into the historic district. Part of the need for enlargement was to accomodate competitor's switchgear. > I guess it depends on where you live. Cable and telephone have both > been prevailing regulated monopolies for a long time, and depending on > where you live, one or the other is the lesser of two evils that you > must pick from. If only DBS didn't have such a horrible latency > problem, we could all drop both services. I thought cable TV was deregulated nationally; in my area it's been deregulated for some time. The prices have gone up. Certain premium local telephone services have been deregulated, but AFAIK in my area the price has not gone up. ------------------------------ From: a_user2000@yahoo.com (Justin Time) Subject: Re: PBX, NBX? Date: 1 Sep 2004 07:53:18 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com paxsonc001@hawaii.rr.com (Calvin) wrote in message news:: > Hi all, > I work for a small school and we are getting ready to upgrade our very > old Meridian phone system to something a bit newer ... however we are > having a tough time deciding what to use. Are there any good websites > out their that we can use as a resource to figure out some of the > differences? For instance, what is the difference between an Avaya > Diffinity and a Partner? What systems do viop? How does a Cisco > system compare to a 3com nbx? > Any guidance would be appreciated. A little about us: > We are located on a 3 acre campus. We have a network running between > about 12 small buildings. We want to install about 20 extensions, as > well as a couple of analog cordless phones. We want to be able to use > our existing network to minimize wiring costs/ maximize flexability. > What else would you like to /need to know? Ask me anything and i will > tell you what I can. > Thanks in advance, > Cal If the only reason for installing a new phone system is to gain access to new features, have you checked into upgrades to your Meridian from Nortel? It may be the cheaper -- as in less expensive -- way to go as you may be able to continue to use the same desksets rather than having to buy new. That, and you are already familiar with any administration you perform. The new Nortel system wouldn't force you to learn a completely new interface. Oh, I don't work for Nortel, never have and don't even sell their systems. Rodgers Platt ------------------------------ Subject: Re: You Can Still Send a Western Union Mailgram Reply-To: jhaynes@alumni.uark.edu Organization: University of Arkansas Alumni From: haynes@alumni.uark.edu (Jim Haynes) Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2004 02:45:03 GMT In article , Lisa Hancock wrote: > The Western Union website IIRC says Mailgrams are no longer provided. > Could it be that the Mailgram is provided by a separate company? Well it could be that New Valley sold the "Western Union Mailgram" service mark to someone other than the buyer of the Western Union money transfer service -- I don't know. The preprinted form, blue on white paper, says "Western Union Messaging Services" with the Western Union in the familiar shape of one word above the other and a vertical line to the right. Then Messaging Services is in fine print under that. And then it says United States Postal Service with the USPS eagle logo. And has the number 800-325-6000 printed on the back. jhhaynes at earthlink dot net ------------------------------ From: rayta@msn.com (Ray Normandeau) Subject: Re: You Can Still Send a Western Union Mailgram Date: 31 Aug 2004 21:14:28 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com (Lisa Hancock) wrote in message news:: > haynes@alumni.uark.edu (Jim Haynes) wrote: >> Because I just received one today. There's a toll-free number on >> the back to reply by Mailgram - 800-325-6000 > The Western Union website IIRC says Mailgrams are no longer provided. > Could it be that the Mailgram is provided by a separate company? Could it be that the Postal Service delivery service quality control has fallen futher then I suspect. I am expecting a package that says attempted delivery, and that a note was left when no attempt was made. This is as per USPS WWW tacking site. I think the workers just scan the pacjage and let it sit at the Post Office. ------------------------------ From: Mark Smith Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 13:11:22 PDT Subject: Moderator's 'Home Brew' Computer Reply-To: telecom-news@yahoogroups.com TELECOM Digest Editor explained his 'home brew' computer: > There is a slot to install another 1.44 mb floppy if desired and a > space to install a larger old style 5 1/2 inch floppy if I wanted, > or another CD-DVD thing if I wished, but I do not know where those > latter two slots (if I were to fill them with devices) would plug > in; the ribbon connectors inside are all in use as I recall. There should be two connectors on the floppy drive cable. The old ones had a flip on the address lines, but sometimes jumpers are used. With all your drives power connectors are more likely to be a problem, but luckily power twinning cables are available. The last time I installed a 5 1/4" floppy, I ended up salvaging a floppy cable from a 286 because new computers only have the "small" floppy connector. The 286s would have one large and one small. If you wanted to use two 3 1/2" floppies you would get an adapter from large to small. The reverse are not commonly available. Mark L. Smith smith@stones.com http://smith.freehosting.net ------------------------------ 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, Yahoo Groups, and other forums. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. TELECOM Digest is a not-for-profit, mostly non-commercial educational service offered to the Internet by Patrick Townson. All the contents of the Digest are compilation-copyrighted. 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Please request a free catalog today at http://www.sandman.com --------------------------------------------------------------- Finally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such as yourself who provide funding in amounts deemed appropriate. Your help is important and appreciated. A suggested donation of fifty dollars per year per reader is considered appropriate. See our address above. Please make at least a single donation to cover the cost of processing your name to the mailing list. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. End of TELECOM Digest V23 #408 ****************************** From editor@telecom-digest.org Thu Sep 2 03:11:50 2004 Received: (from ptownson@localhost) by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.6p3/8.11.6) id i827Bn913908; Thu, 2 Sep 2004 03:11:50 -0400 (EDT) Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2004 03:11:50 -0400 (EDT) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <200409020711.i827Bn913908@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 V23 #409 TELECOM Digest Thu, 2 Sep 2004 03:11:00 EDT Volume 23 : Issue 409 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Philly Considers Wireless Internet for All (Monty Solomon) WIPphone to Offer Free Local Phone Numbers to Top 20 U.S. (M Solomon) 53 Million American Adults are Instant Message Users (Monty Solomon) Scummy Spyware Gets Even Scummier (TELECOM Digest Editor) Skype2Phone and Phone2Skype Function (John) Re: Book Review: Fighting Spam for Dummies, Levine/Young/Church (Smith) Re: Cable Addresses? (Wesrock@aol.com) Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service (John R. Covert) Re: Verizon Cable TV? (Neal McLain) Re: Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 (Jim Haynes) Re: Last Laugh! A Visit to Doctor's Office (Tom Smith) Re: Vonage dual ring, was Considering VoIP For Home (John Levine) Re: You Can Still Send a Westren Union Mailgram (SunGard BSR) Re: You Can Still Send a Western Union Mailgram (J Kelly) Re: Dating an Old Phone Number (elgart@earthlink.net) 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. =========================== Addresses herein are not to be added to any mailing list, nor to be sold or given away without explicit written consent. Chain letters, viruses, porn, spam, and miscellaneous junk are definitely unwelcome. We must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands against crime. Geoffrey Welsh =========================== See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2004 22:56:36 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Philly Considers Wireless Internet for All By DAVID B. CARUSO Associated Press Writer PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Forget finding an Internet cafe. For less than what it costs to build a small library, city officials believe they can turn all 135 square miles of Philadelphia into the world's largest wireless Internet hot spot. The ambitious plan, now under discussion, would involve placing thousands of small transmitters around the city _ probably atop lampposts. Each of these wireless hot spots would be capable of communicating with the Wi-Fi network cards that now come standard with many computers. Once complete, the $10 million network would deliver broadband Internet almost anywhere radio waves can travel _ including poor neighborhoods where high-speed Internet access is now rare. The city would likely offer the service either for free, or at costs far lower than the $35 to $60 a month charged for broadband delivered over telephone and cable TV lines, said the city's chief information officer, Dianah Neff. - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=43441706 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2004 23:00:15 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: WIPphone to Offer Free Local Phone Numbers to the Top 20 U.S. NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 1, 2004-- Callers Can Now Reach Customers around the World for the Cost of a Local Call The latest salvo aimed at the likes of Vonage, AT&T and Verizon in the "VoIP Features War" is being launched as Worldwide Telco ( www.wIPphone.com ), a New York-based telecom company, establishes the first VoIP local access number network providing free local numbers for the top 20 U.S. cities. Additionally, callers to these numbers will be able to reach any wIPphone subscriber around the world for the price of a local call. The following markets will be offered in wIPphone's local access network: New York Houston Los Angeles Miami Chicago Seattle San Francisco Phoenix Washington St. Louis Boston Minneapolis Atlanta San Diego Dallas Denver Detroit Tampa Philadelphia Cleveland - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=43431659 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2004 00:13:37 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: 53 Million American Adults are Instant Message Users http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/89/press_release.asp 53 Million American Adults are Instant Message Users Some 42% of online Americans use instant messaging, and 24% of instant messagers say they use IM more frequently than email. 9/1/2004 Some 42% of online Americans use instant messaging, and 24% of instant messagers say they use IM more frequently than email. This translates to 53 million American adults who instant message and over 12 million who IM more than emailing. On a typical day, 29% of instant messengers-or roughly 15 million American adults-use IM. The new survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project also finds that instant messaging is especially popular among younger adults and technology enthusiasts. 62% of Gen Y Americans (those ages 18-27) report using IM. Within the instant messaging Gen Y age group, 46% report using IM more frequently than email. http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/89/press_release.asp How Americans Use Instant Messaging Eulynn Shiu, Amanda Lenhart 9/1/2004 http://www.pewinternet.org/report_display.asp?r=133 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2004 14:59:19 EDT From: TELECOM Digest Editor Subject: Scummy Spyware Gets Even Scummier Several months ago in an Editor's Note I told you that this kind of thing was becoming more prevalent. Other than repeatedly flushing your computer with products like Ad-Aware or other tools to seek out spies, which should be done on a regular basis anyway, another fool-proof solution (at least for now) is to keep your on line cameras *pointed at a wall or corner* when not in use and keep your audio capture (i.e. microphones) turned off through hardware (using the off/on switch or otherwise disconnected). Now, as this story from Yahoo News reported yesterday, your Moderator was not as paranoid as some of you accuse me of being. ------ From Yahoo News / Reuters / other reports Tuesday 8/31 ---- It was creepy enough when virus writers designed worms able to steal our financial data and password information off our PCs. Now, in a new twist on the standard Trojan, virus writers have managed to make spyware even seedier. The W32/Rhot-GR worm is able to hijack webcams and microphones to spy on users in their home or workplace, according to Sophos security consulting firm. It spreads via network shares, exploiting a number of Microsoft security vulnerabilities, and installs a backdoor Trojan as it travels. Besides spying on users via the webcam, it also is able to steal personal data. Industrial Espionage By Day, Peeping Tom By Night In theory, this is a very worrisome development. "In the workplace, this worm opens up the possibilities of industrial espionage. At home, it is equivalent to a Peeping Tom who invades your privacy by peering through your curtains," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. "If your computer is infected, and you have a webcam plugged in, then everything you do in front of the computer can be seen -- and everything you say can be recorded." With many home users keeping poorly defended PCs in their bedrooms, there is considerable potential for abuse, Cluley observes. However, the worm is not able to manipulate images -- it can only capture them as they stream. Not in the Wild Yet The good news, Panda Software CTO Patrick Hinojosa told NewsFactor, is that there have not been any occurrences of this virus in the wild -- yet. "If it is out there, it is not spreading very fast," he says. Also, it is not a virus that is likely to get past the high-end computer security systems that many companies now have installed. Another factor that would limit the worm's spread is the issue of bandwidth. "I don't believe this will be a very effective worm even if it does get out there, because you are talking about a huge amount of bandwidth to support all these webcams." "It's a creepier development than anything else," Hinojosa says. *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. This Internet discussion group is making it available without profit to group members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of literary, educational, political, and economic issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. I believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner, in this instance Yahoo News, Reuters News, others. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ------- End of news report ------- Of course, if your thing is exhibitionism, if you enjoy putting yourself on public display, you can ignore all this. Yes, at one point I did enjoy operating a full time cam page of myself, but no longer. And when I do present camera images such as the street in front of my house and my back yard, I prefer to do so in a judicious and discrete manner. I'm afraid with this latest development not all members of the internet community will take the care they should to keep their cameras under *their exclusive control*. PAT ------------------------------ From: johns_95110@yahoo.com (John) Subject: Skype2Phone and Phone2Skype function Date: 1 Sep 2004 17:54:17 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com The product works great with Skype I can forward my incoming Skype call to my cell if I am not at home. www.cuphone.com/skype ------------------------------ From: John Smith Subject: Re: Book Review: Fighting Spam for Dummies, Levine/Young/Church Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2004 23:50:00 GMT I've used the Windows version of Spam Assassin ever since it was favorably reviewed by none other than Consumer Reports magazine a year or two ago. It takes a minute or two to set up, but the instructions are not rocket science. ------------------------------ From: Wesrock@aol.com Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2004 20:32:36 EDT Subject: Re: Cable Addresses? In a message dated 8/30/04 2:23:33 PM Central Daylight Time, editor@telecom-digest.org writes: > From: Mike Riddle > Organization: Solitary, Poor, Nasty, Brutish & Short > Subject: Cable Addresses? > Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2004 12:59:49 -0500 > "To Reply Replace the Obvious 'mriddle'" > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: The above header arrived here with no > text of any sort from Mike Riddle. Since the subject had a question > mark after it, my assumption is his question may have been 'What is > a Cable Address' or 'Do they still have them'. The answer would be > yes they still have them, although rarely used (in the sense that > 'cable messages' these days are rare. When they were prevelant (when > telegrams were prevelant) they functioned like 'vanity numbers' or > 'easy to remember' telex/TWX numbers. A business place or organization > in its advertising would often times give their address, their > telephone number and their 'cable address', typically one or two words > you could say to the telegraph clerk when you wished to send a message > to that place. A couple cable addresses I remember were 'Symphony' > which referred to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (in place of its > longer telex number) and 'Beacon Hill' although I do not remember who > that one was for. Just as modern day telco charges extra to give you > an easy to remember number, so did Western Union charge extra, and > although domestic messages were called 'telegrams' and international > messages were called 'cables' or 'cablegrams', in either case easy to > remember word phrases in place of numbers were called 'cable addresses'. > Some cable addresses also functioned like modern day '800 toll free > numbers' but not absolutely unless the subscriber agreed to pay for > them. I hope this answer to Mike Riddle is satisfactory, given that no > text showed up with the header; and thanks for the old memory! PAT] I believe you have missed the point about the reason for "cable addresses", which were used for both cablegrams and radiograms. For cablegrams and radiograms, the "to" address was charged for at the full rate per word at the same rate as words in the text. And the cost per word was often considerable. An address like "Engineering Department, Detroit Diesel Division of General Motors Corporations, 000 Whatever Street, LaGrange, Illinois" would be pretty expensive for the sender (or, if collect, to the receiver). So the cable address was not like a vanity address ... it was a significant cost saver. "Locomotives LaGrange" was a whole bunch cheaper than all the words in a full address. (The country of address was free.) Incidentally, I don't believe Western Union recognized cable addresses in domestic telegrams ... only cablegrams and radiograms. And Western Union was not the dominant international record carrier; there were many competing cable and radio carriers, both U.S. and foreign. A cable address had to be registered with each carrier, and I believe there was a monthly or annual fee charged by each carrier. Often besides the "cable address" there would be information as to what carriers it was registered with. Wes Leatherock wesrock@aol.com [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: You are correct that cost was a factor since the full name and address were counted in international messages, at least inbound into the USA. But I recall once or twice *many* years ago when I had occassion to send a telegram to a company here in the USA and I told the message taker I wanted to send it to a 'cable address' instead of a company name and address. At first she objected saying 'cables are only international, domestic messages are telegrams'; but then she corrected herself and said "Oh, you were not referring to sending a cable, but a telegram to a *CABLE ADDRESS* which is different. That we can do." PAT] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2004 20:53:12 EDT From: John R. Covert Subject: Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service > Complaints would be registered by dialing *55, which would not only > "tag" The call in the telcos database, but immediately inform you > whether ANI and CID matches. You're making two assumptions: 1. That ANI is passed along through the network. There is no need for it to be passed anywhere billing information is not needed. 2. Even if it is passed along, the assumption that it should be the same is not true. The ANI for a call from a DID PBX is likely to be the main number, whereas the caller ID could be either the main number or the actual DID number. Or even the other way around. Or from a VoIP phone, the ANI is the number at which the call enters the network, and the Caller ID is the actual number. Or for a call forwarded through another number, the ANI is the number of the phone doing the forwarding and the caller ID is the number of the original caller. /john ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2004 22:07:11 -0500 From: Neal McLain Subject: Re: Verizon Cable TV? Lisa Hancock hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote: > I thought cable TV was deregulated nationally; in my area > it's been deregulated for some time. Upper tiers (any tiers other than basic) have been deregulated nationally. The basic tier is regulated if your local franchising authority (LFA) chooses to regulate it, subject to FCC oversight. You can get more information about this from your LFA. Your cable bill should specify the name and telephone number of your LFA. By FCC definition, the basic tier contains: - All domestic local television broadcast stations. For the purpose of this definition, "domestic" means US stations, but excludes Canadian and Mexican stations; "local" means within the Designated Market Area (DMA) [as defined by Nielsen Media Research] in which the cable system is located. - All public-, educational-, government-access channels designated by the LFA for carriage on the basic tier. - Anything else that the cable company chooses to add. Source: 47 CFR 76.901(a) . > The prices have gone up. Your LFA should be able to provide you with copies of documentation concerning basic-tier rate regulation. Increases in the license fees for non-broadcast programming have driven most of the recent upper-tier price increases. See my post about this in TD V23#394 . Neal McLain nmclain@annsgarden.com ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 Reply-To: jhaynes@alumni.uark.edu Organization: University of Arkansas Alumni From: haynes@alumni.uark.edu (Jim Haynes) Date: Thu, 02 Sep 2004 03:38:05 GMT In article , Kenneth P. Stox wrote: > For those who don't know the joke, Extel was short for Ex-teletype. I used to think that too, but actually it wasn't. This I got straight from a conversation with Walt. There was an English stock exchange telegraph association called Extel, and that name wasn't taken in the U.S. so Walt and Peter Mero, who founded Extel, took that for their company name. Their original product was a stock ticker with an electronic selector to limit what was printed to a dozen or two stocks the individual was interested in. This was called Quotemaster, and the idea was that they would be installed in homes or offices of individuals. The product and the name was sold to TransLux, who never produced it. Hence the company needed a new name and they took the name of the London company which was named Exchange Telegraph but popularly abbreviated Ex Tel. jhhaynes at earthlink dot net ------------------------------ From: Tom Smith Subject: Re: Last Laugh! A Visit to Doctor's Office Date: Thu, 02 Sep 2004 04:45:32 GMT Organization: AT&T Worldnet DevilsPGD wrote: > 'Tis far better to have snipped too much than to never have snipped > at all.' Not if you are describing your circumcision. ------------------------------ Date: 1 Sep 2004 18:56:22 -0000 From: John Levine Subject: Re: Vonage dual ring, was Considering VoIP For Home Organization: I.E.C.C., Trumansburg NY USA > I have Vonage set to ring my cell and Vonage phone simultaneously so I > can answer the call with either phone. At home I hear both phones > ring at the same time. I have voicemail set up so that Vonage > voicemail picks up the call before cell phone voicemail so all my > voice messages are on Vonage. I do the same thing, except that I don't have voice mail on my cell phone (I told them not to turn it on) so people call my Vonage number, it rings both the office phone and cell phone, and it goes to Vonage voicemail if I don't answer one of them. Since Vonage can send e-mail notifications when you get voicemail, I have a little script on my computer that catches the VM mail, scrunches it down to one line including the phone number and time, and sends that as a text message to my cell phone. So I always can tell if I have voicemail, since my office phone has the flashing light and the cell phone has its SMS messages. I give my cell phone number to almost nobody, but it's occasionally been handy that someone can call and let it ring in case I'm in the car and need to pull over to answer it (I live in NY) or otherwise can't get it in the 10 seconds before it would otherwise go to voicemail. Regards, John Levine johnl@iecc.com Primary Perpetrator of The Internet for Dummies, Information Superhighwayman wanna-be, http://www.johnlevine.com, Mayor "More Wiener schnitzel, please", said Tom, revealingly. ------------------------------ Subject: Re: You Can Still Send a Western Union Mailgram Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2004 14:54:28 -0400 From: Carpenter, J (SunGard BSR) >> Because I just received one today. There's a toll-free number on >> the back to reply by Mailgram - 800-325-6000 > The Western Union website IIRC says Mailgrams are no longer provided. > Could it be that the Mailgram is provided by a separate company? I found both mailgrams and telegrams on their web site as still being provided. http://www.westernunion.com/info/bsMessaging.asp?country=3DU1#mailgram http://www.westernunion.com/info/osTelegram.asp ------------------------------ From: J Kelly Subject: Re: You Can Still Send a Western Union Mailgram Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2004 14:04:54 -0500 Organization: http://newsguy.com Reply-To: jkelly@newsguy.com On 31 Aug 2004 21:14:28 -0700, rayta@msn.com (Ray Normandeau) wrote: > hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com (Lisa Hancock) wrote in message > news:: >> haynes@alumni.uark.edu (Jim Haynes) wrote: >>> Because I just received one today. There's a toll-free number on >>> the back to reply by Mailgram - 800-325-6000 >> The Western Union website IIRC says Mailgrams are no longer provided. >> Could it be that the Mailgram is provided by a separate company? > Could it be that the Postal Service delivery service quality control > has fallen futher then I suspect. > I am expecting a package that says attempted delivery, and that a > note was left when no attempt was made. > This is as per USPS WWW tacking site. > I think the workers just scan the pacjage and let it sit at the Post > Office. Yes, sometime they do. I sent a package once that said it was delivered to the recipient. The guy kept emailing me wanting to know where it was. After a couple weeks of that I went to my post office and asked the Postmaster about it. He said it had been delivered according to the Delivery Confirmation number. Upon further investigation using the tracking number on the insurance tag we find out that it was NOT delivered, and was in fact waiting for the customer to pick it up at the Chicago P.O. Had I not insured the package it is probable that we never would have found that package since the post office never left a notice that it had attempted delivery. I should add that I send and recieve a fair number of USPS Priority Mail packages, and only once has anything like that happened, usually they get where they are supposed to go quickly and without incident. ------------------------------ From: elgart@earthlink.net Subject: Re: Dating an Old Phone Number Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2004 18:15:01 -0400 On Mon, 16 Aug 2004 16:39:08 -0400, Arthur Kamlet wrote (in article ): > In article , Joseph > wrote: >> On Sun, 15 Aug 2004 14:31:29 -0700, wrote: >>> I am hoping you can help ... I have an old picture that has a "antique" >>> phone number. I am trying to date the picture. Below is the phone >>> number located in Brooklyn New York: >>> TRiangle 5-7871 >>> Can you date this phone number? I have searched the internet with no = >>> luck. > My best guess is East New York around late 40s early 50s. > Art Kamlet ArtKamlet @ AOL.com Columbus OH K2PZH That number was in downtown Brooklyn and could date from any time after 1930 when New York City phone numbers were converted from 3 letters 4 numbers to 2 letters 5 numbers. At that time TRIangle (874) became TRiangle 5 (875). I have a list of old and new exchange designations taken from the New York Times of August 24, 1930 and in about 35 of them the first number of the new designation did not correspond with the third letter of the old designation. I suspect that was done deliberately to force people to learn the new numbering scheme. I did notice one oddity in the list: SCHuyler (in upper Manhattan) which became SChuyler 4 and SAInt George (on Staten Island) which became SAint George 7 conflicted with each other during the 3L-4N period. This could only have been possible if calls between Staten Island and the rest of the city were long distance and had to be completed by the operator. ------------------------------ 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, Yahoo Groups, and other forums. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. TELECOM Digest is a not-for-profit, mostly non-commercial educational service offered to the Internet by Patrick Townson. All the contents of the Digest are compilation-copyrighted. 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End of TELECOM Digest V23 #409 ****************************** From editor@telecom-digest.org Thu Sep 2 16:57:54 2004 Received: (from ptownson@localhost) by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.6p3/8.11.6) id i82Kvrp20357; Thu, 2 Sep 2004 16:57:54 -0400 (EDT) Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2004 16:57:54 -0400 (EDT) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <200409022057.i82Kvrp20357@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 V23 #410 TELECOM Digest Thu, 2 Sep 2004 16:57:00 EDT Volume 23 : Issue 410 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Portable Media Centers (Monty Solomon) Party Lines no More? (Lisa Hancock) Spreading Spam (Eric Friedebach) Re: Verizon Cable TV? (Isaiah Beard) Re: Verizon Cable TV? (Lisa Hancock) Re: Latest NorVergence Bankruptcy Hearing News (8/26/ (Isaiah Beard) Re: You Can Still Send a Western Union Mailgram (Lisa Hancock) Re: Considering VoIP For Home? Think Twice About AT&T CallVantage (Chip) Re: Dating an Old Phone Number (Lisa Hancock) Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service (DevilsPGD) Re: Last Laugh! A Visit to Doctor's Office (DevilsPGD) 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. =========================== Addresses herein are not to be added to any mailing list, nor to be sold or given away without explicit written consent. Chain letters, viruses, porn, spam, and miscellaneous junk are definitely unwelcome. We must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands against crime. Geoffrey Welsh =========================== See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2004 08:42:25 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Portable Media Centers Microsoft Drives a New Category of Digital Entertainment By Announcing Availability of the First Portable Media Centers Creative Zen Portable Media Center Hits Store Shelves and First Content Services Come Online; TV Tuner Card Industry Announces Broad Support for Video on the Go REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) today announced that the first Windows Mobile(TM)-based Portable Media Centers from Creative Labs Inc. will be available to the public tomorrow at Best Buy and Creative.com and in the coming weeks from Amazon.com Inc., CompUSA Inc., Fry's Electronics, Good Guys Inc. and other electronics retailers nationwide. Portable Media Centers from Samsung Electronics and iRiver International will be available later this fall. Microsoft also solidified content sources for Portable Media Centers, with the first online offerings from MLB Advanced Media (MLB.com) and CinemaNow Inc., as well as support from four digital TV tuner card manufacturers and software company SnapStream Media Inc. These announcements give people an increasing range of choices for video content they can watch any time, any place. Portable Media Centers are a new category of multimedia players that allow people to enjoy all the digital entertainment they store on their PC -- recorded TV, music, movies and pictures -- on one device. Portable Media Centers are one of three new digital entertainment products being introduced by Microsoft tomorrow, Sept. 2, including Windows Media(R) Player 10 and the MSN(R) Music Service. Windows Media Player 10 lets consumers easily discover, play and transport digital media around the home, on the PC or onto portable devices. MSN will launch a preview release of its MSN Music service in the United States tomorrow, offering music fans access to more than 1 million tracks licensed from all five major labels and more than 3,000 independent labels. Tracks from MSN Music will be available for playback on Portable Media Centers in Windows Media Audio format. - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=43443610 ------------------------------ From: hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com (Lisa Hancock) Subject: Party Lines No More? Date: 2 Sep 2004 06:42:38 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com For the younger readers: Years ago installing individual copper phone lines to each subscriber was very expensive. So subscribers shared a line in an arrangement known as the "party line". This was particu- larly common in rural areas where the lines had long runs. As technology improved (such as concentrators and carrier circuits), party lines were reduced. Some Verizon engineers told me they doubt party lines exist anywhere in the U.S. anymore for the following reasons: 1) Universal Service Fee: The high expense of rural lines is subsidized by other customers. 2) Low cost fibre: They said they were a low cost fibre system that could economically handle rural service. If any lines still exist they may be from private rural cooperative phone companies in isolated places, or from subscribers who could get private line service but just don't bother to save a $1 a month. ------------------------------ From: friedebach@yahoo.com (Eric Friedebach) Subject: Spreading Spam Date: 2 Sep 2004 09:31:06 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com Scott Woolley, 09.01.04, Forbes.com LOS ANGELES - This June a barrage of spam popped up in 152,000 in-boxes. They pitched the standard stuff: One was an advertisement for the "Top Drug Store Online," another offered mortgage refinancing, another spy equipment for getting "the evidence on your in-laws." And, of course, many pitched porn. But one thing made the spam unusual: It was delivered not to regular e-mail in-boxes but via text messaging to Verizon Wireless cell phone service. Once an affliction confined to e-mail boxes, spam is spreading. Besides cell phones, innovative spammers are beginning to experiment with a technology known as voice-over-Internet Protocol, or VoIP, that lets people send phone calls over the Internet. http://www.forbes.com/wireless/2004/09/01/cz_sw_0901spam.html Eric Friedebach /Favorite OnStar commercial: crying woman drops keys in toilet/ [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: This is very depressing, isn't it ... The ratio of spam to valid email continues to rise. Is the net (as a whole body) now up to the 90 percent mark yet? I know I have seen reports in the recent past setting it at about 80-85 percent of the total volume of email; I know here at telecom-digest.org it has floated along at about 85-90 percent for several months, especially on weekends when valid email drops off as people take time off from work or school, etc. A three day holiday weekend as is now approaching will surely send the spam count sky high. PAT] ------------------------------ From: Isaiah Beard Subject: Re: Verizon Cable TV? Date: Thu, 02 Sep 2004 12:13:11 -0400 Lisa Hancock wrote: > I have found Verizon service to be very good. My long distance costs > went down and service quality went up when they were allowed to offer > their own long distance. I dumped AT&T. > Verizon had to enlarge their central office and worked hard with the > town to preserve nearby Victorian homes (which they owned; one was the > exchange 50 years ago) as well as make the building fit into the > historic district. Part of the need for enlargement was to accomodate > competitor's switchgear. I suppose it depends on region. Here in central NJ, the story is very different. Dial tone has been slow in many instances, and last years' northeast blackout took out phone service with it (apparently their battery setup at the central office was not operational when the blackout hit, and neither local nor LD calls could not route even for a few hours after power was restored; cell phone service actually was MORE reliable than wireline during that period). I tried broadband through Verizon for quite a while, but the frequent downtimes of a week+ drove me crazy. The last straw was when somehow, my local calling area shrunk to about half what it used to be, and suddenly calls that used to be local (including my cell phone which was provisioned in the same city, the number to which hasn't changed in over seven years) all of a sudden weren't. I'm sure I could have fought it, but it was far less effort to simply move to VoIP and stop giving Verizon my money. >> I guess it depends on where you live. Cable and telephone have both >> been prevailing regulated monopolies for a long time, and depending on >> where you live, one or the other is the lesser of two evils that you >> must pick from. If only DBS didn't have such a horrible latency >> problem, we could all drop both services. > I thought cable TV was deregulated nationally; Yes, however in many cases there are still municipal franchise agreements that regulate their operation. > Certain premium local telephone services have been deregulated, but > AFAIK in my area the price has not gone up. Again, depends on where you live. Phone service prices have risen here; cable has not. Don't get me wrong, I'm no fan of Comcast, but in my particular case they've screwed me far less than ol' Ma Bell. E-mail fudged to thwart spammers. Transpose the c's and a's in my e-mail address to reply. ------------------------------ From: hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com (Lisa Hancock) Subject: Re: Verizon Cable TV? Date: 2 Sep 2004 09:52:22 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com Neal McLain wrote: Regarding the comment about high construction costs -- our cable company was able to quickly replace its coax with fibre system wide without too much trouble. It ran into some neighbor objections by placing large junction boxes in unwanted locations -- it easily could've worked with the community (it did with us) for better locations. > I'm sure you've heard this a hundred times before, but here it is > again: the primary reason for rising prices for cable (and satellite) > service is the increase in the wholesale cost ("license fee") for > programming. To cite the extreme case, ESPN has risen 20% per year > for the past few years, and now costs well over $2.00 per sub per > month ($2.61 according to one reader's post here a year or so ago). Would there be any resource to look at the wholesale costs of various cable shows? I'm curious as to what things like Nick, TV Land, A&E, Hist, VH1, MTV, Family, Disney, CNN, FoxNews, etc cost. (A lot of these are owned by the same company). I'm also troubled by high wholesale costs because all of these channels liberally include commercials. What about TCM (Turner Classic Movies)? They're commercial free. ------------------------------ From: Isaiah Beard Subject: Re: Latest NorVergence Bankruptcy Hearing News (8/26/04) Date: Thu, 02 Sep 2004 10:14:29 -0400 Satchel Paige wrote: > Does anyone have information or links to what latest actions were > taken at NorVergence's most recent U.S. Bankruptcy hearing in Newark, > New Jersey? I believe the date of the most recent hearing was on > August 26, 2004. Looks like largely procedural stuff happened on that date. No new real developments, except it seems some customers may have found an avenue to get out of their leases. Here's what I have from a PACER search for events on August 26, 2004 in relation to the Norvergence bankruptcy. I am not a lawyer and this is my opinion only, so my interpretations of these events may be completely inaccurate. I'm linking to the documents I retrieved so that you can draw your own conclusions. the documents will remain linked until September 15, 2004, after which time I'll bring them offline (should be plenty of time for interested parties to have a look): - A firm known as Lage-Landen financial services was granted relief from the automatic stay order imposed from the Bankruptcy filing, and has been granted permission to repossess all equipment to which it holds leases to. (Any Norvergence customers have Matrix leases with Lage-Landen?) http://tinyurl.com/5jvwd - A firm known as BANZAI, Inc., apparently a former Norvergence customer, served notice that it is revoking acceptance of the equipment that was delivered to it by Norvergence, including the Matrix box. Again IANAL, but this might be a quick and easy way for those scammed by Norvergence to get out from under these leases. I hope it works. http://tinyurl.com/4bxrq - A firm known as NITEK Electronics file a similar revocation of acceptance. Looks like this might be the avenue to go for those who are stuck with these leases, but if I were you I'd consult a lawyer first. http://tinyurl.com/6yzdu - A firm known as ALL HABITAT SERVICES filed yet another revocation. There are other documents that can be retrieved, but I get dinged on a per-page basis for each retrieval, and they all look fairly similar, aside from various certificates of mailing and other mundane items. There appears to have been a hearing held on September 1 as well, but when I checked PACER, there was nothing up yet regarding what happened in that hearing. E-mail fudged to thwart spammers. Transpose the c's and a's in my e-mail address to reply. [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: But until *YOU*, individual reader with a Norvergence lease agreement, hear from your attorney to the contrary, you ARE freezing all accounts payable to Norvergence or the bank, right? To those of you who spoke so vocally against my idea of withholding payments claiming the victims would get sued, get their credit ruined, etc, none of that has happened yet, has it? To you poor small business people, let this be a good lesson to you about how to handle door to door pushy salesmen with their pitches for crappy telephone equipment who gasp as they say their time is too valuable to speak to anyone but the 'decision maker' in the company and how if you do not sign this paper here and now you won't get another chance to do so again. PAT] ------------------------------ From: hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com (Lisa Hancock) Subject: Re: You Can Still Send a Western Union Mailgram Date: 2 Sep 2004 07:47:58 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com haynes@alumni.uark.edu (Jim Haynes) wrote > Lisa Hancock wrote: >> The Western Union website IIRC says Mailgrams are no longer provided. I checked their website. I was mistaken; WU still offers Mailgrams. See: http://www.westernunion.com/info/bsMessaging.asp?country=U1 Sorry about that. ------------------------------ From: Chip G Subject: Re: Considering VoIP For Home? Think Twice About AT&T CallVantage Organization: Comcast Online Date: Thu, 02 Sep 2004 15:10:33 GMT charlie3 wrote in message news:telecom23.408.7@telecom-digest.org: > I have Vonage set to ring my cell and Vonage phone simultaneously so I > can answer the call with either phone. At home I hear both phones > ring at the same time. I have voicemail set up so that Vonage > voicemail picks up the call before cell phone voicemail so all my > voice messages are on Vonage. > I can check Vonage voice mail with the cell phone, a land line, over > the internet or from the Vonage phone. If the cell phone was in range > during the missed call I will see a missed call message on the cell > phone and often the missed call number as well. I don't see the > missed call name on the cell phone unless the caller is in my cell > phone list. > If the Vonage box is disconnected or the network is down I have Vonage > set to forward all calls to my cell phone. > Vonage will forward calls only to one non Vonage phone but to more > than one Vonage account. It would be convenient for me if Vonage > would allow more than one non Vonage phone for simultaneous ring but > that limitation is not enough to push me to another provider. > My Vonage account has my 20+ years home phone number ported to it. > Unlike old fashioned call forwarding, simultaneous ring is set and > forget. People need only one number to find me. They don't need to > know I have a cell phone. My cell phone minutes at home are zero so I > need half the cell minutes of most people who rely on cell phones. > When I pick up my Vonage phone I hear a dial tone, my call goes > through, the person I'm talking to does not notice we are on an > internet phone. When I leave the house the house phone is clipped to > my belt, there is no cell phone number as a practical matter. > Occasionally my network goes down or the Vonage box is disconnected > for travel. Then the cell phone backs me up both for incoming and > outgoing calls. These occasions have been so rare there has been > little impact on my cell phone minutes. > There is a learning curve with VOIP. Expect some glitches. I advise > my friends who are interested to have either a cell phone or > traditional phone for backup. I also advise forwarding the house > phone to the Vonage phone for a testing period of a few months before > porting the house phone to Vonage. > For me Vonage is the right product for the right price. If the > quality of service stays as it is I won't be needing a tradiational > house phone now or in the future. Thanks Charlie. The one thing that is still unclear to me is ... What happens if someone dials your Vonage number and your cell phone is turned off or outside the coverage area for your cellular provider? Does the call get answered by your cell phone voicemail? ------------------------------ From: hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com (Lisa Hancock) Subject: Re: Dating an Old Phone Number Date: 2 Sep 2004 09:43:10 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com elgart@earthlink.net wrote: > I have a list of old and new exchange > designations taken from the New York Times of August 24, 1930 and in > about 35 of them the first number of the new designation did not > correspond with the third letter of the old designation. I suspect > that was done deliberately to force people to learn the new numbering > scheme. Thanks for the date reference. I wish I could find something for Phila. I checked the newspapers on the date of Phila's conversion but they just had a small tidbit. Phila newspapers aren't indexed. Likewise, Phila's conversion from 3L to 2L also made almost everyone different than before. (Phila changed just after WW II). ------------------------------ From: DevilsPGD Subject: Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service Reply-To: bond-jamesbond@crazyhat.net Organization: EasyNews, UseNet made Easy! Date: Thu, 02 Sep 2004 10:16:43 GMT In message John R. Covert wrote: >> Complaints would be registered by dialing *55, which would not only >> "tag" The call in the telcos database, but immediately inform you >> whether ANI and CID matches. > You're making two assumptions: > 1. That ANI is passed along through the network. There is no need > for it to be passed anywhere billing information is not needed. > 2. Even if it is passed along, the assumption that it should be > the same is not true. The ANI for a call from a DID PBX is likely > to be the main number, whereas the caller ID could be either > the main number or the actual DID number. Or even the other > way around. Or from a VoIP phone, the ANI is the number at > which the call enters the network, and the Caller ID is the > actual number. Or for a call forwarded through another > number, the ANI is the number of the phone doing the forwarding > and the caller ID is the number of the original caller. Fair enough. I think the principle is sound, but it might need some tweaking in terms of implementation. One possibility is to go strictly on a "pass the buck" system, where each telco that the call passed through is held responsible unless the telco can identify the source of the call. It's not an optical illusion. It just looks like one. [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: That's an old trick, but quite effec- tive. Place (and enforce) the blame on the last person or entity in the line unless *they* can push it further along. And believe me, when push comes to shove, they *will* find someone further down the line to hand the hot potato to. You give them one or two passes with a firm warning there will be no further excuses allowed, then watch how the conditions so prevalent in much of telephony get corrected/cured in a hurry. I for one, cannot see why *any* user or subscriber should ever be allowed to tamper with their own caller ID. Ditto with spam and virii hassles. If Microsoft, and the makers of hardware got together and devised a nearly foolproof method of *absolutely without question identifying every piece of equipment out there* then spam and virus writing/spreading would come to a screaming halt. Consider the ESN (electronic serial number) on your cellular phone. Some one steals it, and just a phone call from you to the carrier blacklists it forever. It will never again talk or recieve calls, as the number propogates through the hot lists. I don't hear anyone complaining that the propogation of their cell phone's ESN is somehow a 'violation of privacy rights' when a cell tower picks up the user's transmission and deals with it. Why should anyone (except spammers of course) complain when an ISP passes their traffic and looks at the computer 'electronic serial number' which has been burned in the hardware, and while not totally impossible to diddle with would frustrate most spammers totally. But back to the statement at hand: I receive spam or virii and look for the untampered with ESN of the person or place which sent it to me. Good, I found you. You are the guilty one and your machine goes on the hotlist. If you are in a position to buy a new computer every week or two just to be able to continue sending out your crapola then god bless you! Add that little economic incentive to the pressure we put on ISPs who willfully encourage that sort of customer. PAT] ------------------------------ From: DevilsPGD Subject: Re: Last Laugh! A Visit to Doctor's Office Reply-To: bond-jamesbond@crazyhat.net Organization: EasyNews, UseNet made Easy! Date: Thu, 02 Sep 2004 10:15:28 GMT In message Tom Smith wrote: >> 'Tis far better to have snipped too much than to never have snipped >> at all.' > Not if you are describing your circumcision. ROFL. Fair enough. It's not an optical illusion. It just looks like one. [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I guess by now everyone has seen the newspaper account of the doctor who slipped up when doing that sort of thing and wound up cutting off most of 'it' by accident. The family of the little guy was livid to say the least and sued the doctor, which did not help the little guy until a bit later when some reconstructive surgery was done on him. The poor kid grew up with much psychological trauma until the surgery was done which restored his 'manhood'. 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, Yahoo Groups, and other forums. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. TELECOM Digest is a not-for-profit, mostly non-commercial educational service offered to the Internet by Patrick Townson. All the contents of the Digest are compilation-copyrighted. You may reprint articles in some other media on an occasional basis, but please attribute my work and that of the original author. Contact information: Patrick Townson/TELECOM Digest Post Office Box 50 Independence, KS 67301 Phone: 620-402-0134 Fax 1: 775-255-9970 Fax 2: 530-309-7234 Fax 3: 208-692-5145 Email: editor@telecom-digest.org Subscribe: telecom-subscribe@telecom-digest.org Unsubscribe:telecom-unsubscribe@telecom-digest.org This Digest is the oldest continuing e-journal about telecomm- unications on the Internet, having been founded in August, 1981 and published continuously since then. Our archives are available for your review/research. We believe we are the oldest e-zine/mailing list on the internet in any category! URL information: http://telecom-digest.org Anonymous FTP: mirror.lcs.mit.edu/telecom-archives/archives/ (or use our mirror site: ftp.epix.net/pub/telecom-archives) Email <==> FTP: telecom-archives@telecom-digest.org Send a simple, one line note to that automated address for a help file on how to use the automatic retrieval system for archives files. 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Please make at least a single donation to cover the cost of processing your name to the mailing list. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. End of TELECOM Digest V23 #410 ****************************** From editor@telecom-digest.org Fri Sep 3 02:45:27 2004 Received: (from ptownson@localhost) by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.6p3/8.11.6) id i836jRB24511; Fri, 3 Sep 2004 02:45:27 -0400 (EDT) Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2004 02:45:27 -0400 (EDT) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <200409030645.i836jRB24511@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 V23 #411 TELECOM Digest Fri, 3 Sep 2004 02:45:00 EDT Volume 23 : Issue 411 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Charter Customers May Get Free Services (Monty Solomon) EFFEctor 17.32 Stop Government Blacklists (Monty Solomon) Apache Rejects Sender ID Proposal (Monty Solomon) Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service (Jack Decker) Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service (AES/newspost) Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service (W Rupprecht) Re: Spreading Spam (Destined) Re: Party Lines No More? (John McHarry) September Share Day (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. =========================== Addresses herein are not to be added to any mailing list, nor to be sold or given away without explicit written consent. Chain letters, viruses, porn, spam, and miscellaneous junk are definitely unwelcome. We must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands against crime. Geoffrey Welsh =========================== See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2004 00:47:32 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Charter Customers May Get Free Services By JIM SUHR AP Business Writer ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Charter Communications Inc. subscribers may get free premium services under a proposed settlement the nation's third-largest cable TV systems operator reached in a lawsuit over questioned charges. As part of the deal detailed in the company's full-page advertisement Thursday in USA Today, eligible customers may be able to choose six months of free high-speed Internet service, service upgrades or movie channel service. Other options include six free pay-per-view or video-on-demand selections. St. Louis-based Charter, controlled by Microsoft Corp. co-founder Paul Allen, has more than 6 million customers in 37 states. It was not immediately clear how many consumers would be eligible for the free services or the settlement's cost to Charter, though trade magazine Multichannel News reported Monday that amount may reach as much as $200 million, depending on which compensation customers choose. The settlement applies to people who subscribed to Charter's residential cable TV service before July 8 and paid a fee to participate in the company's wire-maintenance plan, or who paid a fee to rent an analog or digital converter box while getting basic or expanded basic service. - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=43472089 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2004 00:54:05 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: EFFector 17.32: Alert - Stop Government Blacklists! EFFector Vol. 17, No. 32 September 2, 2004 donna@eff.org A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation ISSN 1062-9424 In the 304th Issue of EFFector: * Action Alert: Stop Government Blacklists! * CA Alert: Ask Governor Schwarzenegger to Put Paper Trails on the Books * Skylink Wins Appeal in Garage Door Opener Case: Court Rules Copyright Law Cannot Be Used to Stifle Competition * CAPPS II Returns from Summer Vacation as "Secure Flight" * Only 61 Days Until the Election - Register to Vote Now! * MiniLinks (16): Bush Forms Civil Liberties Board * Administrivia http://www.eff.org/effector/17/32.php ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2004 00:22:29 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Apache Rejects Sender ID Proposal The Apache Project has rejected the Sender ID proposal for e-mail user authentication, saying the terms of Microsoft's license for the underlying technology makes it incompatible with open source software. The decision illustrates how anti-spam efforts have become the latest battleground between the open source community and Microsoft. Apache's decision, outlined in a letter to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), culminates weeks of discussion among the IETF, Microsoft and open source advocates over whether Sender ID could work as a standard framework for anti-spam measures. http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2004/09/02/apache_rejects_sender_id_proposal.html ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 02 Sep 2004 22:54:49 -0400 From: Jack Decker Subject: Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service Pat, please conceal my e-mail address. You wrote: > Ditto with spam and virii hassles. If Microsoft, and the makers of > hardware got together and devised a nearly foolproof method of > *absolutely without question identifying every piece of equipment > out there* then spam and virus writing/spreading would come to a > screaming halt. ..... Pat, you seem to forget one thing -- what goes out to the Internet can always be diddled with by the user. A personal computer is not like a cell phone -- it can be (and often is) built from parts. Therefore the user has control of what goes out over the net connection. Even if, some way, somehow, they figured out a way to send out an ID that the user could not diddle with, all the spammer would have to do is install a firewall that looks for that ID and strips it out. And if nobody will accept e-mail that has the ID stripped out, then the spammer will just steal valid ID's from other user machines. There are so many holes in this scheme that I can't figure it will do anything but make users who value their privacy shun the products of whatever company is crazy enough to implement it. I think you were on the right track with your other idea. Let's say they passed a law that said that for every piece of bona fide spam that a user receives and forwards to his ISP, he gets one month of free service. But, the ISP would be entitled to submit the spam to whichever system passed it along to them (the system that actually connected to their system to deliver the e-mail) and collect the value of the month of service, plus a reasonable billing fee (which could be set high enough to cover the "uncollectibles", that is, the systems they cannot collect from). So there would be an absolute rule - if spam passes through your system, you are liable to the party you passed it to, but the person that passed it to you is liable for whatever you were billed plus *your* billing fee. Note that as the spam keeps getting passed closer to the source, every party in the chain is entitled to add *their* billing fee. Now at some point one of three things will happen. One, it will get back to the system that furnished connectivity to the spammer, and they will hand the bill to the spammer (who more than likely will not pay willingly), so they get stuck paying the bill and possibly hauling the spammer into court. A few times of that happening and they will learn to be very picky about who they give connectivity to. Two, it will wind up pointing to some innocent user who's had his machine "hijacked". At that point, whoever supplies his connectivity will decide that maybe they should be suspicious when a user that normally sends one or two e-mails a day starts blasting out thousands (more on that in a moment). Three, it will wind up at the system that accepted the incoming e-mail from another country, and they will be faced with the prospect of collecting from an ISP in another country. Of course they will pass the bill along to the "foreign" ISP, but that ISP is under no legal obligation to pay in their home country, and they might not. So if they don't, the "gateway" operator must decide whether they are willing to accept any more traffic from that system. What will very quickly happen is that the foreign ISP's will discover that they must indeed pay the bill, legal obligation or not, or else they will find that no U.S. gateway will accept their e-mail, legitimate or not. When the system first starts you do a "dry run" for six months -- users are encouraged to report spam, but don't receive the free service. ISP's generate the "bills" and pass them upstream, but no payment is required. This gives everyone a chance to see how the system will work, and to identify which systems are sending spam before they incur any financial penalty (so that no ISP suddenly gets hit with 8,000 real bills when they had no idea that there was a spammer on their system). After the six months it goes into effect for real. By then the ISP's presumably have put technologies in place to limit the potential damage. One such technology might be figuring out the patterns of their various customers, similar to what credit card companies do when they offer fraud protection. As I noted above, if a customer that is normally a light user of e-mail suddenly starts blasting out e-mails by the hundreds, you may at least want to take a look at a random sample to see if he's sending out wedding invitations or spam. Presumably there are automated techniques that can deal with this, so that a real human would only have to look at messages in exceptional cases. I suppose there are some flaws in this (no plan is perfect) but it would be one way of handling the situation (with suitable modifica- tions to handle any valid objections, of course). What do you think? Jack [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Jack, you sound like a typical netter with all your objections and all your reasons why a reasonably good plan will not work so there is nothing do except sit around wringing our hands and wait until the ratio gets as close to one hundred percent garbage as possible. I will suggest if people can use home brew computers to get on the net, why can't people quit paying for cell phone service entirely and work entirely from home brew cell phones. Ah, but you say without a valid ESN their home brew or other- wise cell phone won't get out. Every tower in the world will stop them dead in their tracks. And people can jerry rig all the cellphones they want, but that magic ESN is embedded in a bit of glue buried on the mother board somewhere, burned in at the factory and no one but a damned fool or a masochist would try to swap it out. Ah ... right! So a result, only damned fools and masochists try to swap out ESNs and still expect the phone to work. Ergo, while fraud with stolen cell phones *does* exist, its a relatively minor problem. Hackers, etc do tamper with cellphone software, the telephone numbers assigned to cell phones, etc, but as a worst case scenario, when cellco has had enough fraud that particular unit becomes useless. The tower is told just do not accept anything more from that ESN regardless. At that point, you the fraudster have a choice of tossing the phone or attempting (if you have the experience) to change the burned in ESN or selling or paying someone else to do it for you. In any event, it costs you money and slows you down. Now let us assume the computer factory (Apple or whoever) embeds a little chip on the mother board somewhere and buries it in wax and glue, making it almost impossible to get out or replace, much as cell phones are constructed. Yes, a damn fool or a masochist *probably could get it out, (maybe the same guys who do it with cell phones) and to the average user, the end result would be a busted up, shorted out mother board. If a computer hardware person took the whole computer apart and looked at the mother board, they would see that ugly looking waxed up glued over little chip. Now what kind of a number would be burned into that little chip, its CSN or 'computer serial number'? I suggest something like Microsoft has done with the latest version of XP. The number would be a mathematical formula constructed on the various parts of the computer: two hard drives, one floppy, some type or another of monitor, mouse, keyboard, etc. In other words, the factory sells you an OEM, with all the above parts, and burns that number combination in the chip. But you say you built your own computer with a hard drive here, a floppy from there, an old TV set for a monitor, a mouse you got from Best Buy and a camera you bought at Walmart. Motorola cell phones had an answer for that also. The end user was permitted to reprogram a few variables *three times only* before it would lock up entirely, and (in theory at least) the unit had to go back to the factory or an authorized dealer for a reset, which involved some hardware to be attached. Not impossible, just a pain in the butt for guys. Now here is here Microsoft or Linux or Apple or whichever software maker whose operating system you plan to install in your home brew computer enters the picture: You put in your copy of XP or Linux or whatever. Just as the OS now demands you insert an *accurate* rendering of your 'product key' based on its own on the fly calculation of your system (remember how if the system is 'changed substantially' Microsoft demands it to be re-registered), the operating system -- and operating system only -- would rewrite or burn that little waxed over, glued on little chip a second time, or even a third time, or hell, to be generous if you wish, a fourth time, then it locks up. No more re-writes short of hauling the entire thing back to an 'authorized dealer' who attaches his little odd cable somewhere and 'zeros out' the counter -- not writes in the number, which the operating system calculates based on peripherals, etc -- just zeros it out so you can start over. No one knows how the OS calculates those number, no one except Microsoft (as in XP) or the factory as in an OEM shipped out for the first time. It just happens is all. The final one or two digits in the CSM would be mathematical proof on the remainder of the CSM which was generated by the OS or the factory based on your equipment and perhaps part of your usual IP address. In other words an extremely complex arrangement of letters and numbers. If you attempted to bluff your way past your own firewall it would be very unlikely you could get the check digits correct even if you did figure out how the OS looked at your peripherals. So you say you will just look for that string at your firewall and omit it entirely ... uh, uh ... or you will just substitute a new string of alphanumerics... uh, uh ... the ISP will be under much pressure to disallow any blank or mathematically miscalculated strings coming from your firewall to him, and your computer OS simply won't function at all without that correct CSM. So if your computer does not stop you, or with much effort you bluff your way past it, then the ISP stops you. The ISP looks at the math, and your computer generates the 'math problem'. Either part of it goes wrong, and you don't get to do your spam for today. Remember, the little waxed over glued in place microchip (just touch the solder and it all falls apart in your hands) contains both the 'math problem' and its check-sum solution. I guess I am saying there has to be a partnership between computer factories and people like Microsoft on the one side and the ISPs on the other side. The ISPs would continue to do their usual stumbling blocks for spammers as well on no open relays, etc. I am suggesting much could be done to make casual spamming a very time consuming and expensive task; something that would put a large number of spammes out of business. And then Jack, your 'pass the buck along up the ladder' would also add good pressure. Plus which, some of these prima donnas with their constant whining are going to have to give in to the other side as well. I am reminded of why so little of any positive value happens in politics: everyone involved thinks that if a good thing happens the other guys will get the credit; but if something bad happens, *they* will be the ones to catch hell for it. That is the same way on the net. PAT] ------------------------------ From: AES/newspost Subject: Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service Date: Thu, 02 Sep 2004 14:13:12 -0700 In article , TELECOM Digest Editor noted in response to DevilsPGD : > I for one, cannot see why *any* user or subscriber should ever be > allowed to tamper with their own caller ID. I can. A business, an organization, even an individual has several "functions" or lines of business -- call 'em A, B and C. They want to publish 3 distinct phone numbers that they will always maintain open for *incoming* calls that concern A, B or C. (And also maybe they want regular customers or call recipients that they call *out* to be able to identify in an automated fashion whether the call they're receiving has to do with A, B or C.) But, maybe the organization has people making outgoing calls from phone lines all over the place, or from temporary setups, or calls concerning different subjects at different times. Allowing these outgoing calls to be given the appropriate Caller ID for the function A, B or C associated with the given call, no matter who makes 'em or from where, seems perfectly sensible to me. [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Can't you think of any more hypothetical examples why you must be allowed to tamper with your caller ID? I mean, that's all totally ridiculous. Tell your people to walk over to an 'A' phone or a 'B' phone or a 'C' phone and use the appropriate line for the particular business. PAT] ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service From: wolfgang+gnus20040902T142944@dailyplanet.dontspam.wsrcc.com Organization: W S Rupprecht Computer Consulting, Fremont CA Date: Thu, 02 Sep 2004 21:52:25 GMT > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: ... I for one, cannot see why *any* > user or subscriber should ever be allowed to tamper with their own > caller ID. Right now I have a few DID numbers that only get used for incoming calls. My asterisk pbx routes them to one of the three VOIP phones in the house. I also have one shared outgoing-only VOIP account with a different company that gives me a great price of 2-cents/minute. For outgoing calls through this service I set the CID information to be the DID phone number that is needed to call back the phone that is making that call. There are quite a few people that use the dialback button on their phone to try to call you. Half the folks I know seem to ignore the number you leave for them and just call back whatever showed up on CID. If phone companies weren't such Neanderthals they could RSA/MD5/etc sign a cookie corresponding to your DID numbers. They would then give you this cookie and you could pass to any switching equipment to "register" the outgoing CID you wanted to use for that call. If you didn't have a valid cookie signed by the owner of that DID allocation then the switching equipment wouldn't let you change the outgoing CID. That should be sufficient to cut down on folks spoofing numbers that didn't belong to them yet would also allow a person to use any of their phone's CID's with any of their other phones. Wolfgang S. Rupprecht http://www.wsrcc.com/wolfgang/ New toy: Voice over ip phone. Sounds much better than an analog phone. http://www.wsrcc.com/wolfgang/voip.html ------------------------------ From: Destined Subject: Re: Spreading Spam Date: Thu, 02 Sep 2004 16:04:05 -0700 Eric Friedebach wrote: > Scott Woolley, 09.01.04, Forbes.com > LOS ANGELES - This June a barrage of spam popped up in 152,000 > in-boxes. They pitched the standard stuff: One was an advertisement > for the "Top Drug Store Online," another offered mortgage refinancing, > another spy equipment for getting "the evidence on your in-laws." And, > of course, many pitched porn. But one thing made the spam unusual: It > was delivered not to regular e-mail in-boxes but via text messaging to > Verizon Wireless cell phone service. > Once an affliction confined to e-mail boxes, spam is spreading. > Besides cell phones, innovative spammers are beginning to experiment > with a technology known as voice-over-Internet Protocol, or VoIP, that > lets people send phone calls over the Internet. > http://www.forbes.com/wireless/2004/09/01/cz_sw_0901spam.html > Eric Friedebach > /Favorite OnStar commercial: crying woman drops keys in toilet/ > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: This is very depressing, isn't it ... > The ratio of spam to valid email continues to rise. Is the net (as a > whole body) now up to the 90 percent mark yet? I know I have seen > reports in the recent past setting it at about 80-85 percent of the > total volume of email; I know here at telecom-digest.org it has > floated along at about 85-90 percent for several months, especially > on weekends when valid email drops off as people take time off from > work or school, etc. A three day holiday weekend as is now approaching > will surely send the spam count sky high. PAT] I tend to get in my email boxes (Free hotmail/YAHOO/Mail.com) about the same time frame of spam ... Just wish I could figure out how to curtail it? Been thinking of using Bayesian Filtering but not sure how Effective it would with email. Now if I could find a news reader with Bayesian filter; that would be cool. Jeremy <> ------------------------------ From: John McHarry Subject: Re: Party Lines No More? Date: Fri, 03 Sep 2004 02:57:04 GMT Organization: EarthLink Inc. -- http://www.EarthLink.net Lisa Hancock wrote: > For the younger readers: Years ago installing individual copper phone > lines to each subscriber was very expensive. So subscribers shared a > line in an arrangement known as the "party line". This was particu- > larly common in rural areas where the lines had long runs. As > technology improved (such as concentrators and carrier circuits), > party lines were reduced. > Some Verizon engineers told me they doubt party lines exist anywhere > in the U.S. anymore for the following reasons: > 1) Universal Service Fee: The high expense of rural lines is subsidized > by other customers. > 2) Low cost fibre: They said they were a low cost fibre system that > could economically handle rural service. > If any lines still exist they may be from private rural cooperative > phone companies in isolated places, or from subscribers who could get > private line service but just don't bother to save a $1 a month. A number of years ago, the situation was that party lines actually cost the telco more than private lines, but they were worried that eliminating the service would result in their having to charge everyone the party line rate, instead of vice versa. New party lines were actually bridged at the CO, that being cheaper than field bridges. To discourage such subscriptions telcos kept a list of "killer little old ladies" who were used to obnox the bridged parrty into private line service. I lived in upstate NY and had a party line because it was the cheapest way to get flat rate service between home and work. I dealt with the old bitch by grounding tip for a while. Amazing what a miles long ground loop will do. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2004 00:42:53 EDT From: TELECOM Digest Editor Subject: September Share Day Instead of changing the Digest over to an advrtising supported forum, I have always elected to keep it as a user supported forum, and for the most part keep it spam and virus free. I am *only* able to do this because of financial support from readers here, and if you would rather not see these messages every month, then please pitch in and help now and then! Consider it sort of like public radio, which goes on for days at a time trying to raise money ... and maybe I should adopt the same system. Turn over the entire Digest once or twice a year to fund raising (entire issues, etc) and stop doing it when the budget for the year has been raised. But for now, I will stick with the present system of devoting a few messages at the end of each month to raising money for the Digest publication expenses. Out of 400-500 messages per month, in a spam, virus free environment, two or three (only) devoted to fund raising. You know who you are; please provide some help here financially. You can use Pay Pal to donate with a credit/debit card by going to our web site http://telecom-digest.org and at the bottom of the home page look for the PayPal 'donate' button. Or if you prefer, send a check or money order to Patrick Townson/TELECOM, Post Office Box 50, Independence, Kansas 67301-0050. The amount you send is entirely up to you. You know best how much you can afford and whether or not this Digest has any value for you. Thank you very much. Patrick Townson, Editor/Publisher TELECOM Digest ------------------------------ 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, Yahoo Groups, and other forums. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. TELECOM Digest is a not-for-profit, mostly non-commercial educational service offered to the Internet by Patrick Townson. All the contents of the Digest are compilation-copyrighted. You may reprint articles in some other media on an occasional basis, but please attribute my work and that of the original author. Contact information: Patrick Townson/TELECOM Digest Post Office Box 50 Independence, KS 67301 Phone: 620-402-0134 Fax 1: 775-255-9970 Fax 2: 530-309-7234 Fax 3: 208-692-5145 Email: editor@telecom-digest.org Subscribe: telecom-subscribe@telecom-digest.org Unsubscribe:telecom-unsubscribe@telecom-digest.org This Digest is the oldest continuing e-journal about telecomm- unications on the Internet, having been founded in August, 1981 and published continuously since then. Our archives are available for your review/research. We believe we are the oldest e-zine/mailing list on the internet in any category! URL information: http://telecom-digest.org Anonymous FTP: mirror.lcs.mit.edu/telecom-archives/archives/ (or use our mirror site: ftp.epix.net/pub/telecom-archives) Email <==> FTP: telecom-archives@telecom-digest.org Send a simple, one line note to that automated address for a help file on how to use the automatic retrieval system for archives files. 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Please make at least a single donation to cover the cost of processing your name to the mailing list. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. End of TELECOM Digest V23 #411 ****************************** From editor@telecom-digest.org Fri Sep 3 14:56:13 2004 Received: (from ptownson@localhost) by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.6p3/8.11.6) id i83IuCf00793; Fri, 3 Sep 2004 14:56:13 -0400 (EDT) Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2004 14:56:13 -0400 (EDT) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <200409031856.i83IuCf00793@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 V23 #412 TELECOM Digest Fri, 3 Sep 2004 14:55:00 EDT Volume 23 : Issue 412 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson A Competing TV Provider (Monty Solomon) Sender ID Finds Followers Ahead of Approval (Monty Solomon) Focal IVAD (Justin) Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service (Paul Timmins) Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service (Jack Decker) Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service (Hank Karl) Re: Vonage Dual Ring; was Considering VoIP For Home (charlie3) Re: Verizon Cable TV? (Neal McLain) Re: Verizon Cable TV? (Lisa Hancock) September Share Day (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 must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands against crime. Geoffrey Welsh =========================== See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2004 11:04:02 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: A Competing TV Provider It uses broadcast TV infrastructure to compete with TV stations. It's not an ISP, but its business model is unique, fascinating, and strangely familiar. by Gerry Blackwell ISPs are not the only players hoping to muscle in on the lucrative pay TV services market, and as start-up U.S. Digital Television Inc. (USDTV) has shown, delivering alternative TV services over IP networks-as inevitable as it may seem to ISPs-is not the only option. IP is an option USDTV is considering for the future, says Bret Westwood, the company's vice president of Internet services and information technology. But for now, the Utah-based company is concentrating on quite a different business and technology model. In March, USDTV launched a consumer pay TV service in Albuquerque NM, Salt Lake City, and Las Vegas, offering a package with multiple time-shifted relays of 12 popular cable TV channels for $19.95 a month. Subscribers purchase a USDTV set-top box from Wal-Mart for $99, which also pulls in free local digital broadcasts. The company is partnering with local TV stations, transmitting on their unused digital broadcast spectrum and using their transmission infrastructure. Its ambitious plan is to expand to 100-plus markets over the next three years. The stations subscribers get with the USDTV service include Disney, ESPN, Fox News, The Learning Channel (TLC), and Discovery Channel. With time-shifted transmissions and local stations, the receiver brings in close to 40 digital channels, with image and sound quality superior to analog and comparable to digital services from satellite and cable companies. Some offer high definition TV (HDTV) programming as well. The number of channels is obviously far fewer than with cable and satellite. Will USDTV add more? It might, Westwood says, but that's not really the point. http://www.isp-planet.com/business/2004/usdtv.html ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2004 11:07:31 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Sender ID Finds Followers Ahead of Approval By Jim Wagner As a new Sender ID specification for beating back spam wends its way through the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), some e-mail software vendors are not waiting around for its final approval before implementing the system. They could be taking a gamble. Or they could be acting in confidence that the IETF will eventually bless a specification that will be used on e-mail systems throughout the world. One of the contributors to the Sender ID specification, Microsoft (Quote, Chart), has patents pending on certain components of the Sender ID technology it has donated to the IETF's efforts. Microsoft has repeatedly said that -- even if it is granted a patent on the technology -- it would "make licenses available on reasonable and non-discriminatory terms." But the issue has some in the open source world talking. The drive in the business community to press ahead with Sender ID comes at a time when some in the open source community are claiming the licensing stipulations around Sender ID don't interoperate with the most popular open source license variant, the General Public License (define). In a post to the IETF's MARID (MTA Authorization Records in DNS) discussion list the chairman of the Apache Software Foundation (ASF), Greg Stein, called Microsoft's Royalty-Free Sender ID license agreement a barrier to any ASF project. http://www.internetnews.com/xSP/article.php/3402921 [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: What exactly is the problem with the Open Source proponents? That *they* did not think of it first? That Microsoft may get the credit? It is really a damn shame when these intelligent men and women fight and squabble among themselves while the rest of the world has to fight with the spammers. But oh well, most of them probably never even see spam (save one or two pieces each day which slip past the myriad of filters used by their secretary to get rid of it), and those one or two pieces which they do have to view makes them angry enough to squabble with other professionals about it, but not so angry that they would even consider for a minute getting off their own high horses in order to wade through the sewer that the net has become with the rest of us. Do most of those people even realize how tragic and awful the problem of spam has become? I don't think so, otherwise they surely would not be blocking the restoration efforts as much as they do, would they? PAT] ------------------------------ From: Overdrive79@hotmail.com (Justin) Subject: Focal IVAD Date: 3 Sep 2004 06:28:33 -0700 Is anyone using Focal IVAD service?? I know it is a sort of VOIP system, hence the ability to provide 32 voice channels and up to 1.5mbps on one T1, but does anyone know about the quality/reliability of the service. The pricing is really attractive, but I want to make sure I am not tying myself into a contract with something shoddy. I would really appreciate any information you have. Thanks, Justin ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service From: Paul Timmins Organization: Telcodata.US Date: Fri, 03 Sep 2004 07:33:58 -0400 On Thu, 2004-09-02 at 16:57, editor@telecom-digest.org wrote: > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: That's an old trick, but quite effec- > tive. Place (and enforce) the blame on the last person or entity in > the line unless *they* can push it further along. And believe me, > when push comes to shove, they *will* find someone further down > the line to hand the hot potato to. You give them one or two passes > with a firm warning there will be no further excuses allowed, then > watch how the conditions so prevalent in much of telephony get > corrected/cured in a hurry. I for one, cannot see why *any* user > or subscriber should ever be allowed to tamper with their own > caller ID. Because the place that is calling, might not be the place to accept calls. If I hire a firm in India to do all my call solicitations, I'd rather people reply back to a number in the US, wouldn't you? > Ditto with spam and virii hassles. If Microsoft, and the makers of > hardware got together and devised a nearly foolproof method of > *absolutely without question identifying every piece of equipment > out there* then spam and virus writing/spreading would come to a > screaming halt. Consider the ESN (electronic serial number) on your > cellular phone. Some one steals it, and just a phone call from you to > the carrier blacklists it forever. It will never again talk or > recieve calls, as the number propogates through the hot lists. I > don't hear anyone complaining that the propogation of their cell > phone's ESN is somehow a 'violation of privacy rights' when a cell > tower picks up the user's transmission and deals with it. Why should > anyone (except spammers of course) complain when an ISP passes > their traffic and looks at the computer 'electronic serial number' > which has been burned in the hardware, and while not totally > impossible to diddle with would frustrate most spammers totally. Unfortunately, there's more to it than that. Every device connected to the internet would need this serial number. And there'd have to be some way of not being able to spoof it, which would require some sort of PKI (because otherwise, I could just simulate the serial number in software, and pick what I want). There are several major issues: 1. The current protocol doesn't support any sort of serial number. You'd probably have to develop a whole new protocol, or admit the idea that if you put it in an RFC-1822 header, it could be spoofed by anyone who cared. 2. Everyone would have to replace all their hardware. 3. Most of the systems on the internet that don't have people at their console (like mailservers, routers, webservers, databases) don't run Microsoft software. These send the majority of email, things like notifications, alerts, etc. 4. You're implementing this in software the user can control (and anyone who has physical access to their system can control the hardware, and thus the software on it). Those that are malicious would circumvent this by either replacing the driver that reads the chips' serial number, or simply using someone else's machine, and their serial number. People's machines are already being used to relay spam without their knowledge, it'd be just one more step to include their identifier in it. And more importantly, and this is a big one: This doesn't buy us anything we don't already have. Spam CAN be tracked down to its source, and it regularly is. Grandma's computer does get its internet shut off when it's massively sending spam. But is it helping? No. The scale of the attacks are far too great, and there's always something vulnerable. The problem of the matter is that sure, you get a lot of problems from (let's just say) Comcast users. Block them. Disconnect your paths to them. If you use them, switch to someone else. If you're an ISP, cut your peering to them. Good. Hope your customers don't need to receive any business from Comcast users. So when your customers call to complain that they can't reach their website you host from their house, what are you going to tell them? Comcast told them you were blocking them. Now what? Tell them that because 2% (in other words, thousands) of Comcast's users were sending spam that you disconnected one of their hundreds of links to the internet, the link between them and you? As is often said on NANOG-L: "I wholehardedly encourage my competitors to do this." > But back to the statement at hand: I receive spam or virii and look > for the untampered with ESN of the person or place which sent it to > me. Good, I found you. You are the guilty one and your machine goes > on the hotlist. If you are in a position to buy a new computer every > week or two just to be able to continue sending out your crapola then > god bless you! Add that little economic incentive to the pressure we > put on ISPs who willfully encourage that sort of customer. PAT] This only works because the networks are closed, and operate on privately owned airwaves that it's illegal to even transmit on without the permission of the carrier. You can't build your own phones to run on their network, because at that point, you're already violating federal law. Tell people they have to buy computers that are sealed up, coated in epoxy, and unchangeable and unupgradeable from their ISPs. Then you want to violate the section of federal law where they've explictly made it a crime to possess or use "access devices" that aren't yours (18 USC Section 1029), which includes ESN/MIN pairs, SIM cards, or anything else used to restrict access to the network (this already includes passwords and credit card numbers as well, so...), and use them to impersonate someone else's phone. And you want to do this with a transmitter that betrays your current location every time it tries to work? (Any transmitter can be located, given directional recievers, and simple trigonometry -- and cell companies have equipment custom made for the purpose) So, you have a choice: Buy the cheap phone at your local supermarket and have a blast, or spend tons of time and effort to clone someone else's phone, and be charged with at least 2 felonies for each person's phone you do it with. And in the end, neither prevents you from making prank calls. And just try to track down the user of a prepaid phone. It'll never work for anyone you want to. Sure, the legit people will give proper information, but people who don't want to get caught will give false information, and even if there's an ID requirement, they'll make fake ID. Even if that's verified, for the right price paid to the right people, it can be accurate (or just take someone else's valid ID data, and change the photo). Identity thieft happens every day, so verifying the identity of a user won't help much. But the "pass the buck" strategy works so well. That's why we don't have any problems with underage drinking, underage smoking, or drug trafficing. Paul Timmins Telcodata.US [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Of course we still have problems with underage drinking, and smoking, and problems with drug trafficing. But I suggest we have *fewer* problems than we would were not some coordinated efforts made to stop those problems. If legislators were like internetters, and went into lock-mode everytime one humble suggestion or another was made to cut back on underage anything (oh we can't require ID, all the kids will make their own and anyway that would be an invasion of privacy to require things like that, and the only people it would stop would be good people who were greatly inconvenienced and anyway we could never control all those foreign country web sites which sell cigarettes and drugs and sex and you name it and with the first two at least drop ship to Americans through the mail.) As Geoffrey Welsh states it in the Digest masthead each day, "We must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands against crime." But let anyone make a humble suggestion about something *anyone* can do to make a dent here or there, and I can assure you there will be any number of netters who will jump all over the person and be glad to explain why 'it just will not work, thus and so'. Well then, have your spam- and virii-ridden net. About twenty years ago, we saw CB radio go up in flames the same way when it became useless for any type of interaction between people. At that same time, twenty years ago, when the government put tremendous heat on Motorola to quit manufacturing and selling the infamous '02-A' programmable chip for CB radios and an equal amount of pressure on Radio Shack to make their clerks quit offering to 'do the mods' for customers who bought their radio at a local RS store things did quiet down quite a bit. PAT] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 03 Sep 2004 07:42:53 -0400 From: Jack Decker Subject: Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service Pat, please conceal my e-mail address again. You wrote: > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Jack, you sound like a typical netter > with all your objections and all your reasons why a reasonably good > plan will not work so there is nothing do except sit around wringing > our hands and wait until the ratio gets as close to one hundred > percent garbage as possible. Pat, I think perhaps you don't realize that many of us don't get anywhere near the level of spam that you do. The problem you have is that you publish your e-mail address openly, you put it on your web site in a way that's easy for spam harvesters to pick it out, and you haven't changed it for years, AFAIK. So while you perceive it as a huge problem, many of us consider it a minor annoyance. Indeed, when I had my old address a few years ago, jack (my ISP).com, I had a huge problem with spam also. At one time that address had been on several web pages, and it was also my first name, which is a common first name, making it vulnerable to a dictionary attack. I've taken steps to limit the ways in which spammers can get my e-mail address (including using a primary address that would never be found in anyone's dictionary!) and it has helped tremendously. > I will suggest if people can use home brew computers to get on the > net, why can't people quit paying for cell phone service entirely > and work entirely from home brew cell phones. Unfortunately that's not how computers have evolved. Cell phones have always been a standalone unit, designed to conceal their "guts" from the user. Computers, on the other hand, started out as something that the home hobbyist almost had to assemble from parts and gradually evolved into the sort of "appliance" computer we see today. Also, bear in mind that computers are not designed from the outset to be used with a "pay" service. That is one thing they CAN do, but there are also many computers used in "standalone" applications that never connect to the 'net. > Ah, but you say without a valid ESN their home brew or other- > wise cell phone won't get out. Every tower in the world will stop > them dead in their tracks. And people can jerry rig all the cellphones > they want, but that magic ESN is embedded in a bit of glue buried on > the mother board somewhere, burned in at the factory and no one but > a damned fool or a masochist would try to swap it out. Ah ... right! > So a result, only damned fools and masochists try to swap out ESNs > and still expect the phone to work. Ergo, while fraud with stolen > cell phones *does* exist, its a relatively minor problem. Hackers, > etc do tamper with cellphone software, the telephone numbers assigned > to cell phones, etc, but as a worst case scenario, when cellco has > had enough fraud that particular unit becomes useless. The tower is > told just do not accept anything more from that ESN regardless. At > that point, you the fraudster have a choice of tossing the phone or > attempting (if you have the experience) to change the burned in ESN > or selling or paying someone else to do it for you. In any event, it > costs you money and slows you down. True. But again, we're dealing with a product that was designed from the outset to be used with a pay service. Until about the mid 1990's, IF you could connect to the Internet at all it was probably a "free" connection, by which I mean you were probably not using a commercial ISP. Then just prior to the burst of the "dot-com" bubble there were again ISP's that offered their services for free (sometimes in exchange for exposing you to various forms of advertising). And also, what you pay for is "Internet access", not "e-mail". Nobody has charges for e-mail as a separate item, and I doubt they ever will because the first company that tries it will suffer a massive loss of customer fleeing to competitive providers that don't charge. > Now let us assume the computer factory (Apple or whoever) embeds a > little chip on the mother board somewhere and buries it in wax and > glue, making it almost impossible to get out or replace, much as cell > phones are constructed. Yes, a damn fool or a masochist *probably could > get it out, (maybe the same guys who do it with cell phones) and to > the average user, the end result would be a busted up, shorted out > mother board. If a computer hardware person took the whole computer > apart and looked at the mother board, they would see that ugly looking > waxed up glued over little chip. Now what kind of a number would be > burned into that little chip, its CSN or 'computer serial number'? I > suggest something like Microsoft has done with the latest version of > XP. The number would be a mathematical formula constructed on the > various parts of the computer: two hard drives, one floppy, some type > or another of monitor, mouse, keyboard, etc. In other words, the > factory sells you an OEM, with all the above parts, and burns that > number combination in the chip. But who would *buy* such a motherboard? Perhaps you envision that the government would force these upon us? Well, bear in mind that existing motherboards would not have this chip, and all the spammers would have to do is lay in a supply of non-chipped motherboards, which would probably continue to be available for a very long time. > But you say you built your own computer with a hard drive here, a > floppy from there, an old TV set for a monitor, a mouse you got from > Best Buy and a camera you bought at Walmart. Motorola cell phones had > an answer for that also. The end user was permitted to reprogram a > few variables *three times only* before it would lock up entirely, > and (in theory at least) the unit had to go back to the factory or > an authorized dealer for a reset, which involved some hardware to > be attached. Not impossible, just a pain in the butt for guys. Yeah, a real pain in the butt if the motherboard comes from some manufacturer in Korea or China or someplace like that, and doesn't have a presence in the U.S. But in any case, what makes you think that any self-respecting spammer (now that should be an oxymoron!) would not have an "authorized dealer" on his payroll. I don't think this would be anywhere near the pain in the butt *for the spammer* that you make it out to be, but it would sure as heck inconvenience regular computer users who never buy completely new systems, but instead simply upgrade parts as they get out of date or wear out. > Now here is here Microsoft or Linux or Apple or whichever software > maker whose operating system you plan to install in your home brew > computer enters the picture: You put in your copy of XP or Linux or > whatever. Just as the OS now demands you insert an *accurate* > rendering of your 'product key' based on its own on the fly > calculation of your system (remember how if the system is 'changed > substantially' Microsoft demands it to be re-registered), the > operating system -- and operating system only -- would rewrite or > burn that little waxed over, glued on little chip a second time, > or even a third time, or hell, to be generous if you wish, a fourth > time, then it locks up. No more re-writes short of hauling the entire > thing back to an 'authorized dealer' ..... Whom the spammer would have in his back pocket ..... > who attaches his little odd cable somewhere and 'zeros out' the > counter -- not writes in the number, which the operating system > calculates based on peripherals, etc -- just zeros it out so you can > start over. Do you truly think the Linux community would go along with this? Cracking this scheme would become the new "holy grail" for every hacker out there. And the "little odd cable"? Available on eBay for $4.95 plus shipping. I'm serious about that, I've seen it happen. One of the video game manufacturers decided that they didn't like people buying just anyone's hard drives and installing them in their system (to increase storage capacity), so they came out with a hard drive that used oddball connectors. That apparently spawned a cottage industry of people selling less expensive hard drives that had been modified to have the "oddball" connectors. > No one knows how the OS calculates those number, no one except > Microsoft (as in XP) or the factory as in an OEM shipped out for > the first time. It just happens is all. Well, someone has to know. If necessary someone will set up a distributed computing project to figure it out. I don't think you appreciate that it's not the spammers that would hate this scheme -they will simply do whatever it takes, including having the so-called "authorized dealer" on their payroll. The people who will really hate this scheme are the people who like to tinker with their computers. Most of those people currently use Linux as their OS, which is why I say that I expect that the Linux community will be especially uncooperative. So, you might say, pass a law that they have to support it? They will laugh heartily as all the distros become available only on servers outside the U.S. Remember, ANYTHING that depends on legislation to make it work cannot work if the scheme can be thwarted simply by downloading software from outside the U.S. (or wherever this scheme is implemented). Further, it will do nothing to stop the spam that originates on servers outside the U.S. > The final one or two digits > in the CSM would be mathematical proof on the remainder of the CSM > which was generated by the OS or the factory based on your equipment > and perhaps part of your usual IP address. In other words an extremely > complex arrangement of letters and numbers. If you attempted to bluff > your way past your own firewall it would be very unlikely you could > get the check digits correct even if you did figure out how the OS > looked at your peripherals. > So you say you will just look for that string at your firewall and > omit it entirely ... uh, uh ... or you will just substitute a new > string of alphanumerics... uh, uh ... the ISP will be under much > pressure to disallow any blank or mathematically miscalculated strings > coming from your firewall to him, and your computer OS simply won't > function at all without that correct CSM. So if your computer does > not stop you, or with much effort you bluff your way past it, then > the ISP stops you. The ISP looks at the math, and your computer > generates the 'math problem'. If every ISP has to have the software to decode this, I give it 24 hours to fall into the hands of the hackers, who will then simply apply "brute force" methods to find acceptable keys (assuming that they can't immediately back-engineer the system). But also, WHY would any sane ISP implement this? They would only drive away business from people using older computers that don't support this scheme. The only pressure would be economic - the fear of losing customers - and that pressure would be very much against supporting anything like this. > Either part of it goes wrong, and you > don't get to do your spam for today. Remember, the little waxed over > glued in place microchip (just touch the solder and it all falls > apart in your hands) contains both the 'math problem' and its > check-sum solution. I guess I am saying there has to be a partnership > between computer factories and people like Microsoft on the one side > and the ISPs on the other side. Bingo. What is the incentive for such a partnership to happen, considering that many end users won't want to touch this with a ten-foot pole, especially since it will seem too "big brotherish" to many people? > The ISPs would continue to do their usual stumbling blocks for > spammers as well on no open relays, etc. > I am suggesting much could be done to make casual spamming a very > time consuming and expensive task; something that would put a large > number of spammers out of business. For the reasons I have given above, I really doubt this. Remember, the spammers have a profit motive to bypass this scheme as easily and quickly as they can, and the people who like to tinker with the guts of their computers are going to hate this and will undoubtedly find ways to spread enough FUD among the rest of us to make us not want it either. Also, one of the biqgest problems we have right now is "spam friendly" ISP's, particularly those outside the U.S., who will accept e-mail from the spammers with no questions asked (as long as the bills are paid). Those ISP's will not cooperate, they will simply ignore your checksum or whatever. You might say that other ISP's would not accept mail from such ISP's, but today we often know which ISP's are spam-friendly (at least the people who track the source of spam do) and yet most ISP's will not block e-mail coming in from those ISP's, because legitimate mail might get refused or thrown out (I'm okay with that, but a lot of other people aren't). > And then Jack, your 'pass the buck > along up the ladder' would also add good pressure. Plus which, some of > these prima donnas with their constant whining are going to have to > give in to the other side as well. I am reminded of why so little of > any positive value happens in politics: everyone involved thinks that > if a good thing happens the other guys will get the credit; but if > something bad happens, *they* will be the ones to catch hell for it. > That is the same way on the net. PAT] The problem you have is that you have to get a bunch of disparate interests, many of whom couldn't agree on what color is the sky, to come together to make this scheme work . Sure, you might get (for example) Microsoft and Dell Computers and Earthlink to all agree to support this. So the spammer simply uses Linux, or a no-name computer, or another ISP (it wouldn't surprise me if some spammers start up their own ISP if necessary). The only ones who really get inconvenienced are the people who don't spam, but who do make frequent changes in their systems. Jack [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I covered your mantra pretty well earlier in this issue so won't go into it again. "It won't work, it isn't perfect, there are loopholes, *I didn't think of it first*". And yes, Jack, I -DO- get huge amounts of spam, hourly. Sometimes when I check mail the index shows me where several pieces of spam arrived in the same one minute period. When I get ready to release this issue of the Digest in a few minutes, I go back as always and review the spam bucket just before I flush it; there will be a few dozen new spams waiting there. And no, I will not change my email address. I voluntarily choose to wade around in my hip-boots through this cesspool called the net since I like trying to help people with telecom questions. And I do appreciate every little thing that some insignificant netizen does to make my work easier. For example, for a few months I had been seeing daily, almost hourly defacing of the Archives by spammers and virus writers who were emailing a 'secret address' allegedly used only by myself internally to move files around in the Archives by email. Sometimes in zapping it out, more would show up even before the first batch had been totally cleaned out. Then one day recently, that attack on the archives ended. The spam just quit reaching me. (fingers crossed, hoping I am not speaking too soon). I *think* the sysadmin here at csail.mit.edu did some diddling of his own to protect me! No Jack, I am not going to change my address or try to hide myself. I know how frustrated new users can become attempting to find someone who can help them here at times. I was a new user once myself. PAT] ------------------------------ From: Hank Karl Subject: Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service Date: Fri, 03 Sep 2004 10:48:43 -0400 Organization: NETPLEX Internet Services - http://www.ntplx.net/ > Allowing these outgoing calls to be given the appropriate Caller ID for > the function A, B or C associated with the given call, no matter who > makes 'em or from where, seems perfectly sensible to me. > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Can't you think of any more hypothetical > examples why you must be allowed to tamper with your caller ID? I > mean, that's all totally ridiculous. Tell your people to walk over to > an 'A' phone or a 'B' phone or a 'C' phone and use the appropriate > line for the particular business. PAT] Pat, this is not hypothetical with me. I represent four companies, and have only one phone line. There are a number of "reps" out there who represent more than one company. Some will try and establish their own company identity, others work as part of the company they represent (like a consultant). So the above example is by no means hypothetical. Also, calling name may be considered to be a part of caller id. A company may desire: 1. The president's line gives the president's name, but the president's secretary's number. Or the calling name can be the person's title (but this pretentious). 2. Sales personnel's lines may give the company name but a direct number to the sales person. 3. Tech support lines may give the department name and a general department number (or an "800" type number"). For example, you may not recognize the name or number of someone calling from India, but you would recognize "Dell Support" and an 800 number. 4. Some employees would have a number that gives their name and DID number. Others would have a line that gives the company name and switchboard number. 5. Remote sales personnel (or employees who travel a lot) may supply an 800 number that is the company's PBX, which forwards the calls to them via VoIP or cellphone. 6. The company's billing name may not be the name they are commonly known by. Or the company may want to use a brand name in the outgoing calls. For example, calls from a General Motor's site may supply calling name as "Chevrolet". IANL, but I've read the Telemarketing Sales Rule guide put out by the FTC (or FCC). This is the legislation that implemented the national do not call list. They say that the caller-id does not have to be the ID of the actual line, but the number supplied does have to be answered by a human who can put you on the organization's do-not-call list. This makes a lot of sense if you consider that many calls are made from outgoing-only T1 lines. ------------------------------ From: charlie@cdsdetroit.com (charlie3) Subject: Re: Vonage Dual Ring, was Considering VoIP For Home Date: 3 Sep 2004 07:53:38 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com Your script that sends an instant message to your cell phone sounds good. Any possibility you would post how that's done here? It sounds like something Vonage should create for it's customers. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 03 Sep 2004 05:34:48 -0500 From: Neal McLain Subject: Re: Verizon Cable TV? Lisa Hancock (hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com) wrote: > Regarding the comment about high construction costs -- our > cable company was able to quickly replace its coax with fibre > system wide without too much trouble. It ran into some > neighbor objections by placing large junction boxes in unwanted > locations -- it easily could've worked with the community (it > did with us) for better locations. I assume you're referring to my comment at Paragraph 2 in TD V23#394 . Did your cable company really replace its coax "system wide" with fiber? If so, it built an FTTP network just like Verizon is building. I think it's far more likely that your cable company added fiber only where it was necessary to connect those "large junction boxes" to its headend. This is the way most HFC (hybrid fiber-coax) networks are built these days; furthermore, it's consistent with your own statement in V23#404 : "... cable uses fibre to the neighborhood only, then coax to the house (which is how cable serves my area)." I suspect that most -- if not all -- of the cable company's new fiber was placed overhead, rather than underground. Underground utility lines in residential neighborhoods are usually connected to overhead utility lines running on polelines along main roads. This topology is typical of electric power and telephone networks as well as cable TV. When a cable TV company converts an all-coax network to HFC, it doesn't replace the existing coax; it just adds fiber to "nodes" in the existing coax plant, and feeds individual neighborhoods using the existing coax in those neighborhoods. It's a fairly simple matter to add ("overlash") fiber to existing overhead coax plant running along main roads. By judicious design, the company can often figure out a way overlash all of the fiber to existing overhead coax, and avoid putting any of it underground. For an illustration of how a fiber cable can be overlashed to existing coax cables, see . By contrast, a cable (or telco) company building an FTTP network must install fiber to every home, including homes in neighborhoods with underground facilities. And that's where the big costs come in. Lisa continued (discussing programming license fees): > Would there be any resource to look at the wholesale costs of > various cable shows? I'm curious as to what things like Nick, > TV Land, A&E, Hist, VH1, MTV, Family, Disney, CNN, FoxNews, etc > cost. Not that I know of. Wholesale pricing information is a closely- guarded secret; indeed, a cable (or satellite) company usually has to sign an NDA before it even gets to see a sample contract. Larger cable and satellite companies typically get better prices, based on their bulk purchases. Several years ago, several small cable companies banded together to form the National Cable Television Cooperative (NCTC) in an attempt to negotiate bulk pricing for member companies. At the outset, it had good success negotiating group health insurance and equipment purchases, but it took quite some time to get the programmers to cooperate. I'm not sure where things stand today (I retired three years ago, so I've lost contact with NCTC). > A lot of these [cable networks] are owned by the same company. Indeed. Columbia Journalism Review's "Who Owns What" site lists properties owned by most of the major media companies. > I'm also troubled by high wholesale costs because all of these > channels liberally include commercials. > What about TCM (Turner Classic Movies)? They're commercial free. Well, that's the way the business operates. Most cable/satellite programmers fund their operations through two revenue streams: advertising and license fees. It's the same business model used by most magazines and newspapers. The compelling force behind this model isn't just the sum of two revenue streams; it's the way in which the two streams reinforce each other: - Revenue from consumers increases the value of the advertising. There's an old advertising-industry adage that goes something like this: advertising in a medium that the viewer/reader pays for is worth more (to an advertiser) than advertising in a free medium. - More valuable advertising provides more revenue to the programmer, which funds more/better programming, which increases the value of the programming to the consumer. Of course there are exceptions. Commercial broadcast stations are 100% advertising-supported. Shopping channels are 100% funded from product sales; indeed, they even pay commissions to the cable/satellite/broadcast companies that carry them. At the other end of the scale, several cable and satellite program services are completely (or mostly) commercial-free: - TCM is 100% supported by license fees. This was a business decision that Turner Broadcasting made when it launched TCM. - Digital music services (DMX Music and Music Choice) are 100% supported by licensee fees. Again, these were business decisions made by the respective programmers. - So-called "premium channels" (HBO, Showtime, Starz!, and all of their related spinoffs) are 100% supported by special separate-line-item license fees. The original HBO has been fee-supported since the early 1970s, when it was distributed throughout northeastern states by terrestrial microwave. This model proved to be so successful that its owner (Time, Inc.) decided to distribute it by communications satellite to reach a national audience; thus, in 1975, HBO became the first cable TV channel to be distributed by satellite. - C-SPAN and its siblings are mostly supported by license fees, although they get some foundation support. - NASA-TV is funded from NASA's budget. - The Pentagon Channel is funded by the Department of Defense. - PBSYOU is funded by CPB, the Annenberg Foundation, and PBS. - Religious channels and WORLDLINK TV are funded by direct contributions from viewers. - Classic Arts Showcase is funded by The Lloyd E. Rigler - Lawrence E. Deutsch Foundation. - RFD-TV is partially funded by advertising, but it also relies on viewer memberships ($30/year, including a program guide and a baseball cap). Study this list, and you'll notice that there are very few commercial-free video channels that rely exclusively on license fees. Most of them receive additional support from other sources: separate-line-item fees, viewer contributions, taxpayers, or foundations. I trust this explains why the majority of the channels you receive from your cable company are funded by that dual-revenue stream. Neal McLain nmclain@annsgarden.com ------------------------------ From: hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com (Lisa Hancock) Subject: Re: Verizon Cable TV? Date: 3 Sep 2004 06:55:30 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com Isaiah Beard wrote: > I suppose it depends on region. Here in central NJ, the story is very > different. Dial tone has been slow in many instances, and last years' > northeast blackout took out phone service with it (apparently their > battery setup at the central office was not operational when the > blackout hit, and neither local nor LD calls could not route even for > a few hours after power was restored; cell phone service actually was > MORE reliable than wireline during that period). I thought last year's blackout only hit northern NJ and towns near the NY border, otherwise most of the state was ok. I don't recall reading that phone central offices were out, normally their battery backups and diesels are reliable (they are tested regularly). Actually, I don't think telephone service runs off A/C at all but always from the battery, A/C charges the battery. So, if commercial power dies the battery will keep service running for a while. > The last straw was when somehow, my local calling area shrunk to > about half what it used to be, and suddenly calls that used to be > local (including my cell phone which was provisioned in the same > city, the number to which hasn't changed in over seven years) all of > a sudden weren't. That also surprises me, in my region of the country Verizon has been _expanding_ local calling areas, not reducing them. We think it's just easier for them to make the calls free rather than timeclock then and bill 4c phone calls. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2004 00:42:53 EDT From: TELECOM Digest Editor Subject: September Share Day Instead of changing the Digest over to an advrtising supported forum, I have always elected to keep it as a user supported forum, and for the most part keep it spam and virus free. I am *only* able to do this because of financial support from readers here, and if you would rather not see these messages every month, then please pitch in and help now and then! Consider it sort of like public radio, which goes on for days at a time trying to raise money ... and maybe I should adopt the same system. Turn over the entire Digest once or twice a year to fund raising (entire issues, etc) and stop doing it when the budget for the year has been raised. But for now, I will stick with the present system of devoting a few messages at the end of each month to raising money for the Digest publication expenses. Out of 400-500 messages per month, in a spam, virus free environment, two or three (only) devoted to fund raising. You know who you are; please provide some help here financially. You can use Pay Pal to donate with a credit/debit card by going to our web site http://telecom-digest.org and at the bottom of the home page look for the PayPal 'donate' button. Or if you prefer, send a check or money order to Patrick Townson/TELECOM, Post Office Box 50, Independence, Kansas 67301-0050. The amount you send is entirely up to you. You know best how much you can afford and whether or not this Digest has any value for you. Thank you very much. Patrick Townson, Editor/Publisher TELECOM Digest ------------------------------ 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, Yahoo Groups, and other forums. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. TELECOM Digest is a not-for-profit, mostly non-commercial educational service offered to the Internet by Patrick Townson. All the contents of the Digest are compilation-copyrighted. You may reprint articles in some other media on an occasional basis, but please attribute my work and that of the original author. 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Please contact Jay Boyington for additional information at 405-744-9000, mstm-osu@okstate.edu, or visit the MSTM web site at http://www.mstm.okstate.edu ****************************** End of TELECOM Digest V23 #412 ****************************** From editor@telecom-digest.org Sat Sep 4 00:45:23 2004 Received: (from ptownson@localhost) by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.6p3/8.11.6) id i844jN404624; Sat, 4 Sep 2004 00:45:23 -0400 (EDT) Date: Sat, 4 Sep 2004 00:45:23 -0400 (EDT) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <200409040445.i844jN404624@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 V23 #413 TELECOM Digest Sat, 4 Sep 2004 00:45:00 EDT Volume 23 : Issue 413 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson My New DVR From Cable One (TELECOM Digest Editor) Cordless Phones Not Working on Working Phone Line (doggie-bert) Solzano Rides Again! (A. Reader) Telephone Vocabulary -- "Straight Line" (Steve Kl.) Re: Sender ID Finds Followers Ahead of Approval (Fred Goldstein) Re: Vonage Dual Ring, was Considering VoIP For Home (John Levine) Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service (Steve Sobol) Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service (T. Sean Weintz) September Share Day (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. =========================== Addresses herein are not to be added to any mailing list, nor to be sold or given away without explicit written consent. Chain letters, viruses, porn, spam, and miscellaneous junk are definitely unwelcome. We must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands against crime. Geoffrey Welsh =========================== See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 4 Sep 2004 00:07:43 EDT From: TELECOM Digest Editor Subject: My New DVR From Cable One Friday afternoon I went downtown to pay some bills and one place I stopped at was the CableOne office on Penn Street. CableOne is where I get my internet service and my cable television/radio. I get a monthly package through them called 'Digital Internet' which costs about $95 per month and includes half a T-1 for internet, a 'cable modem' and a couple hundred channels of television; the package also includes 38 channels of non-commercial radio, including a couple channnels of classical music. I almost never watch television; I was more inter- ested in having fast cable internet around. Also, quite coincidentally the cable carries 89.5 FM (NPR from Tulsa) and 89.9 FM (NPR from Pittsburg, KS) and those two services on the cable (totally free) offer me all the classical music I want, including channel 938 on the cable itself which is non-commercial uninteruppted classical music all the time. So I got downtown to pay today and the lady takes my money then brings me a large box, and says "this is your new converter unit, I will have my husband bring it out to your house this afternoon and remove your old converter and swap this one in its place." After she assured me it would *not* affect my bill at all, she explained it was their 'new style converter unit' which is actually a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) combined with all the features which had earlier been on the box. This new converter unit looks exactly like the old one, but it includes an 80 gig hard drive, and the ability to record shows as you watch them, or record one show as you watch another, or watch 'live television' but stop it for a few minutes to go the bathroom or get a phone call, etc. By the time I got home in the cab, the guy from CableOne was sitting in front of my door with the unit. Its about the size of a standalone VCR player, and weighs five to ten pounds. It plugs in the cable line exactly as the older unit did with the same outputs to television and radio or other speakers. I called back to the office to be certain I had the facts correct, that there was no additional charge. She confirmed for me this is now the 'standard converter unit' being given out to customers who have 'Digital Internet' service here in Independence. The last thing in the world I need is a Digital Video Recorder/Cable Converter but since I got it free I am not going to refuse it. Totally tapeless, it can store several hours of programs in its memory, has the ability to speed past commercial messages in a second or two, etc. Really, not a bad deal for their 'standard converter box'. PAT ------------------------------ From: dreisc@gmail.com (doggie-bert) Subject: Cordless Phones Not Working on Working Phone Line Date: 3 Sep 2004 20:43:26 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com 2 days ago both of the cordless phones in my apartment stopped working. Thinking that the phones had died we went out and bought a new cordless phone, but this new phone also isn't working. I've tried every phone jack in the house and corded phones work fine as well as the new answering machine. My DSL is also working fine. All 3 of the phones are 900 Mhz, so it could be something interfering with the signal, but I don't know what. Anyone out there have any ideas? ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 03 Sep 2004 20:47:56 -0400 From: A. Reader Subject: Solzano Rides Again! NOT FOR PUBLICATION under my e-mail address, but you may wish to pass these along to Digest readers if no one else sends them in (I'll bet someone will, though): Norvergence Money Trail Brothers already planning new startup http://www.broadbandreports.com/shownews/53552 The Matrix unraveled How two wrecked telecom companies have put lessors and small businesses on the hook for $300 million. http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5907255/ [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I guess this time the Solzano brothers have the money to do it right. At least one would hope so. PAT] ------------------------------ From: stevekl@panix.com (Steve Kl.) Subject: Telephone Vocabulary -- "Straight Line" Date: 3 Sep 2004 18:53:47 -0400 Organization: PANIX -- Public Access Networks Corp. I have posted here from time to time over the past many years and have occasionally asked questions relating to my field -- lexicography. One of my colleagues, Joan Hall, editor of the Dictionary of American Regional English knows I have an interest in telephone history, and asked me the following question: > Do you know the term "straight line," used to mean a direct telephone > line rather than a party line? And do you have any ideas where we might > find citations with the term? (My family had a party line when I grew up; however, as far as I recall, the opposite of a party line was a "private line") Anyhow, if you are aware of the term "straight line" in this use, please drop me an email, and include what part of the country you were in when you used this term and your age. Additionally, if any of you own any old phone books or other telecommunications materials that use this phrase that DARE can cite as written evidence, please let me know what the name of the publication is. I'll pass it on to DARE, and they can contact you if they need further information. (For information on the Dictionary of American Regional English, see http://polyglot.lss.wisc.edu/dare/dare.html ) Thank you! Steve Kleinedler Senior Editor American Heritage Dictionary -- Steve Kl. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 03 Sep 2004 16:18:31 -0400 From: Fred Goldstein Subject: Re: Sender ID Finds Followers Ahead of Approval In V23 I412, Pat wrote: > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: What exactly is the problem with the > Open Source proponents? That *they* did not think of it first? That > Microsoft may get the credit? It is really a damn shame when these > intelligent men and women fight and squabble among themselves while > the rest of the world has to fight with the spammers. But oh well, > most of them probably never even see spam (save one or two pieces > each day which slip past the myriad of filters used by their > secretary to get rid of it), and those one or two pieces which they > do have to view makes them angry enough to squabble with other > professionals about it, but not so angry that they would even > consider for a minute getting off their own high horses in order > to wade through the sewer that the net has become with the rest of > us. Do most of those people even realize how tragic and awful the > problem of spam has become? I don't think so, otherwise they surely > would not be blocking the restoration efforts as much as they do, > would they? PAT] Pat, you totally miss the point! The open source people get spammed at least as much as everyone else, and want to do something about it. But Microsoft is claiming a patent on a little piece of it -- probably not valid, btw, due to prior art, but that hasn't been adjudicated yet, and that piece of the protocol probably could be removed without loss of capability, but for an agreement with Microsoft to use it -- and therefore is dictating its own terms for a license. Their terms are, by design, incompatible with any open source project. Most Internet email transport is open source! Some is under Berkeley-style license, some GPL, some under other licenses. But the Microsoft terms forbid redistribution of the source code as part of an open source system. It's a proprietary software license, merely given at a zero license fee to licensees who agree (one by one, no sharing or passing it along) to work with Microsoft. That's not how open source works. Microsoft knows this. Maybe some imbecile there thinks that the Internet will migrate all ISP email to massive Exchange servers. That will happen some time after George W Bush goes on pilgrimage to Mecca. Another interesting study, from CipherTrust, has just shown that the primary users of Sender Policy Framework are (drumroll, please) -- Spammers! Yes, it's trivial for a spammer to pass an SPF screen. So the main potential benefit is, I suppose, making phishing a bit harder or easier for educated users to detect. But as an anti-spam weapon, it's nearly worthless. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/09/03/email_authentication_spam/ ------------------------------ Date: 3 Sep 2004 22:45:02 -0000 From: John Levine Subject: Re: Vonage Dual Ring, was Considering VoIP For Home Organization: I.E.C.C., Trumansburg NY USA > Your script that sends an instant message to your cell phone sounds > good. Any possibility you would post how that's done here? It sounds > like something Vonage should create for it's customers. My mail system is qmail running on a Unix box, so it sends the voicemail to a unique address where the .qmail file runs a little perl script that picks out the interesting bits and remails them to the cell phone: ------ #!/usr/bin/perl while(<>) { $from = $1 if /From: *(.*)/; $date = $1 if /Date: *(.*)/; } if ($from =~ /\((.*)\)/) { $num = $1; } else { $num = "someone"; } open(MSG, "| new-inject 000000000\@mobile.mycingular.com johnl"); print MSG <<"EOF"; From: my voicemail address To: 0000000000\@mobile.mycingular.com Subject: vm $num $from $date EOF close MSG; John R. Levine, IECC, POB 727, Trumansburg NY 14886 +1 607 330 5711 johnl@iecc.com, Mayor, http://johnlevine.com, Member, Provisional board, Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial E-mail ------------------------------ From: Steve Sobol Subject: Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service Date: Fri, 03 Sep 2004 10:56:47 -0700 Organization: Glorb Internet Services, http://www.glorb.com Pat wrote: > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Can't you think of any more hypothetical > examples why you must be allowed to tamper with your caller ID? I > mean, that's all totally ridiculous. Tell your people to walk over to > an 'A' phone or a 'B' phone or a 'C' phone and use the appropriate > line for the particular business. PAT] That's a huge oversimplification. If you're behind a PBX you may get whichever line is open no matter which phone you're at. I have no problem with spoofing caller-ID as long as you're sending a phone number over which you have control, where people can reach you. In other words, if a business has 555-1214 through 555-1217 but their main, advertised incoming number is 555-1214, I can't see any issues with setting that as the caller ID. Real-life example: if I call you over a VoIP line, it will be set up so that you get my toll-free number over caller ID. It's not the main number associated with the line, but it's a real number and you can use it to call me back. I have incoming calls pass 888-480-4638 as the caller ID too; that 888 number forwards calls to my cell phone, the tollfree number comes through on CID and I have a distinctive ringtone set up for the calls so I know immediately when people are calling me on that number. (Unless I have the phone on vibrate, of course, but then I just open the flip and look at the CID on the display.) JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services, http://JustThe.net/ Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) / sjsobol@JustThe.net PGP Key available from your friendly local key server (0xE3AE35ED) Apple Valley, California Nothing scares me anymore. I have three kids. ------------------------------ From: T. Sean Weintz Subject: Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service Date: Fri, 03 Sep 2004 15:40:03 -0400 Organization: Posted via Supernews, http://www.supernews.com Hank Karl wrote: >> Allowing these outgoing calls to be given the appropriate Caller ID for >> the function A, B or C associated with the given call, no matter who >> makes 'em or from where, seems perfectly sensible to me. >> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Can't you think of any more hypothetical >> examples why you must be allowed to tamper with your caller ID? I >> mean, that's all totally ridiculous. Tell your people to walk over to >> an 'A' phone or a 'B' phone or a 'C' phone and use the appropriate >> line for the particular business. PAT] > Pat, this is not hypothetical with me. I represent four companies, > and have only one phone line. There are a number of "reps" out there > who represent more than one company. Some will try and establish > their own company identity, others work as part of the company they > represent (like a consultant). So the above example is by no means > hypothetical. Not hypothetical to me, either. Here at work I have two PRI lines set up in a hunt group with about 60 or so DID's. Most of the DID's go to specific extension. Many of our clients are mentally challenged to say the least -- they can't remember the correct number to call back on, but they CAN read the number oiff a caller ID box. Now, what do I do if I want the caller ID for an extension to show the DID for that extension instead of the main number for the PRI hunt group? I set our PBX switch to transmit the did number for that extension, of course! Not having the ability to do that would seriously cripple us! ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2004 00:42:53 EDT From: TELECOM Digest Editor Subject: September Share Day Instead of changing the Digest over to an advrtising supported forum, I have always elected to keep it as a user supported forum, and for the most part keep it spam and virus free. I am *only* able to do this because of financial support from readers here, and if you would rather not see these messages every month, then please pitch in and help now and then! Consider it sort of like public radio, which goes on for days at a time trying to raise money ... and maybe I should adopt the same system. Turn over the entire Digest once or twice a year to fund raising (entire issues, etc) and stop doing it when the budget for the year has been raised. But for now, I will stick with the present system of devoting a few messages at the end of each month to raising money for the Digest publication expenses. Out of 400-500 messages per month, in a spam, virus free environment, two or three (only) devoted to fund raising. You know who you are; please provide some help here financially. You can use Pay Pal to donate with a credit/debit card by going to our web site http://telecom-digest.org and at the bottom of the home page look for the PayPal 'donate' button. 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Please request a free catalog today at http://www.sandman.com --------------------------------------------------------------- Finally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such as yourself who provide funding in amounts deemed appropriate. Your help is important and appreciated. A suggested donation of fifty dollars per year per reader is considered appropriate. See our address above. Please make at least a single donation to cover the cost of processing your name to the mailing list. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. End of TELECOM Digest V23 #413 ****************************** From editor@telecom-digest.org Sat Sep 4 21:58:13 2004 Received: (from ptownson@localhost) by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.6p3/8.11.6) id i851wCp13577; Sat, 4 Sep 2004 21:58:13 -0400 (EDT) Date: Sat, 4 Sep 2004 21:58:13 -0400 (EDT) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <200409050158.i851wCp13577@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 V23 #414 TELECOM Digest Sat, 4 Sep 2004 21:57:00 EDT Volume 23 : Issue 414 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson The Soft Invasion (Monty Solomon) Watching TV on Your Cellphone (Monty Solomon) Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service (Monty Solomon) Citing Threats, Entrepreneur Wants to Quit Caller ID Venture (M Solomon) Is Portable Video Ready for Its Close-Up? (Monty Solomon) Protecting Your Files When a Password Isn't Enough (Monty Solomon) Cellphones in Flight Face Technical and Social Hurdles (Monty Solomon) Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service (DevilsPGD) C-SPAN to Air Badnarik/Cobb Debate (Patrick Townson) Re: Sender ID Finds Followers Ahead of Approval (Robert Bonomi) Re: Telephone Vocabulary -- "Straight Line" (Carl Navarro) Re: Telephone Vocabulary -- "Straight Line" (Tim@Backhome.org) 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. =========================== Addresses herein are not to be added to any mailing list, nor to be sold or given away without explicit written consent. Chain letters, viruses, porn, spam, and miscellaneous junk are definitely unwelcome. We must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands against crime. Geoffrey Welsh =========================== See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 4 Sep 2004 13:22:35 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: The Soft Invasion By WALTER S. MOSSBERG WHAT IF A private company could legally break into your house and rig your television so that it would always start up on a special station the company had created that showed deceptive ads every minute, all day? And what if, when you tried to change the station, you could choose only among obscure and dubious channels selected by the invading company? Oh, and suppose that same sleazy company could erect billboards for phony medical cures and get-rich-quick schemes on your lawn anytime, without your permission? And suppose it could also make a record of everything you said or did in your house and sell it to other companies? You'd be more than angry. You'd be lobbying for jail time for these guys. But something similar happens every day on the personal computers of tens of millions of people. It's offensive but legal, and it's driving its victims crazy. This phenomenon is called spyware, or adware, and it is rapidly replacing viruses and spam as the No. 1 hassle associated with using an Internet-connected computer. Spyware is a type of software placed surreptitiously on a Windows PC, often by means of a file, downloaded from a Web site, that is either invisible or is disguised as a legitimate file. Once on your PC, spyware can do many nefarious things. Unlike a virus, it rarely tries to destroy files or propagate itself through e-mail. Instead, it tries to seize control of key aspects of your machine and turn them into conduits for selling you junk, or for gathering information that can help others do so. There are many forms of spyware, but the big four, which correspond to the household examples above, are: http://ptech.wsj.com/archive/report-200408.html [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: The two forms of protection I use against spies are 'Ad-Aware' and 'Spybot: Seek and Destroy'. Of course I also use AVG for virus protection. All three of these items are free on the web and highly effective. PAT] ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Sep 2004 13:26:40 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Watching TV on Your Cellphone By WALTER S. MOSSBERG Not enough television in your life? Well, now you can stay tuned in at all times, thanks to your cellphone. Sprint has begun offering two different TV services on its cellphones. One, called MobiTV, offers real-time broadcasts of programming from a variety of networks. The second, called Sprint TV, serves up specially produced short clips from major networks. Each costs about $10 a month, and both are powered onto Sprint cellphones by a privately held California-based company called Idetec Inc. The Sprint phones don't actually contain TV receivers. Instead, the programs are "streamed" onto the phones, via the Internet, from servers that first convert the TV signals into digital files. While the idea of watching TV on a wireless phone is new in the U.S., it's old hat in some other countries. When I was in Korea earlier this year, I was able to receive perfectly rendered TV broadcasts on a little Samsung phone during long rides in a minibus stalled in choked traffic in Seoul. But Korean cellphone networks handle data -- like the TV streams -- much faster than Sprint's network. While Sprint's network is one of the fastest nationally deployed systems in the U.S., it's pathetically slow compared with Korean and other foreign wireless phone networks. So, my question was: How good could it be? To find out, my assistant Katie Boehret and I have been testing MobiTV and Sprint TV. Our verdict: Neither service will ever be confused with even basic cable on a cheap TV set, but MobiTV was pretty fair, while Sprint TV had serious problems. ... http://ptech.wsj.com/archive/solution-20040901.html ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Sep 2004 02:39:43 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service A Commercial Software Service Aims to Outfox Caller ID By KEN BELSON Like most bill collectors, Marvin Smith is always seeking ways to get chronic debtors to pay up. When he calls the first time, he typically hears excuses and requests for more time. When Mr. Smith calls again, the debtors often block his calls using ordinary caller ID technology from the phone company. That means he then visits in person, a time-consuming and sometimes dangerous task. But Mr. Smith, who runs a collection agency in Austin, Tex., says he may have found a solution: a new computerized service enabling him to create false outbound phone numbers with a click of a mouse, so he can skirt the call blockers. The service, the first commercial version of a technology known mainly among software programmers and the computer-hacker underground until now, was introduced nationwide on Wednesday by a California company called Star38. For $19.99 a month and as little as 7 cents a minute, customers can go to the company's Web site (www.star38.com), log in and then type the number that they want to call and the number that they want to appear on the caller ID screen of the recipient's phone. For an additional fee, they can also specify names that can appear along with their telephone numbers. http://nytimes.com/2004/09/02/technology/02caller.html ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Sep 2004 02:17:11 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Citing Threats, Entrepreneur Wants to Quit Caller ID Venture By KEN BELSON It may be known as caller ID spoofing, but it is evidently no laughing matter. Three days after the start-up company Star38 began offering a service that fools caller ID systems, the founder, Jason Jepson, has decided to sell the business. Mr. Jepson said he had received harassing e-mail and phone messages and even a death threat taped to his front door - all he said from people opposed to his publicizing a commercial version of technology that until now has been mainly used by software programmers and the computer hackers' underground. For a fee, customers using the Star38.com Web site would be able to alter the number that would appear on the caller ID screen of the recipient's phone. The technique could mask the identity of a bill collector, for example, or enable a private investigator to fool someone into answering the phone on the false belief that a friend or relative was ringing. Mr. Jepson said yesterday that he did not yet have any paying customers for the service. But he said he had received hundreds of messages from potential customers - as well as from people concerned that his product would invade their privacy. He also said he had received inquiries from five investors who were interested in investing in or buying his company. http://nytimes.com/2004/09/04/technology/04caller.html ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Sep 2004 02:34:16 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Is Portable Video Ready for Its Close-Up? By MICHEL MARRIOTT A FEW years ago, when MP3 players were establishing themselves as the hot cool thing, the next question seemed clear: What if you could take along not only music but movies, television programs, home video and still pictures in a high-tech box svelte enough to slip into a briefcase, backpack or purse, or perhaps a pocket? An answer is beginning to emerge, however tentatively. Microsoft's response takes the form of a system called the Portable Media Center, being incorporated first by Creative, an early maker of MP3 audio players, into a sort of oversized audio player with a color video screen. Samsung and iRiver will follow with sleeker versions this fall; all three will cost about $500 each and be capable of 80 hours of video play. The Windows-powered machines enter a nascent marketplace that includes devices by Archos, a French maker, and RCA. Each camp makes the case for its own pioneer status on a new frontier of hand-held devices. And all say the devices will appeal to commuters and travelers, including those looking to occupy small children on long trips. http://nytimes.com/2004/09/02/technology/circuits/02vide.html ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Sep 2004 00:36:48 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Protecting Your Files When a Password Isn't Enough BASICS By THOMAS J. FITZGERALD IT'S a prospect that nobody likes to think about: a laptop or hand-held computer left behind on a train or bus -- or worse, stolen. As people amass larger amounts of personal and business data on their hard disks, it becomes increasingly important to make sure that confidential files will stay that way, even if a machine is lost. What computer owners may not know is that a computer's standard log-on password does not block access to files on the hard disk. That line of defense can be bypassed by removing the disk and connecting it to another computer, by using forensics tools or by booting the computer to a different operating system. Various methods of file encryption are available to protect files against these kinds of direct assaults. Some of the newer ones are easy to set up and can run seamlessly in the background as you go about your work. They can encrypt individual files, or they can create "vaults" in which many files can be encrypted at once. Some can encrypt entire hard disks while others integrate smart cards or U.S.B. tokens to add extra security. To help decide whether file encryption is for you, it is useful to know some basic information about the technology, its limitations and how to spot products that may contain weaknesses. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/02/technology/circuits/02basi.html ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Sep 2004 02:42:24 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Cellphones in Flight Face Technical and Social Hurdles By ERIC A. TAUB BUSINESS travelers who think there are not enough hours in the day, take note: in two years there may be a few more at your disposal. In 2006 the nation's commercial airliners may begin to allow passengers to make cellphone calls and connect to the Internet throughout a flight. No longer will passengers have to cram in their last cellular calls before takeoff. Instead, they will be able to use standard mobile phones to make and receive calls while in flight. Technical and social issues must still be worked out. The airlines, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Federal Communications Commission must be assured that cellphones will not interfere with navigation or communications equipment. And the airlines also must devise ways to avoid conflict between cell yellers and passengers looking for a quiet trip. While the airlines wait for government approval, Lufthansa currently offers Internet access on some international flights. As a foreign carrier, it is not subject to federal restrictions. http://nytimes.com/2004/09/02/technology/circuits/02next.html ------------------------------ From: DevilsPGD Subject: Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service Reply-To: bond-jamesbond@crazyhat.net Organization: EasyNews, UseNet made Easy! Date: Sat, 04 Sep 2004 06:49:28 GMT In message AES/newspost wrote: > They want to publish 3 distinct phone numbers that they will always > maintain open for *incoming* calls that concern A, B or C. > (And also maybe they want regular customers or call recipients that > they call *out* to be able to identify in an automated fashion whether > the call they're receiving has to do with A, B or C.) > But, maybe the organization has people making outgoing calls from phone > lines all over the place, or from temporary setups, or calls concerning > different subjects at different times. > Allowing these outgoing calls to be given the appropriate Caller ID for > the function A, B or C associated with the given call, no matter who > makes 'em or from where, seems perfectly sensible to me. > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Can't you think of any more hypothetical > examples why you must be allowed to tamper with your caller ID? I > mean, that's all totally ridiculous. Tell your people to walk over to > an 'A' phone or a 'B' phone or a 'C' phone and use the appropriate > line for the particular business. PAT] Expand this to a company like HP that runs managed/outsourced help desks. Think of a few hundred reps which each handle 6-10 different clients (different support contracts) Having 500 people running across the building to use an appropriate line, or trying to run 6-10 phone lines to every desk is beyond ridiculous. > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: That's an old trick, but quite effec- > tive. Place (and enforce) the blame on the last person or entity in > the line unless *they* can push it further along. And believe me, > when push comes to shove, they *will* find someone further down > the line to hand the hot potato to. You give them one or two passes > with a firm warning there will be no further excuses allowed, then > watch how the conditions so prevalent in much of telephony get > corrected/cured in a hurry. Hot potato is probably the only way to avoid endless finger pointing. If, ultimately, you end up in a situation where there is no way to prove who made the error, then you simply blame the telco that failed to keep accurate records. It will be an expensive lesson, but lets face it, a million dollars won't sink your average telco, but it will screw up whoever's budget that ends up on enough that they'll fix it, and fix it for good. If they claim technical problems, then they should get a free pass or two, but only if they demonstrate a legitimate reason for the screw up (A fatfingered typo is good. A completely wrong number is bad) AND can post a reasonably sized bond. They would be given a fixed time period in which to fix the problem (say, 168 hours), during which time complaints would be held. If they should happen to receive further complaints after the 168 hours then ALL of the complaints would apply jointly. In other words, we have to avoid sinking a company for a legitimate technical screw up, but at the same time, avoid letting people wiggle out of their responsibility by claiming incompetence. > I for one, cannot see why *any* user or subscriber should ever be > allowed to tamper with their own caller ID. I can see a few issues, but all of which could be solved by giving the actual owner the ability to get the spoofer off the hook by validating the spoof. Ideally this would be done in advance and registered "somewhere" to prevent a firm from randomizing their CID and then bribing the actual owner when they get caught. In my first call center job (ISP) our phones all had two lines. Calls from the queue came in on line 1, and outbound calls displayed the switchboard. Calls on your person line came in on line 2, and outbound calls displayed your personal number. It was a perfect system, if I was acting as a rep I would use line 1, if I was acting as a supervisor and wanted the person to be able to call back, I would use line 2. It's legitimate to want an entire company (with multiple locations, possibly in multiple countries) to want one number displayed on all outbound calls (a tollfree, perhaps), or for a contracted call center to want their outbound calls to display the name/number of their client when they dial out, either of which could be classified as spoofing. "Gee, Bill what do you want to do tonight?" "The same thing we do every night Steve. Try to take over the world!" ------------------------------ From: Patrick Townson Subject: C-SPAN to air Badnarik/Cobb debate Date: Sat, 4 Sep 2004 13:37:28 -0500 According to a posting at http://www.c-span.org, C-SPAN will cover the debate between Green Party Presidential Nominee David Cobb and Libertarian Party Presidential Nominee Michael Badnarik on C-SPAN at 1 pm ET Monday, September 6. This is the debate which was held in New York City during the Republican National Convention. Please pass this message around to encourage your friends to watch this debate -- as it is clearly in sharp contrast to anything one will find in the produced and scripted debates between Bush and Kerry. It is up to you to help make the voice of freedom heard. Also, on Sunday, September 5, at 7:45 AM EST The program Washington Journal hosts Janet Brown, Executive Director, Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), for live call-in on C-SPAN. Ms. Brown will talk by video link from Boston about the status and history of presidential debates. She will respond to telephone calls, faxes, and electronic mail from viewers. The telephone numbers to call to find out why Badnarik is not being allowed in the debates are: > Washington Journal: Democrats (202) 585-3881 > Washington Journal: Republicans (202) 585-3880 > Washington Journal: Others (202) 585-3882 According to a recent Rasmussen poll, 68% of Americans want Michael in the debates -- including 67% of Republicans and 64% of Democrats - but not Ms. Brown, the CPD, George Bush, or John Kerry. Please don't forget to challenge the CPD on Sunday morning as to why they don't care about open debates, or even the will of the American people. Finally, the Badnarik campaign footed the lion's share of the bill for the debate in NYC, as the Cobb campaign simply did not have enough financial resources to cover the expenses. To be clear, the Badnarik campaign was more than willing to help out our third-party brothers. Several Green Party members were more than generous and slipped a few dollars into my jacket pocket to help defray the cost. However, it was costly to fly several of us to New York, pay for the building, and cover the other incidental costs for the debate. Your contribution to help cover these expenses is vital for us to continue being able to hold televised presidential debates. Please contribute now by simply clicking https://badnarik.org/. Then you might wish to pass this message to a few of your Green Party friends to see if they might consider making a small one time donation at https://badnarik.org/ to help pay for the expenses related to the first presidential debate of 2004. In peace and prosperity, Stephen P. Gordon Paid for by Badnarik/Campagna 2004 and space contributed by participating website and Usenet newsgroups. [TELECOM Digest Editors's Note: I for one would be quite interested in hearing Mr. Bush and Mr. Kerry explain why they did not want to allow Mr. Badnarick -- a bonafide candidate of a legitimate political party -- to be part of the debates. I am sure Ms. Brown will enlighten us on Sunday. Yeah, and I am a terrorist also. PAT] ------------------------------ Organization: Robert Bonomi Consulting Subject: Re: Sender ID Finds Followers Ahead of Approval From: bonomi@host122.r-bonomi.com (Robert Bonomi) Date: Sat, 04 Sep 2004 11:08:40 +0000 In article , Monty Solomon wrote: > By Jim Wagner > As a new Sender ID specification for beating back spam wends its way > through the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), some e-mail > software vendors are not waiting around for its final approval > before implementing the system that the IETF will eventually bless a > specification that will be used on e-mail systems throughout the > world. > One of the contributors to the Sender ID specification, > Microsoft (Quote, Chart), has patents pending on certain components > of the Sender ID technology it has donated to the IETF's > efforts. Microsoft has repeatedly said that -- even if it is > granted a patent on the technology -- it would "make licenses > available on reasonable and non-discriminatory terms." > But the issue has some in the open source world talking. The drive > in the business community to press ahead with Sender ID comes at a > time when some in the open source community are claiming the > licensing stipulations around Sender ID don't interoperate with the > most popular open source license variant, the General Public License > (define). > In a post to the IETF's MARID (MTA Authorization Records in DNS) > discussion list the chairman of the Apache Software Foundation > (ASF), Greg Stein, called Microsoft's Royalty-Free Sender ID license > agreement a barrier to any ASF project. > http://www.internetnews.com/xSP/article.php/3402921 > > > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: What exactly is the problem with the > Open Source proponents? That *they* did not think of it first? > That Microsoft may get the credit? Why not try *reading* their position paper on the subject. Even you might be able to learn something from it. Do you think there is any problem with an arrangement whereby Microsoft could, in, say 5 years, after "everybody" is using the protocol, _change_ the terms for continuing use of the technology _by_those_CURRENTLY_using_it_ to "if the technology is not embedded in a MicroSoft product, you must pay $100 for each e-mail message processed"? Do you have any doubt that MS _would_ do such a thing if they thought they could get away with it? > It is really a damn shame when these intelligent men and women fight > and squabble among themselves while the rest of the world has to > fight with the spammers. But oh well, most of them probably never > even see spam (save one or two pieces each day which slip past the > myriad of filters used by their secretary to get rid of it), Congratulations PAT, you've just re-proved the definition of USENET. to wit: "Open mouth, insert foot. Echo internationally." The ASF (pache oftware oundation) is almost exclusively a *VOLUNTEER* software development community. 'Secretaries'?? You've _got_ to be kidding! If _you_ are only getting one spam message every few minutes on average, you don't know what a *real* problem is. Contemplate getting 30-50,000 _per_day_ for one mailbox. A million-plus per day across all the accounts on the server. > and those one or two pieces which they do have to view makes them > angry enough to squabble with other professionals about it, but not > so angry that they would even consider for a minute getting off > their own high horses in order to wade through the sewer that the > net has become with the rest of us. Rant, based on delusions that are *not* supported by any actual facts. > Do most of those people even realize how tragic and awful the > problem of spam has become? I don't think so, otherwise they surely > would not be blocking the restoration efforts as much as they do, > would they? Nah, I'm *sure* they don't. That's why 'spamassassin' is one of the '*FREE* for everyone' projects under the ASF umbrella. You _have_ heard of spamassassin, haven't you? In message Fred Goldstein wrote: > Another interesting study, from CipherTrust, has just shown that the > primary users of Sender Policy Framework are (drumroll, please) -- > Spammers! Yes, it's trivial for a spammer to pass an SPF screen. So the > main potential benefit is, I suppose, making phishing a bit harder or > easier for educated users to detect. But as an anti-spam weapon, it's > nearly worthless. Which makes sense, SPF was never built to combat spam in the first place. It was built to combat forgery, and it does that nicely. Men are from Earth. Women are from Earth. Deal with it. [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I have heard of Spam Assassin. On my (unix-based) account at MIT I use it, and the $SPAMBOX is always full and over loaded. Despite the fact that I have the user-settable point score set very low (1 or 2 qualifies the mail as 'spam') I still manage to wind up with 85-90 percent spam in my mailbox each day, out of *hundreds* of pieces of mail daily. I think I heard that MS was granting the license in prepetuity -- forever -- to groups working to fight spam. But you seem to be saying "no matter what Microsoft says, after five or ten years they will change the terms of the license." I do not think that is so. PAT] ------------------------------ From: Carl Navarro Subject: Re: Telephone Vocabulary -- "Straight Line" Reply-To: cnavarro@wcnet.org Date: Sat, 04 Sep 2004 09:14:45 GMT Organization: Road Runner High Speed Online http://www.rr.com On 3 Sep 2004 18:53:47 -0400, stevekl@panix.com (Steve Kl.) wrote: > I have posted here from time to time over the past many years and have > occasionally asked questions relating to my field -- lexicography. One > of my colleagues, Joan Hall, editor of the Dictionary of American > Regional English knows I have an interest in telephone history, and > asked me the following question: >> Do you know the term "straight line," used to mean a direct telephone >> line rather than a party line? And do you have any ideas where we might >> find citations with the term? > (My family had a party line when I grew up; however, as far as I > recall, the opposite of a party line was a "private line") > Anyhow, if you are aware of the term "straight line" in this use, > please drop me an email, and include what part of the country you > were in when you used this term and your age. > Additionally, if any of you own any old phone books or other > telecommunications materials that use this phrase that DARE can cite > as written evidence, please let me know what the name of the > publication is. I'll pass it on to DARE, and they can contact you if > they need further information. > (For information on the Dictionary of American Regional English, > see http://polyglot.lss.wisc.edu/dare/dare.html ) We used the term "straight line" in reference to the ringer. A straight line ringer would ring on frequencies of 16 2/3 to about 33 Hz, as opposed to a party line ringer that would only ring on the frequency it was tuned to. For Central Offices, private line ring generator was either was either 20 or 30 Hz. Other frequencies were different, depending on whether the ring scheme was Harmonic or Decimonic. No, I don't remember what party was what, except that party 2 was 50Hz in Harmonic. I suppose I could look it up if it's important. Carl Navarro ------------------------------ From: Tim@Backhome.org Subject: Re: Telephone Vocabulary -- "Straight Line" Date: Sat, 04 Sep 2004 06:51:26 -0700 Organization: Cox Communications Just a guess, but a straight line sounds more like one that is not switched, like the old hot lines and alarm McCollough loops. Steve Kl. wrote: > I have posted here from time to time over the past many years and have > occasionally asked questions relating to my field -- lexicography. One > of my colleagues, Joan Hall, editor of the Dictionary of American > Regional English knows I have an interest in telephone history, and > asked me the following question: >> Do you know the term "straight line," used to mean a direct telephone >> line rather than a party line? And do you have any ideas where we might >> find citations with the term? > (My family had a party line when I grew up; however, as far as I > recall, the opposite of a party line was a "private line") > Anyhow, if you are aware of the term "straight line" in this use, > please drop me an email, and include what part of the country you > were in when you used this term and your age. > Additionally, if any of you own any old phone books or other > telecommunications materials that use this phrase that DARE can cite > as written evidence, please let me know what the name of the > publication is. I'll pass it on to DARE, and they can contact you if > they need further information. > (For information on the Dictionary of American Regional English, > see http://polyglot.lss.wisc.edu/dare/dare.html ) > Thank you! > Steve Kleinedler > Senior Editor > American Heritage Dictionary > -- Steve Kl. ------------------------------ 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, Yahoo Groups, and other forums. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. TELECOM Digest is a not-for-profit, mostly non-commercial educational service offered to the Internet by Patrick Townson. All the contents of the Digest are compilation-copyrighted. You may reprint articles in some other media on an occasional basis, but please attribute my work and that of the original author. Contact information: Patrick Townson/TELECOM Digest Post Office Box 50 Independence, KS 67301 Phone: 620-402-0134 Fax 1: 775-255-9970 Fax 2: 530-309-7234 Fax 3: 208-692-5145 Email: editor@telecom-digest.org Subscribe: telecom-subscribe@telecom-digest.org Unsubscribe:telecom-unsubscribe@telecom-digest.org This Digest is the oldest continuing e-journal about telecomm- unications on the Internet, having been founded in August, 1981 and published continuously since then. Our archives are available for your review/research. We believe we are the oldest e-zine/mailing list on the internet in any category! 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End of TELECOM Digest V23 #414 ****************************** From editor@telecom-digest.org Sat Sep 4 23:39:00 2004 Received: (from ptownson@localhost) by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.6p3/8.11.6) id i853cx014810; Sat, 4 Sep 2004 23:39:00 -0400 (EDT) Date: Sat, 4 Sep 2004 23:39:00 -0400 (EDT) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <200409050339.i853cx014810@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 V23 #415 TELECOM Digest Sat, 4 Sep 2004 23:38:00 EDT Volume 23 : Issue 415 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Re: My New DVR From Cable One (Danny Burstein) Re: My New DVR From Cable One (Gary Breuckman) Re: My New DVR From Cable One (Tony P.) Re: Cordless Phones Not Working on Working Phone Line (Steve Sobol) Re: Cordless Phones Not Working on Working Phone Line (Tony P.) Norvergence Article in Chicago Tribune (Jim Haynes) Re: Solzano Rides Again! (Lisa Hancock) Re: A Competing TV Provider (Dan Lanciani) Re: Outsource Firm Sues in India / Alleged Code Theft Highlights (J M) Re: Party Lines No More? (John P. Dearing) 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. =========================== Addresses herein are not to be added to any mailing list, nor to be sold or given away without explicit written consent. Chain letters, viruses, porn, spam, and miscellaneous junk are definitely unwelcome. We must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands against crime. Geoffrey Welsh =========================== See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Danny Burstein Subject: Re: My New DVR From Cable One Date: Sat, 4 Sep 2004 13:05:03 UTC Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and UNIX, NYC In TELECOM Digest Editor writes: [ snip... discussion of his new digital cable box with pvr courtesy of his cable company ] > The last thing in the world I need is a Digital Video Recorder/Cable > Converter but since I got it free I am not going to refuse it. > Totally tapeless, it can store several hours of programs in its > memory, has the ability to speed past commercial messages in a > second or two, etc. As anyone with a TIVO, one of the two original leaders in the DVR field will tell you, your television life is about to change. Dramatically. And mostly for the better. Watching your chosen programs on your own schedule is much, much, more civilized. But the other point is that your electric bill will also change, and not for the better. My TIVO pulls a steady 30 watts, and your box probably pulls about the same. (Remember that it's basically a computer hard drive in constant use plus overhead). At a typical charge of $0.20 (20 cents) per kw-hr, that's a bit over $4/month in electricity. Add another buck or two if you're using air conditining and have to dump out that heat. Usually worth it, but worth a thought or two. (And the "off" switch, if it has one, is only for show). _____________________________________________________ Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key dannyb@panix.com [to foil spammers, my address has been double rot-13 encoded] [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I used to save the TV book which came each week in the Sunday Independence Reporter and go though it making notes of the movies I wanted to see; but I never got around to watching them anyway, and recently mostly even quit reading the Sunday paper. There is a 'TV Guide Electronic Edition' both on channel 17 on the cable and by pushing a few buttons on the remote control, but mostly all I ever watch are the TV-Land shows on Channel 56, and then not very often. Mostly I listen to KRPS 89.9 FM on the same cable, which I could get whether I paid for it or not, since it and the Tulsa NPR station (89.5 FM) are both carried gratis on the cable anyway. I have told that same thing to the lady in the office at our local CableOne a few times; namely that I don't watch television and all I want are the FM stations I can find on the cable and the high speed internet. She always gives me a dirty look when I mention the free carriage available to Pittsburg and Tulsa NPR. She said to me the other day "well, we are not gonna have those free NPR stations much longer." My response to her was "sure you will, you don't make that decision anyway, your corporate office in Phoenix does after making agreements with the FCC." Then I got an even dirtier look from her. The temperature here has been in the 95-105 degree range every day for the past two weeks, and I do leave the air conditioner (an 18,000 BTU window unit) on 24/7 usually ice cold. And I leave my computers turned on 24/7 also, so my electric bill is pretty awful most of the summer. I imagine the new DVR will add to the bill, but I tend to sit in the dark or dim light) quite a bit anyway so that is some offset. I have not yet figured out how to use the remote control unit for the DVR totally, let alone make a specific effort to watch/record anything. Since I live only three blocks from the electric power generating station, maybe I should ask them to give me a break on the high rates. PAT] ------------------------------ From: Gary Breuckman Subject: Re: My New DVR From Cable One Date: Sat, 04 Sep 2004 10:21:28 -0500 Organization: Puma's Lair - catbox.com In article , "TELECOM Digest Editor" wrote: > So I got downtown to pay today and the lady takes my money then brings > me a large box, and says "this is your new converter unit, I will have > my husband bring it out to your house this afternoon and remove your old > converter and swap this one in its place." After she assured me it would > *not* affect my bill at all, she explained it was their 'new style > converter unit' which is actually a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) > combined with all the features which had earlier been on the box. This > new converter unit looks exactly like the old one, but it includes an 80 > gig hard drive, and the ability to record shows as you watch them, or > record one show as you watch another, or watch 'live television' but > stop it for a few minutes to go the bathroom or get a phone call, etc. Time-Warner here (Milwaukee) also offers a DVR, it's not quite free, they want $5/month for it, but that's inexpensive enough to be of interest. You can also watch one channel and record another, or record two channels at a time, or decide towards the end of show that you've only been watching that you want to save it and watch it again later. I don't have one, we have two VCR's and that's met our needs so far. -- Gary Breuckman [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: My television is a TV/VCR combination, and I do now and then watch movies I get from the Blockbuster store here in town, but I think only one time I recorded to it from the television set. I have found one interesting thing about the new DVR unit: I have a wireless cam in my back yard which focuses on a bird sanctuary area which has a feeder, water and a couple nests. By fiddling with the switches on the back of the DVR (and feeding the wireless cam into it [instead of to the video AUX input on the TV as I had been doing]) I can still watch over the birds from the comfort of my house but I can switch between a small picture inside the larger picture (what Cable One calls PIP or 'picture in picture') to a full screen picture of the birds, as the cat torments them, or a picture of what I had been watching or a little picture of one or the other superimposed on the other picture (the PIP feature). PAT] ------------------------------ From: Tony P. Subject: Re: My New DVR From Cable One Organization: ATCC Date: Sat, 04 Sep 2004 19:50:32 GMT In article , ptownson@telecom- digest.org says: > Friday afternoon I went downtown to pay some bills and one place I > stopped at was the CableOne office on Penn Street. CableOne is where I > get my internet service and my cable television/radio. I get a monthly > package through them called 'Digital Internet' which costs about $95 > per month and includes half a T-1 for internet, a 'cable modem' and a > couple hundred channels of television; the package also includes 38 > channels of non-commercial radio, including a couple channnels of > classical music. I almost never watch television; I was more inter- > ested in having fast cable internet around. Also, quite coincidentally > the cable carries 89.5 FM (NPR from Tulsa) and 89.9 FM (NPR from > Pittsburg, KS) and those two services on the cable (totally free) > offer me all the classical music I want, including channel 938 on the > cable itself which is non-commercial uninteruppted classical music all > the time. > So I got downtown to pay today and the lady takes my money then brings > me a large box, and says "this is your new converter unit, I will > have my husband bring it out to your house this afternoon and remove > your old converter and swap this one in its place." After she assured > me it would *not* affect my bill at all, she explained it was their > 'new style converter unit' which is actually a DVR (Digital Video > Recorder) combined with all the features which had earlier been on > the box. This new converter unit looks exactly like the old one, but > it includes an 80 gig hard drive, and the ability to record shows as > you watch them, or record one show as you watch another, or watch > 'live television' but stop it for a few minutes to go the bathroom > or get a phone call, etc. By the time I got home in the cab, the > guy from CableOne was sitting in front of my door with the unit. Its > about the size of a standalone VCR player, and weighs five to ten > pounds. It plugs in the cable line exactly as the older unit did > with the same outputs to television and radio or other speakers. Interestingly the digital cable boxes manufactured over the past 5 or so years have had the ability to have an HD placed in them for the express purpose of recording. It's just in the past couple of years that HD prices have dropped like a stone. It's now < $1.00 per gigabyte. I've just got basic cable right now because quite frankly, having the box isn't worth it. [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Our 'basic' cable here is twenty or so channels; the 'extended basic' is sixty channels; the 'Digital Internet' package is a pretty good deal; that is what I have, and it includes several HBO things, several Showtime things, various EFTN sports channels, thirty or so digital music channels which are commercial free, etc. Plus which, I can use my credit card to purchase various 'on demand' channels, etc. Without *some kind* of cable, Independence gets *two* (out of *three* possible) television channels, provided you have a very high antenna directionally pointed to (take your pick) Wichita (110 miles northwest), Tulsa (80 miles straight south) or Joplin, MO/Pittsburg, KS (90 miles straight east). On the 'basic' cable you get twenty channels, but these twenty consist of three each of ABC, NBC, CBS (nine channels), two Foxes (Tulsa and Joplin), a couple of PBS's, and the usual assortment of municipal channels, including one channel each for city hall, Independence Community College and Independence High School. Without the 'free ride' they get on cable, you cannot get 89.9 or 89.5 FM here. 80-90 miles is just too far out of range. PAT] ------------------------------ From: Steve Sobol Subject: Re: Cordless Phones Not Working on Working Phone Line Date: Sat, 04 Sep 2004 07:39:14 -0700 Organization: Glorb Internet Services, http://www.glorb.com doggie-bert wrote: > 2 days ago both of the cordless phones in my apartment stopped > working. Thinking that the phones had died we went out and bought a > new cordless phone, but this new phone also isn't working. I've tried > every phone jack in the house and corded phones work fine as well as > the new answering machine. My DSL is also working fine. All 3 of the > phones are 900 Mhz, so it could be something interfering with the > signal, but I don't know what. Anyone out there have any ideas? This used to happen to me years ago, and Ohio Bell/Ameritech reps told me to unplug the phones and let them sit for a while (10-30 minutes) and plug them back in. I have no idea *why* that solution worked, but it *did* work. JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services, http://JustThe.net/ Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) / sjsobol@JustThe.net PGP Key available from your friendly local key server (0xE3AE35ED) Apple Valley, California Nothing scares me anymore. I have three kids. ------------------------------ From: Tony P. Subject: Re: Cordless Phones Not Working on Working Phone Line Organization: ATCC Date: Sat, 04 Sep 2004 19:55:44 GMT In article , dreisc@gmail.com says: > 2 days ago both of the cordless phones in my apartment stopped > working. Thinking that the phones had died we went out and bought a > new cordless phone, but this new phone also isn't working. I've tried > every phone jack in the house and corded phones work fine as well as > the new answering machine. My DSL is also working fine. All 3 of the > phones are 900 Mhz, so it could be something interfering with the > signal, but I don't know what. Anyone out there have any ideas? I almost hate to suggest, but is it getting power to the base unit? ------------------------------ Subject: Norvergence Article in Chicago Tribune Reply-To: jhaynes@alumni.uark.edu Organization: University of Arkansas Alumni From: haynes@alumni.uark.edu (Jim Haynes) Date: Sat, 04 Sep 2004 16:33:29 GMT Today's (Sep 4) Chicago Tribune has an article about Norvergence, in the business section under "Bad ring to bankrupt phone firm". Starts off telling about a small business owner who signed up for the service and is now obligated to pay $200/mo. for the electronic box, even tho he gets no service. I won't copy the article here, because of copyright, but you can read it on line. (Probably have to register, which is free). jhhaynes at earthlink dot net ------------------------------ From: hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com (Jeff nor Lisa) Subject: Re: Solzano Rides Again! Date: 4 Sep 2004 13:43:28 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com TELECOM Digest Editor noted in response to A. Reader : > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I guess this time the Solzano brothers > have the money to do it right. At least one would hope so. PAT] I read a biography of Harry Truman, and one aspect may have relevance here. During the 1930s Truman, a new Senator, was assigned to the committee handling interstate commerce, including corporate bankruptcies. Truman discovered that despite some corporations going bankrupt, a lot of people were walking away quite wealthy. Sometimes both businesses and individuals are the victim of circumstances and despite their best efforts, end up in bankruptcy. (Truman, while not bankrupt, lost his own business and spent years paying off the debts). But sometimes both businesses and individuals are irresponsible, throw money away, and fail to live within a realistic budget. The rest of us end up paying for that. I don't know the underlying facts in the Norv. troubles, such as why their cash flow control was so bad that the employees weren't paid or what happened to all the up-front money received for the service leases. I do think there is a public interest in this case for an impartial body to investigate the circumstances and let the public know so it may be prevented in the future. I am also confused as to how the principals of a bankrupt organization could start a new venture so quickly before the dust as even settled on their failed one. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Sep 2004 03:10:27 EDT From: Dan Lanciani Subject: Re: A Competing TV Provider > ISPs are not the only players hoping to muscle in on the lucrative pay > TV services market, and as start-up U.S. Digital Television Inc. > (USDTV) has shown, delivering alternative TV services over IP > networks-as inevitable as it may seem to ISPs-is not the only option. [...] > The company is partnering with local TV stations, transmitting on > their unused digital broadcast spectrum and using their transmission > infrastructure. Its ambitious plan is to expand to 100-plus markets > over the next three years. And now we begin to see the real potential of the forced digital broadcasting transition: the reallocation of spectrum from free program material to pay TV. Dan Lanciani ddl@danlan.*com ------------------------------ From: J M Subject: Re: Outsource Firm Sues in India / Alleged Code Theft Highlights Organization: SBC http://yahoo.sbc.com Date: Sat, 04 Sep 2004 15:21:09 GMT I see a few problems with this story and it's shame that major news papers reporting one-sided story without investigating further. - Mr Jolly's account has a few problems. For example: "Jolly went directly to the Cyber Crime unit of the Mumbai Police Force" and "Low-level police in India don't really know what a computer is." I know Mumbai police has one of the most advanced facilities in India with LANs and internet access thanks to Reliance Industry founder generous donation for building new police facilities. Here is other one "I'm very surprised to hear that the police and even NASSCOM are behaving that way". May be there is a reason why, who knows what the real truth is. "In our case, instead of helping be reasone why he got good treatment. May be harresment complaint againt Mr Jolly by a women? It's very common in some countries get roughed up by police for harrasment complaints against a person. JM! Monty Solomon wrote in message news:telecom23.402.4@telecom-digest.org: > By Karl Schoenberger > Mercury News > In a case that exposes the intellectual-property risks of outsourcing > in India, a small San Carlos software company has sued Mumbai police > for refusing to investigate the alleged theft of proprietary source > code by an employee at its Indian subsidiary. > Sandeep Jolly, the founder and chief executive of Jolly Technologies, > said U.S. technology companies should beware of the risks of doing > business in his native land at a time when many are taking advantage > of the cost savings of offshoring and entrusting sensitive software > development and testing work to Indian contractors. Protection of > intellectual property is still a new concept for lawmakers, police > and prosecutors, he said. > http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/9500402.htm ------------------------------ From: John P. Dearing Subject: Re: Party Lines No More? Date: Sat, 04 Sep 2004 19:21:06 GMT Lisa Hancock wrote: > For the younger readers: Years ago installing individual copper phone > lines to each subscriber was very expensive. So subscribers shared a > line in an arrangement known as the "party line". This was particu- > larly common in rural areas where the lines had long runs. As > technology improved (such as concentrators and carrier circuits), > party lines were reduced. > Some Verizon engineers told me they doubt party lines exist anywhere > in the U.S. anymore for the following reasons: > 1) Universal Service Fee: The high expense of rural lines is subsidized > by other customers. > 2) Low cost fibre: They said they were a low cost fibre system that > could economically handle rural service. > If any lines still exist they may be from private rural cooperative > phone companies in isolated places, or from subscribers who could get > private line service but just don't bother to save a $1 a month. In Pennsylvania, the party-line tariff doesn't exist anymore (only as a grandfathered offering). This means that subscribers with existing party lines can keep then and aren't forced to get rid of them but no new party lines will be offered. By the 1980's and 1990's so few people still had party lines that many of them were effectively single party lines. That is, they had no "mate" on the party line. Bell then started doing "party line reassociations" which is putting party lines back together. You'd look for a Ring party with no mate and find a Tip party with no mate. Put them together and you now have a party line again. Some folks weren't too happy with this, since for years they didn't have to share the line with anyone and now they did. Anyone that complained was offered the opportunity to convert to single party service which was now nearly the same price. Once on a single party line, they could also get other features not available on party lines, like call waiting and voicemail, etc ... if they wanted. John Dearing A+, Network+ ------------------------------ 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, Yahoo Groups, and other forums. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. TELECOM Digest is a not-for-profit, mostly non-commercial educational service offered to the Internet by Patrick Townson. All the contents of the Digest are compilation-copyrighted. You may reprint articles in some other media on an occasional basis, but please attribute my work and that of the original author. Contact information: Patrick Townson/TELECOM Digest Post Office Box 50 Independence, KS 67301 Phone: 620-402-0134 Fax 1: 775-255-9970 Fax 2: 530-309-7234 Fax 3: 208-692-5145 Email: editor@telecom-digest.org Subscribe: telecom-subscribe@telecom-digest.org Unsubscribe:telecom-unsubscribe@telecom-digest.org This Digest is the oldest continuing e-journal about telecomm- unications on the Internet, having been founded in August, 1981 and published continuously since then. Our archives are available for your review/research. We believe we are the oldest e-zine/mailing list on the internet in any category! URL information: http://telecom-digest.org Anonymous FTP: mirror.lcs.mit.edu/telecom-archives/archives/ (or use our mirror site: ftp.epix.net/pub/telecom-archives) Email <==> FTP: telecom-archives@telecom-digest.org Send a simple, one line note to that automated address for a help file on how to use the automatic retrieval system for archives files. You can get desired files in email. ************************************************************************* * TELECOM Digest is partially funded by a grant from * * Judith Oppenheimer, President of ICB Inc. and purveyor of accurate * * 800 & Dot Com News, Intelligence, Analysis, and Consulting. * * http://ICBTollFree.com, http://1800TheExpert.com * * Views expressed herein should not be construed as representing * * views of Judith Oppenheimer or ICB Inc. * ************************************************************************* ICB Toll Free News. Contact information is not sold, rented or leased. One click a day feeds a person a meal. Go to http://www.thehungersite.com Copyright 2004 ICB, Inc. and TELECOM Digest. All rights reserved. Our attorney is Bill Levant, of Blue Bell, PA. ************************ DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE JUST 65 CENTS ONE OR TWO INQUIRIES CHARGED TO YOUR CREDIT CARD! REAL TIME, UP TO DATE! 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Please make at least a single donation to cover the cost of processing your name to the mailing list. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. End of TELECOM Digest V23 #415 ****************************** From editor@telecom-digest.org Sun Sep 5 18:47:42 2004 Received: (from ptownson@localhost) by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.6p3/8.11.6) id i85MlgH22579; Sun, 5 Sep 2004 18:47:42 -0400 (EDT) Date: Sun, 5 Sep 2004 18:47:42 -0400 (EDT) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <200409052247.i85MlgH22579@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 V23 #416 TELECOM Digest Sun, 5 Sep 2004 18:47:00 EDT Volume 23 : Issue 416 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Police: Stalker Used GPS to Track Ex-Girlfriend (Eric Friedebach) How to Call Blocked Canadian 800 Number From U.S. (Mark) NPAC Data Feeds (Larry Gassman) Re: Spoofing Caller-ID (Thor Lancelot Simon) Re: The Soft Invasion (Barry Margolin) Re: The Soft Invasion (burris) Re: The Soft Invasion (Dan Lanciani) Re: Sender ID Finds Followers Ahead of Approval (Robert Bonomi) Re: My New DVR From Cable One (DevilsPGD) Re: Party Lines No More? (DevilsPGD) Re: Party Lines No More? (Lisa Hancock) 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. =========================== Addresses herein are not to be added to any mailing list, nor to be sold or given away without explicit written consent. Chain letters, viruses, porn, spam, and miscellaneous junk are definitely unwelcome. We must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands against crime. Geoffrey Welsh =========================== See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: friedebach@yahoo.com (Eric Friedebach) Subject: Police: Stalker Used GPS to Track Ex-Girlfriend Date: 5 Sep 2004 10:47:18 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS, 9-5-04 GLENDALE, Calif. - A Glendale businessman faces stalking charges that allege he attached a cell phone with Global Positioning System technology to his ex-girlfriend's car so he could track her every move and show up unexpectedly wherever she was. In what authorities said was the first stalking case of its kind in Los Angeles County, Ara Gabrielyan, 32, was charged last week with stalking and threatening over a six-month period to kill his former girlfriend and himself. Gabrielyan, who ran an Armenian CD and video specialty shop, is suspected of using GPS technology to pinpoint her location so he could arrange apparent chance encounters at the bookstore, at the airport, even at her brother's grave site. "This is what I would consider stalking of the 21st century -- the utilization of technology to track a victim," said Lt. Jon Perkins of the Glendale Police Department. After the unidentified 35-year-old woman broke off their nearly two-year relationship, Gabrielyan would follow her by car, show up at her doorstep and call her 30 to 100 times a day, she told police. http://tinyurl.com/6jzm3 Eric Friedebach /Favorite OnStar commercial: crying woman drops keys in toilet/ ------------------------------ From: xx-google@telefog.com (Mark) Subject: How to Call Blocked Canadian 800 Numbers From U.S. Date: 5 Sep 2004 00:09:22 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com Some Canadian toll-free numbers are intentionally blocked from U.S. access by their owners, and no alternate non-toll-free number exists. Here are some such numbers: 888-242-2100 Citizenship & Immigration Canada 800-665-0354 Canada Revenue Agency 800-959-1956 Canada Revenue Agency 800-959-8281 Canada Revenue Agency 800-339-6908 ExpressVu 866-801-9995 ExpressVu 888-759-3473 ExpressVu 800-255-4541 Canada Revenue Agency? This frustrated me, so I dug up some ways around the restriction. (I'm in California, area code 510.) None is these methods is dirt cheap, but each is less expensive than going to Canada to make your call. ******************************************************* ******************************************************* ******************************************************* METHOD #1: Get a teleconferencing account from Enunciate of Toronto. The cost for a call like the one I described in method 1 above is US$0.18 per minute, plus an additional US$0.18 per minute if you access the service via Enunciate's toll-free access number (they also have an area code 416 number). Service setup requires you to sign a simple form and fax it back to Enunciate. They bill to a major credit card. This service is a little harder to use, but they'll walk you through it. Call 1-866-504-1079 to directly reach Bruneau, a very helpful corporate sales rep. IMPORTANT: make sure you have Enunciate install your conference account on their Spectel bridge, which assures that your calls to toll-free numbers will go through. Their other bridge blocks most toll-free calls, for reasons that neither they nor I understand. (I don't even know what a bridge is, but it doesn't matter: I do know that Spectel is the bridge for me.) More info: http://www.enunciate.ca ******************************************************* ******************************************************* ******************************************************* METHOD #2: Subscribe to TelCan's callback service, which should allow you to dial any Canadian toll-free number from the U.S for less than 10 cents per minute. They charge a monthly access fee of $4, which is waived for any month in which your usage is at least $20. (I haven't tried this service.) More information: http://www.telcan.net/callback/default.asp ******************************************************* ******************************************************* ******************************************************* METHOD #3: Call someone you know in Canada and have them dial out to your blocked toll-free number and then patch you and the toll-free number together via 3-way calling. (I haven't tried this method.) ******************************************************* ******************************************************* ******************************************************* Do you know of any other ways for Americans to call Canadian toll-free numbers that are blocked from U.S.? [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I think most 800 numbers simply get translated into a 'regular' number; if you dial via that 'regular' number you call will go through. For example, a friend of mine in Canada (Ontario) who calls me occassionally to counsel me with my computer stuff has my 800 number; but he cannot get through on it -- I have never had it specifically authorized for Canadian or other country use. So he dials in on the area codee 620 version of same number instead. My question is (1) have you tried dialing the untranslated or 'regular' number of the places you want to call and (2) are they refusing to deal with your call on those untranslated numbers? I would think there are various calling plans in your (USA) area code which would make your call cheap enough without the need for all the gymnastics you are otherwise going through to get them on the phone. PAT] ------------------------------ From: Larry Gassman Subject: NPAC Data Feeds Date: Sun, 5 Sep 2004 07:56:07 -0400 Organization: Cox Communications Is anyone aware of a company providing real-time (or near-real-time) downloads of LNP data ? I am looking for a company getting downloads from the Neustar NPAC and then reselling access to that data. I am envisioning something like a hub-service provider of NPAC data. Hopefully, this data source will be a dumbed-up interface (in relation to the Neustar NPAC-LSMS interface). I want to download data to my own database (not perform a SS7 database dip to a company like Verisign, Syniverse, SNET or TNS). I am looking for a legitimate company and data source (I am presuming this is allowed/legal). Regards. ------------------------------ From: tls@panix.com (Thor Lancelot Simon) Subject: Re: Spoofing Caller-ID Date: 5 Sep 2004 00:17:41 -0400 Organization: PANIX -- Public Access Networks Corp. Reply-To: tls@rek.tjls.com In article , John R. Covert wrote: > Jack Adams wrote: >> I'm guessing that this firm uses in-band 202 signalling to "overwrite" >> any normal CLID message > Your guess would be wrong. As the article said, "Caller ID spoofing > has for years been within the reach of businesses with certain types > of digital connections to their local phone company, and more recently > has become the plaything of hackers and pranksters exploiting > permissive voice over IP systems." That's only true if the gateway equipment serving these networks is configured to treat calling party ID from them as "network provided"; which the relevant interworking documents are quite clear that it should not. And if it's not "network provided" and the provided telephone number is not associated with the same BTN as the actual originating line or trunk, the provided number should not be transmitted to the next switch in the call path. Essentially, LECs that make it possible to "spoof" caller ID like this are broken. The regulators should simply require them to fix themselves; it is _one single bit_ of provisioning information on any switch built since the early 1990s when the formal requirement for interworking Q.931 and ISUP closed down the final loopholes in this area. Thor Lancelot Simon tls@rek.tjls.com But as he knew no bad language, he had called him all the names of common objects that he could think of, and had screamed: "You lamp! You towel! You plate!" and so on. --Sigmund Freud ------------------------------ From: Barry Margolin Subject: Re: The Soft Invasion Organization: Symantec Date: Sun, 05 Sep 2004 00:47:06 -0400 In article , Monty Solomon wrote: > This phenomenon is called spyware, or adware. Why are these lumped together these days? Didn't "spyware" used to refer to applications that covertly "phones home" to send information about you and/or your computer to the vendor? Sometimes these are legitimate applications, but the fact that they're sending this information back is not divulged to the user; other times the applications sneak in via trojans or browser exploits. The only thing I can think of that links spyware and adware is that adware also typically gets in via browser exploits. Barry Margolin, barmar@alum.mit.edu Arlington, MA *** PLEASE post questions in newsgroups, not directly to me *** ------------------------------ From: burris Subject: Re: The Soft Invasion Date: Sun, 05 Sep 2004 08:41:41 -0400 Monty Solomon wrote: > By WALTER S. MOSSBERG > WHAT IF A private company could legally break into your house and rig > your television so that it would always start up on a special station > the company had created that showed deceptive ads every minute, all > day? And what if, when you tried to change the station, you could > choose only among obscure and dubious channels selected by the > invading company? > Oh, and suppose that same sleazy company could erect billboards for > phony medical cures and get-rich-quick schemes on your lawn anytime, > without your permission? And suppose it could also make a record of > everything you said or did in your house and sell it to other > companies? > You'd be more than angry. You'd be lobbying for jail time for these > guys. But something similar happens every day on the personal > computers of tens of millions of people. It's offensive but legal, and > it's driving its victims crazy. > This phenomenon is called spyware, or adware, and it is rapidly > replacing viruses and spam as the No. 1 hassle associated with using > an Internet-connected computer. Spyware is a type of software placed > surreptitiously on a Windows PC, often by means of a file, downloaded > from a Web site, that is either invisible or is disguised as a > legitimate file. > Once on your PC, spyware can do many nefarious things. Unlike a > virus, it rarely tries to destroy files or propagate itself through > e-mail. Instead, it tries to seize control of key aspects of your > machine and turn them into conduits for selling you junk, or for > gathering information that can help others do so. > There are many forms of spyware, but the big four, which correspond > to the household examples above, are: > http://ptech.wsj.com/archive/report-200408.html > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: The two forms of protection I use > against spies are 'Ad-Aware' and 'Spybot: Seek and Destroy'. Of > course I also use AVG for virus protection. All three of these > items are free on the web and highly effective. PAT] Pat, I couldn't agree more. I have used those three programs since inception and they have never failed to discover and correct a problem if it existed. burris [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: On all three of those programs of course, you need to update their dictionary or defintions files from time to time to keep them up to date. Usually whenever I think of it and do a manual run of Spybot or Ad-Aware I just tell them to go check for any updates before they start running. AVG, which scours the entire system nightly, is set to automatically check with its home every two weeks. If AVG does not find the vermin where it is hiding, then one of the other two will find it. Combine those three with Zone Alarm, a free software firewall also available on the net and your protection is reasonable. I do not know why, but Zone Alarm fails to recognize (but does not hassle or tamper with) AVG as a virus protection. Zone Alarm asks when starting up "Do you have any anti-virus protection running? I say 'yes' on account of the AVG, but Zone Alarm keeps saying it does not see any anti-virus stuff running. PAT] ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 5 Sep 2004 17:20:13 -0400 (EDT) From: Dan Lanciani Subject: Re: The Soft Invasion > By WALTER S. MOSSBERG > WHAT IF A private company could legally break into your house and rig > your television so that it would always start up on a special station > the company had created that showed deceptive ads every minute, all > day? And what if, when you tried to change the station, you could > choose only among obscure and dubious channels selected by the > invading company? Why exactly is it any more legal for companies to install unauthorized software on my machine than it is for a virus writer to do so? Is it simply because they are (self-identified) "legitimate" businesses rather than individuals? Or is it because they claim that at some point I gave them permission, much as the spammers claim that I signed up for their mail? Dan Lanciani ddl@danlan.*com ------------------------------ Organization: Robert Bonomi Consulting Subject: Re: Sender ID Finds Followers Ahead of Approval From: bonomi@host122.r-bonomi.com (Robert Bonomi) Date: Sun, 05 Sep 2004 13:07:53 +0000 In article , Robert Bonomi wrote: > In article , Monty Solomon > wrote: >> By Jim Wagner >> As a new Sender ID specification for beating back spam wends its way >> through the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), some e-mail >> software vendors are not waiting around for its final approval >> before implementing the system that the IETF will eventually bless a >> specification that will be used on e-mail systems throughout the >> world. >> One of the contributors to the Sender ID specification, >> Microsoft (Quote, Chart), has patents pending on certain components >> of the Sender ID technology it has donated to the IETF's >> efforts. Microsoft has repeatedly said that -- even if it is >> granted a patent on the technology -- it would "make licenses >> available on reasonable and non-discriminatory terms." >> But the issue has some in the open source world talking. The drive >> in the business community to press ahead with Sender ID comes at a >> time when some in the open source community are claiming the >> licensing stipulations around Sender ID don't interoperate with the >> most popular open source license variant, the General Public License >> (define). >> In a post to the IETF's MARID (MTA Authorization Records in DNS) >> discussion list the chairman of the Apache Software Foundation >> (ASF), Greg Stein, called Microsoft's Royalty-Free Sender ID license >> agreement a barrier to any ASF project. >> http://www.internetnews.com/xSP/article.php/3402921 >> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: What exactly is the problem with the >> Open Source proponents? That *they* did not think of it first? >> That Microsoft may get the credit? > Why not try *reading* their position paper on the subject. > Even you might be able to learn something from it. > Do you think there is any problem with an arrangement whereby > Microsoft could, in, say 5 years, after "everybody" is using the > protocol, _change_ the terms for continuing use of the technology > _by_those_CURRENTLY_using_it_ to "if the technology is not embedded in > a MicroSoft product, you must pay $100 for each e-mail message > processed"? Do you have any doubt that MS _would_ do such a thing if > they thought they could get away with it? >> It is really a damn shame when these intelligent men and women fight >> and squabble among themselves while the rest of the world has to >> fight with the spammers. But oh well, most of them probably never >> even see spam (save one or two pieces each day which slip past the >> myriad of filters used by their secretary to get rid of it), > Congratulations PAT, you've just re-proved the definition of USENET. > to wit: "Open mouth, insert foot. Echo internationally." > The ASF (pache oftware oundation) is almost exclusively a > *VOLUNTEER* software development community. 'Secretaries'?? You've > _got_ to be kidding! > If _you_ are only getting one spam message every few minutes on > average, you don't know what a *real* problem is. Contemplate > getting 30-50,000 _per_day_ for one mailbox. A million-plus per day > across all the accounts on the server. >> and those one or two pieces which they do have to view makes them >> angry enough to squabble with other professionals about it, but not >> so angry that they would even consider for a minute getting off >> their own high horses in order to wade through the sewer that the >> net has become with the rest of us. > Rant, based on delusions that are *not* supported by any actual facts. >> Do most of those people even realize how tragic and awful the >> problem of spam has become? I don't think so, otherwise they surely >> would not be blocking the restoration efforts as much as they do, >> would they? > > Nah, I'm *sure* they don't. That's why 'spamassassin' is one of the > '*FREE* for everyone' projects under the ASF umbrella. > > You _have_ heard of spamassassin, haven't you? > In message Fred Goldstein > wrote: >> Another interesting study, from CipherTrust, has just shown that >> the primary users of Sender Policy Framework are (drumroll, please) >> -- Spammers! Yes, it's trivial for a spammer to pass an SPF >> screen. So the main potential benefit is, I suppose, making >> phishing a bit harder or easier for educated users to detect. But >> as an anti-spam weapon, it's nearly worthless. > Which makes sense, SPF was never built to combat spam in the first > place. It was built to combat forgery, and it does that nicely. > Men are from Earth. Women are from Earth. Deal with it. > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I have heard of Spam Assassin. On my > (unix-based) account at MIT I use it, and the $SPAMBOX is always full > and over loaded. Despite the fact that I have the user-settable point > score set very low (1 or 2 qualifies the mail as 'spam') I still > manage to wind up with 85-90 percent spam in my mailbox each day, > out of *hundreds* of pieces of mail daily. Then you need to _learn_ how to use spam assassin. It *IS* -configurable-. If stuff gets past it, you look for any defining characteristics of what gets past it, and add a rule to filter that. Yeah, it takes a little effort to do that. But, _after_ training, it tends to be *very* effective. I run a home-brew tool, on my mailserver, that is much simpler than spam assassin (I wrote it before spam assassin was available). People only try to send me about 850 junk e-mail messages a day, so I'm not in the 'thousands' range. Quite. I've had *one* junk e-mail get through in the last month. _Two_ in the last three months. I block 2 individual IP addresses, 2 '/24' address ranges, and a '/19' assigned to Nigeria. On top of that, I block half-a-dozen domains by name, and a couple of dozen 'magic phrases'. Plus a special check that anything with an AOL, Netscape, Yahoo, or Hotmail address actually comes from the corresponding servers. In the life of the system there have been _three_ 'false positives'. One when 'netscape' mail started coming from AOL's mail-servers instead of one in the netscape domain. And two for some domains that were hosted by SBC, for which the mail came from Yahoo's servers. > I think I heard that MS was granting the license in prepetuity -- > forever -- to groups working to fight spam. But you seem to be > saying "no matter what Microsoft says, after five or ten years they > will change the terms of the license." I do not think that is so. > PAT] What you "think" doesn't matter. And the issue is not 'will they', but "_could_ they", do it. And, if they could, whether you're willing to bet the entire product line that they _will_not_. MS has _earned_ (many times over) the distrust that the rest of the industry feels towards it. There is also the issue that all 'open source' software comes with the proviso that you can modify, re-use, and even *re-distribute* (as long as you provide the source to all your 'enhancements' as well). You can even charge money for it, as long as you provide source the code 'on request'. The proposed MS license doesn't provide for that same unfettered 'pass through' for the license of the (probably defective) patented technology. At that point, it becomes an _ethical_ issue. Does one stand fast on the basic principles the organization was *founded* on, or does one abandon those principles, for the sake of 'expediency'? Some people feel that behaving ethically *is* critically important. Others, like MicroSoft, don't. [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Maybe you would like to do me a favor? My personal Spam Assassin files, (in a directory off of my ~ directory is known as '/.spamassassin') contains these four files: 'bayes_journal', 'bayes_seen', 'bayes_toks' and 'user_prefs'. 'toks' and 'seen' are both very huge binary files. 'journal' is a large file which is in ascii, and readable, consisting of several thousand lines which look like this: The letter 't' followed by a long number which begins 109440 with several more digits following then a single word or phrase, sometimes with a wild card in the middle or on the end of it such as '*word' or 'word*here' or similar. The 'prefs' file is a list of things I can do to improve my lot in life I guess. I am cautioned that I cannot change the system files and definitions (nor would I want to interfere with the work of Mr. Meyerhaus, the sysadmin here at MIT) but that what I do in the 'prefs' file will take effect for my account only. Your mission, should you wish to accept it, is to build for me a Spam Assassin which will resemble your own, with only one or two 'false positives' in a day's time. Do you want to see or examine my 'journal', 'seen', 'toks' or 'prefs' file to do this? Let me know if you wish any files from this end to be sent to you to work with. PAT] ------------------------------ From: DevilsPGD Subject: Re: My New DVR From Cable One Reply-To: bond-jamesbond@crazyhat.net Organization: EasyNews, UseNet made Easy! Date: Sun, 05 Sep 2004 03:55:56 GMT In message Danny Burstein wrote: > At a typical charge of $0.20 (20 cents) per kw-hr, that's a bit over > $4/month in electricity. Add another buck or two if you're using air > conditining and have to dump out that heat. Usually worth it, but > worth a thought or two. OTOH, since the majority of the energy used gets converted into heat, it comes straight off your heating bill if you're in an area which gets cold. > (And the "off" switch, if it has one, is only for show). Weird. My Bell ExpressVu PVR does shut off the hard drive when not in use (Although not immediately, it will update the guide and whatever other housekeeping needs to be done first) I'd rather be told "Have a nice day" by someone who doesn't mean it, than to "F--- OFF" by someone who does. ------------------------------ From: DevilsPGD Subject: Re: Party Lines No More? Reply-To: bond-jamesbond@crazyhat.net Organization: EasyNews, UseNet made Easy! Date: Sun, 05 Sep 2004 03:54:42 GMT In message John P. Dearing wrote: > By the 1980's and 1990's so few people still had party lines that many > of them were effectively single party lines. That is, they had no > "mate" on the party line. Bell then started doing "party line > reassociations" which is putting party lines back together. You'd look > for a Ring party with no mate and find a Tip party with no mate. Put > them together and you now have a party line again. Any idea how much it cost them to put together parties onto party lines again? I'd rather be told "Have a nice day" by someone who doesn't mean it, than to "F--- OFF" by someone who does. ------------------------------ From: hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com (Lisa Hancock) Subject: Re: Party Lines No More? Date: 5 Sep 2004 13:20:19 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com John P. Dearing wrote > In Pennsylvania, the party-line tariff doesn't exist anymore (only as > a grandfathered offering). This means that subscribers with existing > party lines can keep then and aren't forced to get rid of them but no > new party lines will be offered. A slight correction ... Some years ago party line customers in Pa were sent a letter saying their party service was discontinued and would become private lines. AFAIK, Verizon no longer offers party service in Pa at all. I don't know about smaller companies. Prior to this, party service was restricted to existing customers who already had it. I've seen this notice in other states. ------------------------------ 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, Yahoo Groups, and other forums. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. TELECOM Digest is a not-for-profit, mostly non-commercial educational service offered to the Internet by Patrick Townson. All the contents of the Digest are compilation-copyrighted. You may reprint articles in some other media on an occasional basis, but please attribute my work and that of the original author. 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Please make at least a single donation to cover the cost of processing your name to the mailing list. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. End of TELECOM Digest V23 #416 ****************************** From editor@telecom-digest.org Mon Sep 6 04:39:42 2004 Received: (from ptownson@localhost) by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.6p3/8.11.6) id i868dfC27146; Mon, 6 Sep 2004 04:39:42 -0400 (EDT) Date: Mon, 6 Sep 2004 04:39:42 -0400 (EDT) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <200409060839.i868dfC27146@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 V23 #417 TELECOM Digest Mon, 6 Sep 2004 04:40:00 EDT Volume 23 : Issue 417 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson The Death of Diversity in Cable TV Programming (Monty Solomon) Bush to Big Cable: We Love You Time Warner, Comcast, Cox (Monty Solomon) Show Me the Convention (Monty Solomon) In Internet Calling, Skype Is Living Up to the Hype (Monty Solomon) Re: Party Lines No More? (John McHarry) Re: Party Lines No More? (John Levine) Re: Telephone Vocabulary -- "Straight Line" (John McHarry) Re: How to Call Blocked Canadian 800 Numbers From U.S. (John P. Dearing) Play DTMF Tones Over a Modem (Prospecting Sucks) Re: My New DVR From Cable One (Barry Margolin) Book Review: The Sinking of the Eastland (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. =========================== Addresses herein are not to be added to any mailing list, nor to be sold or given away without explicit written consent. Chain letters, viruses, porn, spam, and miscellaneous junk are definitely unwelcome. We must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands against crime. Geoffrey Welsh =========================== See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 5 Sep 2004 22:46:14 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: The Death of Diversity in Cable TV Programming C. DELORES TUCKER WOULD THE civil rights movement of the 1960s have succeeded without the help of television? Johnathan Rodgers, CEO of TV One, a new African-American network, recently posed the question -- with skepticism. The indelible images of Bull Connor's dogs, and the spiritual nonviolent resistance to them, made a human struggle palpable for Americans otherwise absorbed in more mundane affairs. Television today, particularly cable, is in some ways both a manifest of the civil rights struggle and the very tool of its continuing execution. A generation after the march over the Pettus Bridge, African-Americans, Latinos, and women own, produce, and star in a rich menu of cable programming which illuminates their culture, mobility, and challenges -- both internal and external. Much of this success is owed to the very model of the cable television platform, where developing channels are placed alongside established ones -- a platform that some media critics now want to replace with a government mandated pay-per-channel (or "a la carte") regime where consumers would have to pay a set price for individual channels. And if these would-be regulators succeed, the diversity in cable programming -- a fruit of the civil rights movement -- will die with it. http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/09/05/the_death_of_diversity_in_cable_tv_programming/ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 5 Sep 2004 22:59:01 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Bush to Big Cable: We Love You Time Warner, Comcast, Cox! Washington Watch A Pre-GOP Convention Gift to Media Monopoly for Broadband August 30, 2004 The Department of Justice last Friday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a lower court decision that affirmed the broadband Internet's obligation to serve as a nondiscriminatory medium. The DOJ thus joined both the FCC and the cable industry, which also want to see a reversal of what is called the "Brand X" case (for the Santa Monica-based Internet service provider of that name). A federal Court of Appeals (Ninth Circuit) found last year that the Michael Powell FCC erred when it declared that the cable industry could, in essence, operate closed broadband networks. Fighting that decision in court were ISPs Brand X and Earthlink, along with Consumer Federation of American, Consumers Union, Media Access Project (as our counsel), and CDD. The Brand X case is vitally important to the future of the Internet as a democratic medium. As the Bush DOJ told the Supreme Court: "This case is likely to determine the regulatory classification under the Communications Act that will apply to broadband ( i.e., "high-speed") Internet access services in the United States." In essence, the federal government has come to the aid of its embattled great deregulator, FCC chairman Michael Powell. In May 2002, Powell, as part of his agency's "leave no media monopoly behind" policy, approved rules that permitted cable companies to extend their monopoly in multichannel television to the broadband market. Broadband provided by cable would not have to retain the characteristics of the dial-up Internet under his new policy, which meant that cable companies could deny access to their network by all other ISPs (forcing cable broadband subscribers to use the cable operator's monopoly ISP provider). In addition, by eliminating nondiscrimination safeguards for broadband service, Powell made it much easier for cable companies to manipulate their Internet platforms to further benefit commercial media content. http://www.democraticmedia.org/news/washingtonwatch/BrandXBush.html ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 5 Sep 2004 23:07:56 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Show Me the Convention OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR By MICHAEL J. COPPS Washington - As a Democratic commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission, I may not agree with many positions taken by speakers this week at the Republican National Convention. Even so, I believe our broadcast media owe us more coverage of an event that remains an important component of the presidential campaign. Yet tonight, if people around the country tune in to the commercial broadcast TV networks, most will not see any live convention coverage. That's not right. Let's remember that American citizens own the public airwaves, not TV executives. We give broadcasters the right to use these airwaves for free in exchange for their agreement to broadcast in the public interest. They earn huge profits using this public resource. During this campaign season broadcasters will receive nearly $1.5 billion from political advertising. What do we get in return for granting TV stations free use of our airwaves? Unfortunately, when it comes to coverage of issues important to our nation, the answer is less and less. Coverage of the 2000 presidential election on the network evening news dropped by a third compared to reporting on the 1996 election. During the last election cycle we heard directly from presidential candidates for an average of 9 seconds a night on the news. Local races? Forget it. In 2002 -- the most recent midterm elections -- more than half of local newscasts contained no campaign coverage at all. Local coverage has diminished to the point that campaign ads outnumber campaign stories by four to one. What coverage there is focuses inordinately on polls and handicapping the horse race. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/30/opinion/30copps.html ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 5 Sep 2004 23:18:39 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: In Internet Calling, Skype Is Living Up to the Hype TECHNO FILES By JAMES FALLOWS HOW big a deal will Skype turn out to be? I have no idea whether the company itself, which was founded one year ago, will someday come to epitomize and dominate a particular booming business, the way Google ,eBay and Amazon now do. But I feel confident that the service it provides will be attractive to most people who give it a serious look. Skype, a made-up term that rhymes with "tripe," is the most popular and sexiest application of VoIP, which doesn't rhyme with anything. VoIP -- sometimes pronounced letter by letter, like C.I.A., and at other times as a word -- stands for voice over Internet protocol. Essentially, it is a way of allowing a computer with a broadband connection to serve as a telephone. This new form of conveying voice messages has so many advantages over traditional systems that the whole telecommunications industry is scrambling to see how fast it can shift traffic onto the Internet. AT&T, for example, is no longer recruiting new home customers, but it is offering many new VoIP services. Dozens of other companies - new ones like Vonage and established ones like Verizon - are selling VoIP services, too. Skype's distinction is that, for now at least, it is the easiest, fastest and cheapest way for individual customers to begin using VoIP. It works this way: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/05/business/yourmoney/05tech.html ------------------------------ From: John McHarry Subject: Re: Party Lines No More? Date: Sun, 05 Sep 2004 23:17:39 GMT Organization: EarthLink Inc. -- http://www.EarthLink.net DevilsPGD wrote: > In message John P. Dearing > wrote: >> By the 1980's and 1990's so few people still had party lines that many >> of them were effectively single party lines. That is, they had no >> "mate" on the party line. Bell then started doing "party line >> reassociations" which is putting party lines back together. You'd look >> for a Ring party with no mate and find a Tip party with no mate. Put >> them together and you now have a party line again. > Any idea how much it cost them to put together parties onto party lines > again? In later years, they just bridged them in the CO. This made it easy to use "killer little old ladies" to drive away other party line subscribers. ------------------------------ Date: 6 Sep 2004 06:19:41 -0000 From: John Levine Subject: Re: Party Lines No More? Organization: I.E.C.C., Trumansburg NY USA > Any idea how much it cost them to put together parties onto party > lines again? Not much. It was usually just moving jumpers at the CO to bridge the lines together. Everyone had a private line from the CO out to their houses. My cousins who run a rural telco in VT told me that the "attack biddie" gambit to get people to switch to private lines was a well known one. ------------------------------ From: John McHarry Subject: Re: Telephone Vocabulary -- "Straight Line" Date: Sun, 05 Sep 2004 23:34:43 GMT Organization: EarthLink Inc. -- http://www.EarthLink.net Carl Navarro wrote: > We used the term "straight line" in reference to the ringer. A > straight line ringer would ring on frequencies of 16 2/3 to about 33 > Hz, as opposed to a party line ringer that would only ring on the > frequency it was tuned to. That would be an independent phone company. I don't think the Bells ever used tuned ringers, except as an interim in companies they acquired. > For Central Offices, private line ring generator was either was either > 20 or 30 Hz. Other frequencies were different, depending on whether > the ring scheme was Harmonic or Decimonic. No, I don't remember what > party was what, except that party 2 was 50Hz in Harmonic. I suppose I > could look it up if it's important. There was also Synchromonic ringing. Seems to me there may have been another, but it may have been a variation of one of the other schemes. My favorite was GURF ringing. You could have full selective ringing on eight or ten party lines by putting half the ringers tip to ground and the other half ring to ground. Four party ANI was also possible using diodes. Tip to ring, ring to tip, tip to ground, and ring to ground. There may have been six party, but I don't recall. Maybe there is a problem with that. If you want to go beyond that, or don't use frequency selective ringing, there is coded ringing, or divided coded ringing, using tip and ring groupings. Old magneto phones were mostly coded ringing, and you could ring other parties on your line without going through "Central". There was an alarm code that could be use to summon the neighbors if you had a fire or something. ------------------------------ From: John P. Dearing Subject: Re: How to Call Blocked Canadian 800 Numbers From U.S. Date: Mon, 06 Sep 2004 00:27:58 GMT Our esteemed moderator wrote: > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I think most 800 numbers simply > get translated into a 'regular' number; if you dial via that > 'regular' number you call will go through. For example, a friend > of mine in Canada (Ontario) who calls me occassionally to counsel > me with my computer stuff has my 800 number; but he cannot get > through on it -- I have never had it specifically authorized for > Canadian or other country use. So he dials in on the area codee 620 > version of same number instead. My question is (1) have you tried > dialing the untranslated or 'regular' number of the places you want > to call and (2) are they refusing to deal with your call on those > untranslated numbers? I would think there are various calling plans > in your (USA) area code which would make your call cheap enough > without the need for all the gymnastics you are otherwise going > through to get them on the phone. PAT] Pat, Even though many toll free numbers translate to POTS lines there are just as many that do not. This is especially true with large call volume toll free numbers like the original poster was talking about. Many times these lines come in on a T-1 directly from the IEC and therefore don't have a POTS line associated with them in any way. Cheers! John P. Dearing A+, Network+ To reply: Just drop "YOURPANTS" in my address! 8-) [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: What you say is true, but even if the 800 lines terminated on a T-1 and were not themselves directly dialable (as a 'regular' 7-D number), all the places he mentioned such as Revenue Department, Immigration Department, etc would have directory listed 7-D 'administrative numbers' he could use and ask to be transferred as needed to the proper department. PAT] ------------------------------ From: action@xmission.com (Prospecting Sucks) Subject: Play DTMF Tones Over a Modem Date: 5 Sep 2004 18:10:12 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com I use a voiceblast system which allows me to keep up to date with customers and clients. The problem I have is that I have to call into a toll-free number and then using my telephone keypad I need to key in the telephone numbers (with area-code) of the people I wa