Telecom/1996-04-telecom-walnutcreek.iso/back.issues/1993.volume.13/vol13.iss501-550

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Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1993 03:08:01 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #501

TELECOM Digest     Fri, 23 Jul 93 03:08:00 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 501

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Is CIS Blocking Internet? (Alan M. Gallatin)
    Re: Is CIS Blocking Internet? (Christopher Zguris)
    Re: Is CIS Blocking Internet? (Bob Frankston)
    Re: Is CIS Blocking Internet? (Jack Decker)
    Re: MCI to Compuserve and Back (Lynne Gregg)
    Re: Commercial Services - Internet Mail (Lynne Gregg)
    Re: Prodigy Internet Gateway is Up! (Andrew Finkenstadt)
    Re: Prodigy Internet Gateway is Up! (Bill Campbell)
    Re: Kerberos on Cellular Telephones (Bill Campbell)
    Re: Kerberos on cellular telephones (Richard Thomsen)
    Re: 800 Translation Questions (Andy Sherman)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Thu, 22 Jul 93 07:22:42 -0400
From: [e-mail] (Alan M. Gallatin)
Subject: Re: Is CIS Blocking Internet?


The real question is: does CI$ block all messages that have addresses
starting with >INTERNET: and *containing* the string mcimail.com or
does it hit such messages with addresses *ending* with mcimail.com?

Example ... the discussion on this group would suggest that a CI$
message addressed to  >INTERNET:[e-mail]  will be subject to
some "cruel" treatment :-)   What happens if you force the mail to
hit an extra internet site, for example:

     >INTERNET:[e-mail]

(For those unfamilar, this address would get interpreted as, "send the
mail to the user at mcimail.com by passing the message to
cunyvm.cuny.edu and letting that system figure out what's next.)

This is a perfectly legit (albeit inefficient) way to address e-mail -
It is still VERY useful for reaching non-internet sites with internet
domain names, or UUCP sites (kind of an evolution from the old "!"
bang addressing).

Will CI$ see through this or will THIS sort of message pass through?

BY THE WAY:  I'm still not clear what CI$ DOES do with messages it
detects are really MCIMail - does it:

    a) bounce the message back to the sender with explanation;
    b) silently send the message into a net.black.hole never to be
             heard from again;
    c) automagically re-route the message to MCIMail and, in the
             process, hit the sender for that fee?

Thanks!


Alan M. Gallatin   <[e-mail]>
Duke University School of Law; Durham, NC

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

Date: Thu, 22 Jul 93 15:13 GMT
From: Christopher Zguris <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Is CIS Blocking Internet?


In TELECOM Digest V13 #498 Bruce ([e-mail] OR
[e-mail]) writes:

> In neither case do I pay for incoming mail, either with MCI or CIS.
> MCI charges for outbound mail only; CIS charges for connect time only,
> regardless of what you're doing (I understand that some, newer, CIS
> accounts DO work as you describe: Mine (about ten years old) doesn't).

I also have a CompuServe account and as you said above, you pay for
connect time. But if you're paying for connect time to read/download/
whatever email (especially larger amounts of e-mail) than you are
_indirectly_ paying. At least you're paying more than you would using
MCI which only charges for sending.

A friend of mine has an account with a local dial-in access provider
and they charge him $35 a month for a mailbox plus he has to pay for
the phone call which ads up if you're on for any length of time
(incidentally, I think $35 per month is excessive). As a note, MCI
Mail is accessed using an 800 number so they pick up the call!

One other note here, if MCI has a working direct gateway to
Compuserve, why would you want to go through the Internet? Wouldn't
this be a waste of Internet bandwidth?


Christopher Zguris    [e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: It might well be -- probably is -- a waste of
bandwidth. But if the user knows no better, I still contend the mail
sould be bounced, not just lost in the vapor somewhere.   PAT]

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

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Is CIS Blocking Internet?
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1993 13:33 -0400


Note that now that MCI<->CIS is via their X.400 gateway they've
dropped the surcharge.

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

Date: Thu, 22 Jul 93 15:27:03 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Jack Decker)
Subject: Re: Is CIS Blocking Internet?


In message <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Mike King)
wrote:

> The gateway between MCI Mail and CI$ is separate from the Internet
> gateway, and CI$ has historically surcharged for sending mail to MCI
> Mail subscribers.

> At some point later, it became possible for both services to send and
> receive via the Internet.  But since CI$ has a direct gateway to MCI
> Mail, for which they can charge, why (in their mind) should they
> permit a user to bypass it and send mail to MCI Mail subscribers via
> the Internet?

> If LECs weren't required by their state regulators to allow dialing
> 10xxx on an intra-LATA toll call, would they?

Let me suggest something that MIGHT work for CI$ or MCI Mail subscrib-
ers who want to receive e-mail from the other service routed via the
Internet.

Get an account on one of the many Freenet systems (such as Cleveland
Freenet, Youngstown Freenet, National Capitol Freenet in Canada,
etc.).  All Freenets that I know of have a dialup number so you can
access them via the phone network, even if you don't have a local
Internet connection.

Once you have an account established, tell people to send mail to your
Freenet address rather than your MCI or CI$ address.

Now ... log onto the Freenet system and tell it to forward all your
mail to your preferred address on the commercial system of your
choice.  After that, you may only need to log into the Freenet once a
month or so to keep your account active (and maybe you don't even need
to do that; I'm not sure if Freenets delete inactive accounts).

This will definitely avoid the problem of outgoing mail being blocked
before it ever leaves the sender's system, since to the sender you'll
have a valid Internet address.  It may not help the problem of the
service you use refusing incoming mail from certain services if it
comes in via the Internet, but if I had a service that did that, I
would find another service post haste, or at least argue the point
with someone in management (forget the first-level folks in Customer
Service; they're there to defend company policy, not change it).  One
argument you could use (especially if true) is that you travel a lot
and when you are away from home, it's more convenient to have your
Internet mail forwarded to your commercial service mailbox, but you
don't want to lose any of it just because it happens to have another
commercial service's address in the "From" header.

Personally, I think this may be just another reason why the commercial
services will decline as public access to the Internet becomes more
available.  The latter is slow in coming to many areas, although I
understand that it's available in many areas through services like
Delphi and BIX, and often at a lower cost than through the commercial
services (by the way, anyone know of anything less expensive than
those two?  I have a friend in Indianapolis who's looking for less
expensive access, but preferably one that would permit a SLIP, SLFP,
or PPP connection).  Really, the only reason Compuserve is so popular
is because it promotes itself so heavily (what other online service
runs TV ads on network television?) but in many cases, once folks get
their first bill they start looking for lower-cost alternatives!  :-)


Jack Decker | [e-mail] or [e-mail]

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

From: Lynne Gregg <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MCI to Compuserve and Back
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 93 14:39:00 PDT


Joshua E. Muskovitz <[e-mail]> wrote:

> All MCI addresses on the list (including the original sender) bounce
> when they get rerouted to MCI, because the gateway recognises the
> mcimail in the sender's address.  The funny part of it is that in
> order to bounce it, it has to go back across the net!  Mail to CIS
> gets through, I believe, but I'm not sure.  Not having a CIS account,
> I don't know what happens to that mail."

I've tried this before.  You're right, the "bounce" comes back across
the net, back to the Compuserve subscriber. I have a CIS account, but
can't speak for what's seen on the MCI end.  The CIS user gets a
message that basically states that to send to MCI users, you must use
the MCImail> prefix (directing your email out the dedicated MCI
gateway).  This costs you a min. of $1.00.  The charge for message
delivery IS size dependent. I've sent some "reports" across to MCI
users at a cost of $3.00.

Hey, it's still less expensive than overnight air!


Lynne

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

From: Lynne Gregg <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Commercial Services - Internet Mail
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 93 14:44:00 PDT


Gary Breuckman <[e-mail]> wrote:

> Compuserve charges for mail that you SEND, and also charges for
> Internet mail that you RECEIVE, at the same rate as if you had sent
> it.  You have the option of discarding Internet mail (based on the
> subject/from line) without reading it, and not paying for it.

Note: CIS has a few rate plans.  You're speaking of the "basic-basic"
plan.  Depending on your email volume and what other "services" you
want to access on Compuserve, you might find the hourly, pay-as-you-go
rate to be more advantageous.  I do.  In the case where you pay the ~
$12.95 per hour, you can access a wide range of services.  You DO NOT
pay a per message charge for email (either intra-system or
inter-system).  If you use the CIM software, you get a view of message
headers and can accept or delete messages (no point in paying the per
message charge or the per minute to file transfer something you don't
want).


Lynne

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

From: [e-mail] (Andrew Finkenstadt)
Subject: Re: Prodigy Internet Gateway is Up!
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Vista-Chrome, Inc.
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1993 00:03:34 GMT


In TELECOM Digest V13 #490 PAT wrote:

> [Moderator's Note: Since each issue of this Digest runs 21-24 K of
> text, that's 'merely' $1.05 - $1.20 per issue for Prodigy people.
> I think I'll make Prodigy cut me in for some percentage of it!  :)
> Do they honestly think anyone on their service will be able to afford
> to be part of any mailing list originating on the Internet?  PAT]

David Appell <[e-mail]> writes:

> I believe this is going to be an increasingly large problems for
> users of commercial e-mail services who receive significant amounts of
> mail from the Internet.

> Last week's issue of {Communications Week} had a cover story on
> this topic.  CIS has already instituted charges similiar to Prodigy,
> and other big commercial providers (they quoted EasyLink) are
> considering it.

[parts deleted...]

> Unfortunately, given the current rate structures of commercial
> e-mail providers (of order 15-50 cents for a 1K message), few users
> will be able to afford to receive much mail from the Internet.

The GEnie service, for whom I am contractor of several areas,
including serving as Internet Postmaster and Sysop of the Internet
RoundTable, offers Internet mail inbound or outbound at the same exact
price as it offers internal mail -- and it is all connect time based.

A very brief history of the last month or so (as preceeding historical
events were explained here, too):

In late May 1993 GEnie announced their rate restructuring; one benefit
of this action was to remove the per-item/size costs from Internet
mail and throw it under the standard connect time rates, effective
July 1.  Previously an issue of the Digest that would run 25K would
cost about $1.50.  Now it would cost however long it takes to download
it, or roughly 20 cents.  That is via electronic mail.

There are other options available to GEnie subscribers for downloading
the TELECOM Digest (or just about any other newsgroup) in a compressed
form.  Our typical compression ratio is 3:1, and some repetitive
newsgroups get better than that. <grin> (For more information about
this, write to INTERNET on GEnie, or [e-mail].)


Andrew Finkenstadt  |  andy@{homes.com,vistachrome.com,genie.geis.com}
Systems Analyst     |  Vista-Chrome, Homes & Land Publishing Corporation
                    |  1600 Capital Circle SW, Tallahassee Florida 32310
[phone]     |  GEnie Postmaster, Unix & Internet RoundTables Sysop

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

From: [e-mail] (Bill Campbell)
Subject: Re: Prodigy Internet Gateway is Up!
Organization: Celestial Software, Mercer Island, WA
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1993 16:04:44 GMT


In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Mike King) writes:

> CI$ does give you the option of either ignoring or deleting incoming
> Internet mail (it's flagged in the summary); if you don't read it
> within 30 days, it'll go away by itself.  Unread mail carries no
> charge.

I would like to see CIS add the capability of automatically forwarding
e-mail to a CIS account to my internet address.  The last thing I want
to do is deal with the CIS mail programs and "editor", but I do
receive some e-mail there since I'm a sysop on the CIS scoforum.  My
solution now is to read CIS mail once a week capturing it to disk,
then I have a perl script that injects the CIS mail into my Unix
mailer where I can read and reply to it.


Bill
INTERNET:  [e-mail]   Bill Campbell; Celestial Software
UUCP:   ...!thebes!camco!bill   8545 SE 68th Street
             uunet!camco!bill   Mercer Island, WA 98040; [phone]

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

From: [e-mail] (Bill Campbell)
Subject: Re: Kerberos on Cellular Telephones
Organization: Sierra Geophysics, Inc.
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1993 01:05:27 GMT


Richard,

I don't think I understand you here.  (My understanding of crypto is
not extensive.)  Perhaps you would be so kind as to enlighten?

Specific questions interspersed below.

On 14 Jul 93 04:52:22 GMT, [e-mail] (Richard Thomsen)
said:

Richard> Andrew R. Ghali <[e-mail]> wrote:

> The abbreviated query/challenge system should go something like this:

> Phone: "Hi, I'm NNN-NXX-XXXX, I'd like to make a call"
> Cell:  "Oh yeah, prove to me that you are NNN-NXX-XXXX.  Here
>         is a session key encoded using your ESN, decode it,
>         encode the number you want to call with it and send
>         it back"
> Phone: "OK, here is the number I want to call encoded with the
>         session key"
> Cell:  "Looks good, here's your call, encoded with the current
>         session key.  Enjoy."

Richard> It seems to me that this is not a very good challange system.  The
Richard> cell sends an encrypted message, and the phone could go offline
Richard> and take as long as necessary to try different ESNs to break the
Richard> code.  Would it not be better if it were as follows?

How would it know that it had broken the code?  How would it recognize
a valid session key?  Wouldn't the session key expire after some
reasonable timeout interval?

Richard> Phone:    "Hi, I'd like to make a call, and here is my telephone number
Richard>     encrypted with my ESN."

How does the cell know at this point who is calling, since both the
telephone number and ESN have now been hashed together?  Are you not
describing a situation in which the cell suddenly receives a stream of
digits?  Doesn't the caller have to make some sort of "claim" of
identification which can then be verified?

Richard> Cell:    "Your telephone number decoded correctly, so the ESN you sent
Richard>     me was acceptable.  Here is the session key encoded with your
Richard>     ESN.  Decode it, encode the number you want to call with it,
Richard>     and send it back."
Richard> Rest as above.

Richard> It would seem that a two-way challange would be better than just
Richard> sending an encrypted message to the caller.  If the first message
Richard> did not decode using the proper ESN, then the cell would not send
Richard> anything.

Richard> This weakness is also true of the Kerberos password system.

Richard> Richard Thomsen    Los Alamos National Laboratory   [e-mail]
Richard> In case you did not realize, I speak only for myself.

Maybe I just don't understand the problem.  I thought that cell fraud
was perpetrated by phreaks recording telno/ESN pairs that are (currently)
transmitted in the clear.  If the ESN is always transmitted in cipher-
text, and the value of the session key is generated on the fly and
therefore not somehow known to the phreak, how can s/he get the ESN?


Bill Campbell     Software Engineer
Halliburton Energy Services   [e-mail]
#include <std/disclaimer.h>

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

Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1993 09:57:37 -0600
From: [e-mail] (Richard Thomsen)
Subject: Re: Kerberos on Cellular Telephones


I have received some email about my suggestion for Kerberos on
cellular telephones, some asking some questions of why what I
suggested would be any better.

I am probably the one missing something here.  I was told by some
people who have been studying Kerberos that the server sends you an
encrypted message first, after you request one in the clear.  Then the
workstation can go off trying to break the code, and use it.  Somehow
it knows when it has broken the message, probably by the message
format and some fixed part of the message, the date, or whatever.
Once it has broken the message, the session key is probably expired,
but it now knows the password, so it can use that password with
impunity.  I would think that the cellular telephone system would have
the same problem.  Once you have broken the message, then you have the
ESN to use.

What I was trying to suggest was some way to prove yourself to the
server before it gave out any critical material.  The idea was that
the client (the telephone) does the encrypting, and the server does
the decrypting, so that the server does not send critical information
to the client that it can use, until it is reasonably sure who it is.
Others are right in that if you are listening to the conversation,
then it probably does not make any difference.  I was thinking more in
the line of impersonation rather than tapping.


Richard Thomsen     Los Alamos National Laboratory   [e-mail]

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

Date: Thu, 22 Jul 93 11:45:30 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Andy Sherman)
Subject: Re: 800 Translation Questions


In comp.dcom.telecom, article <[e-mail]>, Pat
wrote:

> [Moderator's Note: A call from POTS phone A in Chicago to 800
> number B in New York will *always* have the same logic, won't it?
> Telco goes to the database the first time it sees an 800 number; is
> given the details on what to do, and does it. Do you have to be told
> over and over how to do the same thing? The round cache which sits on
> top of your shoulders stores information. You only go to the library
> (or read this Digest! <smile>) when you want to learn something new.
> So for a day or two or three -- whatever -- at a time, the telco
> switch's cache remembers what it did the last time it saw the number.
> Since large volume 800 customers are called over and over all day long
> in a city like Chicago (someone in some CO somewhere here is always
> calling United Airlines, I'm sure), the switch is always in a position
> to say "Oh! I know what to do now, I know where that place is."   PAT]

In a later issue, Pat then writes (after some discussion):

>[Moderator's Note: Well the point you raise is the one issue I was
>never able to satisfy myself on with my thesis of how it was done. So
                                         ^^^^^^
> your point is well taken, and according to the message which appeared
> here yesterday, telcos do in fact do a lookup each time; it is done so
> rapidly however that to the user it is quite transparent.  PAT]

It would be *really* nice if people posting hypotheses in the Digest
(including the Moderator) would label them as such, rather than
stating them as facts.  This would go a long way towards decreasing
the level of net.confusion.  Do not confidently go forth and state
that you *know* that COs have an 800 number routing cache unless you
have *information* at hand the confirms that this is the case.
Guessing is fine - just share the fact that you're winging it.

As to the 800 number cache, that would be a singularly bad idea for
any LEC to implement in an end office.  First off, it would break a
lot of enhanced 800 services.  Somebody from AT&T can correct me if
I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure (note the disclaimer, please) that it's
possible to have the routing change at night, so that a nationwide 800
number routed to multiple centers can have fewer centers open at
night.  Cacheing the route would surely break this.  Caches would also
likely break all of the "we guarantee to have your super-duper 800
service back up within X minutes" type services that the IXC's offer.


Andy Sherman  Salomon Inc  -  Unix Systems Support  -  Rutherford, NJ
[phone]  -  [e-mail] or [e-mail]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #501
******************************










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Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1993 03:50:02 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #502

TELECOM Digest     Fri, 23 Jul 93 03:50:00 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 502

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Multi-Carrier Service From Cincinnati Bell (Mike King)
    Re: Multi-Carrier Service From Cincinnati Bell (R. Kevin Oberman)
    Re: Multi-Carrier Service From Cincinnati Bell (Marshall Levin)
    Re: Multi-Carrier Service From Cincinnati Bell (Ralph Hyre)
    Re: Local Ringback Number Wanted (Curtis Bohl)
    Re: Local Ringback Number Wanted (Carl Oppedahl)
    Re: Escort Digital Cordless Phone (David Hough)
    Re: How I Call 800 Numbers (Laurence Chiu)
    Re: Translation Help Needed With Telephony Terms in Spanish (F. Lagrana)
    Re: Maximum Number of Phone Lines to a Residence? (Marc Unangst)
    Re: Assistance Needed With PLANITU Software (Robert Shaw)
    Re: How Were N.A. Area Codes Allocated? (Carl Moore)
    Re: Dark Fiber? (Carl Silva)
    Re: Answering Machines and Fax Marriages - Can They Work (H. Shrikumar)
    Re: The Next Step: Affinity Long Distance (Fred Ennis)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Thu, 22 Jul 93 12:50:15 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Mike King)
Subject: Re: Multi-Carrier Service From Cincinnati Bell


In TELECOM Digest, V13 #497, [e-mail] (Douglas Luce) wrote:

> Apparantly, they havqe a special switch which selects the cheapest
> long distance carrier (based on time of day and destination of call)
> at the time the call is made.

> They broker time from the five major long-distance carriers (MCI,
> Sprint, etc) and some regional carriers.  They wholesale this time
> through their special switching equipment, somehow making sure that
> their customers get the best deal.  They also offer calling cards and
> other normal carrier incentives.

> This person went on to say that Cincinnati Bell is one of the few
> (perhaps the only) Bell Operating Companies that was allowed to do
> long distance businesss after the Bell breakup.

> Does anyone know about this product?  Is this sort of deal
> particularly remarkable?  Is he hiding something about Cincinnati Bell
> being a BOC and allowed to do long distance?

Several companies are making money by brokering long distance in the
manner described.  Since they buy in bulk, their cost per minute is
very low.

I don't know if the deal is especially remarkable.  It's true that one
carrier is a penny or two cheaper for one call at a specific time for
a particular distance, and another carrier will be a penny or two
cheaper for the same distance at another time, but unless you're a
very high volume caller, you probably won't see a big savings on your
LD bills.  This may be skewed by the regional carriers -- they're
likely to be a little more competitive than the nationals.  While I'd
like to believe you can place faith in CB, some of the companies in
such a business are not zealous in keeping their costing tables up to
date, and depending on how ethical the management of such a company
is, you may not always really get the best rate.  If you want to
confirm you're really getting the best rate, you'd have to do the same
amount of homework as you'd do to select the carrier yourself
(although you can do it after the fact).

Drawbacks?  Well, the call has to be handed to another switch to make
the decision over which carrier to send the call (while CB *can* do
that through their CO switches, I doubt that's the case).  From there,
it has to be sent to the LD carrier's POP.  A regular LD call goes
directly from the CO to the LD POP.  If you have any problems with
calls, you have to deal with the reseller, who in turn deals with the
carrier, instead of being able to go directly to the source.  It may
be difficult to determine which carrier is involved.

Yes, CB *IS* allowed to sell long distance, and telephones, and other
services.  Prior to divestiture, AT&T had minority ownership in CB; I
believe it was around 24%.  As such, it kept an 'independent' status
during and after divestiture -- it's not owned by any "Baby Bell" RBOC.
Since 1984, CB has bought most, if not all, of AT&T's shares.


Mike King           |  [phone]            |  I don't speak for my
Software Sourcerer  |  [e-mail] or           |  employer.  My employer
Fairchild Space     |  [e-mail]  |  doesn't speak for me.

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

From: [e-mail]
Subject: RE: Multi-Carrier Service From Cincinnati Bell
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 93 15:30:14 GMT
Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory


In Article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:

> Apparantly, they havqe a special switch which selects the cheapest
> long distance carrier (based on time of day and destination of call)
> at the time the call is made.

> This person went on to say that Cincinnati Bell is one of the few
> (perhaps the only) Bell Operating Companies that was allowed to do
> long distance businesss after the Bell breakup.

> Does anyone know about this product?  Is this sort of deal
> particularly remarkable?  Is he hiding something about Cincinnati Bell
> being a BOC and allowed to do long distance?

This sort of thing is common for large customers. I have never heard
of it being offered like this, though.

As to why Cincinnati Bell being different, they are not an RBOC and,
to my knowlege, were not a BOC. Even though the name is Cincinnati
Bell, they were not owned by AT&T and were not effected by the MFJ.
Hence, like GTE, they are free to do whatever they like. Sounds like
thay are doing something useful with that ability.


R. Kevin Oberman        Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Internet: [e-mail]    [phone]

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

From: [e-mail] (Marshall Levin)
Subject: Re: Multi-Carrier Service From Cincinnati Bell
Organization: University of Denver, Dept. of Math & Comp. Sci.
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 93 03:17:53 GMT


Well, I don't know about the phone company itself providing such a
service, but I know of a number of different universities that offer
it.  Their computer checks the number you dial, checks its database of
rates and routes your call to the cheapest carrier.  It sounds like
you'd run into some legal situations if the actual phone company did
this.  I imagine the university's phone/computer system merely
prefixes your call with the appropriate 10xxx code.

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

From: [e-mail]
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 93 15:26:42 EDT
Subject: Re: Multi-Carrier Service From Cincinnati Bell
Reply-To: [e-mail]


> Yesterday I got a call from someone at Cincinnati Bell.  This person
> was plugging their innovative new long-distance service.

I didn't think it was new, unless a new service has just come out.
Cincinnati Bell Long Distance offers 1+, 950, and 800 access.

> Apparantly, they havqe a special switch which selects the cheapest
> long distance carrier (based on time of day and destination of call)
> at the time the call is made.

I have never heard this, and would take it with a grain of salt.  I
assumed they bought all their time from AT&T or a large carrier.
Otherwise you miss out on volume discounts when all your traffic is
with one carrier.

> They broker time from the five major long-distance carriers (MCI,
> Sprint, etc) and some regional carriers.  They wholesale this time
> through their special switching equipment, somehow making sure that
> their customers get the best deal.  They also offer calling cards and
> other normal carrier incentives.

The one 'normal carrier incentive' they don't have is the ability to
put the calls on your Cincinnati Bell local telephone bill.
(Cincinnati Bell can't accept bills for EasyReach 700 service, either,
but that's another story.)  This means you get at LEAST two phone
bills, one for local calls, the other for long distance calls.

You can't even pay the local and long distance bills in person at the
same location.  You have to walk from 4th street to 7th street through
Downtown Cincinnati.

They also charge a separate 'FCC assessment' (.54/month) on your bill
(if you're a 1+ customer).  This is because they are considered a
'non-facilities' based carrier and are subject to some FCC edict.

> This person went on to say that Cincinnati Bell is one of the few
> (perhaps the only) Bell Operating Companies that was allowed to do
> long distance businesss after the Bell breakup.

This is true, Cincinnati Bell and Southern New England Telephone were
generally unaffected by divestiture, because AT&T didn't own a
majority stake in them.  For example, Tristate Online is an
Internet-accessible information service offerred by Cincinnati Bell.
It's free, for basic (e-mail) services.  Real internet access for ftp,
etc. will cost money.

> Does anyone know about this product?  Is this sort of deal
> particularly remarkable?  Is he hiding something about Cincinnati Bell
> being a BOC and allowed to do long distance?

I subscribe to their travel service, which is offerred throughout the
Midwest (Chicago <-> Pittsburgh) and other areas (like Dallas). Dial
950-1614 + PIN + number.


Ralph Hyre ([e-mail])

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

From: [e-mail] (Missouri 4-H Youth Development Programs)
Subject: Re: Local Ringback Number Wanted
Organization: University of Missouri
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 93 17:34:32 CDT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Mark Juric [MSAI]) writes:

> I'm looking for a number or "trick" to ringback my number.  You
> know, something like dialing a 9 as the first digit of your number and
> then hanging up ... I used to have one when I lived up North, but I'm
> not familiar with Southern Bell.  Anyone know about this?

Have you tried dialing your phone number by itself?  That works with
some of the GTE switches here.


Curtis Bohl                      Computer Programmer/Analyst
[e-mail]           4-H Youth Development
Alternate: [e-mail]                   Programs

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

From: [e-mail] (Carl Oppedahl)
Subject: Re: Local Ringback Number Wanted
Date: 22 Jul 1993 21:42:39 -0400
Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and Unix, NYC


In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Mark Juric
[MSAI]) writes:

> I'm looking for a number or "trick" to ringback my number.  You
> know, something like dialing a 9 as the first digit of your number and
> then hanging up ... I used to have one when I lived up North, but I'm
> not familiar with Southern Bell.  Anyone know about this?

This comes up every so often, and I keep thinking I should write an
FAQ on it.  The FCC regs, Part 68, call for anyone (telco or not) who
installs inside telephone wiring to do a ringback test.  The idea is
that the ring voltage might reveal instances of sloppy wiring, such as
partial shorts and the like.  The regs also say, more or less, that if
the telco makes a ring back service available to its own installers it
has to make them available to competing installers.

What this means in plain language is that if you call them up and ask
they should tell you.

Wanna make book on how often local telcos reveal such secrets just
because somebody asked?  Not very often in my opinion.

Now I know it would help everyone if I could cite the particular
section of Part 68, but just now I can't find my copy.  It's in the
part that talks about installation of inside wiring, about twenty or
thirty pages into the CFR volume.


Carl Oppedahl AA2KW  (patent lawyer)
1992 Commerce Street #309
Yorktown Heights, NY  10598-4412
voice 212-777-1330

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

From: [e-mail] (David Hough)
Subject: Re: Escort Digital Cordless Telephone
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1993 06:12:08 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Justin Greene) writes:

> Is DSS special to Escort or is it also used on the tropez and other
> like phones.  They seem to be implying that the call could not be
> monitored because the frequency changes during conversation.  If we
> successfully monitor a conversation can they be sued?  They also say
> "wide (26MHZ) ..."  but then later say "100 Channels", well, which is
> it?  Any thoughts?

The '100 channels' could well refer to the number of different
scrambling codes used. All the phones probably use the same 26MHz band
(look up CDMA -- Code Division Multiple Access) for more info on how it
works.

Don't believe the bit about monitoring -- if I get another phone
handset and mod it slightly so I can change scramble code, all I would
need to do is ring you up from down the street and fiddle with the
code setting until I found the right one. With only 100 channels it
shouldn't take too long :-)


Dave    G4WRW @ GB7WRW.#41.GBR.EU AX25
[e-mail]  Internet
[e-mail]      Amprnet

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

Subject: Re: How I Call 800 Numbers
From: uttsbbs![e-mail] (Laurence Chiu)
Date: 22 Jul 93 00:15:00 GMT
Organization: The Transfer Station BBS, Danville, CA - 510-837-4610/837-5591
Reply-To: uttsbbs![e-mail] (Laurence Chiu)


John L. Shelton had the following to say:


> I have been calling some 800 numbers from Europe over the last few
> months via this scheme:

> I call USA Direct (AT&T).  In some countries, you get a bong tone and
> can direct dial a number if you have a touch-tone phone.  Otherwise
> tell the operator.  800 numbers seem to be acceptable.

> I haven't seen the bill yet; I assume I'll get charged for the full
> international rate.

> One attempt was blocked; I got an operator, who explained that the 800
> number I was calling wasn't owned by AT&T, so they wouldn't place the
> call.  I haven't tried using Sprint*DIrect.

My experiences exactly. Except when I called an 800 number using USA
Direct that was not owned by AT&T I got a "all circuits busy" message
which was a little confusing. I only got the information about non
AT&T numbers not being reachable when I spoke to an operator. BTW the
charge will not be low. It will be at standard USA Direct rates plus a
card surcharge. From New Zealand anyway, it was NEVER cheaper to use a
USA Direct or Call USA service than the local Telco. Perhaps that is
the result of competition like that.

I can't speak about Pat's new service where you call and get US
dialtone on your phone. That sounds like a way to call 800 numbers for
free.


Laurence Chiu
The Transfer Station BBS [phone] & 837-5591 (V.32bis both lines)
Danville, California, USA. 1.5 GIG Files & FREE public Internet Access

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

Date: Thu, 24 Jul 93 09:40:00 +0100
From: [e-mail] (Fernando Lagrana)
Subject: Translation Help Needed with Telephony Terms in Spanish
Organization: International Telecommunication Union
Reply-To: [e-mail]


> I am badly in need of official (CCITT ?) Spanish language translations
> for the following terms:

> Echo Return Level
> Singing Return Loss

> and the ever present: TIP & RING.  I know this varies from country
> to country.  I have run into PUNTA, ANILLO, NUCA and "A & B". Any
> ideas?

I can propose the following translations:

Echo Return Level: nivel de retorno de eco
Singing Return Loss: perdida de retorno para el cebado
Concerning Tip & Ring, the official Spanish terms are tron y ron.


Fernando Lagrana  International Telecommunication Union
Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (former CCITT Secretariat)
[e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Marc Unangst)
Subject: Re: Maximum Number of Phone Lines to a Residence?
Date: 22 Jul 1993 20:29:50 -0400
Organization: The Programmers' Pit Stop, Ann Arbor MI


Monty Solomon <[e-mail]> writes:

> Channel 1, the Cambridge-based electronic bulletin board service with
> 15,000 subscribers, ... 110 personal computers each with a modem,
> and at least that many phone lines to handle 3,200 calls a day.

Gack.  Hasn't this person heard of multiuser computer systems?  Or
rackmount modems?  You could fit all those users onto a decent-sized
486 box or two with a good multiport serial card; the modems would
probably all fit into a single 7' rack.  How much do you want to bet
that all 110 lines are POTS lines from the CO, instead of being
brought in on multiple T1's?

> Now, the local zoning board has ordered Miller and his wife to move
> the business.

It's about time.  He must have made some real friends in the telco
when they had to bring a 100-pair out to his house just for him.


Marc Unangst, N8VRH       [e-mail]

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

Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1993 14:01:08 +0200
From: Shaw <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Assistance Needed With PLANITU Software


[e-mail] (Zakaria Lahjomri)  wrote:

> I'm looking for documentation about the PLANITU software.

nThe person who wrote this software is here at the ITU.  You should
contact:

Thomas Fried
ITU Development Sector
International Telecommunication Union
Place des Nations
1211 Geneva 20
Switzerland

Voice: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
RFC822: [e-mail]
X.400: S=Fried; P=itu; A=arcom; C=ch

I've copied him on this response so he'll be expecting your call/mail/fax.


Bob Shaw     ITU Information Services   [e-mail]

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

Date: Thu, 22 Jul 93 10:44:24 EDT
From: Carl Moore <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: How Were N.A. Area Codes Allocated?


OK, I'll pick up where the Moderator's note leaves off.  There is the
archive file history.of.area.splits (I can mail it directly if you let
me know); it suggests there might have been (VERY long ago) the rule
of using N0X in state/province having one area code and N1X in
state/province having more than one area code.  Area codes got the
form N0X/N1X to distinguish them from exchange codes (a/k/a known as
prefixes), which have been of NNX form (many areas have had to
generalize their prefixes to NXX, and area codes are to generalize to
NXX as well).

As for number of clicks: the Moderator's note mentions 212,312,213.
And notice that Alaska, Hawaii, and the Caribbean area got 907, 808,
and 809 respectively.  Someone suggested in the digest that the Bell
system had something to do with putting 413 in western Massachusetts
(Boston got 617).

Enclosed is a list of adjacent area codes which differ by one digit;
besides the current cases, there are two future ones (in Ontario and
North Carolina) and some obsolete ones.

601 Mississippi, 501 Arkansas, 901 Tennessee

405 Oklahoma, 505 New Mexico

307 Wyoming, 308 Nebraska
(notice that Nebraska has two area codes, both N0X)

309 Illinois, 319 Iowa
(the "N1X in states having more than one area code", which would be
long obsolete, suggests that 309 is relatively new.)

217 Illinois, 317 Indiana

217 Illinois, 219 Indiana
(DON'T KNOW if these touch)

716 New York, 717 Pennsylvania
(touching only at a corner?)

703 Virginia, 704 North Carolina
(this would be long ago, because, before 804 was formed, Virginia
touched 919 but did not touch 704.)

301 Maryland, 302 Delaware
(this went away when 410 was fully cut over)

301 Maryland, 304 West Virginia
(not affected by 301/410 split)

305 Florida, 205 Alabama
(this went away in 1965 when 904 was formed)

504 Louisiana, 501 Arkansas
(the "N1X in states having more than one area code",
which would be long obsolete, suggests that 318 is
relatively new)

705 and 905 in Ontario
(to come into existence at 416/905 split)

219 Indiana, 419 Ohio

919 and 910 in North Carolina
(to come into existence at 919/910 split)

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

Date: Thu, 22 Jul 93 08:02:50 PDT
From: Carl Silva <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Dark Fiber?


Hi,

    I missed the eariler part of this conversation.  I have seen
the term Dark Fiber used in several ways and I am confused as to the
meaning.  Can someone come up with a generally accepted definition for
this?


Carl

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

From: [e-mail] (H. Shrikumar)
Subject: Re: Answering Machine and Fax Marriages - Can They Work?
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1993 08:50:42 GMT
Organization: UMass, Amherst MA + Temporal Sys & Computer Networks Bombay India


In article <[e-mail]> ...

> It is for these reasons that all of the solutions which are based on a
> "magic" box that you buy that automatically discriminates FAX from
> voice (and even from modem) calls only work some of the time.  It's
> just not possible to tell, without making any noise, what kind of
> thing (person, FAX, modem) is calling you.

  Is it true that all FAX-voice discriminators listen for something
beofre they decide ... ? I know of one box that prompts you for fax or
voice, and expects you to BEEP, say yes, or just stay on the line for
the fax. Even this one wants to listen and then decide irrevocably.

Should it not be possible to assume one, default to it, and upon
failure go to the other choice ... as long as this does not hurt voice
or fax usage and comfort?


shrikumar ([e-mail])

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

Subject: Re: The Next Step: Affinity Long Distance
From: [e-mail] (Fred Ennis)
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1993 09:42:28 -0400
Organization: Page 6, Ottawa, Ontario [phone]


Carl Moore <[e-mail]> writes:

> I am in Mensa, and recently got some calling-card plan from them.
> Mensa is for people in the upper 2% of the population with reference
> to intelligence.

That must be one of those "smart cards" I hear so much about.


Fred Ennis, [e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: What is with all this Mensa-bashing here the past
couple days?   PAT]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #502
******************************










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From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #503

TELECOM Digest     Fri, 23 Jul 93 04:26:30 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 503

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    EFF Membership in Telecommunications Policy Roundtable (Mark Boolootian)
    CONNECT BBS Edition (Patricia Snyder-Rayl)
    Inverse of "Custom Ringing"? (Theodore M.P. Lee)
    Modem Speeds on a 14400 Modem ([e-mail])
    Help With UK Connections (Barron Williams)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Mark Boolootian)
Subject: EFF Membership in Telecommunications Policy Roundtable
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1993 08:27:24 -0700 (PDT)


Message being passed along FYI.

   Date: Wed, 21 Jul 1993 20:05:43 -0500
   From: [e-mail] (Daniel J. Weitzner)

The Electronic Frontier Foundation is pleased to announce its
participation in the newly formed Telecommunications Policy
Roundtable.  With market actions fast outpacing the public policy
process, it is critical that citizens groups articulate basic public
interest goals which can help frame the debate over information
infrastructure policy.

Organizations such as the Association of Research Libraries, the
Center for Media Education, Computer Professionals for Social
Responsibility, and the Institute for Civic Networking all played
leading roles in initiating the Roundtable.  We thank these
organizations, for creating the very important forum in which a wide
range of public interest organizations work together to frame common
communications policy goals.  In addition to general participation in
the group, EFF has agreed to focus its efforts on the public policy
and legislative strategy taskforce of the Roundtable.

The initial announcement of the Roundtable (posted to com-priv)
contained some suggestion that EFF's work on infrastructure policy
issues over the last year was narrow and lacking in vision.  Though we
have never pretended to know, or be able to pursue, the solutions to
all communications policy problems, we do feel that we have made a
significant contribution to the infrastucture debate and to the effort
to protect free speech and privacy in new electronic media.  Some
criticize our emphasis on ISDN and other affordable digital media as
too narrow.  We believe that our Open Platform policy efforts in
support of ISDN have caused a major change in the way that
communcations infrastructure policy is discussed.  With the example of
ISDN, we showed that citizens do not have to wait around 20 years
while RBOCs lay fiber-to-the-home.  Rather, with affordable, available
technology, those who don't own telephone networks or cable television
networks can start to create the applications and services which will
shape our experience of the information age.  Our Open Platorm efforts
are aimed to increasing the diversity of information sources,
expanding the notion of universal service, increasing access to
information, and protecting privacy. ISDN is not our final goal, but a
first step that shows we should begin to expect the benefits of
digital networking technology soon, at affordable rates, and with
nondiscriminatory terms.

In order to show that we are not stuck on ISDN, either as a technology
or a policy goal, we convened a meeting of over twenty major public
organizations on June 1, 1993 (several weeks before the Roundtable was
announced), to discuss EFF's long-term policy concerns and hear the
views of other groups.  A section of the paper that we prepared for
that meeting is appended to this message.  We hope that this will
clarify that EFF does have a view of communications policy goals
beyond ISDN.  We certainly invite comments on this document, but hope
that in the future people who write about our positions will take the
time to read our work first.  (Please see also an article in the
July/August '93 issue of Wired Magazine by Mitchell Kapor, EFF's
Chairman of the Board, "Where Is the Digital Highway Really Heading?
A Case for a Jeffersonian Information Policy" for a broad statement of
EFF's infrastructure vision.)

EFF has joined the Roundtable to be part of the process of framing a
comprehensive public interest communications policy.  We are looking
forward to the success of this effort.


TOWARD A NEW PUBLIC INTEREST COMMUNICATIONS POLICY AGENDA FOR THE
INFORMATION AGE

A Framework for Discussion

by the Electronic Frontier Foundation

June 1, 1993

I.      Introduction

        For over a decade techno-prophets have been predicting the
convergence of telephone, computer and television technologies.  In
this world, endless information would be available at the touch of a
button and many of life's chores would be simplified by
artificially-intelligent personal assistants.  The prophesied results
were said to be everything from a newfound global village enabled by
democratized communications tools, to an Orwellian multimedia,
mind-numbing, thought-controlling, consumer culture/police-state gone
wild.  In the past, discussions of this convergence has been relegated
to the musings of futurists and the arcana of telecommunications
regulatory policy.  This year, however, the grand convergence is
evident both on the front pages of national magazines and newspapers,
as well as in the White House.  Telecommunications infrastructure
policy -- the management of this grand convergence -- has arrived as a
mainstream policy issue.

        Most telling of all, large investments are now being made in
order to take advantage of business opportunities arising out of the
convergence of television, computers, and telecommunications.  Despite
existing regulatory barriers, a number of major corporations have
undertaken major initiatives which blur the traditional media
distinctions.  Regional Bell Operating Companies, including Bell
Atlantic and US West, have announced multi-billion dollar
infrastructure investment plans which position them to expand from the
telecommunications market to the video entertainment market.  By the
same token, cable television companies are crossing over from their
traditional domain toward being able to offer telecommunications
services.  Early in 1993, Time-Warner announced plans to offer
interactive services and connections directly to long distance
telephone networks for residential customers in Orlando, FL.  Six
cable television companies also recently joined forces to purchase a
company called Teleport, which competes directly with local telephone
companies.  And finally, US West announced in May 1993 that it will
purchase a multi-billion dollar stake in Time-Warner Entertainment
Partners.

        All of these developments are being watching with great
interest by Congress and the Administration.  No longer is
telecommunications policy a matter of sorting out the special
interests of newspaper companies, telephone companies, and cable
companies.  Rather it has been re-christened as "information
infrastructure" policy.  As such, it is recognized to have major
implications for domestic economic development, global
competitiveness, and science and technology policy.  The ultimate
symbol of this increased interest in telecommunications policy is the
Vice President's frequent declaration that the Clinton Administration
is committed to promoting the creation of electronic superhighways in
the 1990s, just as the Vice President's father oversaw the
construction of the interstate highway system in the 1950s.

        Talk of superhighways and potential for new economic growth,
though, may lead some to forget that in shaping information
infrastructure policy, we must also be guided by core communications
policy values.  The "highways" that are being built here are for
speech as well as for commerce.  In order to preserve the democratic
character of our society as we move into the Information Age, these
key public interest communications policy goals must be kept at the
forefront:

o Diversity of Information Sources: Creating an infrastructure that
promotes the First Amendment goal of availability of a maximum
possible diversity of view points;

o       Universal Service:  Ensuring a minimum level of affordable,
interactive service to all Americans;

o Free Speech and Common Carriage: Guaranteeing infrastructure access
regardless of the content of the message that the user is sending;

o Privacy: Protecting the security and privacy of all communications
carried over the infrastructure, and safeguarding the Fourth and Fifth
Amendment rights of all who uses the information infrastructure;

o Development of Public Interest Applications and Services: Ensuring
that public interest applications and services which are not produced
by the commercial market are available and affordable.

Advances in telecommunications have tremendous potential to support
all of these important communications policy values.  In many cases,
inexpensive equipment exists which could give individuals and small
organizations a degree of control over information that has never
before been possible.  However, if not implemented with core
communications values in mind, the technology will do more harm than
good.  The convergence of historically separate communications media
poses a major challenge to the public interest community.  The
Electronic Frontier Foundation hopes to play a role with other public
interest organizations in realizing the democratic potential of these
new technologies.

II.  Framing Public Interest Communications Policy Goals For The
Information Age: What is at Stake in the Development of the
Information Infrastructure?

A. Diversity of Information Sources

        Aside from the universal service guaranty, the driving
communications policy value for the last fifty years has been
promotion of the maximum diversity of information sources, with the
greatest variety of view points.  Most agree that from a diversity
standpoint, the ideal environment is the print medium.  Compared to
both the broadcast and cable television arenas, print is the vehicle
for the greatest diversity of viewpoints and has the lowest
publication and distribution costs.  Despite the regulatory steps
taken to promote diversity in the mass media, the desired variety of
opinion and information has never been fully achieved.

        The switched nature of advanced digital network technology
offers to end the spectrum and channel scarcity problem altogether.
If new network services are deployed with adequate down- and up-stream
capacity, and allow point-to-point communication, then each user of
the network can be both an information consumer and publisher.
Network architecture which is truly peer-to-peer can help produce in
digital media the kind of information diversity that only exists today
only in the print media.  If network access is guaranteed, as is the
case in the public switched telephone network, the need for content
providers to negotiate for air time and channel allocation will be
eliminated.  Even in a truly interactive network environment the
government will still need to provide financial support to ensure that
public interest programming is produced and available, but channel
set-asides per se will not be necessary.

B. Universal Service: From Plain Old Telephone Service to Plain Old
Digital Service

        The principle of equitable access to basic services is an
integral part of nation's public switched telephone network.  From the
early history of the telephone network, both government and commercial
actors have taken steps to ensure that access to basic voice telephone
services is affordable and accessible to all segments of society.
Since the divestiture of AT&T, many of the internal cross-subsidies
that supported the "social contract" of universal service have fallen
away.  Re-creation of old patterns of subsidy may no longer be
possible nor necessarily desirable, but serious thought must be given
to sources of funds that will guaranty that the economically
disadvantaged will still have access to basic communications services.

        The universal service guaranty in the Communications Act of
1934 has, until now, been interpreted to mean access to "plain old
telephone service" (POTS).  In the Information Age, we must extend
this guaranty to include "plain old digital service."  Extending this
guaranty means ensuring that new basic digital services are affordable
and ubiquitously available.  Equity and the democratic imperative also
demand that these services meet the needs of people with disabilities,
the elderly, and other groups with special needs.  Failure to do so is
sure to create a society of "information haves and have nots."

C. Free Speech: Common Carriage

        In a society which relies more and more on electronic
communications media as its primary conduit for expression, full
support for First Amendment values requires extension of the common
carrier principle to all of these new media.  Common carriers are
companies which provide conduit services for the general public.  The
common carrier's duties have evolved over hundreds of years in the
common law and later in statutory provisions.  Common carriers have a
duty to:

oprovide services in a non-discriminatory manner at a fair price,
ointerconnect with other carriers, and
oprovide adequate services.

The public must have access to digital data transport services, such
as ISDN and ADSL, which are regulated by the principles of common
carriage.

        Re-shaping common carriage duties for new media environments
is of critical importance as mass media and telecommunications
services converge and recombine in new forms.  Telephone companies,
the traditional providers of common carriage communications services,
are moving closer and closer to providing video and other
content-based services.  By the same token, cable television
companies, which have functioned as program providers, are showing
great interest in offering telecommunications services.  In what is
sure to be an increasingly complex environment, we must ensure that
common carriage transport is available to those who want it.

        Unlike arrangements found in many countries, our
communications infrastructure is owned by private corporations instead
of by the government.  Therefore, a legislatively imposed expanded
duty of common carriage on public switched telephone carriers is
necessary to protect free expression effectively.  A telecommun-
ications provider under a common carrier obligation would have to
carry any legal message regardless of its content whether it is voice,
data, images, or sound.  For example, if full common-carrier
protections were in place for all of the conduit services offered by
the phone company, the terminations of "controversial" 900 services
such as political fundraising would not be allowed, just as the phone
company is now prohibited by the Communications Act from discriminating
in the provision of basic voice telephone services.  As a matter of
law and policy, the common carriage protections should be extended
from basic voice service to cover basic data service as well.

D. Privacy

        With dramatic increases in reliance on digital media for
communications, the need for comprehensive protection of privacy in
these media grows.  The scope of the emerging digital communications
revolution poses major new challenges for those concerned about
protecting communications privacy.  Communication which is carried on
paper through the mail system, or over the wire-based public telephone
network is relatively secure from random intrusion by others.  But the
same communication carried, for example, over a cellular or other
wireless communication system, is vulnerable to being intercepted by
anyone who has very inexpensive, easy-to-obtain scanning technology.
As such, access to robust, affordable encryption technology will be
critical to enable people to protect their own privacy.  Government
controls on encryption systems, whether for law enforcement or
national security reasons, raise grave constitutional issues and could
undermine individuals' ability to protect the privacy of personal
information and communications.


For more information contact:

Electronic Frontier Foundation
1001 G St, NW
Suite 950 East
Washington, DC  20001

[e-mail]

A complete copy of this document is available on by anonymous ftp at
ftp.eff.org in the file named
"pub/EFF/papers/open-platform-discussion-1993".

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

From: [e-mail] (Patricia Snyder-Rayl)
Subject: CONNECT BBS Edition
Organization: GREX Public Access Unix [phone]
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1993 03:31:10 GMT



CONTACT:  Clint Bradford             Voice  909/681-6210 Pacific
          BBS LEGAL GROUP              BBS  909/681-6221 8/N/1 v.32bis
          5085 Trail Canyon Drive      AOL  CONNECT         CIS  71160,2176
          Mira Loma CA 91752-1685    GEnie  C.BRADFORD1  Delphi  UNICORNPUB
                                  Internet  [e-mail]

CONNECT Magazine Goes Digital with a New BBS Edition

BBS Legal Group, in conjunction with Pegasus Press, proudly introduces
the CONNECT Magazine Computer BBS Edition. CONNECT is a national,
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(CompuServe, America Online, GEnie, DELPHI, BIX), the Internet, and
BBS/Networks.

The CONNECT Staff is dedicated to bringing the telecomputing community
up-to-date and timely news, reviews, and information about the
products and services available for computer and modem users on all
platforms.

CONNECT Magazine has recently announced the addition of
telecommunications author Michael A. Banks as an Editorial Staff
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online world they may never see on their computer screens.

You may have noticed that CONNECT Magazine is published bi-monthly -
and here is where the BBS LEGAL GROUP comes into play. Not only do we
provide registering Sysops with a custom Text Viewer Door to display
CONNECT, but will also provide additional MONTHLY editorial content,
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In addition, we will arrange a Monthly Special for registered Sysops -
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 * Desqview/Network Awareness.     * COM0-15 support & non-standard IRQ's.
 * WildCat IM Support              * PCB/M Support
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 * Use of HOT KEYS while in door.  * Support BBSs available.
 * Fossil Driver support.          * Online HELP available.
 * Page Forward or Back.           * KEYWORD Searching.
 * Will return to BBS on dropped carrier.
 * Will TIMEOUT a player after 5 mins. of no activity (Sysop-configurable).

With our CONNECT Magazine Computer Edition, you will get everything you
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   Patricia Snyder-Rayl     | AOL: CONNECT       |voice: [phone]
Man. Ed.,  CONNECT magazine | CIS: 70007,4640    |  fax: [phone]
"The Modem User's Resource" | Delphi: UNICORNPUB |  BBS: [phone]

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

Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1993 14:31:17 -0600
From: [e-mail] (Theodore M.P. Lee)
Subject: Inverse of "Custom Ringing"?


Is there a service/feature that, lacking a better term, I'd call the
inverse of custom ringing?  I have two lines: one residential and one
business.  I have one custom ringing number on the residential line to
which busies on the business line are forwarded.  When the business
line is in use, I'd like to be able to do the inverse: use the
residential line but have the call (interesting only for long
distance, since we don't have message units) billed to the business
line at the same rate as if it had been dialed on that line.  (Yah, I
know the quick answer is to install a third line for the computer, but
that sure seems the expensive solution.) We're in USWest territory.


Ted Lee                               612-934-5424
Trusted Information Systems, Inc.     [e-mail]
PO Box 1718   Minnetonka, MN  55345

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

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Modem Speeds on a 14400 Baud Modem
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 93 18:48:45 GMT


I seem to be having trouble connecting at high speeds whether it is a
v32bis or v42bis 14400 modem. The modem will not answer the phone line
correctly. Sometimes it will think that the other modem is at 2400. It
will say connect 2400/arq/lapm/v42bis, but at other times it will
connect at 14400/arq/v32/lapm/v42bis. I can't figure this out. I have
tried to explain this to USRobotics but get no answers. They are a
rude company. Whats the deal with tech support? I have had this v32bis
Courier HST dual standard v32/v42bis since February but am getting
nowhere. Could somone please help me out :)


Thanks,

Goltar


[Moderator's Note: Do you think this might be occurring normally as
part of the process where modems will automatically drop down in speed
until they reach a point they can communicate on a line that has a lot
of noise on it?  Have you tried setting registers in the modem telling
it to NOT change baud rates automatically based on the highest possible
speed it can deal with but rather, to lock on 14.4 and disconnect if
it is unwilling to work there?  The higher you go with modem speeds
(such as at 9600 for example or above) the more likely it is the modem
will need to drop its speed after attempting to handshake with the
other end and being unable to do so because of line conditions. My
9600 baud Telebit T-1600 modem usually works fine at that speed but
sometimes it drops to 2400 also.   PAT]

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

Date: Thu, 22 Jul 93 20:40:37 EDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Help With UK Connections


I'll be travelling to Northern Ireland this next week.  I'm taking my
trusty laptop with internal Hayes Smartmodem.  I'd like to try
accessing the Internet and perhaps my Compuserve accounts.  I've got
the phone numbers OK.

Can somebody in the UK who is familiar with American RJ type
connectors (or an American who is familiar with British Telecom
connectors) map out the physical connection for me?  I'm pretty rsure
my modem will handle the protocols OK, it worked in Germany last trip,
it is the actual connection from the computer to the wall socket/box
that I am unsure of.

For sake of time, replies to me direct are appreciated, but I'll take
net postings as well -- beggars can't be choosy.


Barron WIlliams   E-mail = [e-mail]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #503
******************************










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Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1993 17:03:27 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #504

TELECOM Digest     Fri, 23 Jul 93 17:03:20 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 504

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    President Clinton Hosts New Communications Technologies Demo (Nigel Allen)
    Bell Canada Offers "Bell Rewards" to Residential Customers (Nigel Allen)
    What is This Mobilink Thing? (Kimball Smith)
    Need TCP/IP and Telnet For PC to Reach Internet via DIGEX (Robert Shain)
    Telix Script Language the Best? (Keith R. Bennett)
    Establishing a 900 Number (Michael R. Johnston)
    Telecom Observations in Movie "Dave" (Dave Ptasnik)
    Massachusetts Companies Involved in Wireless Comm (Michael Francl)
    High Speed Modem Connections (Richard Merte)
    How About WITH a PC? (was Re: Call-ID: Possible Without a PC?) (Jim Hogan)
    ISDN? (Carl Oppedahl)
    Alpha Pagers (Robert J. Canis)
    1-800-COLLECT (Dave Niebuhr)
    Interoperability Paper (Jane Fraser)
    International Videoconferencing Directory Available (Lynne Gregg)
    Area 205 to Split (David Cornutt)

                     ----------------------
TELECOM Digest is an e-journal devoted mostly -- but not exclusively --
to discussions on voice telephony. The Digest is a not-for-profit
public service published frequently by Patrick Townson Associates. PTA
markets a no-surcharge telephone calling card and a no monthly fee 800
service.  In addition, we are resellers of AT&T's Software Defined
Network. For a detailed discussion of our services, write and ask for
the file 'products'.

The Digest is delivered at no charge by email to qualified subscribers on
any electronic mail service connected to the Internet. To join the mail-
ing list, write and tell us how you qualify: [e-mail].
 All article submissions MUST be sent to our email address: telecom@eecs.
nwu.edu -- NOT as replies to comp.dcom.telecom.

Back issues and numerous other telephone-related files of interest are
available from the Telecom Archives, using anonymous ftp lcs.mit.edu.
Login anonymous, then 'cd telecom-archives'. At the present time, the
Digest is also ported to Usenet at the request of many readers there,
where it is known as 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Use of the Digest does not
require the use of our products and services. The two are separate.
All articles are the responsibility of the individual authors. Organi-
zations listed, if any, are for identification purposes only. The
Digest is compilation-copyrighted, 1993. **DO NOT** cross-post articles
between the Digest and other Usenet or alt newsgroups. Do not compile
mailing lists from the net-addresses appearing herein.  Send tithes and
love offerings to PO Box 1570, Chicago, IL 60690. :)  Phone: [phone].

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

Date: Fri, 23 Jul 93 05:02:03 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Nigel Allen)
Subject: President Clinton Hosts New Communications Technologies Demo
Organization: Echo Beach
Reply-To: [e-mail]


Here is a press release from the White House.  I downloaded the press
release from the PR On-Line BBS in Maryland at 410-363-0834.

 President Clinton Hosts New Communications Technologies Demonstration

 Contact: Jeff Sarmiento or Josh Silverman, 202-456-7150,
          both of the White House Office of Media Affairs

   News Advisory:

    On Thursday, July 22, at the White House, President Clinton,
Vice-President Gore, and Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown will view
demonstrations of a variety of new wireless technologies, products,
services, and applications.

   Following the demonstrations, the President will address a group of
Congressional, federal agency, and telecommunications industry
representatives about the need to develop and apply new communications
technologies to encourage renewed economic growth, create jobs, and to
maintain the U.S.'s international competitiveness.

   The president will discuss the Emerging Telecommunications
Technology Act, part of the budget reconciliation bill, which will
create hundreds of thousands of new jobs by transferring from federal
agencies to the private sector additional radio frequencies
("spectrum").  The newly available spectrum would be used by new
wireless communications products and services.  The President will
also discuss the provisions of the act that will help to reduce the
deficit by auctioning new spectrum licenses.

Among those currently expected to be attending the event are:

Rep. Edward Markey, Chairman, Telecommunications and Finance
     Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee;

Ray Smith, CEO of Bell Atlantic Corp;

Gene Kimmelman, Legislative Director, Consumer Federation of
     America;

Robert Kyle, President of kycom, a small, high-technology company
     in California's Silicon Valley.

Among the wireless technologies demonstrated at the event will
be:
     --   Laptops with cellular modems, used for educational
purposes;

     --   New wireless applications to improve small business
manufacturing;

     --   Emergency equipment, now in use in flooded Midwest
states;

     --   New transportation-related technologies for use in
"smart" cars and highways.

DATE/TIME: Thursday, July 22, 1993 at 10:30 a.m.

LOCATION:  South Lawn, The White House


Nigel Allen, Toronto, Ontario, Canada  [e-mail]

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

Date: Fri, 23 Jul 93 07:40:38 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Nigel Allen)
Subject: Bell Canada Offers "Bell Rewards" to Residential Customers
Organization: Echo Beach
Reply-To: [e-mail]


Bell Canada has introduced a new program, Bell Rewards, for its
residential customers, that allows them to earn points for every cent
they spend on long distance. The program was clearly inspired by
airline companies' frequent flyer programs, and is Bell Canada's way
of fighting its competition in the long-distance market without
competing directly on price.

You start receiving awards in once you have spent over $600 (Canadian)
on Bell long distance in a year (an average of $50 a month), although
Bell may eventually decide to reduce the threshold for awards. Bell
Canada has sent a glossy mailing promoting the program to some people
in Ottawa, but I haven't received such a mailing at my Toronto
address. Either Bell Canada is introducing the proram city by city
throughout its operating territory in Ontario and Quebec, or the
company isn't doing a very good job at promoting it.

Perhaps some other Canadian telephone companies will be offering a
similar program, but Bell Canada is the only one that has announced a
points program yet that I am aware of.

To sign up, call 1-800-463-7131 (voice). There is no charge to sign up.


Nigel Allen, Toronto, Ontario, Canada  [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Kimball Smith)
Subject: What is This Mobilink Thing?
Date: 23 Jul 1993 06:42:31 GMT
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque


As the subject says -- What IS Mobilink?  Any clues as to cost,
availability, (will service get worse?)??

As a "roaming" side note -- after four days of uneventful (ie:
everything worked) roaming -- I get the "Leave us your credit card and
first born son; we will then think about setting up roaming ..."
intercept.  After 1/2 hour with 611 (only six service 'roids) I was
told "your ESN seems to have been scrambled on our system -- give us
five minutes and we will straighten it out."  How is that for a
"secure" system!!


[e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Need TCP/IP and Telnet For PC to Reach Internet via DIGEX
Organization: The MITRE Corporation, McLean VA 22102
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1993 20:11:49 GMT


DIGEX has a low cost unlimited time access to the Internet from home.
Does anyone know an inexpensive TCP/IP stack and Telnet that I can use
to get to DIGEX??


Robert B. Shain                              EMAIL: RSHAIN @MITRE.ORG
The MITRE Corporation                        Voice: [phone]
Center for Intellignence & Special Programs  FAX: [phone]
Mailstop W955    7525 Colshire Drive  McLean, VA. 22102

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

From: [e-mail] (Keith R. Bennett)
Subject: Telix Script Language the Best?
Date: 23 Jul 1993 10:53:29 -0400
Organization: Express Access Online Communications USA


I recently registered my copy of Telix and received the manual.  I'm
_really_ impressed by the C-like script language.  I'm considering
proposing using it for an application that is currently using Mirror
script language.  The Mirror program uses a script to log on.  I am
interested in using Telix to actually provide a front end to the
mainframe program that the users run.

My question is this: My only experience with telecom script languages
is some very simple Crosstalk stuff several years ago.  Are there
other products whose script languages are as good or better than
Telix?

Also, how soon will I hit the ceiling of functionality?  Can I do
things like list boxes?  Is it extensible at all?

Also, it would be nice if the program developed could be used also on
the upcoming Windows version of Telix without modification.  Anybody
(esp. Telix people) able to tell me if that will be possible?


Thanks,

Keith Bennett                Bennett Business Solutions, Inc.
C++/C Software Development   1605 Ingram Terrace
[e-mail]    Silver Spring, MD USA 20906-5932

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

From: [e-mail] (Michael R. Johnston)
Subject: Establishing a 900 Number
Organization: JP Morgan
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1993 16:25:31 GMT


I'm looking for information on establishing a 900 number type service.
If anyone has any experience getting and running a 900 number I'd
appreciate hearing from you what is required to get started etc.


Thanks,

Michael R. Johnston N2TQP     [e-mail]

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

Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1993 08:49:16 -0700 (PDT)
From: Dave Ptasnik  <[e-mail]>
Subject: Telecom Observations in Movie "Dave"


 *****Note to Pat******

Sorry about the earlier truncation.  Don't know what happened.  It
seemed to give you the impression that I have been in the oval office,
I have not.  Just looking at it in the movies.  Rewrite of my post
below...

Just saw the movie "Dave", saw a couple of things that struck me as
odd from a phone perspective.  In the oval office scene there was a
big old 1A2 phone on the desk, maybe 30 buttons, maybe more.  This
makes sense based on the description of the existing system about to
be upgraded by Billary.  What caught me by surprise was the presence
of Electronic sets in the bedrooms and hallways.  They looked like
SRX's to me, but am interested in other impressions of what they were.

This did strike me as an unlikely mix, but I SRX does have a behind
the switch/Centrex package that would probably make it possible.

What is really in the White House  (Oval Office and living quarters)?

What did they have in "Dave"?  Anyone out there with the true info.
Enquiring minds want to know.


Dave

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

From: Michael Francl <[e-mail]>
Subject: Massachusetts Companies Involved in Wireless Comm
Organization: MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 93 12:44:29 -0400


I'm trying to make a list of all the Massachusetts companies that
compete in the world market, building either wireless voice or
wireless data communications equipment or components.  This info will
be used in a study looking for ways to boost US competitiveness in
these fields.  Please send any company names to [e-mail].
Thanks very much for your help.


Mike

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

From: Richard Merte <[e-mail]>
Subject: High Speed Modem Connections
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 93 09:58:00 PDT


There have been a couple of people complaining of problems with
connections of high speed modems in the past week, so here's what
helped for me ...

The problem: I was trying to connect between my Multi-Tech 9600 baud
modem and a US Robotics 9600 HST. I would often get either ...

          a) no connection at all (but lots of wonderful noises as the
modems tried shaking hands,
               kissing feet, or whatever else it is they do :-))

          b) a connect at 2400, followed by lots of garbage, and no useful
communication.

The solution: I called Multi-Tech and they told me about an
undocumented S-register 20, which instead of using the default value
of 10, I changed to 12 and all was well. I seem to remember him saying
this was changing the sensitivity, volume level, or something like
that (I think he mentioned decibels, but it's been awhile ...)

Perhaps the other manufacturers also have some of these *wonderful*
undocumented features that will solve some people's problems.

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

From: [e-mail] (Jim Hogan)
Subject: How About WITH a PC? (was Re: Call-ID: Possible Without a PC?)
Date: 23 Jul 1993 05:04:33 GMT
Organization: University of Washington


[e-mail] (William Kucharski) writes:

> It seems to be that the majority of people out there would jump on
> the Caller ID bandwagon if there were only a relatively inexpensive way
> to do the following (an answering machine seems to be the appliance I
>  envision): [three examples deleted...]

Just found this newsgroup and will admit it's very interesting.

I looked for the newsgroup because I was inspired (debates about the
overall goodness of caller ID aside) to consider how we could employ
caller ID on a dial-up pool on our network as a replacement for
dial-back security.

I'm guessing that some of the caller ID capability must be in
software, although an earlier post talked about particular v.32bis
modems being "caller ID-ready".  Any leads on software that could let
us employ caller ID checks on something like a Cisco terminal server?
We have a Citrix Multiuser (extended OS/2) box as an access server
right now.  Will have to check with them on this.

I looked at the last 1000 or so messages on this group, but is this
nonetheless a FAQ?


 Jim Hogan, Systems Analyst / Didliologist*
 Seattle-King County Department of Public Health

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

From: [e-mail] (Carl Oppedahl)
Subject: Experiences Wanted With BRI ISDN
Date: 23 Jul 1993 16:20:56 -0400
Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and Unix, NYC


Has anyone in the New York Tel service area successfully signed up for
BRI ISDN?  I find that it is like pulling teeth to get anyone at NYTel
to answer questions about it.

Has anybody in the New York Tel service area successfully used the D
channel of ISDN for packet communications with anybody else?  How
about one of the B channels for (non-voice) packet with anybody else?

I am told that the Second Avenue central office, which serves me, has
ISDN capability on only four exchanges (212-353, 529, 979, and 995)
and lacks it on any of the dozen or so other exchanges in that central
office.  Pretty lame, seems to me.

I am told that the West 73rd Street c.o. (the one serving panix) has
no ISDN capability whatsoever.  Lame again.

Same is supposedly the case for the Yorktown Heights c.o. which serves
my new law firm.  Guess I should have thought of that before selecting
a firm location.

When I did manage to reach someone whose job was to know about ISDN,
they told me that NYTel charges $10 per month for BRI.  Running
low-speed data over the D channel is an extra $2 per month.  Running
your flexible choice of high-speed data or voice over a B channel is
an extra $2 per month.  He was quite unable to say what packets cost
on the high or low speed paths.  And all this is an added cost per
month above and beyond the cost of the voice telephone numbers carried
on the BRI.

He also said, though I find it difficult to believe, that the ISDN BRI
connection is via a single twisted pair.  I always thought this was
done on two pairs.

Any comments?  Do people know if this person is all wet?


Carl Oppedahl AA2KW  (patent lawyer)
1992 Commerce Street #309
Yorktown Heights, NY  10598-4412
voice 212-777-1330

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

From: [e-mail] (Robert J. Canis)
Subject: Alpha Pagers Question
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 93 09:06:44 EDT
Organization: Youngstown State University


I was wondering if anybody knew anything about alpha pagers.  My
understanding is that you need a little typewriter like box that you
must use to communicate with the pager.  What I am wondering is there
a program that I can use with my modem to do the same thing?

I'm really interested in getting a pager, but I don't want to have to
buy the "box" to communicate with it.


Thanks a lot.

Robert J. Canis
 INTERNET ADDRESS   [e-mail]
 BITNET ADDRESS     [e-mail]
 Youngstown State University    Student Programming Consultant


[Moderator's Note: You might take a look in the Telecom Archives at
the files which begin 'ixo'. They should be of some help. The archives
is accessible using anonymous ftp lcs.mit.edu.     PAT]

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

Date: Fri, 23 Jul 93 19:33:07 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Dave Niebuhr)
Subject: 1-800-COLLECT


I just finished a comparison of collect call charges involving AT&T,
MCI, MCI's 1-800-COLLECT, Sprint and New York Telephone.

The situation that led to this was that one of my daughters was at a
payphone one night and called home collect with the charges accepted
of course.

I found out the cost when the phone bill came in with a charge of
$4.95 from Operator Assistance Network, 1-800-944-0171.

The framework was that the call was made within my area code (516) so
that I could get a set of figures for comparison.  This is what I
found:

AT&T              $1.50 US
MCI                1.50 US
1-800-COLLECT       .65 US
Sprint             1.94 US depending on the destination area code, in this
                           case a 516-516 call.
New York Telephone 1.30 US

I don't know how the Orange Card would stand up against these figures
since my kids do not normally make a collect call home with the call
lasting about one minute or less.

Lesson number (one more than the last one about telephones) was promptly
given and I told them to use to use 1-800-COLLECT if at all possible.

BTW: I will be receiving some literature on this product and will pass
it on to the Digest when it is received.


Dave Niebuhr      Internet: [e-mail] / Bitnet: niebuhr@bnl
Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton, LI, NY 11973  (516)-282-3093
Senior Technical Specialist: Scientific Computer Facility

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

Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1993 15:11:11 EDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Interoperability Paper


An article in {Network World}, April 12 (page 37) refers to a white
paper "What Works with What" from the "most recent Information
Technology Summit" in Salt Lake City of the OURS W4 task force.  OURS
stands for Open User Recommended Solutions.

Does anyone know how I can find this paper or this group?


Thanks.

Jane Fraser, Center for Advanced Study in Telecommunications, Ohio
State University, Columbus, OH 614-292-4129, [e-mail]

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

From: Lynne Gregg <[e-mail]>
Subject: International Videoconferencing Directory Available
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 93 11:10:00 PDT


I received a copy of AT&T/ITCA Global Conferencing Source Book, 1993 -
1994.

This directory lists many public and private videoconferencing "rooms"
throughout the world.  If you'd like to obtain your own copy, you may
call 1-800-562-2255.

Public sector and University locations also listed.  International
listings are also included.


Regards,

Lynne

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

From: [e-mail] (David Cornutt)
Subject: Area 205 to Split
Organization: NASA/MSFC
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1993 17:30:38 GMT


Well, it finally happened ... South Central Bell announced yesterday
that area 205, which currently covers all of Alabama, will split in
1995.  Last year, when we went to 11-digit dialing for all LD, and SCB
started implementing N0X/N1X prefixes, they thought that we would be
able to avoid this for a while.  Apparently not.  (I understand that
205 is currently the most "populated" single AC.)  Alabama was one of
the few remaining states east of the Missippi with a whole-state area
code.

The split will be done at a line drawn from west to east across the
state, approximately halfway between Birmingham and Montgomery.  I had
thought that they might do it this way, but much to my surprise, it is
the northern half of the state that will retain 205.  (It surprises me
because I had thought that state politics would force SCB to keep
Montgomery in 205, that city being the state capitol.)

Here's the really interesting thing: the new area code for the south
half of the state will be (take a deep breath) 334.  This is the first
instance that I know of where a NXX area code is to be implemented in
the U.S.  (Have I missed something?)

>From looking at the (rather crude) map published in the Huntsville
_Times_ last night: Cities remaining in 205 will include Birmingham,
Huntsville, Florence, Gadsden, Anniston, and possibly Tuscaloosa.
Cities going to 334 include Montgomery, Mobile, Auburn, Selma, and
Dothan.


David Cornutt, New Technology Inc., Huntsville, AL  [phone]
([e-mail]; some insane route applies)
"The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of my employer,
not necessarily mine, and probably not necessary."

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #504
******************************










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From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #505

TELECOM Digest     Sat, 24 Jul 93 17:16:00 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 505

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    NPA = 500 (Leroy Donnelly)
    List of Calling Number Announcement Numbers (David Leibold)
    Wanted: Email Address of Teleco System Inc. (Peter Chan)
    Re: WIL-TEL Noted on a COCOT (Russ McGuire)
    Australia: Regulatory Agency Blames Both Carriers (Nigel Allen)
    EE Times: Rockwell Readies V.FAST Chipset (Robert L. McMillin)
    Flood Control in Holland (Leo Nederlof)
    Re: Big Rivers (Will Martin)
    Northern Telecom Loses; AT&T Gains (David Leibold)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sat, 24 Jul 93 17:34:50 CST
From: [e-mail] (Leroy Donnelly)
Subject: NPA = 500
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: DRBBS Technical BBS, Omaha


   From the July 26 1993 issue of Radio Communications Report:

BELLCORE GIVING PCS ITS OWN NATIONAL SERVICE ACCESS CODE

WASHINGTON - In a key development with uncertain long-term
implications, Bell communications Research Inc. has informed the
Federal Communications Commission that beginning next month it intends
to assign a "500" service access code for personal communications
services under draft guidelines not yet formalized.

"Fundamental to our decision is the recognition that the assignment
will promote the availability of new services to the public," said
Ronald Conners, director of Bellcore's North American Numbering Plan
Administration, in a June 23 letter to Kathleen Levitz, acting chief
of the Common Carrier Bureau at the FCC.

The FCC is scheduled to set PCS regulations in September or October,
with this month's decisions on plans to relocate 2 GHz fixed microwave
users and to rechannel higher frequency bands for those users paving
the way to the major decision this fall.

"Unless we are directed otherwise," said Conners, NANPA on Aug. 1 will
start assigning the 500 service access code for PCS and shortly after
will will assign NXX, or central office codes (the first three digits
of seven-digit telephone numbers), "to companies that have demonstrated
an urgent need for these codes."

Fred Gaechter of NANPA's technical staff said assignment guidelines
could be completed by November.  He added the 500 prefix code is not
necessarily restricted to PCS.  It could be made available to paging,
cellular and other wireless carriers that offer the kind of one-number,
 extended-roaming features envisioned for PCS, whereby subscribers are
 reachable anywhere, anytime, he said.

Conners cited requests for distinct PCS service access codes in 1991
from American Telephone & Telegraph Co. and not long after from Bell
Atlantic Mobile's cellular operation.  He stated such entreaties also
have been made by other cellular carriers as well as local exchange
and interexchange carriers.

However, it remains to be seen whether Bellcore, overseer of NANPA and
research arm of the seven regional Bell telephone companies, will
retain its telephone numbering assignment responsibilities in the
future.

The paging and cellular industries, in particular, have criticized
Livingston, N.J. based Bellcore's handling of number assignments for
wireless services, a problem some assert is traceable to the
organization's domination by the seven regional Bell operating
companies that fund it.

The FCC is currently reviewing whether Bellcore's organization and
administrative process need changing.  An agency official said it has
not been determined when a decision on the matter will be made.

House Telecommunications Subcommittee Chairman Edward Markey, D-Mass.,
raised concerns earlier this year about NANPA's structure and numbering
plan methodology.

Telocator and Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association are on
record as saying such a reorganization is in order.

"We need more of a wireless voice in these numbering forums," commented
Amy Stephan, director of PCS at Telocator.  Telocator strongly wants
the PCS industry to move forward, she said, but the association
believes PCS numbering issues still need more attention.


 DRBBS Technical BBS, Omaha  (In remembrance of JGL)  (1:285/666.0)

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

Date: Fri, 23 Jul 93 22:00 EDT
From: [e-mail] (woody)
Subject: List of Calling Number Announcement Numbers


[After checking all the incoming mail for this list, it's time to post
the current collection of ANAC codes.]

Calling Number Announcement Numbers
23 July 1993

This is a list of known ANAC codes in use, primarily in North America
and Australia, though international contributions are welcome.

An ANAC (Automatic Number Announcement Code) is used to identify the
calling number. This is handy when there are many lines, and it's
uncertain which line is which.

In many cases there is a short (1/10th second) dual tone, then a
female synthesised voice which reads off the calling phone number. In
some other cases, there is no initial dual tone, but just the voice
readout.

If your area is not listed, one of the codes listed for another area
may work, especially if from a related company's territory (eg.
another state served by the same regional telephone company). If a
code like 200.xxx.xxxx or 958 or an N11 code (*not* 411 or 911)
doesn't work, check for central office codes that are not used for
regular service elsewhere in the area code and see if that has the
ANAC number.

800 ANI (Automatic Number Identification)

In North America, 1 800 235.1414 was an 800 number that made use of ANI
service. ANI will deliver calling numbers to the destination number where
possible. Other 800 numbers might be possible, but are subject to regional
limitations.

For additions, corrections, inquiries, please e-mail to [e-mail],
[e-mail] or Fidonet Sysop at 1:250/730 (addresses effective
as of document date).

Credits:

Many entries came from a post to the Digest entitled "The Definitive
ANAC Guide", compiled by Emmanuel Goldstein, posted by Leryo Malbito
<[e-mail]>. This posting occurred a few years ago and is
subject to new codes and information.

Other contributors include:

[e-mail] (Andy Behrens)
[e-mail] (Miguel Cruz)
[e-mail] (Stephen Davis)
[e-mail] (Justin Greene)
[e-mail] (Jon Kimbrough)
[e-mail] (Jim McCormack)
[e-mail] (Mark Rudholm)
[e-mail] (Maxime Taksar KC6ZPS)
[e-mail] (Garrett Wollman)
[e-mail]


How to use:

Check for your region or area code. Then dial a listed number (more
than one ANAC code could be used in an area code, or different codes
may be used among different telephone companies such as independents).

The code may require prefacing with a 1 in some areas due to equipment
setup (taking care not to start dialing another active area code or
exchange). Be careful in many areas with 211 codes as these are often
used to reach Credit Operator from COCOTs or other situations.

yyyy = Represents a specific series of digits that can change (such as
       1111, 1234, 1699, 2350, 8123, etc).

NPA  ANAC number            Comments

204  644
204  644.xxxx
205  908.222.2222
212  958
213  114
213  1223                   (some 1AESS switches)
213  211.2345               (English response)
213  211.2346               (DTMF response)
213  61056
214  970.222.2222           (mentioned for Dallas once)
214  970.xxxx
215  410.xxxx
217  200.xxx.xxxx
217  290
305  200.222.2222
306  115 (?)
309  200.xxx.xxxx
309  290
310  114                    (on many GTE switches)
310  1223                   (some 1AESS switches)
310  211.2345               (English response)
310  211.2346               (DTMF response)
312  1.200.5863
312  1.200.yyyy
312  200.xxx.xxxx
312  290
313  200.200.2002
313  200.222.2222
313  200.xxx.xxxx           (sometimes in Michigan Bell territory)
317  310.222.2222
317  743.1218
401  222.2222
403  311                    (at least from Edmonton)
403  908.222.2222
403  999                    (was found in parts of Edmonton)
404  311                    (Atlanta)
404  940.xxx.xxxx
407  200.222.2222
408  300.xxx.xxxx
408  760
409  970.xxxx
414  330.2234
415  200.555.1212
415  211.2111
415  2222
415  640
415  760
415  7600
415  7600.2222
415  760.2878
416  410.yyyy
416  997.yyyy
502  997.555.1212
508  200.222.1234
508  200.222.2222
509  560
512  200.222.2222
512  970.xxxx
514  320.yyyy
516  968
517  200.222.2222
517  200.xxx.xxxx           (sometimes in Michigan Bell territory)
518  997
518  998
519  320.yyyy
602  593.0809
602  593.6017
602  593.7451
603  200.222.2222
604  1116
604  1211
604  211
606  997.555.1212
612  511
613  320.yyyy
615  830
616  200.222.2222
616  200.xxx.xxxx           (sometimes in Michigan Bell territory)
617  200.222.1234
617  200.222.2222
617  200.444.4444           (Woburn, MA)
617  200.xxx.xxxx
617  220.2622
618  200.xxx.xxxx
705  320.yyyy
708  1.200.yyyy
713  970.xxxx
714  211.2121
716  511
718  958
802  200.222.2222           (throughout NYNEX?)
802  2.222.222.2222         (NETel or Continental Tel code? Now obsolete?)
806  970.xxxx
812  410.555.1212
815  200.xxx.xxxx
815  290
817  211
818  1223                   (some 1AESS switches)
818  211.2345               (English response)
818  211.2346               (DTMF response)
906  200.222.2222
906  200.xxx.xxxx           (sometimes in Michigan Bell territory)
914  1.990.1111
914  99
914  990
914  990.1111
915  970.xxxx
919  711

Australia:

[phone]            (Victoria 03 area)
+61  19123                  (all major capital cities)

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

From: [e-mail] (Peter Chan)
Subject: Wanted: Email Address of Teleco System Inc.
Organization: Dept of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Univ of Melbourne
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1993 01:11:05 GMT


Hello netters,

Does anyone know the contract e-mail address (customer service or
technical dept or a helpful staff) for a company called Teleco System
Inc. located in Norwood, MA 02062 (I don't have the full address) ?

What I really after is a technical/educational report published by the
company on ATM network.

Please email me at [e-mail]

Your help is much appreciated.


Regards,

Peter Chan    Dept. of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
University of Melbourne,  Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
Tel: [phone]    Fax: [phone]

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

From: [e-mail] (Russ McGuire)
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 93 12:55:16 -0500
Subject: Re: WIL-TEL Noted on a COCOT


Carl Moore <[e-mail]> notes:

> WIL-TEL, 655 Grand Avenue, Elmhurst, IL 60126, tel. [phone]

> This firm is listed for 0+ calls "outside this zone", on a pay
> phone near Clinton, NJ on 908-735.  I think this is the same phone
> where I made a call on the Orange Card and got CLI in the From part
> of the resulting bill.

> [Moderator's Note: But is it the same WilTel, or a different firm?
> Maybe Mr. McQuire can tell us.   PAT]

One of WilTel's acquisitions has been Telesphere, Inc. which was based
in Elmhurst.  We still have offices there.  However, we did not
acquire the operator services or 900 services which went to a company
named (I believe) International Telecharge Inc. (ITI) which may have
changed names to Oncor.  (This obviously was not a simple acquisition,
as I remember it, we actually only acquired the Telesphere customer
base.)

The similarities tend to make me believe that this references the same
WilTel that is my employer, although I certainly don't know enough to
say with any level of confidence.  Since acquiring Telesphere, we have
primarily sold our 1+ and 800 services to other carriers and
rebillers.  It is likely that this pay phone has 0+ services provided
by one of these other companies.  Since they are using our switches
and our fiber network to provide their service, there may be some
technicality that either allows or requires them to list WIL-TEL as
the service provider.

Standard disclaimer applies...


Russ McGuire   WilTel, Inc.   [e-mail]

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

Date: Sat, 24 Jul 93 06:42:21 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Nigel Allen)
Subject: Australia: Regulatory Agency Blames Both Carriers
Organization: Echo Beach
Reply-To: [e-mail]


I found the following article in aus.comms, the Australian
communications newsgroup.

    From: [e-mail] (Colin Lynch)
    Subject: Austel Blames Both Carriers
    Organization: AOTC - CSSC

 By: Helen Meredith - The Australian, Thu July 22, 1993

 Copyright (c) 1993 Nationwide News Limited

Regulator Austel has thrown the blame for problems in connecting
Canberra international phone callers on both Telecom and Optus and
warned them to use their established access arrangements to prevent
further disputes.

The ruling follows a complaint to Austel by Optus that a significant number
of its customers at certain times of the day were unable to make inter-
national calls.

Optus blamed Telecom, saying it had independent data that proved the
problem existed in Telecom's network.

Telecom denied any responsibility, called the Optus network second-rate,
threatened to sue Optus chief executive Mr Bob Mansfield, and demanded
 a public apology.

Optus filed the data to support its allegations with Austel last week
just days before the national phone ballot got under way in Canberra.

Yesterday Austel said the blame should be shared by both carriers. The
regulator was disappointed the access agreements had not been followed
by the carriers, leading to the dispute.

Austel chairman Mr Robin Davey said: "The matter could have been
handled more productively. We are disappointed at the way the issue
was brought to light and at the apparent lack of communication and
co-ordination on both sides."

Austel's comments yesterday were in the form of preliminary findings
based on "hard factual information" that it had not received until the
end of last week.

"We had several meetings with Optus and Telecom during the past week
and demanded additional information from both," Mr Davey said.

Austel's preliminary findings had shown that:

    CALL CONGESTION contibuting to lost Optus calls had occurred
particularly at certain off-peak tariff periods when unexpectedly high
call levels were generated by Telecom and Optus discounting.

    A COMBINATION of factors had caused the problem, including
Telecom's failure to balance adequately the distribution of Optus
traffic between Telecom's gateways; Optus not having adequate capacity
between its long-distance switch and the Telecom local network to take
heavy traffic (although Austel acknowledged Optus had recently
addressed this); and failure by Optus to establish alternative access
or overflow facilities for traffic overloads.

Austel said Telecom had not experienced similar congestion to Optus
because it had alternative routes. Optus had not asked for such
facilities from Telecom.

Austel pointed out that Optus was required to forecast its line needs
according to anticipated phone traffic and to make that need known to
Telecom, which was responsible for passing on calls to the Optus
network.


         Colin Lynch           | e-mail: [e-mail]
     Telstra Corporation Limited   | postal: PO Box A792 Sydney South
    Customised Software Solutions  |         NSW 2000  Australia
           Centre  -  Sydney       | phone:  [phone]   fax: [phone]

                              -----------

Nigel Allen, Toronto, Ontario, Canada  [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Robert L. McMillin)
Subject: EE Times: Rockwell Readies V.FAST Chipset
Sender: [e-mail] (Robert L. McMillin)
Organization: Surf City Software/TBFW Project
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1993 15:02:49 GMT


In the July 19, 1993 issue of {Electronic Engineering Times},
Rockwell's Digital Data Communications Division "pledged to ship,
within 90 days, volume quantities of new V.FC family members, which
could hit V.FAST's top speed of 28.8 bits per second."

Rockwell specifically refused to support the v.32terbo interim
"standard", which the CCITT rejected earlier but several modem
manufacturers adoped anyway.  "'We are not going to participate in the
v.32terbo market in any way,' said Armando Geday, [Rockwell's]
director of worldwide marketing for modems."

Rockwell officials sought to ease potential customer fears of a
premature release of the chipset, especially since the CCITT v.FAST
standard remains incomplete.  Geday called the existing
work-in-progress a sufficient "snapshot" of what the committee has
agreed upon.  "The work is much further along than it was a year ago,
so there are fewer gray areas we need to worry about. ... It is also
much safer when you are at the chip level.  We participate in a market
where customers care about compatibility and standards, but they also
care about getting to market quickly. ... In the case of Motorola or
AT&T, you're talking about a $1,000 system in which compability issues
are more critical [than in an under-$1,000 chipset]."

The new Rockwell product will offer a speedier, pin-compatible DSP
with more ROM and better encoding.  "All existing CCITT standards --
includeing v.42 and MNP 2-4 error correction, and v.42bis and MNP 5
data compression -- are supported by Rockwell's new v.FAST devices,"
the article concluded.


Robert L. McMillin | Surf City Software | [e-mail] | Dude!

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

Date: Fri, 23 Jul 93 13:46:39 +0200
From: [e-mail] (Leo Nederlof)
Subject: Flood control in Holland


I have been following the TV news and the postings in this newsgroup
lately about the floodings in the United States and I, having spent
most of my life below sea level, can't restrain from expressing my
views on this.

I know it sounds cliche to mention in this context the Dutch as being
the World leaders in hydraulic engineering ("God created Earth, but
the Dutch created Holland"), but I would like to draw a small
comparison here.

In the Netherlands the water comes from two sides: several big rivers
from one side, draining the main part of Western Europe, cutting the
country in two, and the North Sea from the other side.

Sometimes, due to north-western storms, the sea water gets whiped up
high in the funnel created by the Dutch and British coasts, closing
into each other in the street of Dover, which is about 30 km wide.
This last phenomenon, coinciding with a spring-tide, caused the last
major flooding in 1953.

After 1953 the so-called Delta plan was devised, which would within
several decades provide protection for this south-western part of
the Netherlands against conditions with an occurance probability of
10e-4 per year, i.e., occuring on average once in ten thousand
years.

Part of this plan, and completing the works about five years ago, is
the Oosterscheldedam, a dam spanning several kilometers across a sea
arm, consisting of elements with doors. Under normal conditions the
doors are open, thus not causing ecological disturbances in the
hinterland, but when the water rises above the level against which
the inland dikes can protect, the doors are closed. A similar system
is at the moment being constructed in the Nieuwe Waterweg, the
entrance to the ports of Rotterdam. There, two huge 'doors' are
being made, since under normal conditions the passage should be open
to ships.

As for the rivers, there are two sets of levees -- or dikes as we use
to refer to them -- along most of them. The inner dikes mark the
normal flow of the river. To carry the rivers in springtime - with
loads of melting water from the Alps -- there are stretches of land
that are called 'uiterwaarden' in Dutch (according to my dictionary
this translates into 'outer marshes' or 'foreland', but I don't know
whether you can correctly translate it, since, just like polders,
you won't find any of them outside the Netherlands). These are
bounded by a set of (higher) outer dikes, at most places several 100
meters away from the inner dikes. The grass lands in between are
used as pasture when dry.

Building dikes, however, is not enough. The managing of the waters is
a complex system, which involves continuous monitoring of levels and
controlling them using sluices and floodgates. Besides, a lot of
support and pre-calculations come from computer models and scale
models (and, of course, an excellent bunch of hydraulic engineers
behind them ;-)).

Now, to return to the case in the US, I've heard it said (by people
here in Holland who definitely know what they are talking about) that
most of the havoc in the Mid-West could have been prevented by
adequate dikes and a water control system like we have in Holland.
Sure, it will cost a considerable amount of money to construct and
maintain such a system, but compare that to the direct and indirect
costs and damages due to floodings like the current one.

Of course, being just a telecom engineer, my knowledge of these
matters is just superficial, but I'm sure that in Holland there is
enough expertise in hydraulic engineering to recover Atlantis. For
one, at the Delft University of Technology, where I graduated in EE,
where also there is an institute where many engineers from Asiatic
countries are trained in HE, there should be enough people capable of
commenting on this.

(disclaimer: I may live and work in Belgium, but...)


 Leo Nederlof         phone: [phone]
                        fax:  . . . . 9932
 [e-mail]  private:  . . .2375215

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

Date: Sat, 24 Jul 93 11:39:54 CDT
From: Will Martin <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Big Rivers


> [Moderator's Note: Old Man River is a mile wide at its widest point I
> believe, and that is somewhere south of St. Louis I thought. I remember
> as a child I rode across it in a car with my parents and how impressive
> it looked at that point.  PAT]

For what it's worth, the latest word I heard here in St. Louis last
week was that the water in the river system at the confluence area
just North of the city is now NINE miles wide ...

Last night, they showed some Earth-Resources satellite images on the
TV news, comparing a year ago or so, during a drought, with an image
taken Sunday. Rather an impressive change. From being a thin line on
the former image, the rivers are now broad smears covering vast areas.

What I never hear anybody mentioning, even as they begin to discuss
the cleanup and infrastructure-rebuilding tasks, is what is going to
happen if this same thing happens NEXT year, and maybe yearly after
that. If this is due to a permanent (or long-term, in human terms)
climate change, that would be likely. What used to be hundred-year (or
five-hundred-year) floods may become the normal occurrence ... :-(

(Personally, I live about a dozen blocks from the South St. Louis
flooding, but luckily up quite a bit in elevation, on the bluffs and
not in the floodplain.)


Will

[Moderator's Note: How has telecom been affected throughout the area?
I know quite obviously that phones underwater in some homes or offices
are going to be out of service, but is there otherwise a problem with
slow dial tone, cables that are wet, etc?  How has flood recovery
affected the normal course of telecom repairs/installations, etc?  PAT]

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

Date: Fri, 23 Jul 93 20:06 EDT
From: [e-mail] (woody)
Subject: Northern Telecom Loses; AT&T Gains


The {Toronto Star} reported that Northern Telecom lost $1.03 billion
in the recent quarter; meanwhile, AT&T made $1.04 billion in the
recent quarter.

I won't speculate too much about that situation ...


David Leibold

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #505
******************************










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From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #506

TELECOM Digest     Sat, 24 Jul 93 20:59:00 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 506

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Dark Fiber? (Paul Robinson)
    Re: Dark Fiber? (Steven L. Spak)
    Re: Dark Fiber? (Gary Breuckman)
    Re: Dark Fiber? (Miguel Cruz)
    Re: 800 Translation Questions (David G.Lewis)
    Re: 800 Translation Questions (Tarl Neustaedter)
    Re: 800 Translation Questions (Paul Robinson)
    Re: 800 Translation Questions (John Adams)
    Re: 911 For Non-Emergencies? (was Re: Natwick 911 Drama) (Joe Bergstein)
    Re: 911 For Non-Emergencies? (was Re: Natwick 911 Drama) (H. Hallikainen)
    Re: 911 For Non-Emergencies? (was Re: Natwick 911 Drama) (Kevin Herrboldt)
    Re: Standard Practice For Wiring House (Tim Hogard)
    Re: Standard Practice For Wiring House (Karl Braun)
    Re: Experiences Wanted With BRI ISDN (Fred R. Goldstein)
    Re: Experiences Wanted With BRI ISDN (Mike King)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sat, 24 Jul 93 18:06 GMT
Subject: Re: Dark Fiber?
From: Paul Robinson <[e-mail]>
Organization: Tansin A. Darcos & Company, Silver Spring, MD USA


> I have seen the term Dark Fiber used in several ways and
> I am confused as to the meaning.

"Dark Fiber" is fiber optic cable which is run from one point to
another for a customer of a telephone carrier, and the carrier doesn't
do anything with the service.  The customer has to do all the data
translations and everything else.

The reason for the issue to be so serious is that the telephone
companies want to price bandwidth according to the equivalent of
telephone connections, e.g. pricing a T1 (1.4 Megabits) connection at
the equivalent of 28 telephone lines.  And a T-3 (45 Megabits)
connection would be priced like 32 T1s or 896 telephone lines.  (I
think the number I just got here is wrong; a T3 is usually considered
600 or so connections, I think, but it doesn't change much.)

In any case, if a telephone line costs $20 a month, a T3, priced at
telephone rates (or even 1/2 telephone line rates) could run something
like $12,000 a month plus usage charges, which if they want the meter
running, could be $100 an hour or more.

Under the rules for dark fiber, the phone company has to provide a
strand of fiber optic line (equivalent to about a T-3) for a figure of
$150 per mile, per month, without regard to the amount of usage.

Figure out that if you are running a T3 at least 1/2 full for eight
hours a day, in one month the charges could reach $16,000 a month, or
$28,000 a month if you include the connection.  (And don't forget, you
need one connection at each end.)

Based on these numbers, you can lease up to 100 miles of fiber for
less than the cost of usage alone.  If you are hooking up a set of
offices in a city, leased dark fiber at $150 a mile makes a lot more
sense than paying traffic and connection charges for connection to a
telephone company network (Metropolitan Area Network or MAN).

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

From: [e-mail] (Steven L. Spak)
Subject: Re: Dark Fiber?
Organization: George Washington University
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1993 14:27:53 GMT


Dark fiber is a term used to describe fiberoptic cable dedicated to a
non-telco user.  Carriers often lease dark fiber (at gunpoint :-) ) at
a premium to bypass types and large companies.


| Steven Spak    [e-mail]  Transmission Engineer
| Tel: [phone]    Fax: [phone]

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

Date: Sat, 24 Jul 93 09:18:57 -0700
From: [e-mail] (Gary Breuckman)
Subject: Re: Dark Fiber?


I've understood dark to mean that the telco or utility provides you
with both ends of a piece of fiber, and you do whatever you want with
it.  As opposed to, for example, providing you with some sort of
circuit over fiber where they define the protocols and whatever
dsu/csu equipment you need to connect to it.


 Gary

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

From: [e-mail] (Miguel Cruz)
Subject: Re: Dark Fiber?
Organization: /etc/organization
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1993 15:27:58 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> Carl Silva <csilva@akocoa.
enet.dec.com> writes:

> I missed the eariler part of this conversation.  I have seen
> the term Dark Fiber used in several ways and I am confused as to the
> meaning.  Can someone come up with a generally accepted definition for
> this?

"Dark fibre" is usually used to refer to fibre optic cable with
capacity well in excess of short-term plans; since not much of it is
being used, one can assume that not much light is passing through it,
I guess, and therefore it's "dark". It wouldn't actually look any
different.

If you were laying fibre from Los Angeles to Guam, you would most
likely put a whole lot more cabling than you need immediately (or even
in the next 10 or 20 years) since just laying the cable is such an
immensely expensive proposition. You then would have some Dark Fibre.

There's probably a joke about Bran Flakes in there somewhere, but I'm
not going to be the one to make it.


Miguel Cruz    National Computer Hotline   Sydney

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

From: [e-mail] (david.g.lewis)
Subject: Re: 800 Translation Questions
Organization: AT&T
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1993 13:51:30 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Andy Sherman) writes:

> As to the 800 number cache, that would be a singularly bad idea for
> any LEC to implement in an end office.  First off, it would break a
> lot of enhanced 800 services.  Somebody from AT&T can correct me if
> I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure (note the disclaimer, please) that it's
> possible to have the routing change at night, so that a nationwide 800
> number routed to multiple centers can have fewer centers open at
> night.  Cacheing the route would surely break this.  Caches would also
> likely break all of the "we guarantee to have your super-duper 800
> service back up within X minutes" type services that the IXC's offer.

I don't think Andy's wrong per se, but I'm not sure that these
"vertical services" (Bellcore's term) have yet been implemented.  The
800 DBS SCP supports various kinds of vertical services, such as
time-of-day and day-of-week routing, proportional routing to multiple
carriers, and so on, but the first step has been to successfully
implement 10-digit translations, and vertical services have had to
wait.

A second thing to keep in mind is that the "translation" provided by
the 800 DBS SCP is a "translation" in the telephony sense of the term,
not in the common sense of the term.  A "translation" is an
interpretation of dialed digits to provide routing information.  It is
not necessarily a conversion of an 800 number to a routing number.  So
the ten-digit translation performed by the 800 DBS SCP may provide
nothing more than a Carrier Identification Code (CIC) which indicates
to the SSP to route the call to a given IXC, and the IXC does further
translation that provides actual routing for the call.


David G Lewis                              AT&T Bell Laboratories
[e-mail] or !att!goofy!deej     Switching & ISDN Implementation

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

From: [e-mail] (Tarl Neustaedter)
Subject: Re: 800 Translation Questions
Date: 24 Jul 1993 15:53:22 GMT
Organization: Stratus Computer, Inc.


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
(Andy Sherman) writes:

> Somebody from AT&T can correct me if
> I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure (note the disclaimer, please) that it's
> possible to have the routing change at night, so that a nationwide 800
> number routed to multiple centers can have fewer centers open at
> night.

I'm not from AT&T, but I've worked with a few phone companies. It is
not only possible to have 800 services routed differently by time of
day, but at least one phone company (I can't mention names) intends to
provide a service allowing 800 calls to be routed based on time of
day, available agents, and originating phone number.

On the other hand, regarding a cache; my understanding is that when an
800 number changes carriers, it takes several days for all the LECs to
update their databases about which carrier to route the call to.  That
is a first-level routing decision entirely above the level of routing
within a long-distance network. I don't know, but I got the impression
this update is done via mag-tape sent through snail-mail.


Tarl Neustaedter       Stratus Computer
 [e-mail]    Marlboro, Mass.
Disclaimer: My employer is not responsible for my opinions.

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

Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1993 12:58:38 -0400 (EDT)
From: Paul Robinson <[e-mail]>
Reply-To: Paul Robinson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: 800 Translation Questions
Organization: Tansin A. Darcos & Company, Silver Spring, MD USA


Andy Sherman <[e-mail]>, writes:

> As to the 800 number cache, that would be a singularly bad
> idea for any LEC to implement in an end office.  First off,
> it would break a lot of enhanced 800 services... it's
> possible to have the routing change at night...  Cacheing
> the route would surely break this... would also likely break
> all of the "we guarantee to have your super-duper 800 service
> back up within X minutes" type services that the IXC's offer.

Pat, you should have caught him on this and corrected it.

Before I get flamed over this, let me state that I don't work for a
telephone company and don't know the internals of the 800 number
database, except what I have read here, but the point is that the
whole issue of 800-number portability was to allow a customer to
choose any Long Distance Company (Interexchange Carrier or "IXC") to
handle their incoming WATS lines.

Remember that the caller's telephone company (telco, or Local Exchange
Company "LEC") by law and court order cannot connect calls outside of
the telco's Local Access Transport Area (LATA), called an "inter-LATA"
call, with some minor exceptions.

Remember what was said about how using 10xxx before 1-800 is ignored
because the number determines the IXC? It is clearly obvious to me,
and stands to reason that *that*, the IXC identification is what is
being found by the lookup system. That is the *only* thing that can be
cached.

Before the *entire* 1-800 number was portable, essentially the same
thing was done with the first three digits of the 1-800 number.  But
since that was a small, fixed table (of no more than 999 entries) the
whole thing could be kept in the memory of the LEC switch.  But not with
seven million entries that can be changed on a short term.

The LEC, in caching information about a call is *not* caching the route
(ten-digit local terminator number) to which a call is to be transported.
All that the LEC is getting, and all that it could cache, is the identity
of the IXC that handles the call.

Even *I* understand what is going on.  The national 800 database
simply tells the particular LEC which IXC is handling that particular
1-800 number, (and in some cases, for that particular part of the
country if the customer uses multiple carriers, which I understand is
possible).  The telco then hands off the call to the nearest point of
presence to the IXC in that LATA (if that IXC has one in that LATA),
and the IXC handles the routing of the call.  The LEC has nothing to
do with it.

It would not affect AT&T's service guarantee for 1-800 numbers (unless
that service guarantee involves routing some 1-800 calls via MCI or
Sprint) and would not affect the automated re-routing of calls to
different places depending on time of day or caller's location.  It
would have no effect on these at all.


Paul Robinson - [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (adams,john)
Subject: Re: 800 Translation Questions
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 93 12:25:40 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Andy Sherman) writes:

>In comp.dcom.telecom, article <[e-mail]>, Pat
>wrote:

>> your point is well taken, and according to the message which appeared
>> here yesterday, telcos do in fact do a lookup each time; it is done so
                   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

True, however, in many cases (I don't know the exact percentages), a
double lookup is done; once by the LEC via their SCP, and often (as
high as perhaps 80% of the time) again by the IXC.  In these cases,
the 800 number service is provided by the IXC, and the LEC needs only
to determine which IXC to route it to at this particular instance.

> As to the 800 number cache, that would be a singularly bad idea for
> any LEC to implement in an end office.  First off, it would break a
> lot of enhanced 800 services.

It is for precisely the above reason stated by Andy, that IXCs do the
second translation of 800 to POTS.  A potential secondary reason is
that the IXCs would probably rather not *PAY* the LEC to do full
enhanced feature translations in the LECs SCP!  There is a lot more
details on this in the FCC document on 800 portability 86-10,
including the subsequent rulings regarding who pays for what.


John (Jack) Adams        Bellcore NVC 2Z-220
[phone] {Voice}        [phone] {Facsimile}
[e-mail]    [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Joe Bergstein)
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1993 03:36:39 -0500
Subject: Re: 911 For Non-Emergencies? (was Re: Natwick 911 Drama)


I believe the reason that some police departments refer all calls to
911 is that their 911 system is set up to (a) record the entire call,
and (b) use ANI to determine the call's origin.  In many instances it
would be very helpful for the police to have this information.

Hopefully, the intelligent 911 system designer can set up a local
NXX-XXXX number as a lower priority entry into the 911 ACD system, so
all calls can be recorded and identified, but true emergency 911 calls
will always take top priority.

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

From: [e-mail] (Harold Hallikainen)
Subject: Re: 911 For Non-Emergencies? (was Re: Natwick 911 Drama)
Organization: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1993 05:04:17 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Paulo
Santos) writes:

> Talk about stupidity.  My car was broken into in downtown Atlanta,
> less than 100 yards from the downtown police precinct in the CNN
> Center.  To report the break-in, I just walked to the police station
> (hey, it was closer than the nearest payphone).  Well, they made me
> call 911 *from the police station*, so that 911 could dispatch one of
> the police cars that was parked out front.

    Back when the California Department of Motor Vehicles was
REQUIRING people to have appointments for just about everything, I
heard about someone who walked in without an appointment.  They would
not talk with him.  He went to the phone across the room, talked with
the appointment center in Sacramento, then walked back across the room
with an appointment.  They'd talk with him then.

    I don't know the accuracy of the story ... but, it seems
sometimes systems get a little inflexible.


Harold

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

From: kksys!mpls911![e-mail] (Kevin Herrboldt)
Subject: Re: 911 For Non-Emergencies? (was Re: Natwick 911 Drama)
Organization: Emergency Communications, City of Minneapolis
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1993 21:36:16 GMT


Gerry George ([e-mail]) wrote:

> I once had the need to report a "threatening" phone call (I knew who
> the caller was, and wanted to file an official complaint).  I looked
> up the local police station in the directory (since I do not know how

> hose procedures work) and mentioned that I wanted to make a report on
> a harassing phone call (Boston, MA).  I was instructed to call 911!!!
> I politely told the woman on the other end that it was not an
> emergency, I simply wanted to file a complaint.  She said that there
> was no way for them to take a report unledd I went through 911. I left
> it at that, and hung up in frustration, thinking that this was a sure
> fire way to mess up a perfectly good emergency response system.

: Why would the powers that be see it fit to route *all* calls through
: to 911???

Here in the Metropolitan Minneapolis/St. Paul area (and possibly the
entire state), 911 is used to handle ALL calls for police/fire/EMS.
(Minneapolis does, however, have a seven-digit line for filing police
reports that do not require an immediate squad response.)

Whether or not 911 should be used for emergencies only seems to be
primarily a question of capacity.  The Minneapolis PSAP answers almost
75% of 911 calls in less than 10 seconds, and less than 0.1% are
answered after more than 50 seconds.  Minneapolis handles about
550,000 in-coming calls each year, with over 290,000 being 911.

There are advantages and disadvantages to routing all calls through
the 911 system, but clearly it is doable.


Kevin Herrboldt                                      [e-mail]
Minneapolis Emergency Communications Center   ...!mishima!mpls911!kevin
City Hall Room B-911, Mpls, MN  55415 USA   [phone]

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

Date: Sat, 24 Jul 93 09:08:23 -0400
From: [e-mail] (Tim Hogard)
Subject: Re: Standard Practice For Wiring House


If you asked ot have it done a correct way (and you did) then he
should have done it that way.

>  Is there any technical reason to install in daisy-chain fashion, or is
> it just cheaper?

A very old book I was reading said to wire in a ring, that is connect
the beginning of hte daisy-chain to the end at the point of
termination so that when a wire breaks, you will still have a live
line.  I wonder what a fast modem would think of this?

I expect that a typical new house would be wired with a combination
tee and daisy-chain to save labor costs.


Tim Hogard    Robins AFB   Warner Robins GA

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

From: [e-mail] (Karl Braun)
Subject: Re: Standard Practice For Wiring House
Organization: Novell Inc., San Jose, Califonia
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1993 15:02:48 GMT



EIA/TIA 570 ("Residential and Light Commercial Telecommunications
Wiring Standard") says:

"A minimum of one wire run *shall* be installed to each of the
following rooms in residences (where applicable):

    Kitchen
    All Bedrooms
    Family/Great Room
    Den/Study"

    - section 5.3.5.2 , first paragraph

"In residential applications, station wire runs from the distribution
device *shall* be star wired to the first or primary telecommunications
 outlet appearance in each room.  Additional outlets within the same
room may be star wired from the distribution device or extended
fromthe primary outlet [...] in a series configuration..."

    - section 5.3.5.2, paragraph 4

[emphasis mine - ktb]

So the "standard" is, in fact, to make at least one run per room.
Standard practice, on the other hand ...

Keep in mind this standard was approved in May of 1991.

A lot of houses I saw built within the last decade had six pair wiring
(not sheathed in a single cable, just a bundle of six pairs) strung in
daisy chain from jack to jack.


kral   408/647-6112    Network Scapegoat in Training

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

From: [e-mail] (Fred R. Goldstein)
Subject: Re: Experiences Wanted With BRI ISDN
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1993 04:59:38 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Carl
Oppedahl) writes:

> When I did manage to reach someone whose job was to know about ISDN,
> they told me that NYTel charges $10 per month for BRI.  Running
> low-speed data over the D channel is an extra $2 per month.  Running
> your flexible choice of high-speed data or voice over a B channel is
> an extra $2 per month.  He was quite unable to say what packets cost
> on the high or low speed paths.  And all this is an added cost per
> month above and beyond the cost of the voice telephone numbers carried
> on the BRI.

Yes, NYTel, like its sister NYNEX company Gnu England Tel, charges
those rates in addition to the regular business or residential line
rate.  (Not "number" rate, since additional numbers on an ISDN line
cost about a buck a month, at least in NET.)  Still it's not a bad
deal IF you can get it.  Expect much better deployment by next year,
but for now NYNEX lags most of the developed world.

> He also said, though I find it difficult to believe, that the ISDN BRI
> connection is via a single twisted pair.  I always thought this was
> done on two pairs.

One pair.  That's why it's so cost-effective.  The "digital section"
(ISDN-ese for local loop) goes up to 18,000 feet using one ordinary
unloaded pair.  THis is "Reference Point U".  Within a building, it's
typically converted to the four-wire Reference Point T for the final
hookup; an NT1 box converts U to T.


Fred R. Goldstein  Resident ISDN Weenie [e-mail]
Opinions are mine alone; sharing requires permission

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

Date: Sat, 24 Jul 93 03:08:21 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Mike King)
Subject: Re: Experiences Wanted With BRI ISDN


The editor of {Teleconnect} Magazine, Harry Newton, has been working
with NYTel; they have two BRI lines.  He's been publishing updates in
the magazine.  You might try to give him a call; the magazine's
editorial offices are at 212-691-8215.

Harry has been discouraged by the poor marketing of ISDN by the BOCs.
He's the one who said, "If BOCs were selling sushi, they'd advertise,
'Cold dead fish.'"  Someone else took that and made buttons.


Mike King * Software Sourcerer * Fairchild Space * +1 301.428.5384
[e-mail] or [e-mail]  *  (usual disclaimers)

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #506
******************************










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From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #507

TELECOM Digest     Sun, 25 Jul 93 15:56:00 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 507

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: U.S. Cuts Off the Canadian-Cuban Connection (Jack Decker)
    Re: Competition for Talk Tickets (Doug Granzow)
    Re: Employer Representation on This Digest (Bruce Howells)
    Re: Employer Representation on This Digest (Pat Turner)
    Re: 1-800-COLLECT (Tom Lowe)
    Re: 1-800-COLLECT (Christopher Zguris)
    Re: Do We Have a Theme Song? (Art Walker)
    Re: Why the AT&T TrueVoice Demo Asks For Your Number (John Rice)
    Re: Multi-Carrier Service From Cincinnati Bell (Mike King)
    Re: FEMA Releases Summary of Flood-Related Information (Dave Niebuhr)
    Re: N.Y. Pager Fee (Christopher Zguris)
    Re: AT&T To Raise Rates August 1 (Paul Robinson)
    Re: Cell Phone Fraud Losses Triple in a Year (Stephen Davis)
    Re: Looking For Devices to Dial *67 (Eric Davis)
    Re: Were You a Victim of 900 Abuse? (Ray Normandeau)
    Re: Were You a Victim of 900 Abuse? (Eric Hall)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sat, 24 Jul 93 14:55:08 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Jack Decker)
Subject: Re: U.S. Cuts Off the Canadian-Cuban Connection


In message <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (woody) wrote:

> A Canadian Press report last week said that the main U.S. carriers
> (AT&T, MCI, Sprint) will be cutting off 800 number access to Canadian
> services that offer access to Cuban telephones. A Toronto company like
> Telecaribe would set up an 800 number reachable from the U.S., then
> offer U.S. callers a connection to Cuba (for a price!). The U.S.
> government ordered the blocking of the 800 service via the Treasury
> Department. There is a U.S. embargo on trade with Cuba but
> Canadian-Cuban trade is relatively unrestricted.

While I'm certainly no fan of the Castro regime, this seems to me like
a case of trying to plug a dike when there are already holes all over,
and new ones opening up every second.  Just to think of three things
that a U.S. resident could do to obtain calls to Cuba:

1) Use a smaller carrier (not one of the "Big Three") to access the
800 number.  Now, granted, the caller has no choice of carriers on an
800 call, but if 800 calls to other countries are handed to U.S.
carriers on a semi-random basis (as I have been led to understand that
they are), then it would seem that if one redials a sufficient number
of times, sooner or later the call will hit a third-tier carrier and
perhaps go through.  Perhaps the article meant to say that the 800
numbers would be removed from the Bellcore 800 number database and
therefore inaccessible via any U.S.  carrier, but that's not what it
said.

2) Open an account with a Canadian long distance company, then use a
"Canada Direct" type number (do any such exist?) to get access to the
Canadian carrier's switch.  Since only a very insignificant number of
calls through such a switch would be destined for Cuba, it would be
impractical to block off access to the carrier's 800 number.

3) Canadian firms (even the telcos themselves) could offer to set up
individual call forwarding numbers.  Consider this:  What would stop a
U.S. customer from approaching Bell Canada or any of the provincial
telephone companies (whichever offers the best rate would probably be
the most logical choice, unless you live very close to the Canadian
border at some point) and requesting a number with "Remote Call
Forwarding", and then forwarding the calls to an number in Cuba?  I
would suspect that at least one of the Canadian telcos, if not all,
would permit Remote Call Forwarding to an international number, and RCF
is a service designed for customers who do not have a physical presence
in a city, so they should have no problem billing the service to an
out-of-province address.  So, if someone's mother lived in Havana, they
could set up a Remote Call Forwarding number in, say, Toronto (if Bell
Canada allows RCF to an international number) for probably about the
cost of a standard residential or business phone line (depending on
whether RCF is tariffed as a business or residential service only).
They would pay for the cost of forwarded calls from Toronto to Havana,
and also for calls to the Toronto number from wherever they were
calling from.  If mama in Havana had many relatives in the U.S., the
cost of the Canadian RCF number could be split among them.  They'd just
have to be sure not to advertise this scheme to anyone not in the
family, and to tell mama to hang up very quickly when she gets calls
from the inevitible teleslime offering things like home repair (with
special prices for repairing ice and snow damage)!  :-)

Also, the firms offering this service in Canada probably aren't going
to take this lying down; they'll probably change 800 numbers frequently
to stay one step ahead of the blockers, and be a bit more careful how
they advertise their services in the U.S.   Since they presumably
already have an existing U.S. customer base, all they have to do is
call each customer individually and give them a new 800 (or even a
non-800) access number that's not yet known to AT&T, MCI, or Sprint.

Those folks who really have the potential to do damage to U.S. efforts
to unseat Castro probably already have fifty different ways to
communicate with Cuba, so I suspect that this embargo is really only
hurting those who make casual calls back to relatives in Cuba.  In my
opinion, this only makes the U.S.  look bad, and gives Castro more
propaganda fuel ("look at how the big, bad U.S. is picking on us
now!").  I think it was a mistake to ever let a communist dictatorship
take root 90 miles off our shores in the first place, but given the
current world situation, my personal opinion is that we'd now be better
off not to do things that serve no useful purpose other than alienating
the Cuban people (and their relatives who live here).  Anyone who
seriously believes that this new government regulation will actually
prevent Cuban government agents (e.g. spies, communist sympathizers,
etc.) simply has no idea how easy it is to forward a call through a
third country.  Any decent size office phone system (as well as most
two line phones sold for the home market) offer three way calling
capability, so you'd practically have to block all calls to ANY country
that allows customers to have more than one phone line(!) in order to
totally prevent any U.S. caller from being able to have a call extended
into Cuba.  I'm sure the bad guys already know this, so only the
"little people" are being hurt by this inane regulation.

I think this is a case of government bureaucrats trying to accomplish
something without having any real understanding of the technology (or
else THEY understand it, but figure everyone ELSE is too stupid).
Makes you wonder if "government intelligence" really IS an oxymoron. :-)


Jack Decker | [e-mail] or [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Doug Granzow)
Subject: Re: Competition for Talk Tickets
Organization: Cynosure BBS - Email and newsgroups at 410-549-2584
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 93 11:06:02 EDT


TELECOM Moderator noted in response to David P. Notley Jr. <[e-mail]>:

>[ Western Union also has a prepaid calling card out now you can
> purchase at currency exchanges and some banks.  PAT]

Western Union appears to be getting ready to promote their new "Phone
Cards" pretty heavily.  In the agency literature we received recently,
WU claims they are the first company to offer this type of product
nationwide.  (All Western Union agents should now have these cards
available for sale.)

The cards are available in denominations of $5, $10, $20, or $50, and
calls cost $.60/minute within the U.S.  (International calls range
from $1.80/min to $3/min.)  The cards are not activated until they are
actually sold, and they expire six months from the date of purchase.

The caller dials an 800 number, enters the number printed on the
inside of the card, and dials the number they want to call.  There is
no mention of being able to string multiple phone cards together, so I
can only wonder what WU does with the leftover money.  (An eight
minute call costs $4.80, leaving $.20 on a $5 card, which isn't enough
to stay on for another minute.)


|Doug Granzow ([e-mail]) - Cynosure BBS 410-549-2584 (free!)


[Moderator's Note: The Talk Ticket, with prices ranging from 39 cents
to 50 cents per minute (depending on discount at time of purchase) and
with an even number of units so nothing is left over and wasted is a
much  better deal, if I do say so myself, especially since you can buy
them from the convenience of your office or home using your modem and
CHECK-FREE to pay for them.  PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Bruce Howells)
Subject: Re: Employer Representation on This Digest
Date: 24 Jul 1993 16:20:20 GMT
Organization: BGS Systems


Some corporate Email/network policies require such disclaimers.

Perhaps a solution similar to that used by Peter Neumann in moderating
the Risks Digest could be useful: A header at the top of each digest
announces that the postings included represent the personal opinion of
the poster, and that corporation names are for identification purposes
only.

For example, I have to put the .signature that follows, but with such
a header on each Telecom_Digest, it would be redundant.  (Of course,
when I post as [e-mail], no trailer is necessary, or present.)


Bruce Howells,  [e-mail]
This posting is the author's personal opinion, and does not
necessarily represent BGS Systems, Inc.

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

From: [e-mail]
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 93 14:28 EDT
From: rsiatl![e-mail]
Subject: Re: Employer Representation on This Digest


> [Moderator's Note: I guess there are still people out there who feel
> if they include an organization in their header or .signaturanything
> they say will somehow be tracked back to their organization. I've

Pat,

5CFR2635.807(b)(2) sez:

  An employee may use, or permit the use of, his title or position in
  connection with an article published in a scientific or professional
  journal, provided that the title or position is accompanied by a
  reasonably prominent disclaimer satisfactory to the agency stating that
  the views expressed in the article do not represent the views of the
  agency or the United States; and ...

Since joining the FAA I have made a point to add a disclaimer to any
post that expressed an opinion or mentioned the FAA.  While I was at
Auburn I added a disclaimer that I had no connection to the campus
telecom people when I mentioned them.


Not the opinions of the FAA.

Patton Turner  KB4GRZ  FAA Telecommunications  [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Tom Lowe)
Subject: Re: 1-800-COLLECT
Date: 25 Jul 1993 00:13:42 -0400
Organization: Speedway Free Access -- Dial 10288-1-503-520-2222


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Dave
Niebuhr) writes:

> I just finished a comparison of collect call charges involving AT&T,
> MCI, MCI's 1-800-COLLECT, Sprint and New York Telephone.

>     1-800-COLLECT       .65 US

Gee...I just got off the phone with them a few minutes ago and the
customer service rep told me the surcharge is $1.50.  I called AT&T
also and they told me the surcharge is $2.00.

And the phone companies wonder why everyone is so confused about
rates!


Tom Lowe   [e-mail]   or [e-mail]

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

Date: Sat, 24 Jul 93 05:00 GMT
From: Christopher Zguris <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: 1-800-COLLECT


So based on the comparison of charges Dave Niebuhr([e-mail].
gov) posted in TELECOM Digest v13 #504 it looks like 800-COLLECT is
worthwhile. I noticed the AT&T ads against "other" companies
(obviously 800-COLLECT) only focus on the fact that a minimum of only
$.01 savings is guaranteed -- maximums and/or average savings are not
mentioned, I don't think the ads are very effective or strong. Can we
expect new 800-COLLECT ads to counter AT&T and then AT&T giving in and
lowering their rates? Does anyone know how well 800-COLLECT is doing,
is AT&T running ads against it as a precaution or are they losing
business?


Christopher Zguris   [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Art Walker)
Subject: Re: Do We Have a Theme Song?
Organization: Beeble Planning Commission
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1993 23:19:38 GMT


[e-mail] (Christian Weisgerber) writes:

> Well, there's 9.5.N.A.S.T.Y by WASP. Although I personally like that
> song quite a lot, I'm afraid it doesn't match the musical preferences
> of most readers here, especially not that of our dear Moderator :->
> Also it's not really about phones but the person behind the number.

Or, along the same lines, "Spanked" by Van Halen.


Art Walker, Somewhere In Iowa    [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Why the AT&T TrueVoice Demo Asks For Your Number
Organization: Teradyne Inc., Telecommunications Division
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 93 14:55:51 GMT


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
(Nigel Allen) writes:

> I think the AT&T TrueVoice demo asks you to enter your home number
> because some people calling the demo line are calling from their
> office line, a payphone or someone else's home.

> [Moderator's Note: But what possible difference could it make?   PAT]

More likely, it's so they can check to see if you're an ATT customer,
and if not, pass your 'home' number to their telemarketers to hit you
up to change.


John Rice        K9IJ   [e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: Except AT&T doesn't really need to ask the caller
if they are a customer or not ... they have all those records easily
at hand and a comparison of the ANI provided on the call to their
existing customer lists would accomplish the same thing.  PAT]

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

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 93 02:54:05 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Mike King)
Subject: Re: Multi-Carrier Service From Cincinnati Bell


In TELECOM Digest, V13 #502, [e-mail] (R. Kevin Oberman)
wrote:

> Bell, they were not owned by AT&T and were not effected by the MFJ.
> Hence, like GTE, they are free to do whatever they like. Sounds like
> thay are doing something useful with that ability.

Actually, GTE signed its own consent decree soon after AT&T did.  It
just wasn't as publicized.  They're not "free to do whatever they
like."  But they do have less restrictions than Mother.

Cincinnati Bell, however, did NOT sign any decrees, and is subject
only to regulation by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO),
and the equivalents in Indiana and Kentucky (yes, they serve the
Cincinnati suburbs in those states).

[e-mail] (Ralph Hyre) wrote:

> The one 'normal carrier incentive' they don't have is the ability to
> put the calls on your Cincinnati Bell local telephone bill.

Only if they there's no contract with the LD carrier to do so.  They
have a choice in the matter.  (No pun intended; Cinti Bell used the
trademark "Choice" during the 1983-85 timeframe for their long
distance offering.)

> (Cincinnati Bell can't accept bills for EasyReach 700 service, either,
> but that's another story.)  This means you get at LEAST two phone
> bills, one for local calls, the other for long distance calls.

Lots of people already receive two bills.  Again, if the carrier and
Cinti Bell come to terms of agreement, Cinti Bell will bill for the
carrier.  One of my friends in Cinti receives his AT&T billing
(surprise!) as another page on his Cinti Bell bill.

As to why Cinti Bell doesn't provide for EasyReach 700 billing, I was
involved in a thread in the Telecom Forum on CI$ regarding why
Rochester Telephone (...read on!) couldn't handle ER-700 calls.  We
finally got a definitive answer why:

   --- Forwarded Message ---

I can start a whole parade of issues as to why Rochester Tel does not
offer EasyReach.  Technical and legal considerations top my list, but
if I had to guess what the real reason is, I would say it's probably
economic.  That is, Rochester Tel would probably have to fork over
$$$'s to AT&T for the proper operation of EasyReach in the Roch Tel
serving area.

Remember that Roch Tel and Cinn Bell are two Article 5 companies.
Meaning that they provide AT&T with operator services within their
service area.  (ie. dial 10288-0 in Rochester and hear the operator
say "AT&T!", but ask him/her what company they work for and they say
"Rochester Tel"!)  EasyReach, to work correctly, needs a minimum
configuration of the same equipment and software that are used to
provide operator services. Rochester Tel may provide AT&T with
operator services, but they are under no obligation to stay up to date
with the current generic AT&T operator services equipment and
software.

So, it's really a question of economics for Roch Tel.  Why upgrade to
generic X+10 for Z dollars, when generic X satifies their current
needs just fine?


Gotta run,

  J Butz   ER700 Sys Eng AT&T - BL

                                 -----

So, apparently, Cinti Bell won't accept billing for ER700 service
because they don't want to upgrade their operator equipment.


Mike King * Software Sourcerer * Fairchild Space * +1 301.428.5384
[e-mail] or [e-mail]  *  (usual disclaimers)

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

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 93 07:22:21 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Dave Niebuhr)
Subject: Re: FEMA Releases Summary of Flood-Related Information


In TELECOM Digest V13 #496 [e-mail] (Nigel Allen)
writes:

>General:

>   -- Nebraska and South Dakota became the sixth and seventh
>Midwestern states to be declared major disaster areas as a result of
>flooding this summer ... FEMA estimates that 36,600 homes have been
>damaged or destroyed in the seven states where President Clinton has
>declared major disasters.

THis is in contradiction to what {Newsday} wrote yesterday via one of
the wire services.  The article indicated that Kansas and Nebraska
were the sixth and seventh states to be added to the disaster list.

I can understand South Dakota being there since it is cut in half by
the Missouri and Nebraska and South Dakota share a common border until
Iowa takes over for S.D. west of Sioux City, Ia.


Dave Niebuhr      Internet: [e-mail] / Bitnet: niebuhr@bnl
Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton, LI, NY 11973  (516)-282-3093
Senior Technical Specialist: Scientific Computer Facility

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

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 93 15:13 GMT
From: Christopher Zguris <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: N.Y. Pager Fee


        I live in NYC and have been nailed by this stupid beeper tax
since it started last year, has it mentioned whether we'll get our
money back since it was declared illegal? I've heard from several
places that the law was deemed illegal, but does that mean we get the
money back or simply don't have to pay any nore?


Christopher Zguris   [e-mail]

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

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 13:09:07 -0400 (EDT)
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Subject: AT&T To Raise Rates August 1
From: Paul Robinson <[e-mail]>
Organization: Tansin A. Darcos & Company, Silver Spring, MD USA


Summary of an article on Page C2 of the 7/20 issue of the
{Washington Post}:

An article "AT&T Plans to Raise Rates on Aug 1" by Barbara Grady of
Reuter, says that AT&T thinks the price wars are over, and is breaking
out of constant lowering of rates to keep MCI and Sprint at bay.
According to AT&T, the increases "reflect the increased costs of doing
business."  According to the article, "AT&T also introduced volume
discount and targeted calling plans for business customers."

The changes for business include interstate, international, 800 and
data-communications services.  AT&T is apparently moving its marketing
focus off price.  MCI said "We do believe that competition has moved
away from price.  We think there is price stability in the industry
now."

Is this PR speak for saying that MCI will now also raise rates? :)

Analysts figure it's a win-win for MCI and Sprint.  They can either
raise rates some, but less than AT&T, or stay at the same rates and
keep a competitive advantage.  All three company's stock prices rose
on this announcement.

Breakdown of Cost changes:
                                        Claimed Effective
        Service                             Increase
 Most Business Services                       3.9 %
 Direct dialed Consumer             Less than 1.0 %
 International Calls from US                  3.8 %
  (to 58 countries)
 International calls to US                   15.0 %
  (from 27 countries, using USA Direct)
 Calling Card and Operator Assisted           3.0 %

"The proposed rate increases were filed with the Federal Communications
Commission on Friday [July 16] amd will be effective on August 1, pending
review by the FCC."


Paul Robinson - [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Stephen Davis)
Subject: Re: Cell Phone Fraud Losses Triple in a Year
Date: 25 Jul 1993 10:33:47 -0700


Speaking of cellular phone fraud, a local friend of mine (already on
probation for hacking into Boeing and the Justice Dept.) was caught in
a scam that apparently involved a cellular phone that had been modified
somehow so calls were billed to someone else's account.  I've seen
very little regarding this rather interesting ploy ... any thoughts or
information on the subject?


[Moderator's Note: Yeah, I have one thought. You might tell your phriend
if he gets out this latest caper without some time in the penitentiary
he'd best start blowing his nose with a silk handkerchief. Stories
here in the Digest two or three weeks ago explained how this was being
done. The phreaks use ESN 'readers' to capture the serial number of
the phone as it is transmitted over the airwaves. They then make up
new chips for the phones which have the forged serial number in them.
The carrier thinks they are a roamer from out of town, and let's them
make calls once the home carrier has confirmed that the legitimate
customer is in good standing, etc.  It sounds to me like your phriend
is a very self-destructive person. Anyone on federal probation (that
is a little tougher; some of the state probation systems are a joke)
who can't even wait until probation is terminated to go back into his
old ways needs to get professional help. If he can't behave while Big
Brother is watching him, then what would he do when not being watched?

Most likely for his trial this time he will be back in front of the
same judge who sentenced him before; that judge will have all the
earlier paperwork, etc. If your phriend has anything going for him at
all (family in town, a supportive employer who is aware of the earlier
and present convictions and is willing to keep him in his job) and is
not deemed to be a danger to the community, the judge may let him off
easy by imposing work release this time around. Formally known as
'periodic imprisonment', it means six months or a year of staying
overnight in the federal prison in your area and being released during
the day to go to his employment and attend to the needs of his wife
and family. To add a little frosting to the cake, he'll get to pay
room and board to the prison from the salary he makes wherever he is
employed. If he does not show up at the front door of the prison
*exactly* at the time he is told each night or doesn't pass random
drug tests or gets arrested by the police for any reason while he is
out each day, then all bets are off. As his friend, you need to help
him however you can to understand this has become very serious.   PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Eric Davis)
Subject: Re: Looking For Devices to Dial *67
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: SynOptics Communications, Santa Clara CA
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 17:51:43 GMT


In article [e-mail], [e-mail] (Steve Corso) writes:

> I am trying to locate a device that I can connect between the
> telephone line that comes in my house and all (not just one) of my
> telephones that automatically enters a code (such as *67 privacy mode)
> when I pick any phone in the house up to draw dial-tone.  Does such a
> device exist?

I have been working on such a device for a few months now.

If interested, mail me ...


Eric Davis    [e-mail]

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

Subject: Re: Were You a Victim of 900 Abuse?
From: [e-mail] (Ray Normandeau)
Date: 25 Jul 93 19:51:00 GMT
Organization: Invention Factory's BBS - New York City, NY - 212-274-8298v.32bis
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Ray Normandeau)


> I'm sorry, but could someone explain to me what a caller could say to
> be abusive on a phone sex line at $?? per minute?

Talking about piety, chastity and abstenence :->

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

Subject: Re: Were You a Victim of 900 Abuse?
From: [e-mail] (Eric Hall)
Date: 25 Jul 93 20:19:53 -0500
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Eric Hall)
Organization: Network Computing Magazine


> In the article, the reporter indicated occasionally a caller would
> start pestering her (very aggressively) for a date, or would start
> describing what he'd like to do to her.

> Regardless of the stigma of that particular job, she said she still
> found it difficult to handle such calls, and that's why she only
> lasted a few days.

Suppose the caller could sue? I mean, couldn't he work on the grounds
that this was an acceptable and/or common practice? By her hanging up,
could it be conceived that she violated some sort of agreement?


Eric Hall                                     [e-mail]
Director, East Coast Labs              vox: 516-562-5288
Network Computing Magazine        fax: [phone]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #507
******************************










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Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 18:20:02 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #508

TELECOM Digest     Sun, 25 Jul 93 18:20:00 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 508

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Caller-ID ASPect File For Procomm (A. Padgett Peterson)
    SS7 Message Format (Tarl Neustaedter)
    Private Voice Networks (Paul J. Bell)
    Mercury in the UK - The Right Choice? (David Leibold)
    Sources For Restoring Vintage Phone? (Dan Reiner)
    Beware of "Toner-Phoners"! (Nigel Allen)
    Privately-Run "Phone Parlors" Compete With Pay Phones (Nigel Allen)
    New AT&T Phone? (Paul R. Coen)
    Information Wanted on AT&T Tech Journal (Lee Sweet)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 93 09:01:09 -0400
From: [e-mail] (A. Padgett Peterson)
Subject: Caller-ID ASPect File For Procomm


[Moderator's Note: This file will become a permanent part of the
Telecom Archives under the name 'callid.asp.procomm'.   PAT]

;**************************************************************
;        CALLID.ASP (C) 1992 by Padgett Peterson
;
;    CALLID.ASP is a PROCOMM Aspect script file that may be
;       used on those telephone lines returning such information.
;       This version is being made available as FREEWARE and may
;       be included/distributed freely so long as 1) This copyright
;       notice remains intact, 2) No changes are made to this
;       script, and 3) No charge beyond a minimal distribution
;       fee is levied.
;
;       As such no warranty is made for fitness of any kind and
;       use is strictly at the recipient's own risk.
;
;       The program requires a modem that will return Caller-ID
;       values when instructed. Use will permit screening of
;       calls prior to the line being placed off-hook: if the
;       calling number is blocked or does not appear in the file
;       CALLID.DAT, the line will not be answered.
;
;       One effective use would be on a line having both modem
;       and FAX service. If the call is not from a known host,
;       the modem will not pick up and the FAX or voice mail
;       may connect instead. If this use is selected it will be
;       necessary to set the FAX not to answer until sufficient
;       time has elapsed after the first ring for the list of known
;       numbers to be scanned and a decision made.
;
;       CALLID makes use of two files CALLID.DAT, the repository
;       of numbers to be answered in the format <number>;<text>.
;       The <number>  must contain all digits returned by the
;       Caller-ID stream but the format is unimportant since all
;       non-numeric characters will be stripped. Syntactically,
;       [phone] is the same as 407.555.1212, 4075551212, or
;       407 555 1212. The second file CALLID.LOG is created or
;       appended when the script executes and contains the information
;       on calls attempted.
;
;       For proper use as a PROCOMM "HOST" the HOST SETUP must be set
;       to EXIT on completion. The only known problem at this time
;       is the condition if an "approved" number calls the system
;       and hangs up before a connection is made. In this case PROCOMM
;       may "hang" in the HOST "waiting" mode and will answer the
;       next call. This is a problem with the HOST mode that will require
;       complete HOST emulation in the ASPECT file to correct (in work).
;
;                        Version History
;
;       0.71 (beta) 1 November 1992    Southern Bell/Supra FAX/Modem
;                                      version, 1st issue.
;
;       For more information contact the author at [phone] 6-9 pm
;       EST (no collect calls) or write to POB 1203, Windermere, FLA,
;        34786. Please enclose a #10 SASE.
;
;       PROCOMM, PROCOMM+, and ASPECT are registered products of
;       Datastorm Inc. [phone]
;
;       Supra FAX/Modem is a product of the Supra Corp. [phone]
;
;*******************************************************************
;
define atcmd   "AT^M"          ; basic AT command
define cichk   "AT#CID=?^M"    ; these commands are valid for a Supra
define cicmd   "AT#CID=1^M"    ; FAX/Modem with Caller-ID enabled
define noans   "ATS0=0^M"      ; Reset modem to non-answer
define ringmsg "RING"
define okstr   "OK"
define erstr   "ERROR"
define blank   " "
define logfil  "callid.log"    ; Log file for received calls
define datfil  "callid.dat"    ; Data files for "approved" numbers
;
; Global Variables
;
 string idline,strnum,instr,crlf,tmps1,tmps2
 integer idlen,tmpn1,flag,dflag,pos,char,nhi
;
proc main
;
;
 strset crlf 10 1
;
;     Setup
;
 set keys on
 set display off
 vidsave 0
 box 8 21 15 77 00
 box 7 20 14 75 79
 atsay 8 28 79 " Caller-ID Handler (C) 1992 by Padgett "
;
;    Make sure modem is turned on
;
 set rxdata on
 atsay 10 22 79 "Waiting for Modem"
 transmit noans
 call getstr with &instr
 call getstr with &instr
 strcmp instr okstr 2
 if success
   atsay 10 22 79 "Modem Responding    "
  else
   atsay 10 22 79 "Modem not responding   "
   set rxdata off
   waitquiet 2 2
  goto enditall
 endif
;
;    Check for Caller-Id supporting modem
;
 atsay 10 40 79 "- Caller-ID Initializing"
 set rxdata on
 transmit cicmd
 call getstr with instr    ; flush command echo
 call getstr with &instr   ; get response
 strcmp instr erstr 5      ; IF not "ERROR" assume OK
;
 if success
    atsay 10 65 79 "- Failed"
    waitquiet 2 2
    goto enditall
 else
    atsay 10 65 79 "- Success"
    call getstr with instr    ; flush OK
 endif
;
;    Open the data file
;
 findfirst datfil
 if found
  atsay 11 22 79 "Data File Present"
  fopen 0 datfil "rt"
   if success
    atsay 11 40 79 "- Opened"
    dflag=1
   else
    atsay 12 22 79 "Data file could not be opened - terminating"
    waitquiet 2 2
    goto enditall
   endif
 else
   atsay 11 22 79 "No Data File      - Logging only"
   dflag=0
 endif
;
;     Open the LOG file
;
openlog:
 findfirst logfil
 if found
  fopen 1 logfil "at"
  fseek 1 0 2
 else
  log open logfil
  log close
  goto openlog
 endif
  if success
    atsay 12 22 79 "Log File          -"
   else
    atsay 12 22 79 "Log file could not be opened - terminating"
    waitquiet 2 2
    goto close0
  endif
;
;    Record Date & Time to Log - monkey motion but allows both
;                                   screen and file write
   if dflag==0
    fwrite 1 "Logging only, " 14
   endif
   strset tmps1 32 27
   strupdt tmps1 "Opened:" 0 7
   date tmps2
   strupdt tmps1 tmps2 8 8
   time tmps2 1
   strupdt tmps1 tmps2 17 8
   fatsay 12 42 79 "%.25s" tmps1
   strupdt tmps1 crlf 25 1
   tmpn1=26
   fwrite 1 tmps1 tmpn1
;
;    Create LOG Box
;
    box 17 21 23 77 00
    box 16 20 22 75 79
    atsay 17 40 79 "- Received Calls -"
;
;    Wait For Ring Signal
;
    when 0 "RING" call numhan
ringlp:
    atsay 13 22 79 "Waiting for Ring  - Press any key to abort"
    set display off
    set rxdata off
;
    if hitkey == 0
     goto ringlp
    endif
    set keys off
    goto close1
;
; End the program
;
close1:
  fclose 1
close0:
  if dflag == 1
   fclose 0
  endif
enditall:
  cwhen 0
  set rxdata off
  vidrest 0
  set display on
  exit
endproc
;
;  --------------------------------------------------------------------
;
; Procedure to concatenate numbers from a string up to the first blank
;  and strip out all other characters

proc stripnum

strparm in1,out1
intparm j1
integer i1,p1,c1
;
;    Find the limit of what is to be checked
;

     find in1 ";" p1
     if not found
        strlen in1 p1
     endif
;
;     Now concatenate just the numbers
;
      j1 = -1
      strset out1 0 40
;
      for i1 = 0 upto p1
       strpeek in1 i1 c1
       if (c1 > 47) && (c1 < 58)
         j1= j1 + 1
         strpoke out1 j1 c1
       endif
      endfor
;
endproc
   --------------------------------------------------------
;
; Procedure to create an input string of characters to <cr>
; from the COM port. May also be used to flush the port.
;
proc getstr
;
  strparm gss
  integer gsj,gsc
;
  set rxdata on
  strset gss 0 40
  gsj=0
lp2:
   comgetcd gsc
   if gsc < 32
    if (gsj != 0) || (gsc == -1)
     goto endit
    else
      goto lp2
    endif
   endif
   strpoke gss gsj gsc
   gsj = gsj + 1
   goto lp2
;
endit:
;
endproc
;
   -------------------------------------------------------------------------
;
; Call Handling Procedure - Procedure is called by WHEN "RING" command
;
proc numhan
;
   cwhen 0
   atsay 13 22 79 "             Checking Number              "
chklp:
   strset instr 0 40
   strset tmps2 0 41
   call getstr with &instr   ; get date
   strcmp instr "TIME" 4
   if not success
    strcmp instr "RING"     ; second string will be RING if no Caller-ID
    if not success
        goto chklp
    else
        goto endnh
    endif
   endif
;
   scroll 1 18 22 21 74 79          ; new entry so scroll the screen
;
   fatsay 21 22 79 "%.15s" instr
   fwrite 1 instr 15              ; log the time
   call getstr with &tmps1                ; get number
   call stripnum with tmps1 &tmps2 &idlen ; strip it
;
   if dflag == 0
     atsay 13 22 79 "       Logging Calling Number           "
     goto nonum
   endif
;
;    Check the number
;
   rewind 0
;
   while not eof 0
     strset idline 0 41
     fgets 0 idline
     call stripnum with idline &strnum &idlen
     if idlen < 1
        goto noline
     endif
     strcmp strnum tmps2 idlen
     if success
        goto foundnum
     endif
noline:
   endwhile
;
;    Number not found
;
   atsay 13 22 79 "         No Match -                     "
nonum:
   flag=0
   fwrite 1 " No Match " 10
   fwrite 1 tmps2 40
   fwrite 1 crlf 1
   goto wrtnum
;
;    Number Found
;
foundnum:

   flag=1
   fwrite 1 "   Match  " 10
;
; Strip any control characters out of idline
;
   strlen idline pos
   for nhi=1 upto pos
     strpeek idline nhi char
     if char < 32
      strpoke idline nhi 32
     endif
   endfor
;
; Now output the entry to the LOG file
;
   fwrite 1 idline 40
   fwrite 1 crlf 1
   strcpy tmps2 idline 40
;
;    Put the Information on the screen also (last 4 numbers)
;
wrtnum:
          fatsay 21 35 79 "%.40s" tmps2
;
;    DOIT
;
     if flag == 1
           vidsave 1
           atsay 13 22 79 "    Number Matched - Entering HOST mode   "
           HOST
           transmit noans      ; Just to be sure
           vidrest 1
     endif
;
endnh:
    set display off
    set rxdata off
    atsay 13 22 79 "System resetting  - Waiting for silence  "
    waitquiet 5 forever
    when 0 "RING" call numhan
endproc

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

From: [e-mail] (Tarl Neustaedter)
Subject: SS7 Message Format
Date: 25 Jul 1993 04:49:41 GMT
Organization: Stratus Computer, Inc.


At some point in the past, I've seen requests for what the format of
an SS7 message looks like. In particular, how the phone numbers are
coded in the message. Well, I've been spending the last two months
decrypting SS7 messages, so it's worth spelling out what I've been
beating my head against.

There are four protocol layers involved; MTP (layer 2), UP (layer 3),
SCCP, and TCAP. The message I describe below is an 800 translation
request that I've been sending with an analyzer.

81 80 3E 93 02 01 80 02 9C 81 00 09 80 03 05 07
02 C1 FE 02 C1 EA 2A 62 28 48 04 00 00 00 01 6C
20 A1 1E 02 01 01 02 01 01 30 16 84 09 01 00 21
0A 08 50 55 21 43 84 09 02 00 21 0A 21 43 65 87
09

This is obviously an 800-translation request for someone dialing
800-555-1234, calling from 123-456-7890. Not obvious to you? For
shame. I guess we can't all keep the CCITT blue books in our heads,
along with the ANSI supplements which modify the messages formats.
I'll elaborate:

MTP: 81 80 3E    The first two bytes are sequence numbers (our sequence
        number and the sequence number of remote message we are
        acking), the third byte is the "Length Indicator". This
        field, by being greater than 2, indicates an MSU (message),
        and also tells us the length of this message.
UP: 93 02 01 80 02 9C 81 00
    93 - Service information; contains:
         80 - Network indicator (national network 10)
         10 - Message priority (1, would usually be 0)
         03 - Service indicator (indicating an SCCP message)
    02 01 80 - Destination point code. The address of the node
         (SCP, SSP, STP) that this message is directed to. This
         would normally be written 128-1-2.
    02 9C 81 - Originating point code. 129-156-2. The address of the
         switch that sent this message and is expecting a reply.
    00 - end of parameters
SCCP: 09 80 03 05 07 02 C1 FE 02 C1 EA 2A
    09 - Message type - unitdata.
    80 - protocol class - return on error
    03 - offset to called party string. These offsets are relative to
         the current byte, so the following offsets are offset :-)
    05 - offset to calling party string
    07 - offset to data (tcap portion)
    02 - Length of called party string
    C1 - Format of called party string;
         80 - National routing
         40 - Use point code in UP label for routing
         01 - String contains an SSN (IP weenies: This means socket)
             This format could also include point codes and global titles,
         which would make it even more complicated.
    FE - SSN addressed of called party
    02 - length of calling party
    C1 - format of calling party - same as called party
    EA - SSN of calling party
    2A - Length of data (tcap message)
TCAP: 62 28 48 ....
    62 - message type identifier - Begin
    28 - Length of TCAP message
    48 - originating transaction ID tag (49 would be destination ID tag)
    04 - Length of transaction ID
    00 00 00 01 - Actual transaction ID (you can tell this is a test)
    6C - Component portion tag
    20 - Length of component portion
    A1 - Component type tag - Invoke ID
    1E - component length
    02 - Invoke ID tag
    01 - length of invoke ID
    01 - Invoke ID (that is, this Invoke has ID #1.)
    02 - Operation code ID - local operation
    01 - operation code length
    01 - operation code - please provide instructions
    30 - service indicator
    16 - Number of bytes
    84 - digit id
    09 - digit length (in bytes)
    01 - digit type - dialled
    00 - nature (not sure what this means)
    21 - number plan encoding, telephony numbering, BCD
    0A - number of actual dialled digits (10, in nibbles)
    08 50 55 21 43 - the number dialed. 800-555-1243.
        The phone companies use little-endian encoding,
        so the digits are always in the wrong order.
    84 09 02 00 21 - digit id, digit length, nature, number plan, encoding
    0A - number of digits (10)
    21 43 65 87 09  - number calling from; 123-456-7890

Complicated enough for you? Don't worry, this is just the format used
by one particular phone company. Bellcore uses a pure ANSI version
which is different than the above, and the rest of the world uses
CCITT, which is again different (in particular, the addresses [point
codes] are only 12 bits long rather than the 24 bits provided for in
ANSI).


Tarl Neustaedter       Stratus Computer
[e-mail]    Marlboro, Mass.
Disclaimer: My employer is not responsible for my opinions.

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

From: [e-mail] (Paul J. Bell)
Subject: Private Voice Networks
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: The 23K Group, Inc.
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 15:32:25 GMT


I am working on a project, for a client, that involves corporations
with large private netwoks. It has been some years since I have looked
into this area, and I no longer have a feel for what is being done in
this area, or even if, with the current tariffs if private tandem
networks are still a paying proposition. Will someone please bring me
up-to-date and if possible, point me to a list of ten to twenty such
users. Neither my client nor I are selling anything, but we would like
to talk to someone, preferably technical, about their network(s).


Thanks in advance,

Paul J. Bell

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

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 93 14:58 EDT
From: [e-mail] (woody)
Subject: Mercury in the UK - The Right Choice?


The recent episode of Media Television, produced by City TV in
Toronto, features the wild world of media (ads, publications,
technologies, etc) and in particular, a spot for Mercury long distance
in the UK was shown. It appeared to be voice-dubbed excerpts from old
films, so that the characters talked about the wonders of British
Telecom's competitor.

A note at the end of the segment mentioned that 99 of the top 100 UK
companies use Mercury for long distance. The one that didn't was ...
British Telecom.


David Leibold

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

From: [e-mail] (Dan Reiner)
Subject: Sources For Restoring Vintage Phone?
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 19:20:57 GMT


In a fit of nostalgia (or weak-mindedness, take your choice), I picked
up a genuine Western Electric 500-type rotary phone at a flea market.
In canary yellow.  For a dollar.

It will clean up nicely, but I think the handset cord is going to be
more trouble than it's worth.  Is there an organization out there that
might stock a non-modular handset cord?  In canary yellow?

Thanks in advance.


Dan

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

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 93 12:13:00 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Nigel Allen)
Subject: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"!


Someone at Sprint prepared the following article summary, which
someone else was kind enough to post to the PHONES conference on RIME.

 (beginning of summary)

* Con artists known as "toner-phoners" are targeting small businesses
that use copiers and laser printers.  Several companies are claiming
to sell replacement toner cartridges for the copying devices at a
discount; however, they actually double or triple the price.  The
methods the toner-phoners use are simple.  First, they place a call
to a business and learn the serial numbers [more likely the model
numbers -- NDA] of the copy equipment by misrepresenting themselves as
employees of major companies updating their files.  A few weeks later
the same company will be contacted again, offered proof of serial
numbers of their machines and the toner-phoners will sell them
cartridges at the inflated price.  Law enforcement officials say that
toner fraud is hard to prove and almost impossible to eliminate.

{(Wall Street Journal}, "Copier-toner phone scams are targeting small
firms; swindlers are increasing their efforts in $3 billion
replacement market," 7/16/93, p. B2)

  (end of summary)

The same thing happens with fax machines, when you will get a call one
day asking what make and model of fax machine you have, allegedly from
a survey company or a government statistical office, and the next day
a call from a salesperson who knows that you have a Nefax 30 or
whatever.


 Nigel Allen, Toronto     [e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: I can vouch that this is correct. I've received four
or five calls from people who start the conversation by saying "Hi,
this is X from the office supply warehouse; I need to get the number
on your copy machine / fax machine so the right kind of paper and
toner stock can be kept in inventory."  Real brassy they call, just
like that, hoping that whoever answers the phone will *just assume* it
is a call from some other department in the company, etc. When I get
those calls I just <click> ... hang up, without even saying a second
word. The last time that happened, the woman called back right away
and said "Oh, I think we got cut off."  I told her no, we did not get
cut off, I hung up on you, and I shall do it again. <click>. The only
thing is the {Wall Street Journal} is a bit late in making this report.
Those same bozos were selling mimeograph paper, carbon paper and type-
writer ribbons thirty years ago using the same sneaky tactics.  PAT]

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

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 93 12:15:00 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Nigel Allen)
Subject: Privately-Run "Phone Parlors" Compete With Pay Phones


The following article summary was prepared by someone at Sprint and
posted in the RIME phones conference. Has anyone seen or used one of
these privately-operated "phone parlors" in Canada or the U.S.? I have
heard (at third-hand) about one such parlor in the Toronto area that
was selling calls to Latin America at such a low rate that the parlor
must have been stealing the telephone service it was selling.

* Phone parlors have become common sights in Manhattan.  The
storefront establishments offer phones linked to computers for easy
timing of long-distance calls and discounted long-distance rates.
Immigrants use the parlors to make short calls to their homelands.
One parlor charges $1.50 for a three-minute call to Santo Domingo; a
pay-phone call would have cost $2.10.  Drug dealers also find the
parlors useful for arranging shipments and payments.  Wiretapping
calls from the parlors is virtually impossible. ({New York Times}, "No
phones?  New stores fill gap," 7/21/93, p. B11)


 Nigel Allen, Toronto, Ontario, Canada   [e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: I doubt the parlors are stealing the service. They
are probably using a discounted international call operation similar
to Telepassport (or one of the others like it). To use your example, a
call from the USA to the Dominican Republic on TP costs 82 cents for
the first minute and 52 cents per minute after that.  Three full
minutes would be $1.86, but TP bills in six second increments at 5.2
cents per six seconds after the first thirty seconds. In countries
where private residential phone service is not all that common, the
firms like TP are setting up phone centers in the middle of the town.
If they do it in China, why not in the middle of a housing project in
New York or Chicago. Most of our public housing residents here in
Chicago don't have private phones and have to go to the corner liquor
store/lottery agent to call. So, TP sets up shop for them.   PAT]

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

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 12:35:08 -0400 (EDT)
From: Paul R. Coen <[e-mail]>
Subject: New AT&T Phone?
Organization: Drew University Academic Computing


I could have been out to lunch and missed it, but I saw an AT&T phone
today that I hadn't seen before.

I was at one of the "AT&T Phone Centers" (Livingston, New Jersey)
buying a new phone.  The salesperson was pretty good, and when she
found out that I wanted to pick up a reconditioned Bell System
touch-tone desk unit, she asked me why.  When I mentioned that
"mechanical ringer" was among my priorities, she pointed out something
that looked a bit like the old Trimline phones, only it looked like it
didn't protrude as far out from the wall.  Also, the base of the unit
was a bit longer than the handset, and I remember the handset and base
being roughly the same length on the old ones. There was a hold button
on the base.  The keypad on the handset was quite a bit different --
large oval buttons (sideways oval, so they fit your finger pretty
well) rather than those tiny round ones that the old units had.

It wasn't plugged in, but it looked like they keypad would light up.
One other nice feature -- there was a handset speaker volume control.
The kicker was that it had a mechanical ringer, though.  If I had been
looking for a wall phone, I might've picked that one up.  As it is, I
stuck with my original purchase plan.  (I also didn't want the keypad
to be on the handset.)

Has anyone used one of those wall phones, though?  It looks like it
would be a pretty good phone for someone elderly -- mechanical ringers
are easier for some people to hear, the buttons are a good size, and
it has the volume control.  Nice to see a new phone with a real ring,
too..

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

From: decrsc![e-mail] (Lee Sweet)
Subject: Information Wanted on AT&T Tech Journal
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 11:33:35 -0400 (EDT)


This was mentioned about three weeks ago in reference to Operator
Service standards or some such.  Is this a publically available
journal?  This Telecom Manager would like to know!


Lee Sweet                        Internet *lists* - [e-mail]
Chief Systems Consultant        Internet *e-mail* - [e-mail]
Datatel, Inc.                               Phone - 703-968-4661
4375 Fair Lakes Court                         FAX - 703-968-4625
Fairfax, VA 22033                (Opinions are my own, and only my own!)

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #508
******************************











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Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 23:29:04 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #509

TELECOM Digest     Sun, 25 Jul 93 23:29:00 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 509

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    EJC/REC Call For Papers (Monty Solomon)
    Movie About Alex Bell to be Shown July 26 (Samuel J. Hupp)
    What Kind of Voltages For Various Jacks? (Hiroki Morizono)
    Re: Help With UK Connections (David Hough)
    Re: Help With UK Connections (Mike King)
    Re: A Proposal: Standardizing Area Code Databases (Andrew Marc Greene)
    Re: A Proposal: Standardizing Area Code Databases (Carl Moore)
    Re: 800 Translation Questions (Stephen Davis)
    Re: 800 Translation Questions (Richard Nash)
    Re: 800 From Outside USA (Lee Sweet)
    800 Portability or Lack Thereof (Brian T. Vita)
    Re: "Terminal Compromise" Now Available as Shareware (Garrett Wollman)
    Re: Calling Card Without a Phone Number, or Using VISA (Matt Healy)
    Re: Incoming Calls to Airphone? (David Ash)
    Re: Prodigy Internet Gateway is Up! (Andy Rabagliati)

                     ----------------------
TELECOM Digest is an e-journal devoted mostly -- but not exclusively --
to discussions on voice telephony. The Digest is a not-for-profit
public service published frequently by Patrick Townson Associates. PTA
markets a no-surcharge telephone calling card and a no monthly fee 800
service.  In addition, we are resellers of AT&T's Software Defined
Network. For a detailed discussion of our services, write and ask for
the file 'products'.

The Digest is delivered at no charge by email to qualified subscribers on
any electronic mail service connected to the Internet. To join the mail-
ing list, write and tell us how you qualify: [e-mail].
 All article submissions MUST be sent to our email address: telecom@eecs.
nwu.edu -- NOT as replies to comp.dcom.telecom.

Back issues and numerous other telephone-related files of interest are
available from the Telecom Archives, using anonymous ftp lcs.mit.edu.
Login anonymous, then 'cd telecom-archives'. At the present time, the
Digest is also ported to Usenet at the request of many readers there,
where it is known as 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Use of the Digest does not
require the use of our products and services. The two are separate.
All articles are the responsibility of the individual authors. Organi-
zations listed, if any, are for identification purposes only. The
Digest is compilation-copyrighted, 1993. **DO NOT** cross-post articles
between the Digest and other Usenet or alt newsgroups. Do not compile
mailing lists from the net-addresses appearing herein.  Send tithes and
love offerings to PO Box 1570, Chicago, IL 60690. :)  Phone: [phone].

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

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 02:40:52 -0400
From: Monty Solomon <[e-mail]>
Subject: EJC/REC Call For Papers


                            Call for Papers:
                The Electronic Journal Of Communication
                 La Revue Electronique de Communication

     Submitted by: David Abrahamson <[e-mail]>

                        "The American Magazine:
                      Perspectives and Prospects"

    A forthcoming special issue of the EJC/REC (Vol. 4 (n)) will focus
on aspects of magazine journalism and/or publishing, and papers are
invited from researchers and practitioners concerned with the scholarly
study of magazines.  The issue's table of contents will include the
following headings:

-- Perspectives on Magazine Research
       The Current Structure
       Directions and Prospects
       Sources and Resources
 -- Editorial Theory and Practices
 -- Magazines and Contemporary Culture
 -- Teaching Magazines: Pedagogical Issues
 -- Gender and Minority Aspects of Magazine Publishing
 -- Magazine Economics and Management
 -- Research Briefs

    Because the EJC/REC has a wide international readership, papers
addressing virtually any aspect of the field are welcome.  One
explicit goal of this special issue, however, is to provide a useful
overview of magazine research; n effect, a means by which much of the
past and present scholarship can be understood.  It is hoped that the
issue will, from a number of viewpoints and through a variety of
approaches, both help define the existing corpus of magazine
scholarship and suggest cogent directions for further research.  As a
result, scholarly review articles, as well as more finely focused
research papers, are particularly welcome.

    The guest editor for this issue is David Abrahamson of New York
University.  David is the research chair of the Magazine Division of
the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.

    Papers will be accepted on IBM disks in ASCII format, or via
electronic mail, as detailed in the Instructions for Authors (see
below).  Chicago Manual of Style endnotes are the preferred citation
format.  Manuscripts should be 3000-5000 words and accompanied by a
150-word abstract.  All submissions will be peer reviewed, and the
author should not be identified in the body of the text.

    The closing date for papers is December 1, 1993.  Submissions should
be forwarded to:

                  Professor David Abrahamson, EJC/REC
            165 East 32nd Street, New York, NY 10016  U.S.A.
           E-Mail: [e-mail] (Internet),
                       abrahamson@nyuacf (Bitnet)
                         Phone: [phone]

    For a copy of the Instructions for Authors, send the following
one-line message (no subject) to Comserve@Rpitsvm (Bitnet) or
[e-mail] (Internet): SEND AUTHOR GUIDE

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

From: Samuel J. Hupp <[e-mail]>
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 93 13:26:16 -0600
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Subject: Movie About Alex Bell to be Shown July 26
Organization: S.T.A.R. Systems (Houston Office)


It seems that the TNT network will be airing "The Sound and The
Silence" tomorrow, July 26, '93.  This is a move about Alexander G.
Bell.  Time given is 1210 CDT (0710 GMT).


Jeff Hupp          |For Information on:    Send mail to:
Star Systems          |    Star System Services    [e-mail]
9797 Medowglen, #1807 |    PGP keys at star    [e-mail]
Houston, Tx  77042    |    Houston's BBS mag.    [e-mail]
 ---<[e-mail]>---Novell Network Installation & support---

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

From: [e-mail] (Hiroki Morizono)
Subject: What Kind of Voltages For Various Jacks?
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 06:50:28 GMT


I just got a faxmodem in my portable, and want to use it when
travelling around. Was wondering if there were any "standard" voltages
for various phone systems worldwide, and types of jacks which might be
commonly encountered.

I've heard that jacking into a digital line or PBX line thinking it
was an analog line can cause er, "bad things" to happen.  Where might
I begin looking to learn more about this sort of stuff?


Thanks in advance,
a clueless biologist,

Hiroki

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

From: [e-mail] (David Hough)
Subject: Re: Help With UK Connections
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 18:53:26 +0000


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail].
mil writes:

> I'll be travelling to Northern Ireland this next week.  I'm taking my
> trusty laptop with internal Hayes Smartmodem.  I'd like to try
> accessing the Internet and perhaps my Compuserve accounts.  I've got
> the phone numbers OK.

> Can somebody in the UK who is familiar with American RJ type
> connectors (or an American who is familiar with British Telecom
> connectors) map out the physical connection for me?  I'm pretty rsure
> my modem will handle the protocols OK, it worked in Germany last trip,
> it is the actual connection from the computer to the wall socket/box
> that I am unsure of.

You aren't supposed to connect anything to the BT network which isn't
BABT approved ... having said that, the Hayes modem might well be
approved in this country because they do seem to take the trouble,
unlike some dodgy imports.

The two wires in a BT jack are on pins 2 and 5, and I think in a master
socket there is a ring capacitor between 2 and 3, although modems probably
don't need one. No idea what the American connections are though.


Dave     G4WRW @ GB7WRW.#41.GBR.EU AX25
[e-mail]  Internet
[e-mail]      Amprnet

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

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 93 03:00:23 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Mike King)
Subject: Re: Help With UK Connections


In TELECOM Digest, V13 #503, [e-mail] (Barron
WIlliams) wrote:

> I'll be travelling to Northern Ireland this next week.  I'm taking my
  [...]
> Can somebody in the UK who is familiar with American RJ type
> connectors (or an American who is familiar with British Telecom
  [...]

Email Gordon Brown ([e-mail]).  His company,
TeleAdapt USA/UK, is in the business of answering such questions, and
providing adapters if necessary.

Gordon is active on the CI$ Telecom Forum.


Mike King * Software Sourcerer * Fairchild Space * +1 301.428.5384
[e-mail] or [e-mail]  *  (usual disclaimers)

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

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: A Proposal: Standardizing Area Code Databases
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 12:14 -0400


Graham Toal writes (in a message about a database format for phone
numbers):

> Here's the list of tags I've found useful so far:

> directory emergency free funny government international invalid
> invalid-after-1995 invalid-before-1994 invalid-before-1995 local
> mobile national normal obsolete premium reserved satellite unused

You might find it more useful to permit tags to take arguments, and to
make your time-dependant rules more flexible, e.g.:

valid-until(31.12.1994)
valid-after(1.1.1995)

This could also be useful in conjunction with rewrite rules (oh, God,
it's starting to sound like sendmail.cf! :-) for when area codes (or
countries) get split.


Andrew Greene

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

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 93 18:41:04 EDT
From: Carl Moore <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: A Proposal: Standardizing Area Code Databases


In some countries, the telephone number length can vary.  In country
code 1, it is of fixed length.

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

From: [e-mail] (Stephen Davis)
Subject: Re: 800 Translation Questions
Date: 25 Jul 1993 01:37:06 -0700


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Tarl Neustaedter) writes:

> I'm not from AT&T, but I've worked with a few phone companies. It is
> not only possible to have 800 services routed differently by time of
> day, but at least one phone company (I can't mention names) intends to
> provide a service allowing 800 calls to be routed based on time of
> day, available agents, and originating phone number.

    Hence, all the Pizza delivery chains will have a single 800
number to call.  The computer/whatever will then decide what store to
ring based on the number being called from.  This saves even more time
than the average "Enter your area code and number at the tone for the
number of the Pizza/Flowers/Widgets store nearest you" bit.


[e-mail]
Director, Lispotheraputic Support Group, Int'l
(c) 1993 Screaming Turtle Publishing Co.

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

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 02:47:17 -0600
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: 800 Translation Questions
Reply-To: [e-mail]


A question that I would like answered was triggered by the following
comment:

In comp.dcom.telecom, article <[e-mail]> Andy
Sherman  wrote:

much stuff deleted;

> Do not confidently go forth and state
> that you *know* that COs have an 800 number routing cache unless you
                      ^^^^^
> have *information* at hand the confirms that this is the case.

> As to the 800 number cache, that would be a singularly bad idea for
> any LEC to implement in an end office.
                          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Does 800 number portability mean that each end office must become an
SSP?  Or better yet, how are all the SCP databses from the various
carriers tied together as it is my understanding that the assignment
of 800 numbers is on a first-come first-serve basis? Does each SCP
have the entire range of 800 numbers, or only those belonging to that
IXC?  IS there an official inter-working document that describes the
rules each carrier must follow?


Richard Nash     Edmonton, Alberta Canada T6K 0E8
UUCP:            [e-mail]
Amateur Radio:   ve6bon.ampr.ab.ca [192.75.200.15]

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

From: decrsc![e-mail] (Lee Sweet)
Subject: Re: 800 From Outside USA
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 11:42:48 -0400 (EDT)


We use 800 service from Cable & Wireless [very good: 10/15$ month flat
overhead + $.18/minute flat from anywhere domestic (plus added
quantity discount for high traffic + $10/month for programmability:
ability to move the POTS/DID target on *your* demand)].  When we sign
up for a new 800 line, we have to *ask* for Canada, Puerto Rico, etc.
as options.  I think the options cost a little $ ($5/month?), but as
we have customers in both, it's worth it.  [This is for customer
support and marketing lines ...]

I agree with PAT: Why open ourselves up to fraud (maybe just
unintentioned misdials) from Europe, elsewhere, where we have no
customers?

[Additional disclaimer: just a satisfied customer of C&W, no other
connection (as it were...).]


Lee Sweet                   Internet *lists* - [e-mail]
Chief Systems Consultant    Internet *e-mail* - [e-mail]
Datatel, Inc.                          Phone - 703-968-4661
4375 Fair Lakes Court                    FAX - 703-968-4625
Fairfax, VA 22033           (Opinions are my own, and only my own!)

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

Date: 25 Jul 93 23:10:35 EDT
From: Brian T. Vita <[e-mail]>
Subject: 800 Portability or Lack Thereof


I need to draw upon the wisdom of my fellow Digest readers for advice
as to how to kick some corporate butt and get the following job done.

I presently have an AT&T Readyline for my 800 service.  My only
complaint with the line is that I get hosed big-time on intra-lata
calls.  The rate, not time sensitive, within Massachusetts is
$10.00/hour.  Nynex, my LEC, will charge me $6.00/hour for their
Valueflex line (their version of a Readyline) that will cover my
intra-lata service.

What I want to do is this:

    Calls originating from 508/617 route to Nynex @ $6/hour;
    Calls originating from outside 508/617 route to AT&T at prevailing
    rate;

I've called Nynex on this and they say that it would be no problem
with Sprint or a handful of other carriers but that AT&T will has not
signed an agreement with them for split billing.

Various reps at AT&T tell me that this can be done and that an
agreement IS in place. They keep warning me that I'm going to have to
pay someone massive charges to be my RESPORG and that I'm going to
have to pay them anywhere from $35 -$1000 (amount varies according to
which drone I speak to) in non-recurring charges to set up the system.
They also insist that the LEC is going to hit me with incredible
"surprise" charges for "vertical access features", whatever the hell
they are.

The bottom line is this, the people at NYNEX want to help but don't
have a clue as to how to write the order while insuring no
interruption in service.  The AT&T droids are giving me conflicting
stories, sometimes telling me that it CANT be done, sometimes telling
me that its all AT&T or none, telling me about all these massive
charges (which nobody can seem to find the tariffs on) and otherwise
seem to be doing what they can to torpedo my wishes.  Short of calling
the FCC I don't know what office at either organization to yell at.

Any constructive feedback from the Digest would be appreciated.


Brian T. Vita    CSS, Inc.   [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Garrett Wollman)
Subject: Re: "Terminal Compromise" Now Available as Shareware
Organization: University of Vermont, EMBA Computer Facility
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 23:04:10 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(A. Padgett Peterson) writes:

> Passing this along since I feel that it is important: first as an
> excellent techno-thriller (read the whole 560 pages in one sitting) and
> since it is available on the net (ARCHIE found it at knot.queensu.ca as
> /wuarchive.doc.misc/termcomp.zip (612K)). ENJOY.

I feel compelled to reply for two reasons.

First, contrary to the claims of the original author(s), this is not
the first novel made available for distribution on the 'net.  Elf
Sternberg's /Travellogue/ is the first that I am aware of, and he
listed one other as predating that effort.

Secondly, thanks to the efforts of Brad Templeton of Clarinet
Communications, all of the current Hugo and Nebula award nominees are
available over the Internet (but you still have to pay for them), in
addition to an annotated e-copy of Vernor Vinge's /A Fire Upon the
Deep/.  [e-mail] can probably tell you more.


Garrett A. Wollman  [e-mail]
uvm-gen!wollman     UVM disagrees.

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

From: [e-mail] (Matt Healy)
Subject: Re: Calling Card Without a Phone Number, or Using VISA
Organization: Yale U. - Genetics
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 23:05:07 GMT


Another option: the other day I was in a local convenience store
(Store 24 on Dixwell Road in Hamden, CT).  They now sell calling cards
for plain old cash (I think they were Sprint but I don't remember),
which you could buy in five dollar increments.

Presumably it works just like any Sprint card until the money is used
up.  Because you've paid cash in advance, there's no need for the
usual verification hassles.  (I have not tried this, since I have two
different calling cards in my wallet right now.)

By the way, the original poster should make a stink with the
University.  In most places, a school can make an arrangement for
something called a "special billing number" with local telco.  Usually
local telco is very happy to do this, since they get a kickback from
whatever LD company they contract for it.

Essentially, each student on campus gets something like a credit card
except it _only_ works on campus.  They had this system at my
undergraduate institution (Purdue) in late 1970s and early 1980s.  (Of
course this did not solve the other problem with phoning from
campus -- try and get through during the first hour of night rates :)


Matt Healy   [[e-mail]]
**MY EMAIL IS DOWN RIGHT NOW***  my FAX # is 203-785-7023

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

From: [e-mail] (David Ash)
Subject: Re: Incoming Calls to Airphone?
Organization: Computer Science Department, Stanford University.
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1993 00:43:46 GMT


I had an interesting telecom experience while using Airfone on a
recent flight.  I was trying various things out with the Airfone (an
expensive hobby, I know) and one thing I tried was to place a calling
card call using Airfone.

I called the AT&T access number 1-800-321-0288.  An operator came on
the line and asked what number I was calling from.  Of course I didn't
know because it was an airplane phone; I explained this but the
operator said he definitely needed to know.  We couldn't break this
impasse.  I called back again and got the same situation with the new
operator.

Now on reflection several things seemed weird about this.  First, I
asked the operator whether he was an AT&T operator and he said yes,
but I'm suspicious as to whether this was the truth.  In my experience
AT&T operators always answer the phone with "AT&T operator..." and I
encountered two alleged AT&T operators in a row who didn't identify
their company.  Strange.  Second, it seems AT&T would have received
ANI from the ground station of Airfone that handled the call.

I suspect Airfone of intercepting the call and pretending that it is
AT&T.  The domestic 800 Airfone rate + AT&T calling card rate for an
international call is less than the international Airfone rate, so
Airfone would have an financial incentive to do so.  Anyone know if my
suspicions are justified?


David W. Ash   [e-mail]   HOME: [phone]

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

Subject: Re: Prodigy Internet Gateway is Up!
Organization: W.Z.I.
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 19:04:57 -0600
From: Andy Rabagliati <[e-mail]>


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:

> In TELECOM Digest V13 #490 PAT wrote:

>> [Moderator's Note: Since each issue of this Digest runs 21-24 K of
>> text, that's 'merely' $1.05 - $1.20 per issue for Prodigy people.

> I believe this is going to be an increasingly large problems for
> users of commercial e-mail services who receive significant amounts of
> mail from the Internet.

I use the same commercial e-mail service as David Appell - csn.org.
OK, so it is not as user-friendly as Compu$erve, but at $3.00 / hour
daytime rates I can pull down about a megabyte for a dollar, cheaper
at night.

When Microsoft, and other providers, get their act together and
provide easy gateways from Microsoft Mail etc. to dialup services, the
user-friendliness of the gateway will not be an issue, as it will not
be an interactive login.

So, I think the consumer will benefit, with standardised services and
lower per-hour charges.

At the moment one needs to be computer-savvy to have access to these
services - however, that will change.


Cheers,

Andy

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #509
******************************










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Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1993 00:17:18 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #510

TELECOM Digest     Mon, 26 Jul 93 00:17:00 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 510

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Local Ringback Number Wanted (Bob Hofkin)
    Re: Inverse of "Custom Ringing"? (Dave Ptasnik)
    Re: MCI to Compuserve bypass via internet (John Gardiner Myers)
    Re: White House Orders No Bid Phone System (Andrew Klossner)
    Re: Prodigy Internet Gateway is Up! (Mike King)
    Re: New AT&T Feature: TrueVoice (Jonathan Lieberman)
    Re: New AT&T Feature: TrueVoice (Lee Sweet)
    Re: Experiences Wanted With BRI ISDN (William Sohl)
    Re: Wanted: Email Address of Teleco System Inc (Kelly Breit)
    Re: Area 205 to Split (David Leibold)
    Re: Communications Daily Contact Information Wanted (Michael D. Sullivan)
    Re: AT&T and Collect <state your name> (Lee Sweet)
    Re: Do Operators Interrupt Modem Calls? (Rich Holland)
    Re: Special Tariffs For Distance Education? (Jon Carmichael)
    Re: Listing of Calling Number Annoucment Numbers (Matt Bartlett)
    Re: ADSL Hitched to ISDN: The Happy Couple? (Vance Shipley)

                     ----------------------
TELECOM Digest is an e-journal devoted mostly -- but not exclusively --
to discussions on voice telephony. The Digest is a not-for-profit
public service published frequently by Patrick Townson Associates. PTA
markets a no-surcharge telephone calling card and a no monthly fee 800
service.  In addition, we are resellers of AT&T's Software Defined
Network. For a detailed discussion of our services, write and ask for
the file 'products'.

The Digest is delivered at no charge by email to qualified subscribers on
any electronic mail service connected to the Internet. To join the mail-
ing list, write and tell us how you qualify: [e-mail].
 All article submissions MUST be sent to our email address: telecom@eecs.
nwu.edu -- NOT as replies to comp.dcom.telecom.

Back issues and numerous other telephone-related files of interest are
available from the Telecom Archives, using anonymous ftp lcs.mit.edu.
Login anonymous, then 'cd telecom-archives'. At the present time, the
Digest is also ported to Usenet at the request of many readers there,
where it is known as 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Use of the Digest does not
require the use of our products and services. The two are separate.
All articles are the responsibility of the individual authors. Organi-
zations listed, if any, are for identification purposes only. The
Digest is compilation-copyrighted, 1993. **DO NOT** cross-post articles
between the Digest and other Usenet or alt newsgroups. Do not compile
mailing lists from the net-addresses appearing herein.  Send tithes and
love offerings to PO Box 1570, Chicago, IL 60690. :)  Phone: [phone].

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

From: Bob Hofkin <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Local Ringback Number Wanted
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Software Productivity Consortium
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 15:31:27 GMT


Last time I asked at the C&P business office, their answer was to have
a friend call me.  This after some discussion, apparently.  It would
be real nice to cite a specific regulation.


Bob

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

From: [e-mail] (Dave Ptasnik)
Subject: Re: Inverse of "Custom Ringing"?
Date: 25 Jul 1993 15:41:12 GMT
Organization: University of Washington


[e-mail] (Theodore M.P. Lee) writes:

> business.  I have one custom ringing number on the residential line to
> which busies on the business line are forwarded.  When the business
> line is in use, I'd like to be able to do the inverse: use the
> residential line but have the call (interesting only for long
> distance, since we don't have message units) billed to the business
> line at the same rate as if it had been dialed on that line.  (Yah, I

Sure, choose a long distance carrier (Cable & Wireless does this, at
least) that will allow you to prepend a 10xxx number in front of the
LD call.  Just make sure that they have your residence line in their
database for that service.  In fact, if you had your business line on
C&W and your residence line on Sprint, you could use either line to
place either kind of call, just being careful to dial 10333 in front
of res calls and 10223 in front of business calls.

With C&W you are charged the same rate whether you dial direct or use
10223, not sure about Sprint.


All of the above is nothing more than the personal opinion of -

Dave Ptasnik     [e-mail]

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

From: John Gardiner Myers <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MCI to Compuserve bypass via internet
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 13:58:30 -0400
Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA


Bypassing these sorts of administrative restrictions would seem to be
a useful application of the various pseudononymous remailers.

If provider A refuses mail over the internet from provider B, a
customer of proivider B could send mail to a remailer, instructing it
to forward the mail to a customer of provider A.  The remailer would
perform its function of replacing the sender's identity with a
pseudonym, sending the message to provider A with no indication that
provider A wants to bounce the message.

It's sort of ironic.  The IXC's have been selling LEC bypass for
years.  Now they're the ones who are going to get bypassed.

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

From: [e-mail] (Andrew Klossner)
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 93 17:50:10 PDT
Subject: Re: White House Orders No Bid Phone System
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Tektronix Color Printers, Wilsonville, Oregon


> As far as the security of the system, wouldn't the National
> Security Agency check and/or supervise in installation of the
> system regardless of who provides it?"

No.  For fairly obvious reasons, the secure telephone system in the
White House is completely independent of the conventional phone
system.  Most communication in and out of the White House is no more
sensitive than that of any other big business, even omitting
opinionated calls from constituents.


Andrew Klossner  ([e-mail])

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

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 93 02:46:51 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Mike King)
Subject: Re: Prodigy Internet Gateway is Up!


In TELECOM Digest V13 #501, [e-mail] (Bill Campbell) writes:

> I would like to see CIS add the capability of automatically forwarding
> e-mail to a CIS account to my internet address.  The last thing I want

Suggest it to them; they might be willing to implement it.  For
another surcharge, of course. :-(

> to do is deal with the CIS mail programs and "editor", but I do
> receive some e-mail there since I'm a sysop on the CIS scoforum.  My
> solution now is to read CIS mail once a week capturing it to disk,
> then I have a perl script that injects the CIS mail into my Unix
> mailer where I can read and reply to it.

As discussed before, some CI$ subscribers pay for receiving Internet
mail.  They may not be too thrilled to have to pay "postage due"
(CI$'s term for mail received over the Internet for which a surcharge
will be due) mail, especially if your Internet account mailing address
doesn't provide a clear indication of who you are.

There are various programs that provide automated access to CI$ mail
and allow you to read mail and compose replies offline.  Email me if
you'd like further information.


Mike King * Software Sourcerer * Fairchild Space * +1 301.428.5384
[e-mail] or [e-mail]    *  (usual disclaimers)

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

From: [e-mail] (Jonathan Lieberman)
Subject: Re: New AT&T Feature: TrueVoice
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: The University of Chicago
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1993 02:13:46 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Justin Greene) writes:

> I entered a pager number and it didn't care ...

I entered 212-555-1212 and it didn't care ...


Jonathan Lieberman   [e-mail]   The University of Chicago

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

From: decrsc![e-mail] (Lee Sweet)
Subject: Re: New AT&T Feature: TrueVoice
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 11:49:33 -0400 (EDT)


They ask for your *full* phone number.  My first impression was (1)
telemarketing and (2) boosting/modifying based *on location*!.  But,
if the latter, why not just ask for AC or AC-exchange? (I get enough
telemarketing LD slime at home and at the office, so I entered
AC-exchange-fictitious xxxx! Hope some poor soul doesn't get
telemarketed: 'But you called a demo last Sunday ...!'


Lee Sweet                        Internet *lists* - [e-mail]
Chief Systems Consultant        Internet *e-mail* - [e-mail]
Datatel, Inc.                               Phone - 703-968-4661
4375 Fair Lakes Court                         FAX - 703-968-4625
Fairfax, VA 22033                (Opinions are my own, and only my own!)


[Moderator's Note: I have said before I don't think AT&T is calling
anyone based on the number entered for the TrueVoice demonstration.
The company does not need to ask if you are a customer or not.   PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (sohl,william h)
Subject: Re: Experiences Wanted With BRI ISDN
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 93 02:30:28 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Carl
Oppedahl) writes:

> When I did manage to reach someone whose job was to know about ISDN,
> they told me that NYTel charges $10 per month for BRI.  Running
> low-speed data over the D channel is an extra $2 per month.  Running
> your flexible choice of high-speed data or voice over a B channel is
> an extra $2 per month.  He was quite unable to say what packets cost
> on the high or low speed paths.  And all this is an added cost per
> month above and beyond the cost of the voice telephone numbers carried
> on the BRI.

> He also said, though I find it difficult to believe, that the ISDN BRI
> connection is via a single twisted pair.  I always thought this was
> done on two pairs.

The ISDN BRI technology does indeed use the same two wire loop that your
"regular" telephone does.  Ot is a full duplex 160Kb (2B+D) access
technology.

I don't have specifics as to the tariff rates and the actual
deployment plans for NYNEX for your office, but I can probably help
you get that info (it may be you've already talked to the individual
I'd refer you to.

In any case, please contact me at our Bellcore ISDN Information
Hotline [phone]-ISDN)


Standard Disclaimer- Any opinions, etc. are mine and NOT my employer's.

Bill Sohl (K2UNK) BELLCORE (Bell Communications Research, Inc.)
Morristown, NJ             email via UUCP      bcr!cc!whs70
201-829-2879 Weekdays      email via Internet  [e-mail]

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

Date: 25 Jul 93 01:00:00 EDT
From: Kelly <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Wanted: Email Address of Teleco System Inc


> Does anyone know the contract e-mail address (customer service or
> technical dept or a helpful staff) for a company called Teleco System
> Inc. located in Norwood, MA 02062 (I don't have the full address) ?

I do not have an e-mail address for them, however the complete address
is:

Telco Systems
63 Nahantan St.
Norwood, MA 02062
[phone]

The only names I have are:

Paul Lazay, President & CEO
Dave McClure, General Manager Network Division

Hope this helps.


Kelly Breit   Network Analyst   H.B. Fuller Comapny

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

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 93 01:04 EDT
From: [e-mail] (woody)
Subject: Re: Area 205 to Split


David Cornutt ([e-mail]) wrote:

> Here's the really interesting thing: the new area code for the south
> half of the state will be (take a deep breath) 334.  This is the first
> instance that I know of where a NXX area code is to be implemented in
> the U.S.  (Have I missed something?)

205/334 is the first interchangeable-era (NNX area code) split I've
heard of in the North American Numbering Plan.

Seems that the assignments won't follow the original expansion plan of
assigning NN0 codes (such as 330) so that some areas could retain a
means of distinguishing between area codes and central office codes
for a while. However, 334 does seem to fit with the recent Bellcore
proposal of assigning the N2X and N3X codes first for "geographic"
purposes (mentioned earlier this year in the NANPA's Proposal for
numbering).


David Leibold

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

From: [e-mail] (Michael D. Sullivan)
Subject: Re: Communications Daily Contact Information Wanted
Organization: The Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link, Sausalito, CA
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 06:12:13 GMT


{Communications Daily} is a daily newsletter for those interested in
fast-breaking developments, primarily of a policy/regulatory nature,
and secondarily of a news-release-worthy nature, in the broadcasting,
cable, telephone, satellite, and related fields.  It is targeted to
executives, consultants, attorneys, and regulators; it is not
engineering-oriented.

ComDaily can be reached at [phone]; its offices are at 2115 Ward
Court, N.W., Washington, D.C.

Two ComDaily reporters are on the Internet.  Brock Meeks is
[e-mail] (logs on frequently) and Art Brodsky is
[e-mail] (logs on less frequently).  Brodsky used to have the
FCC beat; he now covers Capitol Hill.  Meeks covers more
computer-oriented subjects (hackers and phreakers arrested or
detained, MERIT's lack of contract for internet backbone, etc.).


Michael D. Sullivan <[e-mail] (MIME capable)>
<[e-mail]>  <[e-mail]>

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

From: decrsc![e-mail] (Lee Sweet)
Subject: Re: AT&T and Collect <state your name>
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 11:32:25 -0400 (EDT)


No one has mentioned the advantage (I think it is!) of the callee
hearing the actual caller's voice.  If someone calls and says "It's
John", so? Lot of "Johns" out there ... if I hear the voice say that
"It's John", well, that helps the identification.  (Yes, maybe he
*should* say it's "your son, John", [don't really have one!], but AT&T
makes it easier to 'the average person'.)


Lee Sweet                  Internet *lists* - [e-mail]
Chief Systems Consultant  Internet *e-mail* - [e-mail]
Datatel, Inc.                         Phone - 703-968-4661
4375 Fair Lakes Court                   FAX - 703-968-4625
Fairfax, VA 22033         (Opinions are my own, and only my own!)

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

From: [e-mail] (Rich Holland)
Subject: Re: Do Operators Interrupt Modem Calls?
Date: 25 Jul 1993 13:34:16 -0500
Organization: Kansas State University


[e-mail] (Mike Berger) writes:

[asking an op for an "emergency" interrupt]

> I guess you had a smart operator.  Somebody asked the operator to
> interrupt my (modem) call -- she indicated that there was "just static"
> on the line so she cut off the call toward the end of a very large
> file transfer.

On a side note, with all the flooding recently, there have been a lot
of phones out locally.  Our kitten had another seizure (she's got some
sort of seizure disorder, and sometimes goes blind for a few days).
When she has bad ones, we call the vet (day or night) for an injection
to calm her down for awhile, and prevent further seizuring.  Anyway,
last night about 1:00 am, I tried to call our vet, and got a buzy
signal (strange, as I was calling her home number).  I tried to get
the operator to tell me if the line was out of service due to flooding
or evacuation, and she told me to hold the line while she "broke in"
 -- I didn't get to hear anything though.  She came back and said there
was just a high-pitch tone on the line.  She didn't know what a modem
or fax was, from the sound of things, so I was sh*t-outa-luck with
that one.  We finally ended up giving the cat more oral meds and
staying up with her to monitor her the rest of the night.

Can someone tell me what I need to do to be able to listen while the
operator breaks the line?  Who do I talk to at 1:00 am to find out if
the line is down, or shut off, or forwarded, etc?  I'm not very
telecom-savvy, and it sure was frustrating to only talk to the
know-nothing I got last night.  *Sigh*


Rich Holland              | INTERNET: [e-mail]
723 Allison Ave, #8       | BITNET  : holland@ksuvm
Manhattan, KS  66502-3273 | UUCP    : ...!rutgers!matt.ksu.ksu.edu!holland


[Moderator's Note: The rule is you cannot 'listen while the operator
breaks the line'; the operator is required to split the connection.
This is to protect the privacy of the persons the operator is inter-
upting. Would you want to be having a personal conversation with some
person when an operator interupted and have a third party possibly
hear yourself or the person you were speaking to?  The operator is
presumed to be a neutral party in the matter; you may not be. By
hearing even a few words of the conversation it might be possible to
identify who is speaking with whom ... not your business! I am sorry
to hear about your cat; my two precious little ones are in reasonably
good health although one is 15 years old in a couple months; he has
lived with me since he was four weeks old.  His former housemate was
18 years old when he went to the veterinarian for the last time. :(  PAT]

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

Subject: Re: Special Tariffs For Distance Education?
From: cntinuum!cntinuum![e-mail] (Jon Carmichael)
Date: 25 Jul 93 08:05:00 GMT
Organization: uuPCB - Demonstration Version
Reply-To: cntinuum!cntinuum![e-mail] (Jon Carmichael)


> Have any LECs filed tariffs for lower rates for educational
> organizations doing distance education?  Are any regulatory agencies
> exploring allowing such tariffs?

Jane, I sense a misunderstanding of the mentality and capabilities of
LECs and other service providers.  First the mentality, which isn't a
hard one to understand.  New technology is a double edged blade, where
they (the service providers) are very aware that one side of the blade
can make them rich by finding new markets and the other side of the
blade can cut them to pieces with heavy financial losses on their turn
of pitch and toss.

Fortunately LECs are providing lower prices on digital pipes that can
carry video, but that's mostly the case in the major metropolitan areas,
where they are starting to see some serious competition.  As you start
looking at alternatives, there are some technologies where you can
implement them cheaper than the phone company would have sold them to
you.  LECs are NOT on the cutting edge of technology for the most
part.

Soon, large amounts of video will be recieved on satellite dishes the
size of a large pizza, and their primary market will be entertainment.
The opportunity this affords you should make you think of abandoning
the idea that LEC can provide anything but POTS (Plain Old Telephone
Service). Also understand that some LECs are further into the future
than others. Some have more fiber in the ground than others and some
are buying large chunks of entertainment/cable companies in technology
partnerships.


JONC

The Continuum PCBoard -*- @9600+ call 818-441-2625   @2400- call 818-799-9633

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

From: [e-mail] (Matt Bartlett)
Subject: Re: Listing of Calling Number Annoucment Numbers
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 12:57:47 GMT
Organization: Kilowatt Computers, Deer Park, LI


I found an error in your listing. For Area Code 516 you have posted
968, but 968 is indeed an exchange (im in it). 958 is the correct ANAC
number.


Matt   [e-mail]   [e-mail]
Kilowatt BBS                     Valhalla Systems BBS
(516)-586-4743                   (516)-321-6819

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

From: Vance Shipley <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: ADSL Hitched to ISDN: The Happy Couple?
Organization: XeniTec Consulting Services, Kitchener, Ontario Canada
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 14:45:22 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (John
Nagle) writes:

> ADSL is asymmetrical; the high bandwidth is one-way.  The other
> direction is supposedly 64Kb, although maybe you get two ISDN
> channels ...

And a high speed asymmetrical service we need!

> ...  It's intended to compete with cable TV.  The idea is to
> have something comparable to a remote-controlled cable box at the CO,
> giving you one of a limited number of compressed TV channels, as well
> as phone service, over the same wire.  Assuming you think 1Mb
> compressed TV is worth watching.

As I sit here typing this stuff into my terminal, and reading news in
general, I create about six characters a second (I'm not much of a
typist :).  When I page through articles I consume the bandwidth
(19200Kbps in my case) in my direction.  On my X terminal at work I
generate much more traffic to the host, mouse events and all.  The
ratio of received to transmitted traffic is probably even larger
though.

The point is this; unless you are a service provider of some sort
(others are pulling data from you) your requirements for receive will
usually out number those for transmit.  ADSL is a perfect fit.

> Does it really need unshielded twisted pair?  Local loops
> aren't normally twisted.  Twisting decreases RF coupling between
> adjacent pairs substantially, but it's not standard for existing phone
> wiring, inside or outside.

I'm no expert but I'd say you're wrong, basically.  All telephone
cables have their pairs twisted, it's a matter of how much.  What we
generally call 'quad', the four wire green/red/black/yellow type stuff
found in most homes, is twisted, just not very much.  It is usually
thought of as not being twisted.  The vast majority of inside wire in
businesses is twisted, this is the commonly referred to 'twisted
pair'.  I'm sure what you are thinking of is the sort of twisting used
in 'UTP' or 'unshielded twisted pair'.  This type of wire, used for
voice and data transmission, has a much tighter twist; more twists per
foot.

I'm not as familiar with outside plant as I am with inside plant but
I'm sure it is twisted to some extent.  Have you ever noticed
telegraph lines?  They tend top be twisted at every other pole or so.

Sorry if I'm picking nits.


Vance Shipley, [e-mail]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #510
******************************










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From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #511

TELECOM Digest     Mon, 26 Jul 93 02:40:30 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 511

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: U.S. Cuts Off the Canadian-Cuban Connection (Mike King)
    Re: Dark Fiber? (Marvin Sirbu)
    Re: Dark Fiber? (John Nagle)
    Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"! (Laird P. Broadfield)
    Re: Standard Practice For Wiring House (Richard Pitt)
    Re: 800 Translation Questions (Jeff Wasilko)
    Re: ANI and 'All Zeros' (Lee Sweet)
    Re: Telecom Observations in Movie "Dave" (Jonathan F. Carpenter)
    Re: Inverse of "Custom Ringing"? (Mike King)
    Re: CONNECT BBS Edition (Jon Carmichael)
    Locating Files in the Telecom Archives (Lee Sweet)
    Connecting Site A to Site B (Javier Henderson)
    Re: The Next Step: Affinity Long Distance (Mike King)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 93 21:00:52 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Mike King)
Subject: Re: U.S. Cuts Off the Canadian-Cuban Connection


In the business section of Saturday's {Washington Post}, an article
entitled "U.S. Allows Expanded Cuban Phone Service" caught my eye.
Subtitled, "Escrow Account Could Be Stumbling Block," the article
stated the State Department issued procedures for offering competitive
service between the U.S. and Cuba.  It's unclear whether Cuba will
agree with the plan.  [I'm paraphrasing the article in this Digest
submission.]

According to the article, AT&T now routes calls to Cuba through Italy.
It mentioned that callers have been routing calls through Canada, but
the Treasury department recently told those providers to stop on the
basis they were violating the trade embargo against Cuba.

The $80 million escrow account for settlements currently held by the
U.S.  government is the sticking point for the plan, and "the Cuban
position is that such an account should be released to reach any
agreement" according to Jose Ponce, press attache' with the Cuban
Intersection in Washington.

Robert Gelbard, principal deputy assistant secretary for
inter-American affairs, said the Clinton administration issued the
guidelines in an attempt to comply with the Cuban Democracy act of
1992, which calls for "efficient and adequate telecommunications
services between the United States and Cuba."  But the administration
also wants to minimize the transfer of funds to Cuba."

MCI and Sprint have indicated intentions to file for authority to
offer service, and AT&T is ready to activate a copper undersea cable
to carry calls.

Direct-dial service isn't necessarily imminent, even if Cuba agrees to
do business with U.S. Telecom firms.  The Cuban phone system is
antiquated and only some locations in and around Havana can accept
calls directly.

Even without surrender of escrow funds, the guidelines allow Cuba to
keep half of the $1.20 per minute that will be charged for future
calls, and they allow the potential for more than one provider to
offer calls.


Mike King * Software Sourcerer * Fairchild Space * +1 301.428.5384
[e-mail] or [e-mail]  *  (usual disclaimers)


[Moderator's Note: It has never been clear to me how any government
agency in the USA could tell a Canadian company what to do or not do
with telephone calls they were processing. If anything, maybe the US
government could penalize the US citizen/company making calls in that
way. And what if the same telephone number in Canada was used to
recieve calls for re-origination to places other than Cuba? How can
the number be blocked on this end merely on the premise that calls to
it *might* be going to Cuba?  Telepassport processes calls to Cuba
through their switch in New York, but *not* for USA subscribers to the
service. TP does it for Canadians or people in other countries.  PAT]

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

From: Marvin Sirbu <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Dark Fiber?
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 22:15:55 -0400
Organization: Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA


Excerpts from netnews.comp.dcom.telecom: 24-Jul-93 Re: Dark Fiber? by
Paul [e-mail]:

> Based on these numbers, you can lease up to 100 miles of fiber for
> less than the cost of usage alone.  If you are hooking up a set of
> offices in a city, leased dark fiber at $150 a mile makes a lot more
> sense than paying traffic and connection charges for connection to a
> telephone company network (Metropolitan Area Network or MAN).

Dark fiber has no light soruce provided by the telco, and NO REPEATERS.

If you leased 100 miles of dark fiber, you wouldn't be able to use it
for anything without installing your own repeaters every few miles.
Since repeaters at DS3 rates with detectors and lasers for regenera-
ting the signal cost several thousands of dollars, plus the costs of
powering, space, environemntal conditioning, etc, plus maintenance
costs, dark fiber quickly becomes somewhat less of a bargain.

Moreover, when you buy a DS3 circuit, the LEC (or competitive access
provider) generally provides high reliability by switching the channel
onto an alternate path in the event of a fiber break.  When you lease
dark fiber, you need to lease your own additional fiber(s) for
redundancy to achieve similar levels of reliability.

I'm not arguing that dark fiber is never a good investment.  It's just
dark fiber requires significant additional expenditures before it
provides the same functionality as a carrier provided DS3.


Marvin Sirbu

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

From: [e-mail] (John Nagle)
Subject: Re: Dark Fiber?
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1993 06:01:18 GMT


[e-mail] (Paul Robinson) writes:

> "Dark Fiber" is fiber optic cable which is run from one point to
> another for a customer of a telephone carrier, and the carrier doesn't
> do anything with the service.  The customer has to do all the data
> translations and everything else.

      This is scary for telcos, because it means the huge economies of
scale in bandwidth that have been so profitable for them become
available to large customers.  But the telcos can survive that.

      But ignoring the economics, dark fibre presents a serious
problem for telcos: how do you make connections?  The trend has been
away from a main distributing frame and manual wiring on it.  It's
common today to run even nailed-up circuits through the switch, just
to get rid of the wiring maze and all its headaches.  Widespread use
of dark fibre means something like a big optical patch bay at the CO,
with all the hassles that implies.  How is that to be handled?


John Nagle

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

From: [e-mail] (Laird P. Broadfield)
Subject: Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"!
Organization: "Well, a head on top, an arm on each side, two legs...."
Date: 26 Jul 93 02:17:57 GMT


In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Nigel Allen) writes:
[passed on article...]

> * Con artists known as "toner-phoners" are targeting small businesses
> that use copiers and laser printers.  Several companies are claiming
> to sell replacement toner cartridges for the copying devices at a
> discount; however, they actually double or triple the price.

> Law enforcement officials say that toner fraud is hard to prove and
> almost impossible to eliminate.

[ ... also a Moderator's Note discussing similar experiences ...]

Okay, what am I missing here?  Let me get this straight:

 1.Outside person calls and finds out what kind of equipment you have.

 2.Different outside person calls, knows what kind of equipment you have
   (learned this from person #1) and offers you supplies at inflated
   prices.

 3.Having (apparently) less than two brain cells to bang together, you
   agree to purchase supplies at the inflated prices.

Where exactly is there fraud involved here?  Has "caveat emptor" gone
entirely by the wayside; are Americans no longer willing to accept
even the slightest responsibility for their own actions?


Laird P. Broadfield     [e-mail]    ...{ucsd, nosc}!crash!lairdb


[Moderator's Note: There really isn't any fraud; that's why the
government 'finds it so hard to prove'.  :) You can't prove what
does not exist. A sleazy business practice, yes; fraudulent activity,
no. Little things like that have never bothered the US Department of
'Justice'. When they want to get someone, they'll invent a new crime
if they have to.  Of course they ignore their own corruption.  I
wonder when was the last time Justice actually purchased *legal*
copies of software?  Usually they rip off software developers and make
pirate copies of everything for their own employees. I wonder if Bill
Clinton will be as quick to fire the US Attorney in Chicago for supp-
lying sex and cocaine to inmates of the federal correctional center
here -- in a private office in the federal building yet -- as he was
to fire all the investigators and attornies working on trying to get
Congressman Rostenkowski put away for fraud?  Only here in the USA
will you see one bunch of crooks using the law to chase another bunch
of crooks.  Get with the times Laird; its life in these United States
and all that. Never do for yourself what you can get the government to
make your neighbor do for you.   PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Richard Pitt)
Subject: Re: Standard Practice For Wiring House
Date: 25 Jul 1993 19:50:58 -0700
Organization: Wimsey


I spend almost a year working in 'the prewire crew' in the Vancouver
BC area around 1970.

At that time, we generally were wiring for two lines (unless the house
was a major one -- which some were, as the district I was in was in
the wealthier end of town) and the lines were generally looped if they
were on a fairly straight line back to the service entrance (before
'demarc' became the term).

This meant that the upstairs was generally on a different run from the
downstairs, and there might be a third leg if the house was of really
strange design or was really large.

Now if I were running my own wiring company and doing this for a
living, I would make most of the runs 'home runs' and put in at least
six pair class five rated (Ethernet capable) so that when home
computers really come into their own the house would already be wired.
What we were doing in businesses in the 80's we should be doing in
houses in the 90's -- except that I don't EVER expect to have to pull
home runs of 25 pairs again -- six to ten pairs should be more than
enough.

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

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 23:04:14 -0800
From: [e-mail] (Jeff Wasilko)
Subject: Re: 800 Translation Questions


Andy Sherman wrote:

> As to the 800 number cache, that would be a singularly bad idea for
> any LEC to implement in an end office.  First off, it would break a
> lot of enhanced 800 services.  Somebody from AT&T can correct me if
> I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure (note the disclaimer, please) that it's
> possible to have the routing change at night, so that a nationwide 800
> number routed to multiple centers can have fewer centers open at
> night.  Cacheing the route would surely break this.  Caches would also
> likely break all of the "we guarantee to have your super-duper 800
> service back up within X minutes" type services that the IXC's offer.

That's right. At my last job, we set up our AT&T 800 number to route
to different POTS numbers based on time-of-day and day-of-week.
Essentially, we took orders from 9-5:30 Monday-Friday, and the calls
went to our answering service during all other times.

In addition, we could call and make an emergency change, and have it
take affect instantly. We used this a few times during bad weather and
power outages.

As a side note, people were concerned that 800-portability would
greatly increase call-setup time. Well, it looks like everyone did a
great job. I'm seeing a one or two second connect time to our modems
that are accessable via Sprint and AT&T 800 numbers. Great job, folks!


Jeff Wasilko, Information International  [phone]
Application Support Specialist

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

From: decrsc![e-mail] (Lee Sweet)
Subject: Re: ANI and 'All Zeros'
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 12:18:26 -0400 (EDT)


Dunno about other carriers, but our Cable & Wireless 800 bills from
old exchanges (West Virginia, Missouri?) *do* show exchange and _four_
zeroes.  Guess they know what office/switch, but not who?!


Lee Sweet                  Internet *lists* - [e-mail]
Chief Systems Consultant  Internet *e-mail* - [e-mail]
Datatel, Inc.                         Phone - 703-968-4661
4375 Fair Lakes Court                   FAX - 703-968-4625
Fairfax, VA 22033          (Opinions are my own, and only my own!)

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

From: [e-mail] (Jonathan F Carpenter)
Subject: Re: Telecom Observations in Movie "Dave"
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 20:47:13 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> Dave Ptasnik <davep@cac.
washington.edu> writes:

> What did they have in "Dave"?  Anyone out there with the true info.
> Enquiring minds want to know.

The June 1993 issue of {Premiere} magazine has an article about the
construction of the White House sets used in the movie "Dave".
Apparently a lot of work was done to make the set look as real as
possible. (The production designer even surreptitiously filmed the
real White House while on a tour using an 8mm camera.)  To quote the
designer in the article: "The carpets came from the company that
supplies the White House. We used part Kennedy and part Reagan
carpets.  The telephones are real.  We found them in a warehouse; they
had been purchased from the White House for Seven Days in May [1964].
I don't know how they did that."

The sets can also be seen in the movies Hot Shots! Part Deux and In
the Line of Fire.


Jon Carpenter

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

Date: Mon, 26 Jul 93 02:56:40 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Mike King)
Subject: Re: Inverse of "Custom Ringing"?


In TELECOM Digest, V13 #503, [e-mail] (Theodore M.P. Lee)
writes:

> Is there a service/feature that, lacking a better term, I'd call the
> inverse of custom ringing?  I have two lines: one residential and one
> business.  I have one custom ringing number on the residential line to
> which busies on the business line are forwarded.  When the business
> line is in use, I'd like to be able to do the inverse: use the
> residential line but have the call (interesting only for long
> distance, since we don't have message units) billed to the business
> line at the same rate as if it had been dialed on that line.

Use two long distance carriers.  Default your residential line to the
LD carrier giving you the best plan for residential calling.  Get
another account with the carrier that gives you the best plan for
business purposes; have them list both lines, but only default the
business line to that carrier.  Use 10xxx to override when making LD
calls for business purposes from the residential line.  The major
carriers, and some minor carriers, can provide an account which bills
for more one line.

Not knowing who your LEC is, and what their policies are, I'd be
careful about asking them for help.  Some LECs get very irritated when
they discover you're using a line classed "residential" for business
purposes.


Mike King * Software Sourcerer * Fairchild Space * +1 301.428.5384
[e-mail] or [e-mail]  *  (usual disclaimers)

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

Subject: Re: CONNECT BBS Edition
From: cntinuum![e-mail] (Jon Carmichael)
Date: 25 Jul 93 16:34:00 GMT
Organization: uuPCB - Demonstration Version
Reply-To: cntinuum![e-mail] (Jon Carmichael)


> The BBS Legal Group is dedicated to providing pertinent, quality
> information and services to Bulletin Board Operators.

Yes, but you did not say how much it could cost a sysop for a
subscription. Iis there a reason why it's a secret?


JONC
The Continuum PCBoard -*- @9600+ call 818-441-2625   @2400- call 818-799-9633

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

From: decrsc![e-mail] (Lee Sweet)
Subject: Locating Files in the Telecom Archives
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1993 12:54:10 -0400 (EDT)


Pat, I have no direct ftp access. (I have to tell uunet the exact file
names.) Can you tell me the file names of the acronym files in the
archives, or is there a listing file that has all the contents (like
uunet does)?  Thanks!


Lee Sweet                  Internet *lists* - [e-mail]
Chief Systems Consultant  Internet *e-mail* - [e-mail]
Datatel, Inc.                         Phone - 703-968-4661
4375 Fair Lakes Court                   FAX - 703-968-4625
Fairfax, VA 22033          (Opinions are my own, and only my own!)


[Moderator's Note: We have several acronym files listed as 'glossary'
in the archives. I recommend all readers pick up a copy of these
files. Understandably, using a mail server for ftp is not easy if you
don' know where to start looking. The files listed as 'index' all
refer to sub-directories under the main archives directory with the
exception of the last two; they are indexes to the subject titles of
messages here over the past four years. For starters, pull these files
to find out what other files are available:

-rw-r--r--  1 map      telecom    118496 Jul 31  1992 glossary.acronyms
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     43101 Jan 27  1991 glossary.isdn.terms-kluge
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    115757 Jul 31  1992 glossary.naval.telecom
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     42188 Jan 14  1990 glossary.phrack.acronyms
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     67113 Jan 14  1990 glossary.txt
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom      1616 Nov 20  1990 index-canada.npa.files
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom      1700 Apr 16 19:36 index-country.codes
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom       411 Nov 20  1990 index-minitel.files
-rw-r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     18124 Apr 10 05:53 index-telecom.archives
-rw-r--r--  1 ptownson telecom      1936 Feb  1 10:23 index-telecom.security
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom       343 Jan 20  1991 index-tymnet.info
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    568541 Jan  1  1992 index-vol.9-10-11.subj.Z
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    220055 Jan  2 15:06 index-volume.12.subj.Z

Starting from the above, you can get the exact names of other files
you want to pull. Most are straight ASCII, but the last two above are
compressed and you need to set the type to 'I' when you order them.
The Telecom Archives is accesible using anonymous ftp lcs.mit.edu.
When connected, do 'cd telecom-archives'.   PAT]

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

From: Javier Henderson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Connecting Site A to Site B
Date: 25 Jul 93 19:38:09 PDT
Organization: Mayo Laboratory; Ventura, CA


Hello,

The company I work for has a main office in Ventura, CA, and a few
remote sites scattered around the state. We have an AT&T System 75
switch at the main office, and various types of switches at the remote
locations.

We also have 56Kb digital circuits between the main office and each of
the remote locations, for data communications.

We're in need to replace the switch at one of the remote sites because
it's obsolete and it's getting too expensive to repair.

My question is:

Is there a way of making the extensions at this location that will get
new telephone hardware appear as if they were extensions of our 75
switch in Ventura? The idea is to eliminate long distance charges when
we need to talk voice with that site. What hardware would we need at
each site? I assume another digital circuit will have to be set up
between the two sites. At what speed will this circuit have to be
rated? Dare I ask about cost?

Pardon the naive question, but I know less than nothing about this
topic.


Thanks,

Javier Henderson | [e-mail]

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

Date: Mon, 26 Jul 93 02:55:33 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Mike King)
Subject: Re: The Next Step: Affinity Long Distance


In TELECOM Digest, V13 #502, Pat asked:

> [Moderator's Note: What is with all this Mensa-bashing here the past
> couple days?     PAT]

Well, who would you prefer we bash?  Moderators?  Chicagoans?  <g>


Mike King * Software Sourcerer * Fairchild Space * +1 301.428.5384
[e-mail] or [e-mail]  *  (usual disclaimers)


[Moderator's Note: I know what! Let's bash attornies. That is a new
and original idea; I don't think anyone ever does that, do they? To
close this issue, a 'lawyer joke' ....

These three guys are traveling through the countryside and a bad storm
forces them to stop and stay all night at the farmer's house. One is a
Jew, one is a Hindu, and the third is a lawyer. The farmer says, "well,
I only have two spare bedrooms, so one of you will have to sleep in
the barn."  The Jew volunteers to sleep in the barn. He picks up his
stuff and goes out the door and to the barn; meanwhile the lawyer and
the Hindu retire to their bedrooms for the night. In a few minutes
there is a knock at the door. Everyone gets up to go see who it is.
The Jew has returned. "I can't sleep in the barn," he says, "there is
a pig in the barn. It is against my religion to have *anything* to do
with pork."

Well, the Hindu decides to practice brotherly love and tolerance and
all that, so he volunteers to sleep in the barn. He packs up his
stuff, heads out the door and over to the barn. Meanwhile the lawyer
and the Jew retire to their bedrooms and try to go back to sleep. In a
few minutes, another knock at the door. This time the Hindu has ret-
urned. "I can't sleep in the barn," he complains, "there is a cow in
the barn. Why, a cow is a very sacred animal. I could never sleep with
one, that would be a terrible sin according to my religion."

That leaves the lawyer ... and just so things will quiet down for the
night and he can get back to sleep, he agrees to sleep in the barn. He
packs up his stuff, heads out the door and goes to the barn. Meanwhile
the Hindu and the Jew retire to their bedrooms and try to get back to
sleep for a third time.  In a few minutes, there is another knock at
the door. Everyone gets up and goes downstairs to see who it is. This
time it is the cow and the pig standing there.

Goodnight.  (Someone better call the Netville Fire Department.)   PAT]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #511
******************************










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Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1993 22:38:02 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #512

TELECOM Digest     Mon, 26 Jul 93 22:38:00 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 512

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    May `93 Business Consumer Guide: Long Distance Service (Russ McGuire)
    Pacific Bell Information BBS (Nigel Allen)
    Phone Number -> Name/Address (Gordon Hlavenka)
    Re: 800 Translation Questions (John Adams)
    Re: 800 Translation Questions (Vance Shipley)
    Re: Private Voice Networks (Jon Carmichael)
    Re: High Speed Modem Connections (Daniel Fandrich)
    Re: Mercury in the UK - The Right Choice? (Drew Radtke)
    Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"! (Rev. Michael P. Deignan)
    Re: Why the AT&T TrueVoice Demo Asks For Your Number (John Adams)
    Re: Cellular Propagation Simulator (Raj Sanmugam)
    Re: Area 205 to Split (Carl Moore)
    Re: Dark Fiber? (Brett Frankenberger)
    Re: Dark Fiber? (H. Peter Anvin)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Russ McGuire)
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 93 07:46:10 -0500
Subject: May `93 Business Consumer Guide: Long Distance Service


I just saw a copy of the May issue of Beacon Research Group's Business
Consumer Guide.  I assume many readers of the Digest would be inter-
ested in their study on (U.S.) Long Distance Service, but don't remem-
ber seeing anything about it during the May timeframe, so here is a
quick summary (for more details, contact the Beacon Research Group at
125 Walnut Street, Watertown, MA 02172).

Beacon Research Group looked at the Long Distance Services provided by
8 carriers: Allnet, AT&T, Cable&Wireless, LCI International, LDDS
Communications, MCI Communications, US Sprint, and WilTel.  In the
article they provide an overview of each company as well as how to
contact them.  The portion of the article that is most likely of
interest to readers of this digest is the analysis of the least cost
provider for a variety of call volumes.  I am sure that there are
flaws in the methodology used for this study, but I am also sure that
the results provide a healthy starting point for price-sensitive
comparison "shoppers".  The results are summarized below:

Call Volume       Least expensive       % savings over
minutes/month     reviewed program      AT&T ProWats
 ------------     -----------------     --------------
250               LCI Traditional       22%
1000              LCI Heritage          22%
2500              LDDS Answer           22%
5000              WilTel WilPlus II     26%
10000             WilTel WilPlus II     15%
25000             WilTel WilPlus II     15%
50000             WilTel WilPlus III    20%
100000            WilTel WilPlus III    20%

Disclaimer: I am an employee of WilTel.  I have no association with
the Beacon Research Group.  Although the above results reflect
positively on my employer, they are merely a brief summary of
information contained in a report by the Beacon Research Group.  If
you are interested in more detailed information about their study, I
recommend that you contact them at the above address for a copy of the
report.  I certainly cannot vouch for the accuracy of their data nor
the validity of their approach.

The phone numbers listed in the report for the above identified
service providers are:

AT&T: 800-222-0400
LCI: 800-860-1020
LDDS: 800-SERVICE
WilTel: 800-864-4060


Russ McGuire    WilTel, Inc.   [e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: I would like to point out that LCI is the carrier
which handles calls for the Orange Calling Card program. LCI bought
out LDS a couple months ago.  PAT]

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

Date: Mon, 26 Jul 93 05:16:52 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Nigel Allen)
Subject: Pacific Bell Information BBS
Organization: Echo Beach
Reply-To: [e-mail]


The following message was posted to "Communet: Community and Civic
Network Discussion List" <[e-mail]> by Grant R. Bowman
<[e-mail]>, forwarding a message originally written by
[e-mail] (Steve Elston) to the Smart Valley Reflector
[e-mail].

[Grant Bowman's comments: I think people other than just the local San
Francisco Bay Area might be interested in this.  Good solid
information like this is in short supply.]

 Date: Tue, 13 Jul 93 07:59:03 PDT
 To: [e-mail]
 From: [e-mail] (Steve Elston)
 Subject: Pacific Bell Information BBS

 Smart Valley Reflector Users,

 We have recently completed the initial stages of an Information BBS
that contains specific product and application information on a wide
array of Pacific Bell services.  Remember, it's just in the infancy
stages and your feedback and comments will help it become a more
useful tool.  What's in it specifically?

  o       ISDN, Switched 56, SMDS, Frame Relay Product Offerings Overview
  o       Specific Applications for ISDN:
            -       TCP/IP connectivity
            -       Modem Replacement
            -       LAN Bridging
            -       Telecommuting
  o       Numerous other Applications
  o       Tech Tips Forum

What's Coming ? - ISDN access, technology deployment information,
general tariff information and your feedback !!

How do I connect ? - The BBS number is [phone].  You will have
to go through an initial logon procedure which will give you an ID and
password and that's it.  A few tips on comm software settings (if your
communications software allows):

        1.      Terminal Type = ANSI BBS
        2.      ZMODEM file transfer protocl
        3       Standard flow control and parity
        4.      Dial-in pool is 14.4  V.32BIS

Comments or feedback can be directed via the BBS to Scott Adams (the
creator) or to me via the reflector or [e-mail] - Thanks.

 Steve Elston
 Telecommuting Project Director
 Pacific Bell

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

Nigel Allen, Toronto, Ontario, Canada  [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (gordon hlavenka)
Subject: Phone Number -> Name/Address
Organization: Vpnet Public Access
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1993 03:27:12 GMT


Okay, I've got a phone number.  It's in the 815 area code.  I'd like
the address that goes with it.

So I called [phone], punched in the number, and got the message
"Information for area code 815 is not available."  What's plan B?  Is
815 not served by Ameritech? (I thought they were, but ...)


Gordon S. Hlavenka           [e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: 815 has various telephone companies in it. Ameritech
and IBT is the largest, but it serves only the outermost suburbs of
the metro Chicago area. GTE has a few communities in 815 as do a couple
of small independent community telcos. The IBT Name and Address Service
for whatever reason only includes 312/708. I guess you noticed that the
service was entirely computerized as of a couple months ago. The com-
puter not only reads the name and address to you, but offers to spell
the name and the street name, etc.  PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (adams,john)
Subject: Re: 800 Translation Questions
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 93 13:49:46 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Tarl Neustaedter) writes:

> In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
> (Andy Sherman) writes:

>> Somebody from AT&T can correct me if I'm wrong, ...

I used be with AT&T ;-)

> On the other hand, regarding a cache; my understanding is that when an
> 800 number changes carriers, it takes several days for all the LECs to
> update their databases about which carrier to route the call to.  That
> is a first-level routing decision entirely above the level of routing
> within a long-distance network. I don't know, but I got the impression
> this update is done via mag-tape sent through snail-mail.

Not quite by snail-mail.  There is a central 800 Service Management
and Administration software system called SMS/800 (Service Management
System) which is run out of Kansas City, MO (A backup exists for this
in St. Louis ... hopefully well above the flood waters...) which
accepts new and changed 800 service requests from all carriers who
offer such services.  The changes so entered are downloaded (BX.25 @
9600) to each SCP on some sort of a schedule (I forgot how often).

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail].
ab.ca writes:

> A question that I would like answered was triggered by the following
> comment:

> In comp.dcom.telecom, article <[e-mail]> Andy
> Sherman  wrote:

>> As to the 800 number cache, that would be a singularly bad idea for
>> any LEC to implement in an end office.
>                          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> Does 800 number portability mean that each end office must become an
> SSP?

No, but each end office must (Engineering economies prevail here)
subtend an SSP (Service Switching Point).

> Or better yet, how are all the SCP databses from the various
> carriers tied together as it is my understanding that the assignment
> of 800 numbers is on a first-come first-serve basis?

See my comments above about 800 databases.  The assignment of the
numbers (I think?) is first come, first served.  The better ones,
1-800-CAR-RENT, etc. were taken eons ago!

> Does each SCP have the entire range of 800 numbers, or only
> those belonging to that IXC?

Each LEC SCP *MUST* have all 800 numbers ... if you buy nationwide
coverage, who knows where the calls will come from?

> IS there an official inter-working document that describes the
> rules each carrier must follow?

I suspect that such documents exist. I would start with the Number
Administration and Service Center, or whatever they are now known as.
Bellcore set up a seperate subsidiary under Mike Wade to take over the
NASC function.


John (Jack) Adams        Bellcore NVC 2Z-220
[phone] {Voice}        [phone] {Facsimile}
[e-mail]    [e-mail]

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

From: Vance Shipley <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: 800 Translation Questions
Organization: XeniTec Consulting Services, Kitchener, Ontario Canada
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1993 11:50:59 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail].
ab.ca writes:

> Being the cynic that I am, I am still skeptical if this is the way
> that it works (in general).  From my own experience, I have observed
> the changing of a reservation 800 number (for a large U.S. hotel
> chain) in the SCP from disallowing a certian area code, to instantly
> (seconds) allowing it.  From receiving an out-of-band announcement, to
> instead, being connected to the centralized reservation desk.

Would this not have been a change in the treatment which the carrier
serving the hotel gave the call?  A LEC trying to terminate an 800
call originating from a subscriber is looking for the carrier to give
the call to.  It does this by querying an SCP.  Once the carrier gets
the call it will likely query it's own SCP to see what the current
treatment is for the number.


Vance Shipley, [e-mail]

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

Subject: Re: Private Voice Networks
From: cntinuum![e-mail] (Jon Carmichael)
Date: 26 Jul 93 20:24:00 GMT
Organization: uuPCB - Demonstration Version
Reply-To: cntinuum![e-mail] (Jon Carmichael)


> this area, or even if, with the current tariffs if private tandem
> networks are still a paying proposition. Will someone please bring me
> up-to-date and if possible, point me to a list of ten to twenty such

It seems that the carriers are getting a little more creative about
people who might have a tendency to string their own. As they
implement new technology, (switched digital or frame relay) they tend
to tell us what they think we want to hear.

MCI and WillTel are further along in Frame Relay than is ATT or
Sprint, but the price you pay is that you have to do a complex
analysis to see if it's going to save you any money.  The carriers
can sell you a "virtual private network" now.  What that means is that
they want you to feel like you've got your own network. They may give
you a management console where one day you would program in your own
part time pipes that are usage based -- not like leased lines -- but
yet giving you the flexibility to set them up for only the hours of a
day when you need them. Hopefully this will save you money, but one
thing it does for use is make the whole puzzle more compelex.


JONC
The Continuum PCBoard -*- @9600+ call 818-441-2625   @2400- call 818-799-9633

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

Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1993 10:21:31 PDT
From: Daniel Fandrich <[e-mail]>
Organization: Fandrich Cone Harvesters Ltd.
Subject: Re: High Speed Modem Connections


> There have been a couple of people complaining of problems with
> connections of high speed modems in the past week, so here's what
> helped for me ...

[solution involving undocumented registers deleted]

My problem was a failure to connect at greater than 9600 bps with my
Hayes Ultra 144.  When calling a site 65 km away with both BC Tel and
Unitel, my modem refused to connect at 14.4 kbps, while connections at
12 kbps gave horrible throughput.  After a couple months of forcing
9600 bps connections, I found out my Caller*ID box was distorting the
signal enough to cause the failure; unplugging it allowed perfect
high-speed connections.

I didn't originally suspect a problem with my equipment because calls
to a nearby system (~11 km on another CO) succeeded at 14.4 kbps.
Those calls were generally interactive only, though, so I didn't have
a quantitative measure of throughput.

The box is a BC Tel-supplied model TC-1031-2 by Tel Control Inc.  I'll
have to try purchasing another model and seeing if the problem goes
away; presumably, not all Caller*ID display boxes have this problem or
I would have heard about it here long ago!


Dan

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

From: [e-mail] (Drew Radtke)
Subject: Re: Mercury in the UK - The Right Choice?
Organization: University of Bradford, UK
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1993 09:49:53 GMT


[e-mail] (woody) writes:

> The recent episode of Media Television, produced by City TV in
> Toronto, features the wild world of media (ads, publications,
> technologies, etc) and in particular, a spot for Mercury long distance
> in the UK was shown. It appeared to be voice-dubbed excerpts from old
> films, so that the characters talked about the wonders of British
> Telecom's competitor.

Actually, the Mercury TV ads are new productions, just expertly done
in a 1930s/40s film style, starring UK actor Harry Enfield.  A recent
one features Richard Branson, the head of Virgin Atlantic etc.

The Mercury phonecards, featuring Harry Enfield in charater as Mr.
Grayson, are very collectable items. Bit of trivia there.


Drew Radtke

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

From: Rev. Michael P. Deignan <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"!
Organization: Small Business Systems, Incorporated, Smithfield, RI 02917
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1993 11:22:48 GMT


PAT notes:

> Those same bozos were selling mimeograph paper, carbon paper and type-
> writer ribbons thirty years ago using the same sneaky tactics.  PAT]

With all due respect to our Moderator and the original poster of this
thread, I can't honestly see what is wrong with individuals doing
this.

First off, there is no crime committed when I call up a company, speak
to a secretary, and ask for their copier model/serial-number. (As long
as I am not representing myself to be from the company that sold them
the copier ...) If the secretary decides to give me the information,
that's her mistake. I see no difference than if I called up and asked
for the name of the purchasing manager so I could write a letter.

Second, I don't see anything wrong with a company attempting to sell a
copier toner for three or even four times its "price". If the
purchasing company is stupid enough to buy it ... well ... Caveat
Emptor. Again, I'm assuming that the selling company is not
misrepresenting itself by claiming it is part of the copier OEM's
company, etc.

So, unless there is something else to this story, or something that I
missed (I am rather dense at 7:25am!) I don't see any problem or legal
issues at all. It sounds more like some company ended up buying this
stuff, and then when it found out, got all pissed off.  Again, caveat
emptor.


MD


[Moderator's Note: See my comments early Monday regards this. What
they are doing is not illegal or fraudulent -- just obnoxious. Of
equal concern to me are government agencies which like to make crimes
where none exist just to appease that segment of society which cannot
or will not observe Caveat Emptor. Remember the guy who was calling
pagers in New York City and asking them to call a 540 number? What
crime was he committing? Is asking people to return a call to a toll
number a crime?  Suppose I left a message with your secretary asking
you to call me here in Chicago and you did not realize the call would
cost extra?  It is too bad some businesses have such sleazy tactics,
but rarely will any be operating illegally. They know the law very
well and manage to stay inches inside it.  PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (adams,john)
Subject: Re: Why the AT&T TrueVoice Demo Asks For Your Number
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 93 14:01:00 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
writes:

> In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
> (Nigel Allen) writes:

>> I think the AT&T TrueVoice demo ...

> [Moderator's Note: Except AT&T doesn't really need to ask the caller
> if they are a customer or not ... they have all those records easily
> at hand and a comparison of the ANI provided on the call to their
> existing customer lists would accomplish the same thing.  PAT]

True, however, a lot of market research is done by non-AT&T firms on
behalf of AT&T. The case might be that the received ANI and call
detail reports are *not passed* on to the analysts who might be
looking for effectiveness (demographic reach) of the marketing
campaign.  Not sure about this obviously, but there also might be some
privacy (shudder, squirm, squirm) issues involved with disclosing that
info willy nilly.  At least the recorded voice gives you the option of
entering your telephone number ... you can always hang up!


John (Jack) Adams        Bellcore NVC 2Z-220
[phone] {Voice}        [phone] {Facsimile}
[e-mail]    [e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: Ah I see. Yes, it would probably be illegal or at
least a serious violation of privacy for AT&T to pass along certain
information about their customers to the telemarketing firms they do
business with, so they have to let the telemarketing firms ask people
to voluntarily supply the information.  Good thinking!   PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Raj Sanmugam)
Subject: Re: Cellular Propagation Simulator
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Ericsson Communication Inc.
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1993 14:05:47 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> Rodney Alan Walker
<[e-mail]> writes:

> Is anyone on the network aware of a software package that simulates
> the cellular radio environment? Basically it provides signal strengths
> at different geographic locations in relation to the cell transmission
> site, depending on different terrain models and atmospheric
> conditions.

Recently, I received some brochures on a product called BONeS from
COMDISCO system, 919 E. Hillsdale Blvd, Foster city CA 94404. Tel 414
574-5800, fax [phone].

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

Date: Mon, 26 Jul 93 10:28:52 EDT
From: Carl Moore <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Area 205 to Split


The history.of.area.splits file in the archives discusses the upcoming
generalization of area codes from N0X/N1X to NXX.  It faces revision
given what you ([e-mail]) have written about the
205/334 split.

I don't have this in front of me: is there a 205-334 exchange
anywhere?  Are there any local calls across the future 205/334
boundary?

You meant to say that 334 is the first announced NNX (not NXX) area
code.  Area codes have been N0X/N1X in form, and that is indeed a
subset of NXX.  The newly-available area codes will be NNX in form.

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

From: [e-mail] (Brett Frankenberger)
Subject: Re: Dark Fiber?
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1993 15:53:22 GMT


[e-mail] (Paul Robinson) writes:

> The reason for the issue to be so serious is that the telephone
> companies want to price bandwidth according to the equivalent of
> telephone connections, e.g. pricing a T1 (1.4 Megabits) connection at
> the equivalent of 28 telephone lines.  And a T-3 (45 Megabits)
> connection would be priced like 32 T1s or 896 telephone lines.  (I
> think the number I just got here is wrong; a T3 is usually considered
> 600 or so connections, I think, but it doesn't change much.)

T1 = 24 DS0's (64KB connections), T3 = 28 T1's, or 28*24=672 DS0's.


Brett  ([e-mail])   (formerly [e-mail])

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

Date: Mon, 26 Jul 93 11:16:11 -0500
From: [e-mail] (H. Peter Anvin N9ITP)
Subject: Re: Dark Fiber?
Reply-To: [e-mail]


In article <[e-mail]> of comp.dcom.telecom, was
written:

> [e-mail] (Paul Robinson) writes:

> This is scary for telcos, because it means the huge economies of
> scale in bandwidth that have been so profitable for them become
> available to large customers.  But the telcos can survive that.

Now is it only me, or is the *real* reason they are so scared that the
day the FCC says "Local Competition" that dark Telco fiber will be the
#1 means for upstart companies to swing themselves into the business?

Do the city busses labelled "MCI" have anything to do with Microwave
Communications, Inc.?


INTERNET: [e-mail]       FINGER/TALK: [e-mail]
IBM MAIL: 36073 at IBMX400  NeXTMAIL:    [e-mail]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #512
******************************










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Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1993 23:22:03 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #513

TELECOM Digest     Mon, 26 Jul 93 23:22:00 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 513

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Radio Shack CT-301 -> Nokia ???? (Scott Drown)
    When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching? (Chris Brady)
    SS7 Message Format (Tim Gorman)
    AT&T Operator Terminal ([e-mail])
    Want Info on Dist Ed Faculty Development (Gary Levine)
    Call for Authors, EJVC: Electronic Journal on Virtual Culture (D. Kovacs)
    Re: Special Tariffs For Distance Education? (Jeff Hayward)
    Re: Big Rivers (Joel Upchurch)
    Re: Dark Fiber? (David G. Lewis)
    Re: 800 Translation Questions (David G. Lewis)
    Re: Why the AT&T TrueVoice Demo Asks For Your Number (Steven King)
    Re: New AT&T Feature: TrueVoice (Scot Wilcoxon)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Scott Drown <[e-mail]>
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 93 13:02:03 EDT
Subject: Radio Shack CT-301 -> Nokia ????


I have recently become the owner of an older Radio Shack cellular
phone.  I am looking for any technical information about it.  All I
have is the Radio Shack user's manual, which is, like most of their
documentation, pitiful.

I know that Radio Shack cell phones are made by Nokia.  It is my hope
that Nokia, or The Net, my have some more detailed information.  Is
there anyone out there that knows the Nokia model number for the Radio
Shack Model CT-301 Cellular Portable?

This is an older model.  The manufacture date is given as "8820", which
I assume is the 20th week of 1988.  The phone itself is about the size
of a red building brick, with the microphone, speaker, keypad, and LCD
display on one of the long, thin sides.

I am looking for, or order of increasing desirability: A Nokia model
number, programming instructions, or a Technical Manual.

Thanks in advance for any help,


Scott Drown <[e-mail]>                      Phone:[phone]
Annex Technical Support                               Phone:[phone]
Xylogics Inc, 53 Third Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803     Fax:[phone]


[Moderator's Note: The Tandy Corporation has complete technical
documentation available for this phone at their corporate office in
Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX.  Look at the Cellular Phone Technical Support
line down there (it is listed). They sell it for a few dollars. I had
one of the manuals (no longer); it is 100+ pages of details.  PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Chris Brady)
Subject: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching?
Organization: Motorola Inc., Satellite Communications
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1993 18:40:05 GMT


It seems as though the latest central office switches are still
offered on proprietary software -- and frequently, hardware --
platforms.  This appears to me to be due to the stringent real time
expectations we have placed on telephony, combined with strict
requirements for massive throughput, data integrity, system
availability and environmental conditions.  Nonetheless, there have
been efforts in Bellcore and elsewhere to essentially reduce the CO
switch to a peripheral of a general purpose computer, and thus enjoy
the supposed benefits of riding more popular technology curves.  I'd
be interested in discussion on why this vision is not being realized
in the CO market: do the technical constraints really demand
proprietary computer implementations, or are there market forces that
are disincenting major telecom providers from making this leap?

In a related question, does anyone have a good estimate for lines of
tested code per person per day for a central office switch?  Does this
figure change dramatically when you are reusing existing code and just
testing it (or, alternatively, how much loading is the simple code
test and the full regression test)?  The argument is frequently made
that CO software requires more regression testing than most and thus
gets written more slowly than other commercial software applications.

Look forward to hearing from you.


Chris Brady    Motorola Satellite Communications
Questions expressed above are entirely my own and do not necessarily
represent questions that Motorola Inc. or anyone else for that matter
may have.

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

Date: 26 Jul 93 13:48:13 EDT
From: tim gorman <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: SS7 Message Format


[e-mail] (Tarl Neustaedter) writes in TELECOM
Digest V13 #508 about SS7 message formats. Following is a more generic
description of the SS7 signal units sent over the signaling links
between a signaling point (e.g. end office) and an STP.

Tarl's description and mine vary a little bit because to me the
Service Information Octet is part of the MTP (Message Transfer Part)
level while he includes it as part of the UP (User Part) level. He
also includes the OPC (Originating Point Code) and DPC (Destination
Point Code) as part of the UP level. According to my training this
would be considered part of the SCCP (Signaling Connection Control
Part) level. My training is admittedly a little old so perhaps there
has been a reassignment of data elements to the different levels or
maybe my training was pure ANSI? I also show that in addition to the
OPC and DPC there should also be a signaling link selector (three bits
long). The OPC, DPC, SLS, and three more bits make up a seven byte
long Route Label for the SCCP portion of the message.


  a.    |         FLAG         |      1 octets
  b.    |   SEQUENCE NUMBERS   |      2 octets
  b.    |   SEQUENCE NUMBERS   |
  c.    |        CONTROLS      |      2 octets
  c.    |        CONTROLS      |
  d.    |        MESSAGE       |      variable
  e.    |      FRAME CHECK     |      2 octets
  e.    |      FRAME CHECK     |
  f.    |         FLAG         |      1 octet



 a.   |  0  |  1  |  1  |  1  |  1  |  1  |  1  |  0  |   (flag)
 b.    *BIB*   *    Backward Sequence Indicator    *
 b.    *FIB*   *     Forward Sequence Indicator    *
 c.    * Spare *     *      Length Indicator       *
 c.      *        Service Information Octet        *
 d.      *           Data Message                  *      (0-272 bytes)
 e.      *            Check Bits                   *
 f.      0     1     1     1     1     1     1     0



    a. FLAG:      01111110          1st bit transmitted ->
    b. BIB  Backward Indicator Byte   (basic error control)
    b. FIB  Forward Indicator Byte    (basic error control)
    b. Backward Sequence Indicator    (provides acks and lost msg detection)
    b. Forward Indicator Byte         (            "                       )
    c. Length indicator   >2      message signal unit
                          1 or 2  link status signal unit
                          0       fill-in signal unit
    c. Service Information      Only provided with message signal units.
                                MTP user, network, and priority

    d. Data
    e. Flag             Last byte of first msg, first byte of next msg


Tim Gorman - SWBT
*opinions are mine, any resemblance to official policy is coincidence*

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

Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1993 18:46:26 -0400 (EDT)
From: [e-mail]
Subject: AT&T Operator Terminal
Organization: Penn State University


I just got myself an AT&T Operator's Terminal <I think>, circa 1984,
and if any one has any information on the ports or whatever, I'd
really appreciate it. It is a model 5430, complete with built-in 1/2
height monitor and handset on the left-hand side. When you turn it on,
you receive something like, "AT&T Teletype Corporation, 1984", and
then it dumps you into some sort of i/o mode. But I don't have the
Pinouts for the two ports on the bottom of the Unix, so I cannot yet
send or receive data. If anyone has pinouts, or even an expaination of
the ports on the bottom (and the phone jack), I'd really appreciate
it. Thanks a lot!

BTW- It has a Local Directory built in, which works fine with or
without the plug-in i/o. Pretty cool.


Peter

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

From: [e-mail]@nic.CSU.net
Subject: Want Info on Dist Ed Faculty Development
Date: 26 Jul 93 20:22:29 PST
Organization: CSU, DOMINGUEZ HILLS


California State University, Dominguez Hills (Carson, California) and
Coastline Community College (Fountain Valley, California) are
organizing a joint institute to provide faculty developement and
training programs for instructors in K-12, commmunity colleges, and
universities in the use of distance technologies. Our most extensive
experience is in two-way interactive video technology, but we intend
to include other delivery systems, such as computer-mediated
conferencing, etc.

Our initial research suggests that there is an important need for
training programs which is going largely unfilled at the present time.
We are interested in knowing if other colleges and universities have
undertaken similar programs and what their experiences have been so
far.  We would also be interested in the views of distance educators
about the needs that such an institute might meet, what technologies
should be addressed, what issues are important to keep in mind in
developing programs, etc.

Please share your comments and ideas by writing to:

    Gary Levine
    [e-mail]

    Snail mail welcome at:
    Division of Extended Education
    CSU, Dominguez Hills
    1000 E. Victoria Street
    Carson, California 90747

Thank you.

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

Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1993 20:07:47 EST
From: Diane Kovacs <[e-mail]>
Subject: Call for Authors, EJVC: Electronic Journal on Virtual Culture



The _Electronic Journal on Virtual Culture_ a refereed scholarly
journal is now accepting submissions for Fall 1993 and Spring 1994
issues.

The _Electronic Journal on Virtual Culture_ (EJVC) is a refereed
scholarly journal that fosters, encourages, advances and communicates
scholarly thought on virtual culture. Virtual culture is
computer-mediated experience, behavior, action, interaction and
thought, including electronic conferences, electronic journals,
networked information systems, the construction and visualization of
models of reality, and global connectivity.

EDITORIAL GUIDLINES FOR AUTHORS

FORM AND STYLE

1. Use a recognized standard form and style, preferably
   the APA Publication Manual published by the American
   Psychological Association, as modified by the
   following requirements.

2. Do not have any line that exceeds 60 characters in
   length.

3. Do not use any figure or diagram.

4. Do not have more than 1000 lines in any article.

5. Do not submit any draft in any format other than ASCII.

SUBMISSION

An article may be submitted at any time to the EJVC for peer-review
with the understanding that the peer-review requires time.
Acknowledgements of the arrival of any article shall be made within 24
hours of arrival. Notification of acceptance or rejection shall be
sent to authors within 30 days of the arrival of the submission.
Submissions are acceptable only by electronic mail or send/file.
Submissions may be made to either the Editor-in-Chief or the
Co-Editor.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF                  CO-EDITOR
Ermel Stepp                      Diane Kovacs
Marshall University              Kent State University
BITNET:                          BITNET:
M034050@Marshall                 DKOVACS@Kentvm
Internet:                        Internet:
[e-mail]       [e-mail]

SUBSCRIPTION

To subscribe to the EJVC send electronic mail to LISTSERV@KENTVM or
[e-mail], including a blank subject line and the sole
line of text:

subscribe EJVC-L Yourfirstname Yourlastname

VAX/VMS may require that the sole line be within quotes to register
names in other than uppercase.

EJVC ANONYMOUS FTP

Information about the EJVC and issues of the EJVC may be retreived by
anonymous FTP to byrd.mu.wvnet.edu in subdirectory /pub/ejvc.

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

From: [e-mail] (Jeff Hayward)
Subject: Re: Special Tariffs For Distance Education?
Date: 26 Jul 1993 16:31:34 GMT
Organization: The University of Texas


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]-
state.edu writes:

> Have any LECs filed tariffs for lower rates for educational
> organizations doing distance education?  Are any regulatory agencies
> exploring allowing such tariffs?

HB 653 in the 73rd Texas Legislature authorized the PUC to establish
tariffs for distance education.  The PUC is in the process of
rule-making in response.  I believe the interim rule is that "distance
education" uses receive a 25% discount on the otherwise applicable
tariff.  There's a lot of defining to be done, for instance just what
distance education is.

I believe there's been something in Tennessee for education tariffs
for some time now, but I don't know the specifics.


Jeff Hayward
The University of Texas System        [phone]
Office of Telecommunication Services    [e-mail]

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

Subject: Re: Big Rivers
From: upchrch![e-mail] (Joel Upchurch)
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 93 15:08:15 EDT
Organization: Upchurch Computer Consulting, Orlando FL


Will Martin <[e-mail]> writes:

> What I never hear anybody mentioning, even as they begin to discuss
> the cleanup and infrastructure-rebuilding tasks, is what is going to
> happen if this same thing happens NEXT year, and maybe yearly after
> that. If this is due to a permanent (or long-term, in human terms)
> climate change, that would be likely. What used to be hundred-year (or
> five-hundred-year) floods may become the normal occurrence ... :-(

Maybe the EPA should declare the whole area protected wetlands and
tell people they can't build there anymore. :-) Someone pointed out
that in a country as big as the U.S. there is going to be someplace in
the 100 year flood plain under water every year.

A friend of mine point out that development can change the runoff
characteristics of an area and greatly increase the chances of
flooding in surrounding areas. That means that places that used to be
in the 100 year flood plain, may be a lot less now.


(If your mail bounces use the address below.)
Joel Upchurch/Upchurch Computer Consulting/718 Galsworthy/Orlando, FL 32809
[e-mail] {uiucuxc,hoptoad,petsd,ucf-cs}!peora!joel [phone]

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

From: [e-mail] (david.g.lewis)
Subject: Re: Dark Fiber?
Organization: AT&T
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1993 17:22:23 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Paul
Robinson) writes:

>> I have seen the term Dark Fiber used in several ways and
>> I am confused as to the meaning.

> "Dark Fiber" is fiber optic cable which is run from one point to
> another for a customer of a telephone carrier, and the carrier doesn't
> do anything with the service...

> The reason for the issue to be so serious is that the telephone
> companies want to price bandwidth according to the equivalent of
> telephone connections, e.g. pricing a T1 (1.4 Megabits) connection at
> the equivalent of 28 telephone lines.  And a T-3 (45 Megabits)
> connection would be priced like 32 T1s or 896 telephone lines.  (I
> think the number I just got here is wrong; a T3 is usually considered
> 600 or so connections, I think, but it doesn't change much.)

> In any case, if a telephone line costs $20 a month, a T3, priced at
> telephone rates (or even 1/2 telephone line rates) could run something
> like $12,000 a month plus usage charges, which if they want the meter
> running, could be $100 an hour or more.

> Under the rules for dark fiber, the phone company has to provide a
> strand of fiber optic line (equivalent to about a T-3) for a figure of
> $150 per mile, per month, without regard to the amount of usage.

> Figure out that if you are running a T3 at least 1/2 full for eight
> hours a day, in one month the charges could reach $16,000 a month, or
> $28,000 a month if you include the connection.  (And don't forget, you
> need one connection at each end.)

You've got the concept right, but your numbers are waaayyyy off ...

First of all, a DS1 is 24 DS0s, and a DS3 is 28 DS1s, so a DS3 is the
equivalent of 672 "lines".

However, a DS3 is not priced at the same rate as 672 DS0s; nor is a DS1
priced at the same rate as 24 DS0s.

Generally, a DS1 will cost as much as 5-7 DS0s, and a DS3 will cost as
much as 6-9 DS1s.  (Very rough numbers based on my personal
experience.)  So pricing for a DS3 will be anywhere from 30 to 60
times the price for a single DS0, for 672 times the bandwidth.

Note, however, that when you're talking about dark fiber, DS0s, DS1s,
and DS3s, you're not talking about phone lines and usage charges -
you're talking about point to point dedicated circuits with fixed
termination and mileage charges.  Working out the price of a DS3 based
on the cost of a "phone line" is like working out the cost of a modem
based on Compuserve's hourly charges ...

Your basic concept is valid, though, at least as far as local or
metropolitan services go.  Telcos want to sell services by bandwidth -
$x for a DS0, $y for a DS1, $z for a DS3, and so on up the scale.
Dark fiber isn't bandwidth-limited, though, and a customer could put
anywhere from 1.544 Mb/s (or even less) to 4.8 Gb/s (OC-96) on the
same dark fiber pair without the telco being able to differentially
price - or even know the difference.

The argument is couched in efficiency terms, which have some validity.
Selling dark fiber requires a telco to run a lot of fiber pairs
between offices, and those fiber pairs could be each carrying a small
payload which would be more economical if I could multiplex them onto
a single system.  The basic premise, though, is that telcos (present
company included) want to sell service, not conduit space.


David G Lewis                              AT&T Bell Laboratories
[e-mail] or !att!goofy!deej     Switching & ISDN Implementation

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

From: [e-mail] (david.g.lewis)
Subject: Re: 800 Translation Questions
Organization: AT&T
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1993 17:30:12 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail].
edmonton.ab.ca writes:

> Does 800 number portability mean that each end office must become an
> SSP?

No.  The SSP can be an access tandem, and the end office route the
call to the access tandem for the SCP query.

> Or better yet, how are all the SCP databses from the various
> carriers tied together as it is my understanding that the assignment
> of 800 numbers is on a first-come first-serve basis?

Each LEC has one or more SCP pairs to handle calls originating in its
territory.  Each IXC may or may not have a central database of some
sort to perform translations once the call reaches the IXC.  The IXC
databases, be they centralized, distributed, or other, are not tied to
each other, nor are they tied to the LEC 800 Database Service (DBS)
SCPs.  The LEC 800 DBS SCPs are not tied together, although they are
all connected (functionally; I don't know if there are physical
communications links or not) with a single 800 Service Management
System (SMS).

> Does each SCP have the entire range of 800 numbers,

Yes.

> or only those belonging to that IXC?

As indicated above, 800 DBS SCPs are operated by LECs, not IXCs.


David G Lewis                              AT&T Bell Laboratories
[e-mail] or !att!goofy!deej     Switching & ISDN Implementation

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

From: [e-mail] (Steven King, Software Archaeologist)
Subject: Re: Why the AT&T TrueVoice Demo Asks For Your Number
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Motorola Cellular Infrastructure Group
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1993 18:32:15 GMT


> [Moderator's Note: Except AT&T doesn't really need to ask the caller
> if they are a customer or not ... they have all those records easily
> at hand and a comparison of the ANI provided on the call to their
>e xisting customer lists would accomplish the same thing.  PAT]

I tried the demo this weekend.  I responded with ten 1s when asked for
my phone number, and it was rejected.  "Your entry could not be
recognized" or some such.  It didn't have a problem with 708-555-1212
though ... I still don't know why AT&T wants you to enter your number.
Perhaps they compare it to the ANI to get a survey of the percentage
of telecom-savvy paranoids there are out here?  :-)

Frankly, though the difference is minimal I think I prefer the good
old fashioned FalseVoice.  TrueVoice sounded a little hollow to me,
though that may have been an artifact of the aging cordless phone I
was using.


Steven King -- Motorola Cellular Infrastructure Group

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

Date: Mon, 26 Jul 93 20:57:03 CDT
From: Scot Wilcoxon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: New AT&T Feature: TrueVoice
Organization: Esix Test Unit 1


Well, I guess I can add some probably irrelevant technical information
to this collection of guesses.

{Communication Week}, in an article about long-distance digital,
explained the 64Kbps digital local services are difficult to extend
because long distance circuits are using 56Kbps.  The article mentions
that AT&T has been working on that problem and 64Kbps links are now
available in 12 cities.

<"True Voice" was not mentioned in the article.


Scot E. Wilcoxon       [e-mail]
            voice: [phone]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #513
******************************










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Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1993 06:28:44 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #514

TELECOM Digest     Tue, 27 Jul 93 06:28:30 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 514

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Sources For Restoring Vintage Phone? (Carl Shapiro)
    Re: Wanted: Email Address of Teleco System Inc (David Cornejo)
    Re: 1-800-COLLECT (Dave Niebuhr)
    Re: Big Rivers (Will Martin)
    Re: Looking For Devices to Dial *67 (Dave Ptasnik)
    Re: New AM Band Violates No-Intercept Rule? (David Breneman)
    Re: AT&T To Raise Rates August 1 (Andy Sherman)
    Re: Do We Have a Theme Song? (Mark Walsh)
    Re: Escort Digital Cordless Telephone (Tom Scheer)
    Re: Information Wanted on AT&T Tech Journal (Al Varney)
    Re: ADSL Hitched to ISDN: The Happy Couple? (Carl Oppedahl)
    Re: Alpha Pagers Question (Jeff Wasilko)
    Re: Experiences Wanted With BRI ISDN (Lee S. Parks)
    Re: Connecting Site A to Site B (Jeff Wasilko)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: molly![e-mail] (Carl Shapiro)
Subject: Re: Sources For Restoring Vintage Phone?
Organization: Las Vegas Sun
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1993 18:16:34 GMT


You can probably find any old phone parts you need at:

    Phoneco, Inc.
    207 East Mill Road
    P.O. Box 70
    Galesville, WI 54630
    608 582-4124

I've never dealt with them, but I like their catalog of old phones.
Plenty of old Bakelite and steel phones going back to the '20s, and
candlesticks, Eiffels, etc. that are even older.

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

From: [e-mail] (David Cornejo)
Subject: Re: Wanted: Email Address of Teleco System Inc
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1993 12:24:19 -0700 (PDT)
Organization: Telco Systems Network Access Corporation


Kelly writes in <[e-mail]>::

>> Does anyone know the contract e-mail address (customer service or
>> technical dept or a helpful staff) for a company called Teleco System
>> Inc. located in Norwood, MA 02062 (I don't have the full address) ?

> I do not have an e-mail address for them, however the complete address
> is:

[address deleted]

> The only names I have are:

> Paul Lazay, President & CEO
> Dave McClure, General Manager Network Division

Dave McClure is the GM of Telco Systems Network Access Division in
Fremont, California. We are owned by Telco Systems in Norwood, but do
support their products. Telco Systems in Norwood may be reached at
telco.com, you might try writing the postmaster there for the tech
support address. If you are looking for help with an NAD product, you
can email me and I will try and direct you to the right person. (Our
email system is still under construction and I don't know if our
support people are on it yet).


Dave Cornejo, Engineer, [e-mail]
Telco Systems NAC  Fremont, California, USA
[phone] x5158 also: [e-mail], [e-mail]

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

Date: Mon, 26 Jul 93 15:29:10 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Dave Niebuhr)
Subject: Re: 1-800-COLLECT


In TELECOM Digest V13 #507 [e-mail] (Tom Lowe)
writes:

> In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Dave
> Niebuhr) writes:

>> I just finished a comparison of collect call charges involving AT&T,
>> MCI, MCI's 1-800-COLLECT, Sprint and New York Telephone.

>>     1-800-COLLECT       .65 US

> Gee ... I just got off the phone with them a few minutes ago and the
> customer service rep told me the surcharge is $1.50.  I called AT&T
> also and they told me the surcharge is $2.00.

So did I and Tom is correct.  It is $1.50; of note: AT&T should be
revised to be $1.94.  1-800-OPERATOR is $1.80.  I went through at
least five different offices to get the correct figures and I still
suspect 1-800-COLLECT.

More information from NYTel: Yes, the operator surcharge is $1.30 and
if I get stuck at a slimeball phone, I can call 10-NYT-0 at one of the
last resorts.

However, in my particular case, since the collect calls from the kids
are within a 10 mile radius in 99.999% of the cases, I ordered a "Call
Home" card which carries a $.45 surcharge.

Some people have suggested a lot of different numbers (800 style) but
I was looking for simplicity pure and simple.

Now, as to the owner of the phone, the billing service Operator
Assistance Network, 7755 Haskell Avenue, Van Nuys, Ca. 91406,
1-800-944-0171, told me that the only record that they have is for an
American Payphone Technology, no address or telephone number which I
feel is a lie since they have to know who to forward the money to.

Calls to 800-555-1212 was a strikeout as was the first person I talked
to in NYTel (I wanted to know who the particular number was assigned
to and if they didn't know who it was, then what are they in the
business for anyway?  The only thing that I can figure is that the
company is somewhere else and has an unlisted number.

More to come as I learn more about this.


Dave Niebuhr      Internet: [e-mail] / Bitnet: niebuhr@bnl
Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton, LI, NY 11973  (516)-282-3093
Senior Technical Specialist: Scientific Computer Facility

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

Date: Mon, 26 Jul 93 14:31:16 CDT
From: Will Martin <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Big Rivers


> [Moderator's Note: How has telecom been affected throughout the area?
> I know quite obviously that phones underwater in some homes or offices
> are going to be out of service, but is there otherwise a problem with
> slow dial tone, cables that are wet, etc?  How has flood recovery
> affected the normal course of telecom repairs/installations, etc?  PAT]

I have a newspaper-photo clipping in the pile of stuff I intend to
US-mail to you, Pat, sometime, that shows an SW Bell repairperson
hitching a ride on the scoop of a tractor-type dozer that is driving
thru floodwaters off the Meramec in Fenton, MO. The caption says he is
"disconnecting telephones that might be damaged by the flooding", but
no details are given. (Pay phones or private phones? Why bother with
private phones if they are not SW Bell property any more, and they're
so cheap these days that it isn't worth risking life and limb to save
ordinary phones? Maybe there's a PBX or something he was trying to
save ...)

But that's the only thing I ever saw related to phones in this flood
(besides the Des Moines TV shot of those phones being bulldozed that
someone else mentioned last week). No effect on my home phone service
at all. Nothing in the news about "utility cutoffs" for flooded areas
that even mentioned phones -- gas and electricity were all that were
discussed.

Sorry to have no dramatic info. Perhaps someone else can provide
specifics. I am sure some cables had to have been snapped when
bridges went out various places.


Will

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

From: [e-mail] (Dave Ptasnik)
Subject: Re: Looking For Devices to Dial *67
Date: 26 Jul 1993 19:33:01 GMT
Organization: University of Washington


[e-mail] (Eric Davis) writes:

> In article [e-mail], [e-mail] (Steve Corso) writes:

>> I am trying to locate a device that I can connect between the
>> telephone line that comes in my house and all (not just one) of my
>> telephones that automatically enters a code (such as *67 privacy mode)
>> when I pick any phone in the house up to draw dial-tone.  Does such a
>> device exist?

> I have been working on such a device for a few months now.

> If interested, mail me ...

Sorry Eric -

Such a device already exists.  It is called the HotShot dialer from
Zoom telephonics, available for less than $50 at most electronics
supply stores.  Goes right on the line, you program it by sticking
pins in a little circuit board.  For more sophistication try the Demon
Dialer by Zoom, lotsa cool features to enhance line capabilities.
Multi-line applications with sophisticated needs?  Mitel's SMarT-1
family really do the job.  Lotsa dialers already out there, go to a
Graybar near you.


All of the above is nothing more than the personal opinion of -

Dave Ptasnik     [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (David Breneman)
Subject: Re: New AM Band Violates No-Intercept Rule?
Date: 26 Jul 93 19:33:24 GMT
Organization: Digital Systems International, Redmond WA


Michael Covington ([e-mail]) wrote:

> And many of us are sad about the ban on receivers that get the
> cellular frequencies, for two reasons: (1) The proper technical solution
> is to encrypt the signal at the _transmitter_; (2) Heretofore,
> Americans had been allowed to buy radios that would tune any frequency
> whatsoever; this is the very first peacetime ban on radio receivers
> that I know of.  (Although the receivers still aren't illegal to own,
> merely illegal to market.)

A few states have banned automotive radar detectors.  As far as I
know, this has never been seriously challenged in court.


David Breneman   Email: [e-mail]
System Administrator, Software Engineering Services
Digital Systems International, Inc.
Voice: 206 881-7544  Fax: [phone]

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

Date: Mon, 26 Jul 93 16:22:45 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Andy Sherman)
Subject: Re: AT&T To Raise Rates August 1


In article [e-mail], [e-mail] (Paul Robinson) writes:

> AT&T is apparently moving its marketing focus off price.  MCI said "We
> do believe that competition has moved away from price.  We think there
> is price stability in the industry now."

> Is this PR speak for saying that MCI will now also raise rates? :)

In a word, ``Yes''.  :^)

In the same statement MCI said that they will do what it takes to
remain competitive, but pointed out that their costs have been rising
too.  I think that telegraphs their intentions, and is in keeping with
past behavior in similar circumstances.

What AT&T did is sometimes referred to as "showing price leadership"
in a market where margins are cut to the bone.  Business LD margins
are thin enough that you can expect the rest of the Big Three to match
or nearly match AT&T's price increase, albeit quietly, and breath a
sigh of relief.


Andy Sherman
Salomon Inc  -  Unix Systems Support  -  Rutherford, NJ
[phone]  -  [e-mail] or [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Mark Walsh)
Subject: Re: Do We Have a Theme Song?
Date: 26 Jul 93 19:52:27 GMT
Organization: Optilink Corporation, Petaluma, CA


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
(Art Walker) wrote:

> [e-mail] (Christian Weisgerber) writes:

>> Well, there's 9.5.N.A.S.T.Y by WASP.

> Or, along the same lines, "Spanked" by Van Halen.

Or "Obscene Phone Caller" by Rockwell (Michael Jackson's cousin).
Then there's "60-60-842" by the B-52s.

Kraftwerk has many songs about telephones and related technology.


Mark Walsh ([e-mail]) -- UUCP: uunet!optilink!walsh
Amateur Radio: KM6XU@WX3K -- AOL: [e-mail] -- USCF: L10861

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

From: [e-mail] (Tom Scheer)
Subject: Re: Escort Digital Cordless Telephone
Date: 26 Jul 1993 20:42:27 GMT
Organization: CERFnet Dial n' CERF Customer


The Escort phone uses 100 different frequencies between 902 MHz and
928 MHz.  It switches among them pseudo-randomly more than 20 times
per second.  This frequency agility and the fact that the audio is
digitized are the things that make it very hard to scan.


Tom Scheer   [e-mail]

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

Date: Mon, 26 Jul 93 15:46:53 CDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Information Wanted on AT&T Tech Journal
Organization: AT&T Network Systems


In article <[e-mail]> decrsc![e-mail]
(Lee Sweet) writes:

> This was mentioned about three weeks ago in reference to Operator
> Service standards or some such.  Is this a publically available
> journal?  This Telecom Manager would like to know!

Disclaimer:  Not an advertisement....

{AT&T Technical Journal}, ISSN 8756-2324, published six times/year,
Subscriptions: USA - 1 year, $50;  2 years, $90; 3 years, $120
               Foreign - 1 year, $64; etc.

Subscriptions and related correspondence to:
       Circulation Group, Room 3C-417,
       AT&T Bell Labs, 600 Mountain Ave.,
       PO Box 636, Murray Hill, NJ 07974-0636

Current or recent issues are available from the above or by calling
       [phone]

Back issues, and many {The Bell System Technical Journal} back issues
are available from:
       AT&T Customer Information Center,
       PO Box 19901,
       Indianapolis, IN 46219
       1 800 432-6600   or  [phone]

Photocopy/microfilm reprints are available from:
       University Microfilms International
       1 800 521-0600   or  [phone]

"The {AT&T Technical Journal}'s purpose is to inform the company's
scientists and engineers about AT&T technical advances related
directly or indirectly to their work, and to share that information
with readers outside the company."

Sample issue: January/February 1993 (Vol. 72, Number 1, volume numbers
  continue from the older {The Bell System Technical Journal}).

Theme:  Video Communications
  "The Video Communications Decade"
  "VCTV:  A Video-On-Demand Market Test"
  "A Multimedia Distance Learning Trial Using ISDN BRI"
  "The VideoPhone 2500 - Video Telephony on the Public Switched Network"
  "ISDN Personal Video"
  "A Standards-Based Multimedia Conferencing Bridge"
  "A Video-Codec Chip Set for Multimedia Applications"
  "Image and Video Coding Standards"
  "Innovation Briefs"

A yearly index is also published around July.


Al Varney - no opinions, just the facts

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

From: [e-mail] (Carl Oppedahl)
Subject: Re: ADSL Hitched to ISDN: The Happy Couple?
Date: 26 Jul 1993 17:02:53 -0400
Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and Unix, NYC


In <[e-mail]> Vance Shipley <[e-mail].
ca> writes:

>> Does it really need unshielded twisted pair?  Local loops
>> aren't normally twisted.  Twisting decreases RF coupling between
>> adjacent pairs substantially, but it's not standard for existing phone
>> wiring, inside or outside.

> I'm no expert but I'd say you're wrong, basically.  All telephone
> cables have their pairs twisted, it's a matter of how much.  What we
> generally call 'quad', the four wire green/red/black/yellow type stuff
> found in most homes, is twisted, just not very much.  It is usually
> thought of as not being twisted.  The vast majority of inside wire in
> businesses is twisted, this is the commonly referred to 'twisted
> pair'.  I'm sure what you are thinking of is the sort of twisting used
> in 'UTP' or 'unshielded twisted pair'.  This type of wire, used for
> voice and data transmission, has a much tighter twist; more twists per
> foot.

Er, most quad wire, with red, green, yellow, and black, is not twisted
at all.  Each wire runs the length of the cable, and its neighbors are
the same along the length of the cable.  So if you cut a cross section
of the cable and find, say, red at the top and then clockwise from red
it is green, yellow, and black ... then it will be the same at all
other points on the cable.

This means each pair in the cable is both capacitively and inductively
coupled with the other pair in the cable, which is a sorry state of
affairs.  It is not uncommon to have annoying crosstalk between the
pairs if both are in use.

In contrast, most wire using striped colors (e.g. blue/white and
white/blue) is twisted pairs. If you were to cut a cross section at
several points along the way, you would find non-identical
adjacencies.  There is far less cross-talk between pairs, indeed often
zero cross talk.

> I'm not as familiar with outside plant as I am with inside plant but
> I'm sure it is twisted to some extent.  Have you ever noticed
> telegraph lines?  They tend top be twisted at every other pole or so.

Most telco outside plant wire is twisted pair also.  For all these
reasons.

The previous commenter is right, though, that cables differ on how
frequent the twists of the twisted pair are.


Carl Oppedahl AA2KW  (patent lawyer)
1992 Commerce Street #309
Yorktown Heights, NY  10598-4412
voice 212-777-1330

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

Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1993 18:39:24 -0800
From: [e-mail] (Jeff Wasilko)
Subject: Re: Alpha Pagers Question


Robert J. Canis wrote:

> I was wondering if anybody knew anything about alpha pagers.  My
> understanding is that you need a little typewriter like box that you
> must use to communicate with the pager.  What I am wondering is there
> a program that I can use with my modem to do the same thing?

> I'm really interested in getting a pager, but I don't want to have to
> buy the "box" to communicate with it.

There is a program for Unix systems called tpage2. Use archie to find
it.  There is also a Windows program that's available, but I don't
know it's name. There's a mailing list maintained by the author of
tpage2 ([e-mail]) where you could ask about the
Windows software.


Jeff Wasilko, Information International [phone]
Application Support Specialist

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

From: [e-mail] (Lee S. Parks)
Subject: Re: Experiences Wanted With BRI ISDN
Date: 26 Jul 1993 18:59:37 -0400
Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and Unix, NYC


In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Carl Oppedahl)
writes:

> Has anyone in the New York Tel service area successfully signed up for
> BRI ISDN?  I find that it is like pulling teeth to get anyone at NYTel
> to answer questions about it.

Sure is hard.  It took me three days just to get through to anyone.
NYT told me that ISDN service wasn't quite ready in my area (West 73,
212-721, DMS-100), but would be in operation this fall.  I bet.  They
also promised to immediately send me information, which I haven't
gotten yet (over a month later).

> Has anybody in the New York Tel service area successfully used the D
> channel of ISDN for packet communications with anybody else?  How
> about one of the B channels for (non-voice) packet with anybody else?

> I am told that the Second Avenue central office, which serves me, has
> ISDN capability on only four exchanges (212-353, 529, 979, and 995)
> and lacks it on any of the dozen or so other exchanges in that central
> office.  Pretty lame, seems to me.

You can't imagine how lame they are.  It took them three weeks of
trying to cancel my Intelli-Dial and set-up Caller-ID on my lines at
home.  Nothing happened till I talked to a repair supervisor.  But
I'll post all this separately.

> I am told that the West 73rd Street c.o. (the one serving panix) has
> no ISDN capability whatsoever.  Lame again.

Maybe true now but, as noted above, this is scheduled to change this
fall at least for one DMS-100 in that office. I don't know whether
there is an x-bar or 1 or 1A ESS in there, but several exchanges
served by that office do not support CLASS features, sending caller-id
information or the -9901 service.

> Same is supposedly the case for the Yorktown Heights c.o. which serves
> my new law firm.  Guess I should have thought of that before selecting
> a firm location.

Hmm, what co serves your office and what exchange.  I know that at
least (914) 941, 762, 238 and 945 seem to be either DMS-100's or 5ESS.

> When I did manage to reach someone whose job was to know about ISDN,
> they told me that NYTel charges $10 per month for BRI.  Running
> low-speed data over the D channel is an extra $2 per month.  Running
> your flexible choice of high-speed data or voice over a B channel is
> an extra $2 per month.  He was quite unable to say what packets cost
> on the high or low speed paths.  And all this is an added cost per
> month above and beyond the cost of the voice telephone numbers carried
> on the BRI.

Let me know if you have any luck.  We can exchange notes.  NYNEX = the
NY nothing exchange.


lee ([e-mail])

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

Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1993 21:31:19 -0800
From: [e-mail] (Jeff Wasilko)
Subject: Re: Connecting Site A to Site B


> The company I work for has a main office in Ventura, CA, and a few
> remote sites scattered around the state. We have an AT&T System 75
                                                      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
My apologies (-;

> Is there a way of making the extensions at this location that will get
> new telephone hardware appear as if they were extensions of our 75
> switch in Ventura? The idea is to eliminate long distance charges when
> we need to talk voice with that site. What hardware would we need at
> each site? I assume another digital circuit will have to be set up
> between the two sites. At what speed will this circuit have to be
> rated? Dare I ask about cost?

There are two things that you can do (depending on your needs at the
remote site).

1) Put in a new PBX (if you need a small system, I can highly
reccomend the Northern Telecom Norstar. Let me know if you'd like more
info) and install a few TIE lines back to the main PBX. At the remote
site, you might dial 9 to get an outside (local) line, and 8 would get
you one of the TIE lines.  You could then dial an extention on the Sys
75, or get outside dialtone from the Sys 75, etc. Likewise, Sys 75
users could get dialtone on the remote system. On PBXs with auto-route
selection, you can automate this process.

2) If you only need a few extentions at the remote site, have the
telco run a bunch of OPX (off-premise extentions) to the remote site
and provide dialtone from the Sys 75.

As far as doing it yourself, again I have two suggestions.

1) on the low end, Micom (805-583-8600) makes a neat box called a
NetRunner. This takes your 56/64k leased line and allows you multiplex
data (either async serial or ethernet via a bridge) and voice (voice
calls are compressed at 2:1-6:1 and they sound a bit rough at 6:1).

2) at the high end, you can get a channel bank and share a T1 or
fractional-T1 for your voice and data needs. The channel bank provides
card slots for different kinds of services (async data, 64k voice
slots, high-speed data, etc). They even make special cards that allow
you to use digital sets as off-premise extentions (as far as I know
there is only support for Northern Telecom sets right now, though).

Another source for interesting OPX over T1 stuff is:

Steve Burgess
Digital Techniques
Richardson, TX
[phone]
[phone]


Jeff Wasilko, Information International   [phone]
Application Support Specialist

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #514
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From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #515

TELECOM Digest     Tue, 27 Jul 93 16:51:00 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 515

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Conference on Molecular Nanotechnology (Mark Boolootian)
    The Electronic Newsstand (Mark Boolootian)
    Miami Herald Misinformation/Caller ID ([e-mail])
    SIMTEL 20 Closing Down (Paul Robinson)
    Networks in Sarejevo? (Bruce Taylor)
    Information Wanted on SmartCards (Lars Kalsen)
    MCI Makes Buses? (Nigel Allen)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Mark Boolootian)
Subject: Conference on Molecular Nanotechnology
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1993 07:55:32 -0700 (PDT)


SUMMARY: The first nanotechnology conference specifically for the
computer community will be held in Palo Alto on October 14-16.  It is
designed for those interested in what nanotechnology will do for the
computer field and in how to steer their careers toward nanotechnology
today.  The meeting is also of interest to those in other fields who
want to learn more about molecular nanotechnology, that is, about
thorough three-dimensional structural control of materials and devices
at the molecular level.  For further information, contact
[e-mail].

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Third Foresight Conference on
Molecular Nanotechnology:
Computer-Aided Design of Molecular Systems

October 14-16, 1993
Palo Alto, California

Sponsor: Foresight Institute
Cosponsors: Stanford University Department of Materials Science and
Engineering, Molecular Graphics Society (USA), Institute for Molecular
Manufacturing

Support for nanotechnology has always been strong -- perhaps strongest
 -- within the computer community.  The first nanotechnology course was
taught in a computer science department, the first conference was
sponsored by the same (along with Foresight Institute), the first
Ph.D. was granted by a computer-oriented department (MIT's Media Lab),
and the first text won the publishing industry's "best computer
science book" award.

A high proportion of those interested in nanotechnology are computer
professionals of one flavor or another, and for years they have asked
with increasing vigor "What can I do to further nanotechnology?"  In
response to these demands, Foresight's third research conference is
especially designed to enable members of the computer community --
programmers, software engineers, hardware designers, and computer
scientists in general -- to move their knowledge base and, ideally,
their careers toward nanotechnology.  All those with a computer
background are urged to attend.

The Third Foresight Conference on Molecular Nanotechnology:
Computer-Aided Design of Molecular Systems will be held in Palo Alto
on October 14-16, 1993.  The meeting includes speakers who have made
or are making the transition from computer science to nanotechnology.

According to conference co-chair Ralph Merkle, "The main emphasis of
this conference will be on computational approaches to the development
of molecular manufacturing, in particular the use of molecular
modeling and the development of molecular computer-aided design (CAD)
tools.  The conference will be valuable both for people who work
professionally in computational chemistry and also for people who have
a background in computer science and are interested in finding out
what they can do to contribute to the development of molecular
manufacturing.

"There will also be a tutorial the day before the conference, so that
people who have a background in computer science and wish to come up
to speed in computational chemistry can get an introduction to the
methodologies and techniques that are commonly used."

The conference will feature fifteen or more speakers giving presenta-
tions on topics relevant to the pursuit of molecular control.  We can
only sketch a few of these here:

Joel Orr, Autodesk Fellow, past president of the National Computer
Graphics Association, and president of the Virtual Worlds Society,
will address CAD industry professionals, potential nanotech designers,
and others interested in hearing about the special needs of
nanotechnology with respect to CAD.  In the macro and micro worlds,
computer-aided design is optional: design can be done by hand.  But in
the nano world, CAD is essential.  He will discuss:

* Is standard CAD good enough for nanotech?
* What are the characteristics of the ideal system?
* Who is working on such systems?
* When will results be available?
* Nano a mano: What can be done by hand, without CAD?

Virtual Reality for Nanotechnology

Russell Taylor, a researcher at the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, will be speaking on a subject of particular interest to
two groups of people: (1) surface scientists who are interested in
better interfaces to their instruments, and (2) builders of virtual
worlds, since the system is an example of a virtual world applied to a
scientific problem.

The system under discussion, the Nanomanipulator, is an immersive
virtual-environment interface to a Scanning Tunneling Microscope
(STM).  A head-mounted display presents a scaled image of the surface
being scanned by the STM in front of the user while a force-feedback
Argone-III Remote Manipulator (ARM) allows the user to feel contours
on the surface.  Computer-controlled instrumentation allows the user
to make bias pulses at specified locations, thus modifying the
surface.

Ted Kaehler, a computer scientist at Apple Computer, points out that
we do not know how the first assembler will be built or what exact
research is needed to get there.  A person who is not a professional
chemist or materials scientist, and yet wants to be involved in this
effort, has to think about how his/her skills match the problem.  In
this talk, entitled "What Can a Programmer Do to Help Create
Nanotechnology?", he discusses three efforts he has been involved in.

The first is a program to discover voids inside large molecules.
Programs that search for the proper design of a large molecule need to
know where the empty spaces are.  The second is a project to build the
"relaxation server" on the Internet.  This server accepts proposed
molecules (via email messages) and computes the coordinates of the
atoms.  The results are sent back by email.  The third project is a
"program" of a different sort -- a meeting group.  The "Assembler
Multitude," a subgroup of the local Computer Professionals for Social
Responsibility chapter -- meets every other Monday night in Palo Alto
and covers a wide variety of nanotechnology-related topics.

Charles Musgrave, a doctoral candidate at the California Institute of
Technology, will talk about ab initio calculations for mechanosynthe-
tic construction of diamondoid structures.  Accurate transition state
barriers for a positionally controlled reaction are necessary to both
the design of the tool and the design of the synthetic process.  If
either of these designs is not practical, then an alternate structure
is required.  High level ab initio calculations are required to obtain
accurate transition state structures and thus reliable mechanochemical
modeling.

J. Storrs Hall, Rutgers University, will be speaking on nanocomputing;
particularly the expected developments in computer architecture that
make use of reversibility to reduce heat dissipation.  The techniques
will be critical for nanocomputers, but are on the verge of becoming
useful in VLSI, so the talk will be of interest to anyone in computer
architecture as well as those studying molecular computers per se.

Markus Krummenacker, an Institute for Molecular Manufacturing
researcher, will be presenting a "cavity stuffer" program which should
enable the design of macromolecules the size of proteins.  These
macromolecules should then be easily synthesizable and should also
have specifiable interface surfaces so that they can self assemble.

Additional talks include:

*  Introduction to the Design of Molecular Systems, by Eric Drexler, IMM
*  Computational Nanotechnology, by Ralph Merkle, Xerox PARC
*  Design of Macromolecular Objects, by Manfred Mutter, Institut de Chimie
    Organique
*  Molecular Modeling, by William Goddard, Caltech
*  Crystal-Based Molecular CAD, by Geoff Leach, Royal Melbourne Institute
    of Technology
*  Visualization with Molecular Graphics, by Michael Pique, Scripps
    Research Institute
*  Modeling Diamond CVD with Density Functional Theory, by Warren Pickett, NRL
*  Ab Initio Methods and Software, by Charles Bauschlicher, NASA Ames
*  Atom Manipulation by Proximal Probes: Experiment and Theory, by Makoto
    Sawamura, Aono Atomcraft Project

The first Nanotechnology Award (and accompanying cash prize) will be
presented at the meeting.  Nomination information will be available
from Foresight Institute.

DEMONSTRATIONS
Leading vendors will demonstrate products useful in the pursuit of
molecular control, including molecular modeling software and hardware, and
proximal probe systems (e.g. STM).

CALL FOR PAPERS
Contributions on relevant topics are solicited for presentation in
lecture or poster format. Potential contributors are asked to submit
an abstract (200-400 words), including names, addresses, telephone and
fax numbers of the author(s), and an indication of whether oral or
poster presentation is preferred. Papers of both kinds will be
reviewed for publication. In choosing papers, priority will be given
to (1) cogent descriptions of the state of the art in techniques
relevant to the construction of complex molecular systems, (2)
well-grounded proposals for interdisciplinary efforts which, if funded
and pursued, could substantially advance the state of the art, and (3)
reports of recent relevant research.

JOURNAL & BOOK PUBLICATION OF PROCEEDINGS
Proceedings of the conference will be refereed and published in a
special issue of the international journal Nanotechnology, and later
in book form.

Abstracts due                 August   15, 1993
Notification of acceptance    September 1, 1993
Manuscripts due               October  14, 1993

Abstracts should be directed to the Foresight Institute, Box 61058,
Palo Alto, CA 94306, USA.

PRE-CONFERENCE TUTORIAL
A full-day tutorial on molecular modeling and computational chemistry
will be held on October 13.  This tutorial is designed for computer
scientists and programmers interested in using their computer skills
to become active in the field of nanotechnology. The workshop will be
taught by Bill Goddard, Ralph Merkle, Eric Drexler and others.  More
detailed information, including registration materials, will be sent
to all conference registrants.

SITE AND ACCOMMODATIONS
Conference sessions will be held at the Hyatt Rickeys Hotel in Palo
Alto.  Accommodation arrangements should be made directly with the
hotel.  Reservations should be made by September 29; when making
reservations, mention that you are attending the "Foresight
Nanotechnology Conference" to obtain the lower conference room rate.
Deposits in the amount of the first night's stay plus tax are required
to guarantee reservations; these are refundable up to 6 PM on the date
of arrival.  Room rate: $89, single or double occupancy, plus 10%
local tax.

Hyatt Rickeys
4219 El Camino Real
Palo Alto, CA 94306
[phone] tel
[phone] fax

TRANSPORTATION
The conference site is easily reached from San Francisco International
Airport and San Jose International Airport. Information on ground
transportation services will be mailed to registrants.

REGISTRATION FORM        (please print and mail or fax)

Name:

Title:  Dr.  Prof.  Ms.  Mr.

Address:

Tel.:

Fax:

Email:

Position (programmer, professor, director, etc.):

Organizational affiliation (for your badge):

The registration fee includes the scientific program, Wednesday evening
reception, Thursday and Friday luncheons, and a copy of the proceedings
journal issue. (Student and one-day rates do not include proceedings.)

postmarked:           by Sept. 1     after Sept. 1
Regular                  $350           $400
Academic, nonprofit,
    governmental         $275           $325
Student                  $100           $125
One day (specify day)    $135           $160
Add $200 for Pre-conference Tutorial registration.

Total amount:   $

Payment may be made by VISA, MasterCard, check, or international money
order valid in the U.S.  Make checks payable to "Foresight
Conferences"; checks and bank drafts must be in U.S. dollars drawn on
a U.S. bank.  Refunds of registration fees can only be made on receipt
of a written request which must be postmarked no later than September
15, and are subject to a $50 administrative fee.  Credit card
registrations may be faxed; please do not send credit card information
over the Internet.

Card #:

Exp. date:

Signature (required for credit card registrations):


Mail or fax registration to:

Foresight Institute
Box 61058, Palo Alto CA 94306 USA
Tel. [phone]       Fax [phone]
Internet: [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Mark Boolootian)
Subject: The Electronic Newsstand
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1993 08:08:48 -0700 (PDT)


Contact : Paul Vizza
[phone]
[e-mail]

ELECTRONIC NEWSSTAND Launched on the Global Internet

     (New York, July 25, 1993)-- The New Republic, Inc.  of
Washington, D.C.  and The Internet Company of Hudson, MA today
launched Electronic Newsstand Inc., a new company created to market
subscription and single copy sales for magazine publishers via the
Global Internet -- the worldwide computer communications network
spanning more than 45 countries and five continents.  The new company
will also be involved in providing advertisers access to Internet.

     "We think this could become the newest and most efficient
subscription source for a wide range of publishers," says Jeffrey
Dearth, President of The New Republic magazine, founder and CEO of
Electronic Newsstand Inc.  "The estimated 10 to 15 million Internet
users can browse the table of contents and selected articles from the
publications of our newsstand 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and
send orders to us electronically.  It's like being in the mail every
day as far as circulation acquisition is concerned.  The publishing
industry has been looking for a new subscription source, and this is
it, particularly as the Internet continues to grow among consumers."

     Publications that have signed up during the launch phase include:
{The New Yorker, The Economist, The New Republic, Foreign Affairs,
National Review, Technology Review, Eating Well, Outside Magazine, The
Journal of NIH Research, The Source, and New Age Journal}.  These
magazines will receive subscription and single copy orders daily via
electronic mail generated by Electronic Newsstand.  Other publications
will be invited to participate in the Electronic Newsstand in the
coming months.

     "The culture of the Global Internet is such that the information
it provides is shared freely and openly among its users," said Robert
Raisch, President of The Internet Company, and COO of Electronic
Newsstand.  "That's why each of our first wave of publishers will be
providing a table of contents and one or more editorial features free
through Electronic Newsstand to users on the Internet."

     "The idea is that the more people are exposed to a magazine's
editorial content, the more likely they are to be interested in
subscribing to a hard copy, or in purchasing a single issue.  We've
tested this concept on one on-line computer network, and it works.
Since the Internet is really a collection of thousands of computer
networks, all of which share the same information, it's the next
logical step," adds Dearth.

     "The Internet Company was formed specifically to develop
opportunities like Electronic Newsstand," says Raisch.  "Electronic
Newsstand represents one of the first attempts to develop general
content specifically for the Global Internet.  As Internet users visit
our 'store', so to speak, we will provide them with valuable
information about a wide range of products and services and this will
allow them to make truly informed purchasing decisions."

     "Our service is designed to showcase an advertiser's products and
services -- providing a 'point of presence' from which they can
represent their products and take orders.  Once a customer accesses
our service, we are able to collect information from customers
actively, by asking questions, or passively, by simply watching where
they visit and what documents they retrieve," Raisch continues.

     "Most users access the Global Internet by using personal
computers over traditional communications channels -- channels which
excel at transfering simple text.  As these channels become faster and
more powerful, we'll provide a full multimedia service, including
pictures, sound and video, all over the same channel.

     In the meantime, the Internet can serve vast amounts of
information to benefit advertisers and their customers.  It's a
win-win scenario."

Connecting to Electronic Newsstand --

Connections to the Electronic Newsstand are made via the 'gopher'
protocol to host 'gopher.netsys.com' on port 2100.  If you are unable
to use gopher to access this host, you can telnet to
gopher.netsys.com, login: enews

If you have any difficulties, please send mail to '[e-mail]'

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

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Miami Herald Misinformation/Caller ID
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 93 9:57:01 EDT


The Florida Public Utilities Commision is having a public hearing on
August 17th about the addition of name delivery to caller ID in the
state of Florida.  {The Miami Herald} printed an article on its front
page today, "describing" the feature, and opposition to it.  I was
astounded by the editorial nature of this article and the complete
one-sidedness.  There are also several examples of complete
falsehoods:

"But as with the current service, trying to block your name and phone
number by dialing an asterisk and then '67' won't help here.  You'll
simply get a recording saying the person you're calling won't accept
I.D. calls."

A DEA agent is quoted as complaining that they won't be able to do
their job because "everyone will have their name and number when they
call."

The only almost-positive thing they say about it is well-hidden:

"While Deluxe I.D. may make life more difficult for heavy breathers
and other telephone abusers, there are ways around this name game.
The service doesn't pick up name information from pay phones or
cellular phones.  Also, secrecy is as easy as calling from a phone
other than your own.  Plus the service only reveals the Southern Bell
customer's name -- for instance, if your daughter or son makes a phone
call to someone with the service, you or your spouse's name would be
flashed on the screen."


Ron

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

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1993 01:43:52 -0400 (EDT)
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Subject: SIMTEL 20 Closing Down
From: Paul Robinson <[e-mail]>
Organization: Tansin A. Darcos & Company, Silver Spring, MD USA


The massive archive site WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL at White Sands Missile
Range, New Mexico, USA, which is home to more than two gigabytes of
files for many computer systems, including MSDOS, Unix, VMS and some
mainframes, will be shut down by its operators as of September 20,
1993.  Unless a new home is found for the archives, this major archive
site will vanish.

This is a major archive and if it is possible to save it, then it
should not be allowed to just disappear. If anyone knows of a site
that can house the master archives, please send a message to

             Keith Petersen <[e-mail]>

Mr. Petersen is trying to find a new home for the master archives.
Note that many of the older files are on CD-ROM, so it is not
absolutely necessary that a site dedicate two GB of disk space, as
perhaps 3/4 of this is on CDs, so the option would be to loan perhaps
4 CD slots in an optical jukebox, along with perhaps 500 meg of disk
space.

Please pass this message to any list that might find it of interest.
Thank you.


Paul Robinson -- [e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: This is going to be a major loss to the net. How I
wish there were a way I could help! I sit here many days with fantasies
about 'what I would do if I won the lottery'. Now personally, I've
learned to make do in my personal life with very little these days,
but there are so many worthy causes which I'd spend the time and money
on if I had it, one being the establishment of a not-for-profit site
to store numerous archives, distribute e-journals and the like. We
(in an editorial sense) need so badly to bring email and network conn-
ectivity to the common person at an affordable price in an easy to use
format. I have all the plans and ideas; none of the money. To do a
slight paraphrase on John Bunyan's poem, "I feel oppressed by things
undone; I wish my dreams and deeds were one."  Good luck to the keeper
of the SIMTEL archives; I hope a new home is found soon.   PAT]

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

From: Bruce Taylor <[e-mail]>
Subject: Networks in Sarejevo?
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1993 11:01:21 -0400
Organization: Telecommunications, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA


(Apologies for the spelling of the place-name ... chalk it up to not
watching TV or reading the papers ...)

  I was just asked to give ideas on how to establish email or network
connectivity into Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.  The idea is to create a
portable set of equipment that could support a few users with e-mail,
or perhaps several users with full internet connectivity.

  Does anyone know what is currently available (read as "remaining")
in the way of communications infrastructure there?

  All thoughts and comments are welcome, and appreciated!


Bruce Taylor   ([e-mail])    [phone]
New Projects Coordinator, Telecommunications, Carnegie Mellon University


[Moderator's Note: You know it is too bad our European correspondent
Richard Budd is off line for a month or so. Maybe he will see this and
respond anyway. He has been in Poland and other nearby areas for a
couple years now at least working with schools, etc in setting up
connections to the net among other things. I *know* he could fill you
in with a lot of details and prove quite helpful. Richard, are you
out there?  PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Lars Kalsen)
Subject: Information Wanted on SmartCards
Organization: DKnet
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1993 15:28:18 GMT


Does someone have an idea of how many smartcards there are produced in
the world totally. I would be interested in both memory cards and
microprocessor cards -- split up on the two.

I would also like to know if someone has specific figures for the
telecom sector.

If you have any idea -- or if you know where I can find the
information -- please E-mail me.


Greetings,

Lars Kalsen  [e-mail]

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

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 93 01:32:18 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Nigel Allen)
Subject: MCI Makes Buses?
Organization: Echo Beach
Reply-To: [e-mail]


[e-mail] (H. Peter Anvin N9ITP) asks:

 > Do the city busses labelled "MCI" have anything to do
 > with Microwave Communications, Inc.?

The MCI that makes buses is Motor Coach Industries, which I believe is
a subsidiary of Dial Corporation, a conglomerate which is best known
for its soaps and detergents. The bus maker, which traditionally
specialized in highway buses, purchased General Motors city bus
manufacturing operations a few years go.

MCI and Greyhound Bus Lines used to be a good example of vertical
integration, Bell System-style, in which MCI would build buses and
Greyhound would operate them. Both were subsidiaries of Greyhound
Corporation (which eventually merged with Dial Corporation) until
Greyhound Bus Lines' management responded to increasing competition
from discount air travel by trying to reduce the wages of drivers and
mechanics and, when the inevitable strike happened, using replacement
workers. Eventually, Greyhound Bus Lines filed for Chapter 11
reorganization.

The old Greyhound Corporation also ran some businesses which didn't
have much to do with moving people and parcels from one city to
another: a computer leasing company, for example. Eventually, that was
sold.

Greyhound Bus Lines is still in business, and I assume that virtually
all its buses are still built by MCI.


Nigel Allen, Toronto, Ontario, Canada  [e-mail]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #515
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From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #516

TELECOM Digest     Tue, 27 Jul 93 18:28:00 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 516

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Who or What is the Premiere Group? (Greg Abbott)
    Recorded Collect Operator (Page Carter)
    Data Transport (was Re: TrueVoice) (David G.Lewis)
    Revisit the Orange Card - Busy Signal? (Carl Moore)
    Lowest Cost 1-800 Number? (Patrick Nta)
    Interactioe Voice Response (Seth B. Rothenberg)
    Re: List of Calling Number Announcement Numbers (Rich Greenberg)
    Re: Local Ringback Number Wanted (Mark Malson)
    What is TrueVoice? (David W Hatunen)
    Re: AT&T True Voice (Randy Gellens)
    Re: Why the AT&T TrueVoice Demo Asks For Your Number (Andy Sherman)
    Re: Why the AT&T TrueVoice Demo Asks For Your Number ([e-mail])
    Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching? (A N Ananth)
    Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching? (John Nagle)
    Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"! (Sean Slattery)
    Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"! (Tom Olin)
    Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"! (Bill Nott)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1993 12:13:16 -0600 (CST)
From: Greg Abbott <[e-mail]>
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Subject: Who or What is the Premiere Group?


Has anyone ever heard of a business or group called something like
"Premiere Group"?  They conduct phone solicitation to update reverse
directories published by themselves or someone else.  Recently, we
have received several calls from irate citizens asking why they have
to tell us how many children are in the house and where they work
before we'll send fire trucks out to their house.  After questioning
several of these callers, our Telecommunicators determined that the
solicitors stated that they were updating the "9-1-1 Information" for
this area and without the information they were asking for, fire
trucks couldn't be sent to their home in the case of an emergency.

Nothing could be further from the truth.  We have all of the
information we need from the phone company records.  I have court
orders which allow me to have access to this information.  Further, we
don't care where they work at (how many kids they have can be helpful
if there's a fire, but it's not something we're going to build a
database on ahead of time).  I've seen directories which publish this
information for local business use.  It is a valuable tool to have.  I
just wish they wouldn't reference 9-1-1 when they're trying to update
their information.

I have tried without success to locate their offices.  They do not
appear to be operating out of Illinois.  If anyone has any information
on who they are, or where I might contact them, please let me know.  I
would like to have a little chat with them.

Thanks!


[Moderator's Note: What a disgraceful operation! Please, if you find
out who they are and that they are in fact making such inquiries and
claiming to represent emergency authorities, *make every effort to
put them out of business*. Like your town, emergency officials here in
Chicago have standing court orders to serve on Illinois Bell at any
time day or night, and contacts are available at IBT 24 hours daily to
provide any and all information needed including non-pub numbers or
to assist with emergency installs, etc. No private firm should ever
be allowed to pull off this kind of misrepresentation.   PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Page Carter)
Subject: Recorded Collect Operator
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 93 8:18:24 EDT


I had a weird experience over this past weekend. I was sitting quietly
reading in my cabin, isolated in the mountains of West Virginia, and
listening to the calls of barred owls and whip-poor-wills. Suddenly my
phone rang. This was rather surprising, since no no one knew I was
there. I answered with my usual "hello?". I was greeted with a
recorded woman's voice, "I have a collect call for anyone from `LENNY'
(tough sounding mail voice) in a correctional institution."

At this point I quickly hung up, not wishing to talk to Lenny, whoever
he was.  The frustrating thing was that there was no human operator to
tell that Lenny obviously (I hope) had the wrong number.  A few
minutes later the phone rang again four times, then stopped. I ignored
it this time. I later tried to place a call, but the phone was now
dead!  Somehow, in retrospect, this all seems more sinister than it
did at the time.

I could write a good mystery story around this, but actually nothing
more happened. I called repair service the next morning, and they
promised repair in 24 hours. When I left 28 hours later, the phone
still was not working! Thank you GTE South. :-( The use of recorded
collect messages obviously reduces operator time, but there should be
some way to get a human back when there is a problem with the call. I
was afraid to say anything since the equipment might decide I had said
"yes" and charge me, and besides I didn't want to talk to Lenny.


[Moderator's Note: Is the phone working now?  Try dialing the number
and see what you get.  Regards outbound calls from prisons and jails
a scandal is developing which involves inmates not only being captive
in the institutions but being captive to how their calls are handled.
I am told Cook County Jail here in Chicago has set their inmate phones
up with some greedy AOS; inmates get no choice except to place calls
through the AOS and their families/friends on the receiving end of the
call get no choice but to accept (and pay the AOS rates) or decline
the call. Naturally, it is done with recorded/computerized handling
which gives rise to much fraud through message passing via the recorded
'name'. People like yourself get pestered to death and legitimate
receivers of calls get stuck with rates of eight dollars for a three
minute call as was described to me by a contact here in town. Maybe a
suit needs to be started to at least give inmates the right to choose
the desired carrier for the collect call, or at least a choice between
Genuine Bell and the AOS. But something tells me Geuine Bell did not
really object to losing the account at Cook County Jail.   PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (david.g.lewis)
Subject: Data Transport (was Re: TrueVoice)
Organization: AT&T
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1993 13:54:22 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> Scot Wilcoxon <sewilco@
fieldday.mn.org> writes:

> {Communication Week}, in an article about long-distance digital,
> explained the 64Kbps digital local services are difficult to extend
> because long distance circuits are using 56Kbps.  The article mentions
> that AT&T has been working on that problem and 64Kbps links are now
> available in 12 cities.

I didn't see the CommWeek article, so I don't know if they're
misstating the case or if you misinterpreted it, but the above
statement isn't exactly right.  64kb/s digital local services are
difficult to extend because many of the access trunks between LECs and
IXCs capable of handling switched digital services are 56kb/s trunks.
Within the IXCs' networks, much if not all of the switched digital
network is 64kb/s clear channel capable -- if you have two PRIs from
AT&T, you can run 64kb/s clear (or, for that matter, 384kb/s clear or
1536kb/s clear) between them.  It's the link between the IXCs and LECs
that is largely 56kb/s, and work is underway to convert 56kb/s Circuit
Switched Data Capability (CSDC -- in-band signaled 56kb/s data trunks)
access trunks to SS7-NI signaled 64kb/s clear channel access trunks.


David G Lewis                              AT&T Bell Laboratories
[e-mail] or !att!goofy!deej     Switching & ISDN Implementation

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

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 93 13:37:08 EDT
From: Carl Moore <[e-mail]>
Subject: Revisit the Orange Card - Busy Signal?


A while back, I wrote of getting a busy signal of high pitch and
different frequency mix (this is not the fast busy signal) than the
one I am accustomed to for the electronic exchanges.

On Saturday July 24, I had occasion to call a number in such an
exchange, and got that busy signal.  The next day, I was at the
location of that number, and I went to that phone and dialed its own
number, and got the EXPECTED busy signal for that exchange.  Pat
Townson suggested earlier that the strange busy signal did indeed
suggest that the receiving line was busy; does this offer any more
hints about it?


[Moderator's Note: Might it have been a 'no-circuits' busy, or even a
busy signal from LCI (the Orange carrier)?   PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Patrick Nta)
Subject: Lowest Cost 1-800 Number?
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1993 13:10:26 +0100
Organization: Harvard Medical School


Which company offers the lowest 1-800 number for small business?


[Moderator's Note: It depends on who you ask and what is your
definition of 'small business'. Your application counts a lot here
also in choosing. Metromedia offers a low monthly cost service but
with high 'per minute' rates. If you can support a few hundred dollars
per month in 800 calls, various resellers of AT&T (such as FIBERCOM,
a company I represent) can place you on the AT&T Software Defined
Network and get you rates of 9-12 cents per minute on 800 calls. For
smaller users, I resell 800 number service at rates of 17-22 cents
per minute with no monthly service fee or installation fee. MCI
also has 800 numbers where many people share the same common number
then insert a PIN to route the call accordingly.  PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Seth B Rothenberg)
Subject: Interactioe Voice Response
Date: 27 Jul 93 21:10:09 GMT
Organization: University of Pittsburgh


I am writing a paper for my telephone systems class on Interactive
Voice Response.  I would like to know if anyone on the net has
experience managing or selling these systems?

One thing I have not seen info on yet is IVR services.  My Mortgage
company said that they use a service, where they send out a tape (I
don't believe that :-) daily, and the phone number I dial is to the
service bureau's mainframe.  (A pair of 486's each with four 4-channel
cards provide the front end according to the Service Rep at the bank).


Thanks for your help.

Seth

PS: Please reply directly as I am about 400 messages behind.  I will
summarize.

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

From: [e-mail] (Rich Greenberg)
Subject: Re: List of Calling Number Announcement Numbers
Organization: Netcom Online Communications Services (408-241-9760)
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1993 04:51:15 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (woody) writes:

> [After checking all the incoming mail for this list, it's time to post
> the current collection of ANAC codes.]

> 310  211.2345               (English response)
> 310  211.2346               (DTMF response)

One more data point:

In the 310-649 exchange, 211.2345 gave a series of tones, all sounding
the same.  2346 gave a voice (lousy quality) readback, and 2347 gave
DTMF.  (I didn't decode the dtmf.) (Pac Bell territory.)


Rich Greenberg             Work: ETi Solutions, Oceanside CA 619-631-5280
N6LRT    TinselTown, USA   Play: [e-mail]           310-649-0238
I speak for myself only.

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

From: kgw2![e-mail] (Mark Malson)
Subject: Re: Local Ringback Number Wanted
Organization: Xetron Corporation
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1993 20:06:48 GMT


In article <[e-mail]>, Bob Hofkin <hofkin%
[e-mail]> wrote:

> Last time I asked at the C&P business office, their answer was to have
> a friend call me.  This after some discussion, apparently.  It would
> be real nice to cite a specific regulation.

Gee, I just always dial "0" and ask whoever answers for a ringback.
I've never had anyone refuse ...


Mark Malson   [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (David W Hatunen)
Subject: What is TrueVoice?
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1993 05:03:57 GMT


The subject line says it all. What is it?


DAVE HATUNEN ([e-mail])


[Moderator's Note: In brief, it is an enhancement to the sound quality
on AT&T connections which make your voice sound 'more true'. :) You
may want to read over back issues of this Digest during the past two
weeks for quite a few messages cussing and discussing this feature and
its technical angles.  Is it an improvement?  Who knows!  Read on.  PAT]

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

From: [e-mail]
Date: 27 JUL 93 01:18
Subject: Re: AT&T True Voice


> [Moderator's Note:  I don't think they ask for your number so they can
> sic a telemarketer on you.  After all, if they relied on ANI they
> would still have to compare their own records with the ANI to see who
> was a customer already and who was not.  Has it occurred to anyone
> they might be listening to *your* touchtones and then doing a little
> last minute adjustment on their end (regards the sound quality based
> on what the circuit is like between you and them) before they begin
> the demo?  PAT]

I called once, and entered my number and tried the demo.  Then I
called back and didn't enter my number.  An operator came on and asked
for my number.  When I asked why it was needed, she asked if I had a
touch-tone phone.  When I said I did, she asked me to press the "6"
key.  When I did, she thanked me and said she'd connect me back into
the demo, but I got a message saying the demo was temporarily
unavailable.  So it does seem that they want to hear your tones, but
that doesn't explain why they ask for your number.  Perhaps they want
you to hear the difference from your home (they specifically ask for
your *home* number), which may be different then the number you are
calling from, and use the number you enter to get the distance from
their logical demo center to your home.  For paranoids who don't want
to give their number (as if ANI didn't reveal all), they use
characteristics of the received digit.


Randy Gellens              [e-mail]
A Series System Software   [if mail bounces, please
Unisys Corporation         forward bounce msg to
Mission Viejo, CA          [e-mail]]
Opinions are personal;   facts are suspect;   I speak only for myself|

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

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 93 10:04:30 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Andy Sherman)
Subject: Re: Why the AT&T TrueVoice Demo Asks For Your Number


[ Jack and Pat and a cast of thousands speculate as to why the TrueVoice
demo asks for your home phone number. ]

I think the answer is much more straightforward than people speculate.
TrueVoice seems to be aimed at the consumer market, since it is being
pitched as part of the i-Plan, which is a residential program.

I suspect that a *LOT* of people call from their places of employment,
especially during the daytime.  The ANI does not identify the
*residential* subscriber.  Since they are interested in selling
residential long distance, they ask.  Note that the script is quite
specific.  They do not ask from what number you are calling.  They ask
for your *home* phone number.

By the way, I can't imagine that it would be illegal for an IXC to
pass customer information to a firm that is under contract to conduct
its business for it.  That contractor is the IXC's agent and acting on
its behalf, and all restrictions on the IXC should pass through to it.
Now it probably *is* illegal would be for the contractor to retain the
information for its own use, or to use it for other than the
contracted purposes.


Andy Sherman
Salomon Inc  -  Unix Systems Support  -  Rutherford, NJ
[phone]  -  [e-mail] or [e-mail]

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

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 93 17:21:53 EDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Why the AT&T TrueVoice Demo Asks For Your Number
Organization: AT&T


> because some people calling the demo line are calling from their
> office line, a payphone or someone else's home.

> [Moderator's Note: But what possible difference could it make?   PAT]

Oh come on Pat, there are lots of very reasonable things they could do
with that data, you must have thought of some.

 1.) I'm sure the people who running the campaign want
 to know if it's a success. What better way than keep track of
 how many people call the demo then switch?

 2.) They may want to use the data as a marketing angle,
 ie. followup calls or letters with somthing like:
 Thank you for trying TrueVoice* Now that you've heard our new sound,
 wouldn't you like all your long distance calls to sound that good.


Disclaimer: I do not have any direct connection to the
LD folks at AT&T nor knowledge of TrueVoice other than what I've
seen here and in the ads.

*TrueVoice must be a registered [trade|service]mark of AT&T.

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

From: [e-mail] (A N Ananth)
Subject: Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching?
Date: 27 Jul 1993 11:48:19 -0400
Organization: Biligiri International, Ellicott City, MD USA


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail].
mot.com (Chris Brady) writes:

> It seems as though the latest central office switches are still
> offered on proprietary software -- and frequently, hardware --
> platforms

> Nonetheless, there have been efforts in Bellcore and elsewhere to
> essentially reduce the CO switch to a peripheral of a general purpose
> computer, and thus enjoy the supposed benefits of riding more popular
> technology curves.

What is interesting is that most data communication switch vendors
also started out in this way with proprietary busses and custom
hardware. A short list includes folks like Ericsson, NT, Telenet and
even the lower end of the spectrum like Plantronics -- *but* there is
definite move afoot away from this trend. The lower end switch
manufacturers are moving toward PC chassis and some of the higher end
switches are moving toward VME cages. Recently, I heard that Ericsson
may be moving the ERIPAX line toward VME cages -- away from custom
hardware.

In fact most VSAT systems (including those that handle voice) are
based on commercially available hardware and busses. These
developments have given rise to a plethora of card manufacturers.

IMO, since COs predate these developments, it is likely that they were
originally designed with custom hw (like early data switches) and
inertia dictates that it's going to take a while for the thinking to
turn toward the gains to be had by switching to off-the-shelf hw.


ananth    <[e-mail]>  Work: [phone]

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

From: [e-mail] (John Nagle)
Subject: Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching?
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1993 22:08:48 GMT


[e-mail] (Chris Brady) writes:

> It seems as though the latest central office switches are still
> offered on proprietary software -- and frequently, hardware --
> platforms.  This appears to me to be due to the stringent real time
> expectations we have placed on telephony, combined with strict
> requirements for massive throughput, data integrity, system
> availability and environmental conditions.  Nonetheless, there have
> been efforts in Bellcore and elsewhere to essentially reduce the CO
> switch to a peripheral of a general purpose computer, and thus enjoy
> the supposed benefits of riding more popular technology curves.  I'd
> be interested in discussion on why this vision is not being realized
> in the CO market: do the technical constraints really demand
> proprietary computer implementations, or are there market forces that
> are disincenting major telecom providers from making this leap?

        The interesting thing is that COs still mostly follow the
model of a big dumb crosspoint run as a computer peripheral.  One
would think by now that switches would be much more distributed, with
little CPUs all through the switch fabric.  But given the amount of
trouble people still have designing distributed systems, it's not
clear that using lots of little CPUs would improve reliability, and
might well make it worse.

        Still, it would be interesting to see something as distributed
as a step-by-step office implemented in modern hardware.  Even
something designed like a #5 crossbar, where all common resources were
part of sizable resource pools and any resource could be taken out of
service without much trouble, would seem to be an improvement over
current designs.  It ought to be possible to design something that can
equal the switch downtime record of the electromechanical era, but at
modern error rates.

        The existing technologies reflect the design of the 1ESS,
which was a mainframe computer controlling a dumb switch fabric.


John Nagle

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

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 93 13:38 GMT
From: Sean Slattery <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"!


> PAT notes:

>> Those same bozos were selling mimeograph paper, carbon paper
>> and typewriter ribbons thirty years ago using the same
>> sneaky tactics.  PAT]

> With all due respect to our Moderator and the original poster
> of this  thread, I can't honestly see what is wrong with
> individuals doing  this.

We have been stung by this scam a couple of times.  What's wrong with
individuals doing this is that they represent themselves as "your
regular supplier".  This is why it is fraud.  Of course it is very
hard to prove.  When we got the bill we refused to pay and shipped
them back their toner (well, some toner :-)) cartridges.  We got one
call from their account payable, we said the key words "attorney
general's office" and never heard from them again.  This happened
about four years ago.

Our policy is that all calls that result in orders being placed MUST
originate from our office, the ole' don't call us we'll call you.

On LD carriers who call and call and call: Tell them "corporate" now
dictates your LD policy and they have instructed you not to give out
their number or any other information.  Sometimes the caller hangs up
without saying anything at all, just "Click!".  This tactic has
reduced my time on the phone by about ten percent each week.


Sean Slattery | Airflow Research | [e-mail]

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

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 93 11:01:56 EDT
From: adiron![e-mail] (Tom Olin)
Subject: Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"!


Mr. Broadfield asks a very good question about alleged "toner fraud" -
namely, what is fraudulent about getting idiots to pay inflated prices
for toner - and PAT immediately veers off the road and dives into a
tirade about the sins of the Department of Justice and Bill Clinton.
In the meantime, Mr. Broadfield's question remains unanswered.

Here's my answer to that question.  First, I quote:

> Law enforcement officials say that toner fraud is hard to prove and
> almost impossible to eliminate.

Mr. Broadfield, the law enforcement officials are just trying to be
polite.  To find out what they really mean, change the quoted
statement as follows:

1. Change "toner fraud" to "stupidity".
2. Change "prove" to "explain".
3. Drop the word "almost".

As for PAT, I suggest that he drink more coffee or less -- I'm not sure
which it is. :)


Tom Olin    [e-mail]    [phone], Ext 638    (FAX)738-8304
PAR Technology Corporation * 220 Seneca Turnpike * New Hartford NY 13413

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

From: Bill=Nott%Graphics=Dev%PCPD=[e-mail]
Subject: Re: Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"!
Date: 27 Jul 1993 14:06:40 -0500
Organization: Compaq Computer Corporation


My wife worked at a place that was scammed like this *once*.

It seems that the "scamee" does not agree to any purchase on the phone
 -- that once the outside "company" learns the necessary details, they
just deliver the goods, and then invoice by mail. The hope is that the
person who pays the invoices assumes the stuff was ordered
legitimately, etc.

Sometimes it works; in this case it didn't, due to a cross check
system that was in place. They must assume small businesses don't feel
the need for such protection.

Believe it or not, the same guy (judging by the sound of his voice)
tried it again several times!


Bill

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #516
******************************










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Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1993 19:42:47 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #517

TELECOM Digest     Tue, 27 Jul 93 19:42:45 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 517

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"! (Fred Ennis)
    Re: Connecting Site A to Site B (Paul Cook)
    Re: Mercury in the UK - The Right Choice? (Richard Tomlinson)
    Re: New AM Band Violates No-Intercept Rule? (Arthur Rubin)
    Re: Dark Fibre (Richard Cox)
    Re: Information Wanted on AT&T Tech Journal ([e-mail])
    Re: International Videoconferencing Directory Available (Bob Frankston)
    Re: Call Trace is Bogus (Jeffrey Jonas)
    Re: Incoming Calls to Airphone? (Gordon Hlavenka)
    Re: What is This Number? (Jeffrey Jonas)
    Source For Old Telephones (David L Kindred)
    Re: Sources For Restoring Vintage Phone? (Ed Greenberg)
    Correction of Phone Number (Re: Cellular Propagation Simulator (C Moore)
    Re: Do We Have a Theme Song? (Martin McCormick)

                     ----------------------
TELECOM Digest is an e-journal devoted mostly -- but not exclusively --
to discussions on voice telephony. The Digest is a not-for-profit
public service published frequently by Patrick Townson Associates. PTA
markets a no-surcharge telephone calling card and a no monthly fee 800
service.  In addition, we are resellers of AT&T's Software Defined
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The Digest is delivered at no charge by email to qualified subscribers on
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Back issues and numerous other telephone-related files of interest are
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Login anonymous, then 'cd telecom-archives'. At the present time, the
Digest is also ported to Usenet at the request of many readers there,
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All articles are the responsibility of the individual authors. Organi-
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----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"!
From: [e-mail] (Fred Ennis)
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1993 01:27:02 -0400
Organization: Page 6, Ottawa, Ontario [phone]


>  3.Having (apparently) less than two brain cells to bang together, you
>    agree to purchase supplies at the inflated prices.

> Where exactly is there fraud involved here?  Has "caveat emptor" gone
> entirely by the wayside; are Americans no longer willing to accept
> even the slightest responsibility for their own actions?

 From the information given so far Laird, I can understand how you
would ask these questions, so let me give you a little more info.

1. The phony "survey" or "checking our records" caller also gets the name
of the person who orders supplies, but doesn't usually talk to that
person.

2. They then call the receptionist and say the shipment that "insert
name" ordered is ready, should they go ahead and ship it? They then
get the receptionist's name. Now they have two names from the company.

3. The stuff arrives. It gets thrown into the supply room. Eventually the
bill comes, the supplies have been used, and they get nasty about trying
to collect the money.

Now, no one has approved the shipment, but in a small business which
doesn't often use purchase orders, they can't prove they didn't order
it.

Here's what every person who ever answers the phone in a small company
should know:

1. Do not give any info about office equipment, especially model or
serial numbers out to ANY caller for any reason.

2. Do not give permission to ship to anyone who calls, unless you,
personally, have placed the order.

3. Check all incoming shipments against what you ordered, and from
which supplier.

Those three rules make it much more difficult for these scam artists
to operate. Unfortunately, most small businesses are not that well
organized, and these scams prey on that.

While I am speaking of telecom scams, there's also the outfit in
Europe that sends out bills for fax or telex directory listings, and
if you pay the bill the fine print says you're agreeing to be listed
in the NEXT directory and pay that bill as well!


Fred Ennis, [e-mail]

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

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 93 18:24 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Connecting Site A to Site B


Javier Henderson <[e-mail]> writes:

> The company I work for has a main office in Ventura, CA, and a few
> remote sites scattered around the state. We have an AT&T System 75
> switch at the main office, and various types of switches at the remote
> locations.

> Is there a way of making the extensions at this location that will get
> new telephone hardware appear as if they were extensions of our 75
> switch in Ventura? The idea is to eliminate long distance charges when
> we need to talk voice with that site. What hardware would we need at
> each site? I assume another digital circuit will have to be set up
> between the two sites. At what speed will this circuit have to be
> rated? Dare I ask about cost?

This is not hard.  There are a couple of simple ways to do this.

If you want OPX's (Off Premise Extensions) off of the System 75 to
appear on CO line ports on the remote systems, you can add a Proctor
46222 Long Loop Adaptor for each extension, and connect it to an OL13C
circuit ordered from the phone company.  This will run to the other
site, where it will appear as a standard 48 vdc tip and ring with
standard 20 Hz ringing.  This is then connected to its own CO line
port on the other system, or it can just be hooked to a standard
telephone.  Anything that normally hooks to a regular telephone line
can be hooked to the far end of this connection.

When you order the OL13C circuit from the telco, it doesn't matter if
they run it down the block or across the state.  They will engineer
the circuit so that it looks to each end like it is a short pair of
wires running no more than a few miles.  The 46222 Long Loop Adaptor
provides the registered interface to this circuit, in addition to
boosting DC voltage and ringing.

If you just want a ringdown to run point to point as a tie line
between PBX's, you can order up an O2AC2 circuit from the telco, which
will connect dedicated CO ports over a similar dry cable pair.  To
drive this, use one Proctor 46220 Ringdown Circuit at either end ...
it does not matter which end.

Don't worry about speed or digital circuits.  This is strictly a
low-tech analog voice application.

The 46222 will work wherever you need to boost DC line voltage and
ringing from a standard two-wire telephone connection.  The test for
compatibility is, if you can plug in a standard single line phone, you
can plug in a 46222 and extend that line anywhere through a loop that
is under 1900 ohms.  In addition, it also has a special connection on
the input to hook to the TIE SLU cards used with some TIE key systems.

Contact my employer for information on the 46222 or 46224.  For
multiple line applications, there are four-circuit versions of each
product.


Paul Cook                           206-881-7000
Proctor & Associates           MCI Mail 399-1080
15050 NE 36th St.              fax: [phone]
Redmond, WA  98052-5378      [e-mail]

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

From: Richard Tomlinson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Mercury in the UK - The Right Choice?
Organization: EDS-Scicon, Milton Keynes, UK
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1993 16:58:30 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (woody) writes:

> The recent episode of Media Television, produced by City TV in
> Toronto, features the wild world of media (ads, publications,
> technologies, etc) and in particular, a spot for Mercury long distance
> in the UK was shown. It appeared to be voice-dubbed excerpts from old
> films, so that the characters talked about the wonders of British
> Telecom's competitor.

These are not excerpts from old films but new sequences made to look
like an old film. They are based on sketches from "The Harry Enfield
Television Programme" shown on BBC Television in the UK. The two
actors are Harry Enfield and Jon Glover. I bet you're really glad I
told you that!


Richard Tomlinson
EDS Scicon Ltd, Wavendon Tower, Milton Keynes, UK MK17 8LX
[e-mail]   Tel:  [phone]  Amateur radio: G4TGJ
All opinions expressed are mine, and are not necessarily those of my employer.

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

Subject: Re: New AM Band Violates No-Intercept Rule?
From: a_rubin%dsg4.dse.beckman.com (Arthur Rubin)
Date: 27 Jul 93 19:55:37 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Arthur Rubin)


In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (David
Breneman) writes:

> Michael Covington ([e-mail]) wrote:

>> And many of us are sad about the ban on receivers that get the
>> cellular frequencies, for two reasons: (1) The proper technical solution
>> is to encrypt the signal at the _transmitter_; (2) Heretofore,
>> Americans had been allowed to buy radios that would tune any frequency
>> whatsoever; this is the very first peacetime ban on radio receivers
>> that I know of.  (Although the receivers still aren't illegal to own,
>> merely illegal to market.)

> A few states have banned automotive radar detectors.  As far as I
> know, this has never been seriously challenged in court.

I recall an early radar-detector ban which was ruled (by a Federal
Court) invalid ... but I think the ban was so written that it also
banned the radar guns themselves; hence using a dectector was legal
because it was only detecting illegal devices.


Arthur L. Rubin: [e-mail] (work) Beckman Instruments/Brea
[e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] (personal)
My opinions are my own, and do not represent those of my employer.

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

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 93 22:14 GMT
From: Richard Cox <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Dark Fibre
Reply-To: [e-mail]


I have been interested to see the comments about Dark Fibre.
Especially this one, from [e-mail] (Steven L. Spak):

> Carriers often lease dark fiber (at gunpoint :-) ) at a premium to
> bypass types and large companies.

Of course, we can't get Dark Fibre from any carrier over here.
However AT&T have recently launched their Definity PABX over here --
and to use its remote shelf facility, does need Dark Fibre from the
carrier (usually BT in the UK).  So I wondered whether AT&T were so
keen to offer customers Dark Fibre in the USA ?

(PS sorry - we Brits spell it "fibre" - I know you prefer "fiber" !


Richard D G Cox

Mandarin Technology, Cardiff Business Park, Llanishen, CARDIFF, Wales CF4 5WF
Voice: [phone]      Fax: [phone]      VoiceMail: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail] - PGP2.2 public key available on request

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

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 93 18:19:47 EDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Information Wanted on AT&T Tech Journal
Organization: AT&T


In article <[e-mail]>, decrsc!leesweet@uunet.
UU.NET (Lee Sweet) writes:

> This was mentioned about three weeks ago in reference to Operator
> Service standards or some such.  Is this a publically available
> journal?  This Telecom Manager would like to know!

(This info is taken from the insied cover of a year old copy.)  The
AT&T technical Journal is published six times a year Individual
subscriptions: 1yr $50, 2 $90 3 $120.

Circulation group phone number (for current issues: 201-564-2582).

Back issues: 1-800 432-6600, or find a library that has it.

The Operator Services issue was Volume 68 Number 6.
(Nov/Dec 1989)

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

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: International Videoconferencing Directory Available
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1993 11:42 -0400


I just ordered the directory. The correct number is 800-426-8686 and
the cost, including shipping is $7.24.

As an aside, I've yet to figure out why order fulfillment takes "four
to six weeks".

Theories:

1) It'll arrive tomorrow but the "four to six weeks" phrase was coined
by old Al Bell himself and they are loathe to change it.

2) They print each catalog to order and are still waiting to upgrade
their 103 modems.

3) They transcribe each copy in a video conference to hordes of
caligraphers in Korea to reduce the costs.

4) They attempt to float each one across the Mississippi and take into
account the probability of success.

5) It's a big warehouse and they don't want to ship any copies till
they fill it.

6) ATT is owned by Ronco.

7) They hand carry the order past 20 desks for approval but everyone
is on vacation in August.

8) The directory doesn't exist but they'll create it if they get
enough orders.

9) They are waiting to setup their video operator offices.

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

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 93 10:35:11 EDT
Subject: Re: Call Trace is Bogus
From: [e-mail] (Jeffrey Jonas)


Re: Frank Hausman's posting about call return to a Spanish speaking
person with an improperly programmed auto dial phone --

Thank you for sharing your adventure in call tracing.  A posting that
Pat didn't accept for publication asked the question: who pays when an
annoying caller is caught?  You paid several dollars for the return
call and language operator for something that was ENTIRELY the other
person's fault.  Yes, you gained your sanity and re-gained peace at
home, but am I correct that you have no way to get reimbursed for the
expense incurred in stopping the harrassment?  The telephone company
don't help -- they just bill you, and the tariffs probably don't cover
damages to the victim of the harassment.

Hmmm -- perhaps Pat could set up some billing arrangement so you can
back-bill the dope for the charges that SHE caused.  That would be
poetic justice.


Jeffrey Jonas   [e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: I'm sorry to say a quick check of my log records of
autoreplies issued doesn't indicate your article ever got here. Do you
have a copy? If so, it sounds interesting. When you are talking only a
few dollars, as annoying as it might be, there is no real way to
recoup your losses without incurring more in the meantime. When the
problem really gets bad (for example, the family in Germany which got
calls for two or three weeks running, several per night in the middle
of the night from an errant fax machine at the First National Bank of
Chicago attempting to transmit documents to a branch of the bank) then
depending on whose deep pockets are involved and the extent of the
expense, legal action may be indicated. In the case of the German
family, they were terrorized by a dozen calls nightly resulting in a
silent connection as the fax machine tried over and over to deliver to
a number which was incorrect. Wouldn't you -- lacking telecom saavy --
be frightened by repeated calls from silence during the night? They
got Bundepost to look into the matter who in turn asked AT&T for some
assistance once Bundepost saw the calls were coming from the USA.
AT&T ran the whole thing by Illinois Bell who tracked it back to the
bank's phone system.

Once they identified First National, IBT gave them such an earful; they
gave FNB so much hell over the matter it warmed my heart. I guess IBT
contacted the bank and ran the same gauntlet of droid-ism that anyone
else gets when they call the bank. The calls finally stopped when the
fax machine got reprogrammed, but would you believe that when FNB got
around to reconciling their (otherwise massive) phone bill a couple
months later, they saw over a hundred calls to this number in Germany
and had the nerve to call telco to complain that 'AT&T must have
screwed up on our bill, we want credit for all these calls!' ...

About eight years ago, a FIDO sysop here had a wrong number listed in
his system for a place he polled each night. His machine was calling
some poor woman night after night for a couple weeks and when IBT
traced it to him, they not only gave him hell, they told him to take
down the BBS *or* get the phone disconnected; his choice. Moral of the
story: all droids are created equal, but droids who operate big banks
are created more equal than pitiful sysops of home computers.  PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (gordon hlavenka)
Subject: Re: Incoming Calls to Airphone?
Organization: Vpnet Public Access
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1993 02:52:42 GMT


> I called the AT&T access number 1-800-321-0288.  An operator came on
> the line and asked what number I was calling from.

> I suspect Airfone of intercepting the call and pretending that it is
> AT&T.

Hmmm ... GTE Airfone calls are placed directly onto the PSTN at the
ground station the airplane is currently linked to.  This would mean
that to "intercept" a call the ground station software would have to
place the call to some number other than what you dialed and this
number would be a GTE operator who would have to know to pretend to be
AT&T.  This is technically feasible but so likely to be discovered
that I don't think they'd do it.  Even GTE.

My guess would be that something is strange about the _type_ of lines
GTE orders for their ground stations, and that this trips some
security/fraud trigger at AT&T.

> The domestic 800 Airfone rate + AT&T calling card rate for an
> international call is less than the international Airfone rate, so
> Airfone would have an financial incentive to do so.  Anyone know if my
> suspicions are justified?

I don't think so.  Call 1-800-AIR-FONE and ask them.  I'd be
interested in hearing their explanation.  If you fly often, dial '0'
from the plane instead -- it costs them more that way.


Gordon S. Hlavenka   [e-mail]

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

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 93 10:28:49 EDT
Subject: Re: What Is This Number?
From: [e-mail] (Jeffrey Jonas)


In article <22s7fu$[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Seth
Warshavsky) writes:

>> Whats this telephone #? 011-351-99-35510?  It is some wierd
>> international sex line, and I'm trying to figure out how they make
>> money off of it, because there are no premium charges. Just long
>> distance.

Tarl Neustaedter ([e-mail]) replied:

> They get a cut from the portugese phone company. Basically, international
> long distance charges are frequently exhorbitant, and there is a lot of
> profit to be shared with anyone who can boost line usage. Sex lines are
> one way to use up idle capacity.

Does this mean that somebody asking "Do you speak Portugese" is trying
to pick me up or talk dirty to me?  :-)


Jeffrey Jonas   [e-mail]

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

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 93 10:30 EDT
From: [e-mail] (David L Kindred )
Subject: Source for Old Telephones


In response the the recent requests for sources for old telephone
equipment, I though I'd pass this along:

I recently received a catalog that includes nothing but old telephone
equipment:

Catalog Name:    Old Telephones
Company:    Phoneco, Inc.
Address:    207 East Mill Road
        P.O. Box 70
        Galesville, WI 54630
Phone:        [phone]
FAX:        [phone]

The catalog shows used and reproduction equipment from the 1890's to
the present, from most manufacturers.  Both North American and
European manufacturers are represented.  There are several pages of
coin phones, some still usable for coin service.  Also listed are many
parts.

As I have never ordered anything from this company, I can make no
statement about their quality or reliability.


Dave

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

From: [e-mail] (Ed Greenberg)
Subject: Re: Sources For Restoring Vintage Phone?
Organization: Netcom Online Communications Services (408-241-9760)
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1993 18:09:32 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> molly![e-mail]
(Carl Shapiro) writes:

> You can probably find any old phone parts you need at:

>    Phoneco, Inc.
>    Galesville, WI 54630

Does anybody know the name of the proprietor of Phoneco?


Ed Greenberg   [e-mail]   Ham Radio: KM6CG

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

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 93 10:29:23 EDT
From: Carl Moore <[e-mail]>
Subject: Correction of Phone Number (Re: Cellular Propagation Simulator)


I take it the voice telephone number you provided is in area 415.  414
is in Wisconsin.

> Recently, I received some brochures on a product called BONeS from
> COMDISCO system, 919 E. Hillsdale Blvd, Foster city CA 94404. Tel 414
> 574-5800, fax [phone].

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

From: [e-mail] (Martin McCormick)
Subject: Re: Do We Have a Theme Song?
Organization: Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1993 16:55:16 GMT


    Nobody has mentioned "Telephone Man" by Rickie Lee Jones.
This song was popular in the late seventies on Top 40 stations and I
even heard it once on Radio Australia.

    The song, for those who might not have heard it, is one
gigantic double-entendre about a young lady who needs a telephone
installed in her apartment and gets, shall we say, the full-service
treatment from the installer.


Martin McCormick WB5AGZ   Stillwater, OK
O.S.U. Computer Center Data Communications Group

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #517
******************************










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Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 02:47:01 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #518

TELECOM Digest     Wed, 28 Jul 93 02:47:00 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 518

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: 1-800-COLLECT (Laurence Chiu)
    Re: 1-800-COLLECT (John R. Levine)
    Re: MCI Makes Buses? (Alan M. Gallatin)
    Re: MCI Makes Buses? (Ron Bean)
    Re: Dark Fibre (Eric Germann)
    Re: Big Rivers (Jack Winslade)
    Re: Why the AT&T True Voice Demo Asks For Your Number (David Leibold)
    Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"! (Brett Elliott)
    AT&T Billing on 5 July (Craig R. Watkins)
    T1s Versus Regular Lines For a FreeNet? (David Leibold)
    Picking on Lawyers? (Harold Hallikainen)
    High Speed Modem Connect Signals (Brett Elliott)
    Re: CONNECT BBS Edition (Patricia Snyder-Rayl)
    Re: Do We Have a Theme Song? (David Leibold)

                     ----------------------
TELECOM Digest is an e-journal devoted mostly -- but not exclusively --
to discussions on voice telephony. The Digest is a not-for-profit
public service published frequently by Patrick Townson Associates. PTA
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The Digest is delivered at no charge by email to qualified subscribers on
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All articles are the responsibility of the individual authors. Organi-
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love offerings to PO Box 1570, Chicago, IL 60690. :)  Phone: [phone].

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

Subject: Re: 1-800-COLLECT
From: uttsbbs![e-mail] (Laurence Chiu)
Date: 27 Jul 93 22:21:00 GMT
Organization: The Transfer Station BBS, Danville, CA - 510-837-4610/837-5591
Reply-To: uttsbbs![e-mail] (Laurence Chiu)


In a article, Christopher Zguris had the following to say about
1-800-COLLECT:

> So based on the comparison of charges Dave Niebuhr([e-mail].
> gov) posted in TELECOM Digest v13 #504 it looks like 800-COLLECT is
> worthwhile. I noticed the AT&T ads against "other" companies
> (obviously 800-COLLECT) only focus on the fact that a minimum of only
> $.01 savings is guaranteed -- maximums and/or average savings are not
> mentioned, I don't think the ads are very effective or strong. Can we
> expect new 800-COLLECT ads to counter AT&T and then AT&T giving in and
> lowering their rates? Does anyone know how well 800-COLLECT is doing,
> is AT&T running ads against it as a precaution or are they losing
> business?

I thought I saw ads from AT&T advertising their competing service,
1-800-OPERATOR. Never having had the need to make collect calls, I
don't know what the rates are but they seemed to indicate that it was
competitive.


Laurence Chiu
The Transfer Station BBS [phone] & 837-5591 (V.32bis both lines)
Danville, California, USA. 1.5 GIG Files & FREE public Internet Access

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

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 93 23:27 EDT
From: [e-mail] (John R. Levine)
Subject: Re: 1-800-COLLECT
Organization: I.E.C.C.


>>     1-800-COLLECT       .65 US

> Gee ... I just got off the phone with them a few minutes ago and the
> customer service rep told me the surcharge is $1.50.

One of the most consistent problems I have had dealing with MCI is
that they are totally unable to quote correct prices over the phone.
The best I've found is to call five times and see if three of the
answers disagree.

I can't help but notice that somehow, when they quote wrong prices,
the price the quote is invariably less than the actual price.


Regards,

John Levine, [e-mail], {spdcc|ima|world}!iecc!johnl

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

From: [e-mail] (Alan M. Gallatin)
Subject: Re: MCI Makes Buses?
Date: 28 Jul 93 02:38:48 GMT


Nigel Allen ([e-mail]) wrote:

>> Do the city busses labelled "MCI" have anything to do
>> with Microwave Communications, Inc.?

> The MCI that makes buses is Motor Coach Industries, which I believe is
> a subsidiary of Dial Corporation, a conglomerate which is best known
> for its soaps and detergents.

When I first read this, I couldn't help but laugh at the irony ... MCI
long distance has *nothing* whatsoever to do with MCI bus manufacturer,
but the latter is a subsidiary of *DIAL* corporation.

Are you sure there isn't SOME link between the two?  :-)

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

Subject: Re: MCI Makes Buses?
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1993 20:17:02 -0500 (CDT)
From: Ron Bean <nicmad!madnix![e-mail]>


[e-mail] (H. Peter Anvin N9ITP) writes:

> Do the city busses labelled "MCI" have anything to do with Microwave
> Communications, Inc.?

   I assume you mean *intercity* buses, although they are used for
commuter runs in some areas. More about that in a minute.

   A few years ago I knew of FOUR different companies named "MCI" that
had nothing to do with each other. One was some kind of paint factory.
One was a subsidiary of Sony that made high-end tape decks for radio
stations. One was the above-mentioned phone company. And one was Motor
Coach Industries, a subsidiary of the Greyhound-Dial corporation (now
called the Dial Corp. since they sold Greyhound, but as far as I know
they still own MCI).

   MCI buses are built in Winnepeg as empty shells, and trucked across
the border to Pembina, North Dakota for finishing. Buses for Greyhound
have the running dog in place of the "MCI" logo.  MCI's biggest
competitor is Prevost, which is also in Canada.

   The group that bought Greyhound also bought Trailways, and nearly
went bankrupt a few years ago.


[e-mail] (Ron Bean)   uwvax!astroatc!nicmad!madnix!zaphod

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

From: Germann Associates <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Dark Fiber?
Organization: Ohio Academic Resources Network
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1993 20:45:30 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Brett
Frankenberger) writes:

> T1 = 24 DS0's (64KB connections), T3 = 28 T1's, or 28*24=672 DS0's.

Trivia question from someone confused:

I've recently received some literature from a company regarding
multiplexing voice over broadband (re: CATV).  They claim they support
DS1 and DS2 interfaces for voice.  Now I know what DS0, DS1 and DS3
are, but what is a DS2 interface, in terms of DS0 channels?

Also, anyone know of any products which can insert a T1 or multiple
T1's onto broadband?

Please reply via e-mail as I will be out of town for the next two
weeks.  Thanks for the feedback.


Regards,

Eric Germann   The Germann Associates  [e-mail]

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

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 93 07:16:26 CST
From: [e-mail] (Jack Winslade)
Subject: Re: Big Rivers
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: DRBBS Technical BBS, Omaha


In a message dated 21-JUL-93, Dave Niebuhr writes:

> The Missouri did that in the 1800's with Iowa and Nebraska at Omaha.
> Originally, the Missouri made an indentation into the Nebraska side,
> but then (maybe due to flooding) moved to the east toward Iowa and
> looped back in such a way the people having to go to the Omaha airport
> from the south and west (correct me if I'm mistaken) had to go through
> Carter Lake, Iowa and then back into Omaha.

This is mostly correct.  Abbott Drive which runs from downtown Omaha
to Eppley crosses a small portion of Iowa which is just east of the
town of Carter Lake.  (BTW, Carter Lake's sewage system is a MESS.
Sewage has been backing up into cellars and drains due to the high
water.)

The expressway, however, swings around to the north of Carter Lake and
connects downtown to Eppley without passing through Iowa.

There is some telecom folklore here, which has been discussed before
but I'll summarize in brief.  Carter Lake is served out of the
Douglas-19th. CO in downtown Omaha and has the prefix 712-347.  This
office also handles 402-341,2,4,5,6,8 and many others.  For a while,
some claim that Carter Lake could be dialed from out of the area as
either 402-347 or 712-347.  This may have been the case years ago, but
now the AC identities follow the political boundaries.

Lines on the 347 office are only installed in the Iowa section just as
the others are in Nebraska only.  One interesting item is that the
Omaha lines out of that office can call much further east into Iowa
toll-free than can the 347 lines in Carter Lake, which can only call
as far east as Council Bluffs and perhaps a few inner outlying
communities.


Good day.       JSW
DRBBS Technical BBS, Omaha  (1:285/666.0)

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 93 00:27 EDT
From: [e-mail] (woody)
Subject: Re: Why the AT&T True Voice Demo Asks For Your Number


The TrueVoice Demo line works from Canada, though it's hard to tell
the difference between regular and True (especially when trying this
from a noisy subway platform :-)). Don't know what AT&T is going to do
with Canadian numbers entered (though they do have part ownership in
Unitel, Bell Canada's main competitor; one wonders if Unitel will pick
up the voice enhancement).

Still, they seem to accept 900 786.7737 as a number.


David Leibold

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

From: [e-mail] (Brett Elliott)
Subject: Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"!
Organization: Calif State Univ/Electronic Information Services
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 06:47:12 GMT


I received a call at work (I work for PacBell) from a lady trying to
reach a number in southern California.  She represented a small
business and was trying to reach a number left by someone "who
represented Xerox".  I pulled up the number and it was under a totally
differnt company with a complex phone system.  She said she heard of a
scam (I hadn't heard anything before this call about the scam)
regarding copy machines.  I blew it off until I read this thread.  It
does happen _quite_ frequently.


[e-mail]

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

From: Craig R. Watkins <[e-mail]>
Subject: AT&T Billing on 5 July
Date: 27 Jul 93 21:40:47 EST
Organization: HRB Systems, Inc.


My calls on the 5th of July were billed at regular day rate.  I
thought that maybe they should have been billed as on a holiday.  I
called AT&T and they said they should have been and credited me.  The
bill was prepared by Bell of Pennsylvania; I don't know whose mistake
it was.

Did this happen to anyone else?


Craig R. Watkins    [e-mail]
HRB Systems, Inc.   [phone]

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 93 00:39 EDT
From: [e-mail] (woody)
Subject: T1s Versus Regular Lines For a FreeNet?


The Toronto FreeNet (TFN) mailings recently included a suggestion to
look at getting T1 lines for the forthcoming FreeNet facility rather
than individual POTS lines. There are apparently adapters that can
connect a T1 line with a number of computer ports, in effect doing the
function modems would be doing on each POTS line otherwise.

The TFN folks would appreciate some insight as to whether T1 lines
would be more cost-effective than separate trunks/POTS lines,
especially considering that there would have to be the equivalent of
100 POTS lines access at the outset of the FreeNet (scheduled to begin
operation by April 1994). Are there any difficulties with establishing
a local number access if T1 lines are used?


David Leibold

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

From: [e-mail] (Harold Hallikainen)
Subject: Picking on Lawyers?
Organization: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 03:01:27 GMT


> [Moderator's Note: I know what! Let's bash attornies. That is a new
> and original idea; I don't think anyone ever does that, do they? To
> close this issue, a 'lawyer joke' ....

    A recent Le Show (NPR program from KCRW) quoted some lawyer as
saying that lawyer jokes were part of the cause for the lawyer shoot
out in San Francisco.  The lawyer suggested lawyer jokes be outlawed
(or at least discouraged).  So, Harry Shearer (the host, though I
probably mis-spelled his name) ran about 15 minutes of lawyer jokes
listeners called in.

    Probably the best stuff I've heard on that show was when he
got a group of actors together and they read the police data radio
transcripts the night of the Rodney King beating.  Amazing to hear
what the LA police were saying about the people they were serving.


Harold


[Moderator's Note: None of what the police said that night comes as
any surprise to people who listen to police scanners. Between 460.050
and 460.600 are about twenty frequencies used by the Chicago Police
and paramedics. Each 'radio zone' typically includes two police dis-
tricts except for the busiest districts which have their own radio
zone. There are several city-wide frequencies, and depending on what
they have to say, these sometimes 'simulcast' with the local zones.
They *never* stop talking, and when something on city-wide is to be
simulcast those dispatchers walk through the locals cutting them off
in mid-sentence, etc. Seriously, they never stop. The radio won't scan
if the 'delay' feature is turned on because on any given police
channel there is never the requisite period of a few seconds silence
to cause the radio to move to the next frequency. They've been much
better lately, but they used to be rather blunt in discussing 'the
citizens'. I think that was before they realized how many 'citizens'
listen to them. Still, I can't be very harsh with them. Some areas of
Chicago are the most violent, criminal places you could imagine. But
the police here could still improve their language/communication skills
a little.   PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Brett Elliott)
Subject: High Speed Modem Connect Signals
Organization: Calif State Univ/Electronic Information Services
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 07:09:41 GMT


Could some knowledgable source explain the signals involved in the
modem connect sequence, more specificly v32bis or USR hst signaling?
What I am not curious about is the handshaking but the interaction
with the telephone network. (Does it send a signal to allow better
signaling?  Explain please, if you can answer this.)


Thanks in advance,

[e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Patricia Snyder-Rayl)
Subject: Re: CONNECT BBS Edition
Organization: GREX Public Access Unix [phone]
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 01:16:58 GMT


JONC at the Continuum PCBoard asked why I didn't include the prices
for subscribing to the CONNECT BBS Edition.  I did that out of
courtesy for the non-commericial nature of the Internet.  What I
posted was a press release, and to have included the prices would have
made it an ad. There is no secret to the rates.  Anyone who wishes to
have more information about the CONNECT BBS Edition can either email
me at [e-mail] or contact Clint Bradford (Attention to
Details BBS) at [phone] voice and his BBS at [phone] up
to 14.4Kbps.


Thank you for your time and trouble.

Patricia Snyder-Rayl   AOL: CONNECT  voice: [phone]
Man. Ed.,  CONNECT magazine   CIS: 70007,4640     fax: [phone]
"The Modem User's Resource"   Delphi: UNICORNPUB  BBS: [phone]

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 93 00:32 EDT
From: [e-mail] (woody)
Subject: Re: Do We Have a Theme Song?


The British Columbia-based band Chilliwack once had a song entitled
"Tell it to the Telephone". A choice verse: "Now the telephone leaves
a lot to be desired / For communication, I much rather be right by
your side / When you owe a lot of money / And they're coming to
collect / It's a long long distance / To get their hands around your
neck".

This was on an album released in 1981.


David Leibold

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #518
******************************










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From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #519

TELECOM Digest     Wed, 28 Jul 93 17:02:30 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 519

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Review From 2600: Inside the 5ESS (Mike King)
    Calls From Prison (Jean Airey)
    Have You Heard of TeleFriend Inc. or GFN??? (Ken Brucker)
    "County-Plus" Calling in Delaware (Carl Moore)
    HR1757 Now Available in Archives (Dave Banisar, CPSR via Monty Solomon)
    Flat-Rate Deals (Stephen Davis)
    Two Lines to One TAD (Steven A. Rubin)
    New Use For 211 (Tim Hogard)
    Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"! (David Hough)
    Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"! (Paul Cook)
    Re: Connecting Site A to Site B (Jon Carmichael)
    Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching? (F. Goldstein)
    Re: Dark Fiber? (Brett Frankenberger)
    Re: Lowest Cost 1-800 Number? (Russ McGuire)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 93 08:04:54 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Mike King)
Subject: Review From 2600: Inside the 5ESS


The Summer '93 edition of {2600} magazine (V10, #2) has some
interesting articles in it.  The lead article is "A Guide to the
5ESS."  The author discusses switch topology, hardware, software, and
how to program it.  As an example, the author shows how the RCF
feature would be added to a line.  The article is eleven pages long.

Other items of interest in this issue include:

* What happens when Britons attempt to get a copy of their credit
report (they get a copy of reports for everyone who lived at the same
address for the last six years).  Brit creditors assume that if you
live in a house formerly occupied by a deadbeat, then you're highly
likely to be a deadbeat yourself.

* (In the letters section) some COCOTs in Texaco stations in
Washington (State) have no security -- dial 1-800 and wait; no keypad
lockout and talk-path is not cut [I assume this implies dial tone is
returned].  The editor suggested phreaking COCOTs is more dangerous
than phreaking Ma because the owner could well be lurking nearby.

* (Also in the letters) suggested ANAC numbers for 310/818 include:
114, 1223, 61056, 760, or 760+4D.  This month's ANAC number for
Albuquerque, NM [the NM in the US ;-)] is 990-4312.

* (Letters...) one correspondent is in the process of fixing his
credit report after declaring bankruptcy by disputing each derogatory
item.  After the credit bureau receives the challenge, they must
contact the creditor and reverify the information.  If the creditor
doesn't respond within 15 days, then the item has to be deleted from
the report.  The writer suggests that as more and more people
challenge negative reports, the creditors won't be able to keep up
with the number of requests (so keep challenging).

* A list of government BBSs.

This is the third issue of {2600} I've purchased, and I think it's
quite a bargain for $4 at the newstand -- assuming uou can find a
newstand that sells it!


Mike King * Software Sourcerer * Fairchild Space * +1 301.428.5384
[e-mail] or [e-mail]  *  (usual disclaimers)

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 93 09:09:03 EDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Calls From Prison
Organization: AT&T


Pat:

WRT the recent discussion and your comments on the calls from prison
being routed through AOS.  That's not true just in Illinois,
apparently it's true in other locations as well.  A foster child of
ours wound up in prison in Arizona (you can't win them all) and calls
to talk to my husband (long story).  I don't mind paying for the call
(I handle the phone bills), but I strongly objected when the calls
started coming through an AOS.

I've found out that the prisons (at least many of them) want an
automated-only system -- with no human intervention at all, ever.
With (get this!) no access to "800" or "700" calls -- let alone a
"call me" card!  I called an AT&T contact to discuss this and was told
that that is the case and that AT&T now does have equipment to handle
the calls the way the prisons want them handled -- but is not having
an easy time persuading the systems to use them.

Now I don't know, but is it possible that the local systems get some
kind of a kick-back or percentage of usage from the AOS?  I agree, it
just doesn't seem right that the families are paying for it.  Now I
fully recognize that there are prisoners who are calling people and
discussing things that are not to the benefit of society, :-), but
surely there are others for whom the chance to talk to someone
"straight" on the outside might be important for any chance of
rehabilitation they need.

In my opinion, of course.


Jean Airey


[Moderator's Note: One thing you have to understand about the corrections
industry in the United States is that many of the people employed in
the industry are on the wrong side of the bars only by accident. I know
a fellow who worked for Cook County Jail for a few years. He was frank
in saying that as he interviewed the people who came past him day
after day (his job title was 'intake technician'; he did initial inter-
views with new prisoners as they arrived) that it was the easiest
thing in the world to screw up and find yourself on the wrong side of
the intake window. Very easy ... just slight changes in circumstances
would do it.

Corrections is a big, tasty pie with lots of people wanting to get a
big slice for themselves. After all, where else can you get such a
captive customer base?  One AOS owner was quoted in the {Christian
Science Monitor} saying, "I'm glad we have a war on drugs going on.
The prisons and jails are more crowded than ever; this means more
business for companies which contract with prisons for health care,
food service, and telephone service ...". I think the reason AT&T is
losing out where prison phone service is concerned is because they
refuse to pay bribes to corrections management people who come looking
for a personal slice of the pie. AT&T would like the business,
although prisons are not the best type of accounts, profit-wise. On
the other hand, the AOS's are glad to spread the loot around with
personal gifts to prison officials; there is more than enough to go
around, considering what they charge.

If you don't subscribe to the {Monitor} you really should; it is a
great newspaper. I've read it for 35 years, since I got my first
subscription in high school.  PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Ken Brucker - VMS|Ultrix|Network System Manager)
Subject: Have You Heard of TeleFriend Inc. or GFN???
Date: 28 Jul 93 09:29:49 -0800
Organization: Computervision, San Diego CA


Has anyone ever heard of Global Wats, Global Family Network or
TeleFriend, Inc.?

Someone I know handed me a couple of brochures on this "new" network
marketing company TeleFriend, Inc. that was started by Global Wats
(supposedly a national long distance marketing company that I've never
heard of) offering long distance telephone service via the Global
Family Network (GFN).

They offer a variety of benifits like five free hours of long distance
a year, billing based on six second intervals instead of one minute
and then they also have the network marketing bent that provides
income based on your downline using the phone.

Any comments on this service?  Has anyone tried it or heard of it?  I
like the service I get from AT&T now but if these guys are cheaper and
have good service then I'd consider giving them a try.


Thanks,

Ken Brucker -- VMS/Ultrix/Network Management -- Computervision -- San Diego
[e-mail]

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 93 13:33:51 EDT
From: Carl Moore <[e-mail]>
Subject: "County-Plus" Calling in Delaware


I had occasion to call Diamond State Telephone on an unrelated matter
(it turns out I had to say I was NOT ordering the Doylestown, Pa.
directory despite sending a letter about some of the call-guide
contents), when I heard (from that office) about yet-to-be-approved
"county plus" calling.  This is apparently an expansion from the
"county" calling plan discussed in the digest earlier).  This would
include Dover to New Castle becoming a local call?  (Dover calling
area now goes as far north as Smyrna inclusive.)

What I was actually asking about when the "county plus" was mentioned
was what will happen to long-distance dialing within Delaware (the NNX
area codes are coming).  Once the misunderstanding was straightened
out, the service rep. said she didn't know.  I'll break here and send
another message about long distance within Delaware (area 302).

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 04:51:35 -0400
From: Monty Solomon <[e-mail]>
Subject: HR1757 Now Available in Archives
Organization: Express Access Online Communications, Greenbelt, MD USA


[Moderator's Note: This was passed on to us by Monty.   PAT]

Archive-name: auto/bit.listserv.govdoc-l/hr1757

The revised version of HR1757, the national information infrastructure
bill introduced by Rep. Boucher is now available on the CPSR Internet
Library. FTP/WAIS/GOPHER to cpsr.org /cpsr/nii/hr1757_july_1993.txt.
if you do not have ftp/wais/gopher, email [e-mail] with the
word "help" as the body of the text.


Dave Banisar   CPSR Washington Office

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

From: [e-mail] (Stephen Davis)
Subject: Flat-Rate Deals
Date: 28 Jul 1993 02:33:18 -0700
Organization: "A World of Information at your Fingertips"


I have just signed up for a flat-rate calling service. I'm paying $50
a month for 8 1/2 hours of time.  I can call anywhere in the U.S., the
time of day does not affect anything.  I signed for this only after
calling around to other 'telecommunication' companies in the area.

    My question is, are there perhaps some 800 services that have
better prices than $.10 per hour?  This seems pretty good to me, as I can
make the calls anytime, anywhere.


[e-mail]
Director; Lispotheraputic Support Group, Int'l
All implied insults, puns, and flames are
(c) 1993 Screaming Radish Publishing Co.

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

From: [e-mail] (Steven A Rubin)
Subject: Two Lines to One TAD
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 12:21:37 -0400
Organization: Homewood Academic Computing, Johns Hopkins Univ Baltimore, Md


Perhaps someone could shed some light on the following problem:

I am trying to hook up two phone lines to one answering machine via a
device purchased from Radio Shack.

When the device is connected, each line produces a noticable hum when
making, and during phone calls.  The polarity of everything has been
checked and is correct.  I have tried three different boxes and all do
the same thing.  Both phone lines come out of the same CO, out of the
same switch so it is unlikely there is some weird ground problem.

Any ideas of what is causing this problem?  I have an identical box
going to two different lines from different COs and it works
flawlessly.

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

From: [e-mail] (Cont Tim Hogard)
Subject: New Use For 211
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 12:31:19 -0400 (EDT)


I heard on the radio today that the people that run 911 want people to
call into 211 to test their addresses and other information.  They
gave out a schedule for certain prefixes to call during a range of
times over the next few days.

This is in Southern Bell country in Houtson county (if you're from
Texas you will not pronounce it like the locals).  SB uses some ESS5
switches and the numbers are in the ranges of 912-74X-, 47X-, 78X-.


Tim Hogard   Robins AFB    Warner Robins GA

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

From: [e-mail] (David Hough)
Subject: Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"!
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 06:04:27 +0000


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Fred Ennis) writes:

> While I am speaking of telecom scams, there's also the outfit in
> Europe that sends out bills for fax or telex directory listings, and
> if you pay the bill the fine print says you're agreeing to be listed
> in the NEXT directory and pay that bill as well!

What about the ones who don't even bother to publish a directory?
There have been a few of those going around in the not too distant
past. At least if they publish the thing it isn't quite so bad.


Dave
G4WRW @ GB7WRW.#41.GBR.EU AX25
[e-mail]  Internet
[e-mail]      Amprnet

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 93 17:38 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"!


In the past few years these guys have switched to selling fax paper.
For awhile I was getting lots of these calls, but they seem to have
died off.  We were getting so many that I asked our PBX attendant to
switch them to me.  The instructions were that I should get any call
from anyone who started asking questions about either our fax or copy
machines.  After awhile I got familiar with their routine, so it was
time to have a little fun.

At our company, we cannot buy anything unless Purchasing issues a
valid purchase order.  So when the scam artist would call and breezily
ask for information about our machines, or say that they were a
regular supplier of ours, I would start asking questions.  What I
discovered was that when I asked even the most basic questions that a
business would normally ask to identify a current or potential
supplier, they would just hang up!  Things like the NAME and ADDRESS
of their company!

This was such a common pattern that I started asking them to first
promise me not to hang up before I started asking the questions.  This
was usually met with a puzzled response, but I would tell them that we
were getting a lot of calls from fax paper suppliers who would
suddenly and mysteriously hang up.

When I asked where they were calling from, they would always give me a
name that sounded "big", but was not anyone we had heard of.  I would
mention that I couldn't find them in our list of suppliers, and to
please give me their address.  Next would come a vague reference to
their location being in "California."  When asked again, they would
say "L.A.".  One poor guy was obviously new as a toner foner, and
started covering up the handset to ask someone how to handle these
incredibly "intrusive" questions ... experienced toner foners would
have hung up long before.  Finally I got him to promise me again not
to hang up, and I asked again for their address ... in desperation
finally saying, "No, Brad, I need the actual street address of the
physical location that you are calling from."  He hung up.

On the occasions when I did get a phone number, it was always phoney.
When I got them to tell me the city they were calling from, their
company name was never listed with directory assistance.

Maybe we got on some kind of list that they pass around of difficult
people that they don't want to deal with.  They haven't called in over
a year, but we used to get called constantly.


Paul Cook                           206-881-7000
Proctor & Associates           MCI Mail 399-1080
15050 NE 36th St.              fax: [phone]
Redmond, WA  98052-5378      [e-mail]

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

Subject: Re: Connecting Site A to Site B
From: [e-mail] (Jon Carmichael)
Date: 27 Jul 93 21:34:00 GMT
Organization: uuPCB - Demonstration Version
Reply-To: cntinuum![e-mail] (Jon Carmichael)


> We also have 56Kb digital circuits between the main office and each
> of the remote locations, for data communications.

Depending on the type of data you're carrying, there are multiplexors
that will allow you to carry 40 terminal connections (async) while
carrying two voice trunks (compressed) simultaneously. What that means
is that you get two voice grade lines you can talk on without buying
another 56K link.


JONC
The Continuum PCBoard -*- @9600+  call 818-441-2625  @2400- call 818-799-9633

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

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching?
Organization: Digital Equipment Corp.
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 04:56:47 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (John
Nagle) writes:

> The interesting thing is that COs still mostly follow the
> model of a big dumb crosspoint run as a computer peripheral.  One
> would think by now that switches would be much more distributed, with
> little CPUs all through the switch fabric.  But given the amount of
> trouble people still have designing distributed systems, it's not
> clear that using lots of little CPUs would improve reliability, and
> might well make it worse.

Computer folks and telephone folks are a long way apart, that's fer
sure.  I do however have a passing familiarity with both
disciplines.

Distributing the logic in a telephone switch is a tricky proposition.
In practice, you need ONE central system-wide state machine or the
whole system won't work.  This CPU has to keep track of all of the
system's objects (to use a modern name).  These are lines, trunks,
numbers (.ne. lines), bandwidth, etc.

Distributing all of the logic causes major grief.  It is not a problem
for POTS services: A stepper is fully distributed, and an electronic
stepper-like switch is possible (and available ...)  But if you want
to be competitive and have real Centrex/PBX features, you need multi-
line key telephone sets implemented in software.  These have an
arbitrary number of line buttons, each of which has a visual
indication of status, accurate within a second or less.

This is not terribly hard to implement when the keyset control process
can poll the status of each monitored line or number.  But when a
switch is fully distributed, where do you look?  You get into a messy
information exchange problem that requires lots of bandwidth and tends
to take oodles more programming, yet software is already most of the
cost.

That fully-distributed switching is a losing proposition (in the US
market, where keysets count, but not necessarily Europe where the
culture doesn't expect them) can be seen from industry experience.
Northern's SL-1 and DMS switches always had single state CPUs.  The
DMS-100 has a bunch of little microprocessors chugging away at local
real-time tasks, but one "big" CPU (often a 68020 but lately it might
be a bigger Moto chip) runs the real generic.  I think the source
language is Protel, a specialized structured language.  (The SL-1 was
originally written in the SL-1 language.)  These switches are very
successful.

The AT&T 5ESS was first announced with an almost-fully distributed
processing model, but was withdrawn for three years or so and finally
shipped with a lot more power than expected (read: state machine) in
the central module.  It does have a lot of distributed power, but at
least there's one core.  I think they've given up on trying to get rid
of it, as per some early 5ESS literature which practically apologized
for not being fully distributed.

The Mitel SX-2000 has distributed real-time Motos surrounding a
centralized state machine.  It's fairly successful.  But look...  The
ITT 1240 was fully distributed.  It never worked in the US market and
was pulled; ITT sold out to Alcatel.  The 1240 is a big hit in Europe
where there's no need for keysets.  The Rolm VLCBX was fully
distriubted and years late.  The Wescom 580DSS divvied its CPU load
into six processors and look how far they got.

In any case, fully-distributed operation does not add reliability.  A
distributed stepper had no single failure point.  But with processors,
you can distribute all you want and still have a single bug in the
code bring down all instances of it.  Witness the famous event,
chronicled here in the Digest, when AT&T's SS7 network crashed due to
one misplaced "break" statement.


Fred R. Goldstein  [e-mail]
Opinions are mine alone; sharing requires permission.

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

From: [e-mail] (Brett Frankenberger)
Subject: Re: Dark Fiber?
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 13:04:13 GMT


Germann Associates <[e-mail]> writes:

> I've recently received some literature from a company regarding
> multiplexing voice over broadband (re: CATV).  They claim they support
> DS1 and DS2 interfaces for voice.  Now I know what DS0, DS1 and DS3
> are, but what is a DS2 interface, in terms of DS0 channels?

DS2 = 4 DS1's.  (Or 4*24=96 Voice Channels).  (A DS3 then would be 7
DS2's, or 7*4=28 DS1's, etc.)

Most multiplexing is done at the 24 DS0->DS1 and then 28 DS1->DS3 ...
(i.e. they multiplex 24 DS0's to a DS1 with one box (or they have a
much more fancy box that generates a T1, -or- it started out as a T1
(A T1 trunk port on a switch, for example), and then they put it into
another box that takes 24 T1's and gives a T3 (or DS3)).  The DS2
intermediate step is not commonly used.


Brett  ([e-mail])   (formerly [e-mail])
Brett Frankenberger

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

From: [e-mail] (Russ McGuire)
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 93 08:00:01 -0500
Subject: Re: Lowest Cost 1-800 Number?


[e-mail] (Patrick Nta) asked:

> Which company offers the lowest 1-800 number for small business?

According to the April issue of The Beacon Research Group's Business
Consumer Guide, it depends on your specific situation.  They did,
however look at products from Allnet, AT&T, Cable&Wireless, LCI, LDDS,
MCI, US Sprint, and WilTel.  They produced a summary chart of "Real
world 800 costs" based on call volume in minutes per month,
identifying the least expensive reviewed product and the savings
compared to AT&T's competitive products (Startline and Readyline).
Briefly summarized, this was:

Call Volume    Least Expensive        % savings
minutes/month    reviewed program    over AT&T

100        LDDS Acclaim III    18%
250        LDDS Acclaim III    21%
500        LDDS Acclaim III    19%
1,000        Allnet Instantline 800    26%
2,500        WilTel Wilplus II    23%
5,000        Allnet Instantline 800    21%
10,000        Allnet Instantline 800    21%
25,000        Allnet Instantline 800    20%

(for more details, contact the Beacon Research Group at 125 Walnut
Street, Watertown, MA 02172).

Phone numbers listed for the above companies are:
Allnet: 800-783-2020
AT&T:    800-222-0400
LDDS:    800-456-4363
WilTel:    800-864-4060

Disclaimer: I am an employee of WilTel.  I have no association with
the Beacon Research Group.  Although the above results reflect
positively on my employer, they are merely a brief summary of
information contained in a report by the Beacon Research Group.  If
you are interested in more detailed information about their study, I
recommend that you contact them at the above address for a copy of the
report.  I certainly cannot vouch for the accuracy of their data nor
the validity of their approach.


Russ McGuire    WilTel, Inc.   [e-mail]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #519
******************************










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Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1993 01:08:31 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #520

TELECOM Digest     Thu, 29 Jul 93 01:08:15 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 520

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Online Congressional Hearing Postponed (Carl Malamud via Tom Lahey)
    Wanted: Novatel Cellular Phone Handset and Handset Cradle (Seng-Poh Lee)
    On-line Access to AT&T CIC Catalogue (David Leibold)
    Models For Opnet (mil3) (Mark Gregory)
    Use of DataPhone 2000 (Ed Gehringer)
    Caller ID Blocking in N.J. (John R. Levine)
    Lead in the Industry (Dave Carpentier)
    Frame Setup (Brett Elliott)
    Zoom VFX Modem (Todd L. Brooks)
    Is This Legal? (Gang Zhou)
    ADSI Specs Wanted? (Ray Berry)
    CNA Information For College Telcom Office (Matthew Harttree)
    Costs to Cable (Lynne Gregg)
    Tested For Busy Signal (Carl Moore)
    Press *4 (Carl Moore)
    What Changes For Delaware? (Carl Moore)
    Re: MCI Makes Buses? (Ed Greenberg)
    Re: MCI Makes Buses? (Fred)
    Re: Phone Number -> Name/Address ([e-mail])
    Re: Do We Have a Theme Song? (Garrett Wollman)
    Re: New AM Band Violates No-Intercept Rule? (Mark A. Terribile)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Tom Lahey)
Organization: Avid Technology, Inc.
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 16:59:56 EST
Subject: Online Congressional Hearing Postponed


 From another forum.........

Online Congressional Hearing Postponed

The Internet Town Hall depends on donations from many organizations,
many of which are commercial entities. Given the cost of computers,
software, and network links, this isn't surprising, and in fact, it's
an example of how even competing companies can cooperate for the
community good, much as people cooperate on the Internet.

Along with everything else, the Online Congressional Hearing was going
to transmit audio and video over the Internet, and to avoid destroying
the standard links, ARPA volunteered the use of their high-speed
experimental DARTNET, whose underlying facilities are operated by
Sprint. The Internet Town Hall folks asked if Sprint would like to
join, and in the process provide a high-speed link to the hearing
room. Sprint expressed some concerns about the ethical considerations
of donating the link to the government, even for this use alone, so
the subcommittee postponed the hearing for several months.

The problem is that donations to the underlying infrastructure of the
congressional committee could be construed as expenses which the
government would have to reimburse. The idea is to avoid it seeming as
though the committee was beholden to a specific interest group. I have
a feeling that things are not so squeaky clean in Washington as this
may imply, but I approve of the Internet Town Hall folks making sure
that the Internet is kept above any such impropriety. We hope this
hearing will happen in a few months and not end up sucked into a giant
black hole of government investigations.

You can still email comments to <[e-mail]> to be
forwarded to the Subcommittee staff. You can also ask to be added to a
list that will be notified when the hearing is rescheduled.


Information from:

    Carl Malamud -- [e-mail]

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

Tom Lahey                     E-Mail: [e-mail]
Avid Technology, Inc.          Phone:  [phone]
One Park West                    Fax:    [phone]
Tewksbury, MA  01876

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

From: Seng-Poh Lee <[e-mail]>
Subject: Wanted: Novatel Cellular Phone Handset and Handset Cradle
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 23:24:43 -0400 (EDT)


I'm looking for a spare handset and speaker cradle for a Novatel
Cellular phone.  I don't need the base unit.  The actual model is an
HC 585P AP4, but I believe there were several similiar models around
that time (two or three years ago) that used the same handset.  If you
happen to have one lying around, please contact me.


Thanks,

Seng-Poh Lee  <[e-mail]>

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 93 23:40 EDT
From: [e-mail] (woody)
Subject: On-line Access to AT&T CIC Catalogue


Don Kimberlin posted another item of interest to the Fidonet. Since he
doesn't seem to be hanging around the Digest much these days, I'm
sending along an excerpt of what was said ...

You can telephone [phone] or [phone] to get telephone
assistance from the AT&T CIC staff, and place orders with them for
publications to help you, and there's now an on-line searchable link
to their catalog, so you can browse as you will at any hour of the day
or night through all their many years of material.  Here's some text
from their announcement of the AT&T CIC on-line offering:

     "INTRODUCING THE MOST COMPLETE CATALOG OF AT&T DOCUMENTS

        AT&T's Customer Information Center (CIC) now offers a free
on-line catalog where you can locate and order from over 380,000
documents using your PC terminal.

        Find documents using key word, title, subject or document
number.  Then use the on-line order form for simple and quick service!

        Access the CIC database using the directions below, then
simply follow the prompts:

AT&T Datakit Users                      Dial-Up Users
At the "destination" prompt, enter:     Telephone Sue Rea at
426/813/nik1.telnet..sunids             317-322-6491
                                        for instructions and
                                        a logon ID and password.


           THROUGH THE CIC CATALOG YOU CAN LOCATE:

        o AT&T Plant and Engineering Practices o Product Manuals
        o User Guides o Installation and Service Manuals
        o Books o Brochures o Catalogs o Product Bulletins
        o Handbooks o Newsletters o Training Materials
        o Engineering Drawings o Technical Bulletins
        o Product Specifications o Administrative Forms
        o Employee Benefit Literature
        o International Telephone Directories

        Questions regarding the CIC catalog should be directed to
Brenda Oeff at 317-322-6626."


Origin: Borderline! BBS Kannapolis,N.C. [phone]  (1:379/37.0)

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

From: [e-mail] (Mark Gregory)
Subject: Models For Opnet (mil3)
Date: 29 Jul 1993 04:16:52 GMT
Organization: Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.


Hi,

    I have just received opnet from Mil3 and would like to run a
few laboratories based on small models of ISDN and B-ISDN (ATM).

Would anyone who can help please reply.

If you have any other interesting models that you would not mind
passing on then I would appreciate you assistance.


Thank you,

Mark Gregory Lecturer [e-mail] PH(03)6603243 FAX[phone]
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology,
Department of Communication and Electronic Engineering,
P.O. Box 2476V, Melbourne, Victoria, 3001. AUSTRALIA.

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 93 19:20:46 -0400
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Use of DataPhone 2000


I recently tried to use a DataPhone 2000 to call my computer from my
PC.

First I tried to type the phone number, followed by a few pause
characters, followed by the authorization code, into my terminal
emulator.  I failed to connect.

I then called the operator, who gave me credit for the first call
and tried it herself.  Again I failed to connect.

Then I found another DataPhone 2000 where the "help" function was
working.  It instructed me to dial the number manually, then hang up
when the computer answers.  I did so, waiting for the "whoosh" before
hanging up.  But I was disconnected.

I tried once more, but this time hung up before hearing the whoosh.  I
still failed to connect.

What are the proper incantations for using this kind of phone?


Thanks,

Ed

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

From: [e-mail] (John R Levine)
Subject: Caller ID Blocking in N.J.
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 93 19:44:32 EDT


The Privacy Journal notes that New Jersey Bell just started offering
per-line and per-call CLID blocking.  N.J. was the only state where
blocking was unavailable.

Another article notes that CLID has not been much of a marketing
success.  In places where it's been offered, rarely do as many as 5%
of eligible customers subscribe and a lot of people who do subscribe
drop the service.  I was surprised to hear that Bell Canada says
they're getting 15% signup in Ontario and Quebec.


Regards,

John Levine, [e-mail], {spdcc|ima|world}!iecc!johnl

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

From: [e-mail]
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 11:40:35 -0400
Subject: Lead in the Industry


With all the concern over health hazards these days, I'd like to know
how many teleco's still use lead sheathed cables and lead sleeves
(closures). I routinely have to work with the stuff as a cable
splicer.

We no longer install lead sheathed cables, but have to maintain the
existing ones. Lead sleeves are still the standard here for under-
ground (ducted) splices, mostly due to design flexibilty/cost/reli-
ability.

Any info would be appreciated.


Dave

(ps: do we get OP people in here?)

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

From: [e-mail] (Brett Elliott)
Subject: Frame Setup
Organization: Calif State Univ/Electronic Information Services
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1993 03:11:43 GMT


I should be touring a CO soon so I would like to brush up on the
terminology soon.  After the MDF, the cable pair goes to the multiple
side of the IDF where the calling info is recorded and goes through
the local side to the equipment.  Now, this information was found out
from 100 year old books (OK -- maybe 20 years old).  How much of this
setup is correct and how are cable numbers and pair numbers located at
the exchange side (vertical) of the MDF?


Thanks in advance,

[e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Todd L. Brooks)
Subject: Zoom VFX Faxmodem
Date: 28 Jul 1993 18:43:57 GMT
Organization: University of Washington


I would like to get some feedback on the quality and performance of
the Zoom VFX v.32bis Faxmodem.  Have you had any problems with it or
the company?  Please email.  Thank you.

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

From: [e-mail] (Gang Zhou)
Subject: Is This Legal?
Date: 28 Jul 1993 19:13:42 -0700
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA


I'm living in an apartment owned by the USC housing service. I'm
connected to Pacific Bell so far. But soon, USC will switch our phone
lines to USC telephone service, so they have the absolute monopoly of
my phone service. As you can guess, their long distance (especially
international) rates are outrageously high.

I'm wondering if it's legal that they disconnect me from the Pacific
Bell without my agreement? They did give me a form for the disconnec-
tion, but I refused to fill it. If it's legal, because they own the
building, can they apply long distance rate as high as they want until
the housing contract expires?


Gang


[Moderator's Note: Whenever the landlord makes substantial changes in
the accomodations offered, or arranges things in such a way that the
tenant winds up paying much more than before, the landlord is in viol-
ation of the lease. You could probably vacate before the lease expired
if you wished. Did the original housing contract call for phone service
from Bell?  If so, then switching the service also caused the lease to
be broken.   PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Ray Berry)
Subject: ADSI Specs Wanted
Organization: Eskimo North (206) For-Ever
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 19:40:33 GMT


   I've read that CID operates in compliance with specs contained in a
document called ADSI -- Analog Display Services Interface.  This
document goes beyond CID, e.g., spelling out ways for the end user to
transmit info in the other direction.  Is this document available to
developers?  Is it ftp'able?  I haven't a clue where to look for it,
but I think it would make for interesting reading.


Ray Berry   kb7ht   [e-mail]
[e-mail] [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Matthew Harttree)
Subject: CNA Information For College Telcom Office
Date: 28 Jul 1993 21:08:06 GMT
Organization: ELON COLLEGE ACADEMIC COMPUTING VAX1


Do any comapnies offer customer name and address information via the
internet?

I believe that this would be a helpful feature for colleges and
universities that are in the service provider role and need to resolve
billing issues and discover cases of fraud.  I believe that I saw
(long time ago) that one company was offering this information to
service providers like college telcom offices directly via the
internet.

If you know of a service like this or are using one I would appreciate
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance for your time.  Please reply via
e-mail to:

[e-mail]


Thanks again,

Matt Harttree    [e-mail]   [e-mail]

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

From: Lynne Gregg <[e-mail]>
Subject: Costs to  Cable
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 93 14:48:00 PDT


Recently another reader posted a query on costs to run fiber.

I'm seeking current costs on running various cable types: copper
(varieties of coax), twisted pair, fiber.

If you post directly to me, I'll sum for the Digest.

For those of you who are interested in cable options, there is a good
overview of the options and advantages of copper vs. fiber in 7/26
{ComputerWorld} (47).


Regards,

Lynne

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 93 10:24:32 EDT
From: Carl Moore <[e-mail]>
Subject: Tested For Busy Signal


OK, I went to a pay phone on 410-273 prefix, and tested for busy
signal with and without the Orange Card, but got the same result this
time.  (I did this yesterday, July 27.)  I used calling cards to try
to reach the phone's own number.

0 + 7D defaulted to C&P, and I used my AT&T card number.  Then I tried
the Orange Card.

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 93 10:51:07 EDT
From: Carl Moore <[e-mail]>
Subject: Press *4


Seen November 1991 on northbound I-81 at pay phone [phone]:

CCI (Call Communications Inc.)
2221 Port Republic Road
Harrisonburg, VA 22801

U.S. Link -- Press *4 -- attempts every 15 minutes for next eight
hours -- $1.95 to MC,V,AE.  Your message, your voice.

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 93 13:42:01 EDT
From: Carl Moore <[e-mail]>
Subject: What Changes For Delaware?


At the end of my "county-plus" message, I mentioned long distance
within Delaware, which is still 1 + 7D (and 7D is still useable for
local calls to PA and MD, although local calls FROM PA TO DE are 1
+302 + 7D now).  I still don't know what Delaware will get for long
distance within it when it is time to prepare for the NNX area codes.

I do notice, however, that there is local service across the entire DE
- PA border and also across parts of the 215/717 border.  Also, those
parts of 215 bordering 717 and bordering Delaware will go to 610.
Perhaps Delaware and Pennsylvania are to have 7D for long distance
within area code (and 1 + NPA + 7D for local calls to another area
code), with Delaware and 717 waiting until area code 610 is useable?
(Just my own guess.)  If this is correct, then there have to be two
stages:

1.  change local calls to another area code from 7D to 1 + NPA + 7D.
2.  remove the leading 1 for long distance within area code.

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

From: [e-mail] (Ed Greenberg)
Subject: Re: MCI Makes Buses?
Organization: Netcom Online Communications Services (408-241-9760 login: guest)
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 18:43:28 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Alan M. Gallatin) writes:

> When I first read this, I couldn't help but laugh at the irony ... MCI
> long distance has *nothing* whatsoever to do with MCI bus manufacturer,
> but the latter is a subsidiary of *DIAL* corporation.

Well, of course, telephone enthusiasts have used DIAL soap for years,
but now, as we get more modern most are using TONE soap.  'Course,
TONE soap is two bucks a month extra ...  :-)


Ed Greenberg    [e-mail]    Ham Radio: KM6CG

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

From: [e-mail] (Fred)
Subject: Re: MCI Makes Buses?
Organization: Digital Equipment Corp.
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1993 04:36:05 GMT


> [e-mail] (H. Peter Anvin N9ITP) writes:

> Do the city busses labelled "MCI" have anything to do with Microwave
> Communications, Inc.?

Speaking of the overlaid initials "MCI", here in the Bay State, the
term means "Massachusetts Correctional Institution at", as in MCI
Concord, MCI Norfolk, MCI Gardner ...

I wonder what long distance company their pay phones are presubscribed
to.

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 93 09:44:13 EDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Phone Number -> Name/Address
Organization: AT&T


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(gordon hlavenka) writes:

> Okay, I've got a phone number.  It's in the 815 area code.  I'd like
> the address that goes with it.

> So I called [phone], punched in the number, and got the message
> "Information for area code 815 is not available."  What's plan B?  Is
> 815 not served by Ameritech? (I thought they were, but ...)

        NUMBER TO NAME AND ADDRESS (Plan B)

Call the UnDirectory service, 900-933-3330, from any U.S. touch-tone
phone and enter any 10-digit U.S. phone number after the prompt.  The
cost is $1 a minute, and you can get up to three lookups a minute.

The UnDirectory service gives name and address information for listed
numbers only and cannot rebate for unsuccessful or inaccurate lookups.

(I wrote a month ago that Clarity Inc, Red Bank, NJ, which then
provided UnDirectory lookups for East Coast number would soon cover
the whole country.  That transition is now complete.  The UnDirectory
database includes Alaska and Hawaii.)


Blake Patterson

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

From: [e-mail] (Garrett Wollman)
Subject: Re: Do We Have a Theme Song?
Organization: University of Vermont, EMBA Computer Facility
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 19:24:11 GMT


In article <[e-mail]>, woody <[e-mail]> wrote:

> The British Columbia-based band Chilliwack once had a song entitled
> "Tell it to the Telephone". A choice verse: "Now the telephone leaves
> a lot to be desired / For communication, I much rather be right by
> your side / When you owe a lot of money / And they're coming to
> collect / It's a long long distance / To get their hands around your
> neck".

> This was on an album released in 1981.

Have BC Tel's rates improved any in the past decade?

That reminds me, though, of something I've been meaning to ask.  Most
of the readers on this Digest are probably fairly familiar with the
historical development of the US telephone network, both before and
after Judge Greene.  Could some of our Canadian readers enlighten us
with their knowledge of the parallel development of the Canadian
telephone network, especially the relationships among the various
local providers, the development of long-distance services, and
connections with the various US telcos.

I remember that Unitel was originally CNCP Telecommunications.  Were
they one of those providers who started out selling spare capacity on
the railroad companies' plant?

(I saw on Prime Time News last week, when Northern announced their big
loss, how many US telcos have come to depend on being able to play off
AT&T and NT to get the best pricing structure on new switches; several
RBOCs now have large numbers of DMSes installed because of this, not
to mention Sprint and MCI.)


Garrett A. Wollman   [e-mail]
uvm-gen!wollman      UVM disagrees.

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

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: New AM Band Violates No-Intercept Rule?
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 20:41:24 GMT


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
(David Breneman) writes:

> Michael Covington ([e-mail]) wrote:

>> ... the ban on receivers that get the cellular frequencies ... :
>> (1) The proper technical solution is to encrypt the signal ...; (2)
>> Heretofore, Americans had been allowed to buy radios that would tune
>> any frequency whatsoever; this is the very first peacetime ban on
>> radio receivers ..

> A few states have banned automotive radar detectors.  As far as I
> know, this has never been seriously challenged in court.

I believe that the ban is not on owning or using a radar receiver, but
on operating a motor vehicle while using one.  And I believe that many
states have similar restrictions on operating a motor vehicle while
listening to a scanner that receives the police bands.


(This man's opinions are his own.)
 From mole-end        Mark Terribile
[e-mail], Somewhere in Matawan, NJ

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #520
******************************










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Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1993 01:35:31 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #521

TELECOM Digest     Thu, 29 Jul 93 01:35:30 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 521

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching? (Al Varney)
    Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching? (Floyd Davidson)
    Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching? (John Nagle)
    Re: 911 For Non-Emergencies? (was Re: Natwick 911 Drama) (M. Vandepas)
    Re: AT&T Billing on 5 July (Ed Greenberg)
    Re: SIMTEL 20 Closing Down (Graham Toal)
    Re: What is This Number? (Graham Toal)
    Re: AT&T Operator Terminal (David Breneman)
    Re: New AT&T Feature: TrueVoice ([e-mail])
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 93 13:26:03 CDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching?
Organization: AT&T Network Systems


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (John
Nagle) writes:

> [e-mail] (Chris Brady) writes:

>> It seems as though the latest central office switches are still
>> offered on proprietary software -- and frequently, hardware --
>> platforms.  This appears to me to be due to the stringent real time
>> expectations we have placed on telephony, combined with strict
>> requirements for massive throughput, data integrity, system
>> availability and environmental conditions.  Nonetheless, there have
>> been efforts in Bellcore and elsewhere to essentially reduce the CO
>> switch to a peripheral of a general purpose computer, and thus enjoy
>> the supposed benefits of riding more popular technology curves.  I'd
>> be interested in discussion on why this vision is not being realized
>> in the CO market: do the technical constraints really demand
>> proprietary computer implementations, or are there market forces that
>> are disincenting major telecom providers from making this leap?

   Chris, we need all morning and a pot of coffee to get into all the
issues raised by your concise paragraph.  Let me just suggest that the
implications of the paragraph, that CO switches are made up of
"proprietary" software and hardware, differ somewhat from reality.

   Certainly the majority of the cost/volume of a CO switch today is
tied up in "proprietary" hardware that would have to exist regardless
of the architecture -- the "peripheral" you mentioned above.  It seems
then that your model of the CO switch is CPU + "switching fabric", and
your question is "why isn't the CPU part a general purpose computer".
In some newer digital COs, the "central" CPU is indeed a general
purpose computer.  For example, AT&T's 5ESS(rg.tm) switch uses a
3B20D(tm) computer that is (or at least was) available in commercial
configurations.  The 3B20D processor runs a version of UNIX(tm) on top
of a message-passing kernal, and is used in many other products as a
control or adjunct processor.

   However, the CPU + fabric model is not adequate to support large,
multi-feature CO switches.  Virtually all large switches today are
either based on a distributed architecture, or use intelligent
peripherals/adjuncts to off-load some of the CPU load.  With ISDN,
high-speed packet switching, multiple trunk signaling methods, SS7
signaling, etc., there's just too much going on in a feature-rich
switch to use a single CPU.  And small, specialized switches have a
lot of trunking and economy-of-scale negatives, as well as feature
limitations.

   I think it is just wishful thinking on the part of some to think
that the productivity or cost of software for CO switches with be
dramatically reduced by using a "general purpose" CPU.  The truth is
that new features are difficult to program on any CPU, in large part
because of the interactions (mostly undocumented in the requirements)
of with existing features.  In some cases, TELCos use features in ways
unintended by the original development, and then require that changes
must continue to support the unintended use.  Even if the call
processing portion is well specified, the
maintenance/provisioning/failure-modes/ measurements aspects are often
incomplete.  There are major research projects underway just looking
at the feature interaction issue and ways of specifying new features
in a more complete manner.

   I believe Bellcore is now examining general purpose "service
creation environments" and adjuncts to support this concept, rather
than placing the entire switch on general purpose computers.  This
allows the switch vendor to build and test a product that uses
adjuncts at critical decision points in a call, but doen't require the
TELCo to do a lot of programming that might reduce switch capacity or
reliability.

   As a point of reference, the May/June 1992 issue of {AT&T Technical
Journal} stated that the 5ESS switch that spring consisted of more
than four million lines of source code, and that major features
typically added more than 300K new lines of source to that base.  In
many cases, several interacting new features are designed, developed
and tested in an overlapped manner and must all work as expected
(that's requirements plus a lot more) when the software release is
deployed.

   As to the popular technology curves, the Technical Journal referred
to above also discusses the introduction of a RISC platform into the
G3 DEFINITY(rg.tm) Communication System.  CO switches have been
constantly upgraded with newer/faster/larger technology when costs and
needs dictated.  So if by "popular technology" you mean today's
microprocessors, they are in use all over the place.  If you mean
today's disk drives, optical and other high-speed interfaces, they are
in use as well.  If you mean modern programming techniques such as
C++, object-oriented design/code, software engineering, automated
testing, etc., it is also in use.

   On the other hand, if by "popular" technology, you mean MS-DOS,
Windows or other Microsoft products, I think you can understand why
they aren't used for real-time switching.  If you mean water-cooled
IBM/Amdahl mainframes or large DEC mainframes running in a "computer"
environment, the CO environment just doesn't mesh well with these
systems, and they are too much CPU for the I/O bandwidth in many
cases.  Most CO switches don't need hugh amounts of MIPS, just CPUs
doing the right job in the right place.  Don't get me wrong, we use
all those products in development and support of the switches, just
not in the switch itself.

> The interesting thing is that COs still mostly follow the
> model of a big dumb crosspoint run as a computer peripheral.  One
> would think by now that switches would be much more distributed, with
> little CPUs all through the switch fabric.  But given the amount of
> trouble people still have designing distributed systems, it's not
> clear that using lots of little CPUs would improve reliability, and
> might well make it worse.

   John, that's exactly the distributed architecture many modern
switch vendors use.  In the case of the 5ESS switch, it is actually a
hierarchy of CPUs and sizes, ranging from DSPs (they have to be
programmed too) and small 8086-vintage chips to 680x0 CPUs to the
3B20D processor.  Reliabililty is not greatly affected by such an
architecture, but it does complicate "downtime" calculations if the
switch can fail in degrees, such as 15% of the trunks out or all calls
of only one type.

> Still, it would be interesting to see something as distributed
> as a step-by-step office implemented in modern hardware.  Even
> something designed like a #5 crossbar, where all common resources were
> part of sizable resource pools and any resource could be taken out of
> service without much trouble, would seem to be an improvement over
> current designs.  It ought to be possible to design something that can
> equal the switch downtime record of the electromechanical era, but at
> modern error rates.

   The downtime record of some vendor's switches is VERY low ... the
longest-term switch failure I've observed AS A CUSTOMER was two days
without ringing current on a step-by-step CDO (and all trunks were
down as well, since the ice storm took out all the overhead toll
lines).

> The existing technologies reflect the design of the 1ESS,
> which was a mainframe computer controlling a dumb switch fabric.

   Existing modern technologies reflect distributed designs, or they
won't support newer capabilities.


Al Varney - just my opinion

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

From: [e-mail] (Floyd Davidson)
Subject: Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching?
Organization: University of Alaska Computer Network
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1993 05:35:25 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail].
com writes:

> That fully-distributed switching is a losing proposition (in the US
> market, where keysets count, but not necessarily Europe where the
> culture doesn't expect them) can be seen from industry experience.
> Northern's SL-1 and DMS switches always had single state CPUs.  The
> DMS-100 has a bunch of little microprocessors chugging away at local
> real-time tasks, but one "big" CPU (often a 68020 but lately it might
> be a bigger Moto chip) runs the real generic.  I think the source
> language is Protel, a specialized structured language.  (The SL-1 was
> originally written in the SL-1 language.)  These switches are very
> successful.

Perhaps some added detail on the DMS design would put a little
perspective on just how much distributed processing there is in a
digital switching system.

The DMS is a fault tolerant, real time, message passing computer
system based on multi-processing peripheral processing modules.  It
just happens to be programmed to route data bits that are telephone
calls.  But one could very well be programmed to control every nuclear
power plant in the country quite well!  And while it did that it could
also provide PBX services for the power company too.

The original DMS "front end" design used a board level CPU (the NT-40)
with a Harvard architecture (8 bit instruction bus and 16 bit data
bus) and a segmented memory model similar to an 8088.  The peripheral
modules used 8085 cpu's for everything: tone generators, receivers,
senders, test equipment, trunk controllers ... everything.

Then came XPM's (eXperimental Peripheral Modules) which are 68000
based units.  Generally each XPM (such as a DTC, or Digital Trunk
Controller) has two units which operate in sync with one being active
and the other standby and each unit has two 68000 cpu's.  Such a DTC
handles 480 trunks.  Various other kinds of XPM are designed to do
everything from lines to SS7 processing.  A small switch might have 20
of the older PM's and ten of the XPM's, a huge switch might have near
a hundred of each.

Originally the 8085 PM's had 64K of RAM, and the first XPM's had
something like 384Kb.  Currently the XPM's have something like 2Mb of
RAM.  That sounds reasonable ... but there is more to it than meets
the eye!  Ten or twelve years ago it took a couple minutes to reload
the memory in a PM (from tape, but only 64Kb).  And the new XPM's took
10-15 minutes from disk.  That was barely within an operating
company's ability to live with it!  The first time I heard about the
development of a large memory version of the XPM it was in terms of
how much trouble they were having re-designing everything to bring the
load time down to a reasonable figure.  And the worst horror story
I've ever heard about a telco "cut" to something new relates to how
NTI thought a switch with about 70 large memory model XPM's could be
"crash loaded" all at once in an hour ... and *many* hours later the
last XPM finally came back on line. (The disk buffers were too
small ...)

The NT-40 front end is being phased out by NTI, and the SuperNode
front ends using the 68020/30 cpu's are the standard.  There are
actually two front end units running in sync with each other and
comparing notes ... and each has two cpu's.  And there are two
characteristics that most computer people will find unusual.  One is
that *all* programs are in memory.  Programs are not executed from
disk (Some testing tools are not permanently loaded, but any software
the operating company is expected to use is permanently loaded in
memory.) The other unusual thing is that when you login on a terminal
you are a background process.  We usually associate whatever you can
see output from on a terminal as being in the foreground, but on a
switch call processing is the foreground.

The operating system is a real-time message passing system based on
distributed processing in multiple peripheral modules.  The front end
cpu does virtually none of the "switching"; it is the database
controller for the configuration tables, the state machine data for
calls, and the state machine data for devices; and it is a
communications center for the peripheral modules.

The hardware is dual redundant and fault tolerant.  To date I've only
seen one instance where a hardware failure caused the entire switch to
fail.  That was a slow failure of the power supply for the
communications channels between the two front end units.  The slow
failure caused modules powered by the unit to transmit garble in both
directions and each front end unit thought the other had lost sanity.
The machine re-booted from scratch on both sides and came back up in
three minutes.  (No calls were lost, but no new ones could be setup in
those three minutes.)

It was suggested (in the article that Fred was responding to) that
modern switches are NOT distributed, which isn't really the case.  The
"control" is centralized in one compute module, but the work of moving
data bits from one line or trunk to another is totally distributed.
In fact the front end computer can be re-booted without loosing the
existing calls (or the AMA data records relating to them).

It was also suggested that a lack of distributed processing was a
cause for lower reliability than was true with mechanical switching
systems ... I doubt it.  My bet is at least one order of magnitude in
the other direction!  (I know of one example where a toll switch room
once had more than 20 technicians working the evening shift, and one
day I called there and found only a janitor ... with a number to call
for AT&T's control center in Denver, many hundreds of miles away.
That can't be an unreliable switch ... :-)


Floyd
[e-mail]  A guest on the Institute of Marine Science computer
Salcha, Alaska        system at the University of Alaska at Fairbanks.

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

From: [e-mail] (John Nagle)
Subject: Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching?
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 23:10:29 GMT


[e-mail] writes:

> Distributing all of the logic causes major grief.  It is not a problem
> for POTS services: A stepper is fully distributed, and an electronic
> stepper-like switch is possible (and available ...)  But if you want
> to be competitive and have real Centrex/PBX features, you need multi-
> line key telephone sets implemented in software.  These have an
> arbitrary number of line buttons, each of which has a visual
> indication of status, accurate within a second or less.

> The Mitel SX-2000 has distributed real-time Motos surrounding a
> centralized state machine.  It's fairly successful.  But look ... the
> ITT 1240 was fully distributed.  It never worked in the US market and
> was pulled; ITT sold out to Alcatel.  The 1240 is a big hit in Europe
> where there's no need for keysets.

      So THAT's the big problem: updating all the keyset lamps.  Strange.

> In any case, fully-distributed operation does not add reliability.  A
> distributed stepper had no single failure point.  But with processors,
> you can distribute all you want and still have a single bug in the
> code bring down all instances of it.  Witness the famous event,
> chronicled here in the Digest, when AT&T's SS7 network crashed due to
> one misplaced "break" statement.

      Interesting.  It was possible to build a reliable distributed
stepper because the thing was simple enough all the failure modes
could be analyzed by hand.  (There is an obscure book, perhaps still
in the John Crerar Library in Chicago, where the full thinking behind
Strowgear switching systems is detailed.  No, I don't have the title.)
But the feature collections are now so complex this is no longer
possible.

     Will it be better with ATM, which in a sense is a return to a
dumber model?


John Nagle

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

From: [e-mail] (Michelle A. Vandepas)
Subject: Re: 911 For Non-Emergencies? (was Re: Natwick 911 Drama)
Organization: Community_News_Service
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 18:23:03 GMT


> I don't know the accuracy of the story ... but, it seems
> sometimes systems get a little inflexible.

In Colorado Springs, they recently changed the 911 phone systems, so
that ONLY emergency calls are taken through 911. I called 911 to
report a broken into car, and they made me call back and dial a local
phone number.  It must be city specific!


Michelle

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

From: [e-mail] (Ed Greenberg)
Subject: Re: AT&T Billing on 5 July
Organization: Netcom Online Communications Services (408-241-9760 login: guest)
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 18:45:29 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> Craig R. Watkins
<[e-mail]> writes:

> My calls on the 5th of July were billed at regular day rate.  I
> thought that maybe they should have been billed as on a holiday.  I
> called AT&T and they said they should have been and credited me.  The
> bill was prepared by Bell of Pennsylvania; I don't know whose mistake
> it was.

I'll have to check tonight, and will, but I recall asking the
operator about it, and was told that calls all day on the 5th should
be billed at EVENING rates.  Not night, not day.


Ed Greenberg   [e-mail]   Ham Radio: KM6CG

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

From: [e-mail] (Graham Toal)
Subject: Re: SIMTEL 20 Closing Down
Organization: An Teallach
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 19:26:59 +0000


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
writes:

> Mr. Petersen is trying to find a new home for the master archives.
> Note that many of the older files are on CD-ROM, so it is not
> absolutely necessary that a site dedicate two GB of disk space, as
> perhaps 3/4 of this is on CDs, so the option would be to loan perhaps
> 4 CD slots in an optical jukebox, along with perhaps 500 meg of disk
> space.

Disk space is *not* a problem -- look at all the sites that already
mirror simtel -- any one of them (I'd suggest src.doc.ic.ac.uk because
it's nearest to me ;-) ) would be capable of storing the data.  The
problem is the manpower to keep it up to date.  Find volunteers for
that job and the disk space will surely follow.


Personal mail to [e-mail] (I read it in the evenings)
Business mail to [e-mail] (Be careful with the spelling!)
Faxes to An Teallach Limited: 031 662 4678  Voice: 031 668 1550 x212

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

From: [e-mail] (Graham Toal)
Subject: Re: What Is This Number?
Organization: An Teallach
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 19:31:18 +0000


> What's this telephone #? 011-351-xx-xxxxx?  It is some wierd
> international sex line, and I'm trying to figure out how they make
> money off of it, because there are no premium charges. Just long
> distance.

Oh no, not again!  This person has been posting this identical
question to newsgroups left right and centre, and it has been answered
at length.

On his second posting to uk.telecom, someone voiced a suspicion that
the 'question' was a subtle form of advertising by the poster, a
suspicion that seems more and more plausible every time I see the damn
thing.


Personal mail to [e-mail] (I read it in the evenings)
Business mail to [e-mail] (Be careful with the spelling!)
Faxes to An Teallach Limited: 031 662 4678  Voice: 031 668 1550 x212


[Moderator's Note: Good thinking, Graham! This time around I decided
to eliminate the number from the message; after all, he got his
question answered, that's what counts.  PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (David Breneman)
Subject: Re: AT&T Operator Terminal
Date: 28 Jul 93 19:07:13 GMT
Organization: Digital Systems International, Redmond WA


[e-mail] wrote:

> I just got myself an AT&T Operator's Terminal <I think>, circa 1984,
 ...
> send or receive data. If anyone has pinouts, or even an expaination of
> the ports on the bottom (and the phone jack), I'd really appreciate
> it. Thanks a lot!

What do the ports look like?  Ie, if they're RS-232, the pinouts
should be standard.


David Breneman     Email: [e-mail]
System Administrator, Software Engineering Services
Digital Systems International, Inc.  Voice: 206 881-7544  Fax: [phone]

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 93 16:39:24 EDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: New AT&T Feature: TrueVoice
Organization: AT&T


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
(Jonathan Lieberman) writes:

> In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
> (Justin Greene) writes:

>> I entered a pager number and it didn't care ...

> I entered 212-555-1212 and it didn't care ...

This could lead to some fun if they are using it to build a
telemarketing database:

(Auto dialer connects)

"Direcotry assistance what city please?"

(Telemarketing computer detects voice response and connects
telemarketer ...)

"Hi, I've called to talk to you about TrueVoi ..."

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #521
******************************










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Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1993 03:26:16 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #522

TELECOM Digest     Thu, 29 Jul 93 03:26:00 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 522

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced (TELECOM Moderator)
    Re: High Speed Modem Connect Signals (Brett Elliott)
    Re: T1s Versus Regular Lines For a FreeNet? (Fred R. Goldstein)
    Re: Beware of the 'Toner-Phoners'! (Tony Pelliccio)
    Re: U.S. Cuts Off the Canadian-Cuban Connection (Wm Randolph Franklin)
    Re: Chicago Area Man Charged in Computer Porn Transmission (Ed Gehringer)
    Re: Area 205 to Split (Len E. Elam)
    Re: Two Lines to One TAD (Carl Oppedahl)
    Re: Escort Digital Cordless (Mark Steiger)
    Re: MCI Makes Buses? (Ron Bean)
    Used Cell Phone $ and Bundling (Steve Edwards)

                     ----------------------
TELECOM Digest is an e-journal devoted mostly -- but not exclusively --
to discussions on voice telephony. The Digest is a not-for-profit
public service published frequently by Patrick Townson Associates. PTA
markets a no-surcharge telephone calling card and a no monthly fee 800
service.  In addition, we are resellers of AT&T's Software Defined
Network. For a detailed discussion of our services, write and ask for
the file 'products'.

The Digest is delivered at no charge by email to qualified subscribers on
any electronic mail service connected to the Internet. To join the mail-
ing list, write and tell us how you qualify: [e-mail].
 All article submissions MUST be sent to our email address: telecom@eecs.
nwu.edu -- NOT as replies to comp.dcom.telecom.

Back issues and numerous other telephone-related files of interest are
available from the Telecom Archives, using anonymous ftp lcs.mit.edu.
Login anonymous, then 'cd telecom-archives'. At the present time, the
Digest is also ported to Usenet at the request of many readers there,
where it is known as 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Use of the Digest does not
require the use of our products and services. The two are separate.
All articles are the responsibility of the individual authors. Organi-
zations listed, if any, are for identification purposes only. The
Digest is compilation-copyrighted, 1993. **DO NOT** cross-post articles
between the Digest and other Usenet or alt newsgroups. Do not compile
mailing lists from the net-addresses appearing herein.  Send tithes and
love offerings to PO Box 1570, Chicago, IL 60690. :)  Phone: [phone].

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

Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1993 02:18:42 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Subject: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced


 From the {Chicago Tribune} news wire, Wednesday, July 28, 1993:

A victory for consumers of telephone 900 information services occurred
Tuesday when the final regulations of the Federal Trade Commission
were announced. Starting November 1, people who dial 900 services must
be warned of the cost of the call and get a chance to hang up before
being charged.

In the twelve years since 900 numbers appeared, they have burgeoned
into a $1 billion per year industry. But many services have attracted
heavy criticism -- and in several instances legal action against
their proprietors -- on account of their exorbitant cost, sexual
orientation or fraudulent marketing practices among other complaints.

The 900 industry has responded that a few shady operators gave
companies dealing in sports scores, horoscopes or other innocuous
information a bad name.

Last October, Congress passed the Telephone Disclosure and Dispute
Resolution Act and divided authority to enforce it between the Federal
Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission. In
addition, the regulations issued by the FTC this week will be enforce-
able by state attorneys general.

The new regulations require a warning at the very start of the call
that details the fee and tells callers they 'have three seconds after
the signal tone is heard to hang up if you do not wish to pay.' In
addition, telephone companies must block access to 900 numbers from
individual phone lines if so requested by the customer.

In addition, 900 service providers *must* provide toll-free, pay per
call information lines; customers must be sent pay-per-call disclosure
statements annually; and the use of *any* prefix other than 900 for
pay-per-call services is prohibited.

In addition, the new rules provide that print and broadcast ads must
carry details of the fees that callers will be charged for any call
that would cost at least $2.

In hearings earlier this year, representatives of the 900-number
industry claimed that such regulation of their ads would effectively
put them out of business. They claimed that as much as nine or ten
seconds of a thirty second ad would be consumed by the warnings. About
the same about of time -- nine or ten seconds -- would be consumed at
the start of each call, although information providers would still be
required to pay the carrier of their lines from the moment of connec-
tion as occurs now.  (Regulations note the manner of speech and speed
in which the disclaimer must be presented both in advertising and at
the start of the telephone connection upon which the charges-per-call
will be imposed.)

Major providers of 900 services have already responded by attacking
the new rules. "They wasted a lot of people's time and a lot of
people's money," said Bruce Fogel, chairman of Phone Programs, Inc.,
a big provider of sports services in New York.

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

From: [e-mail] (Brett Elliott)
Subject: Re: High Speed Modem Connect Signals
Organization: Calif State Univ/Electronic Information Services
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1993 03:04:46 GMT


[e-mail] (Brett Elliott) writes:

> Could some knowledgable source explain the signals involved in the
> modem connect sequence, more specificly v32bis or USR hst signaling?
> What I am not curious about is the handshaking but the interaction
> with the telephone network. (Does it send a signal to allow better
> signaling?  Explain please, if you can answer this.)

After conducting research I think I may have answered my own question.
Echo supression cancels out energy in the 2010-2240Hz range.  The CCIT
standard is to blurt out a 2100Hz for at least 250ms, which will stop
the EC equipment.  I believe that this is correct, might be wrong.  EC
will re-activate after a 400ms squelch.


[e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Fred R. Goldstein)
Subject: Re: T1s Versus Regular Lines For a FreeNet?
Organization: Digital Equipment Corp., Littleton MA USA
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1993 05:19:22 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (woody) writes:

> The Toronto FreeNet (TFN) mailings recently included a suggestion to
> look at getting T1 lines for the forthcoming FreeNet facility rather
> than individual POTS lines. There are apparently adapters that can
> connect a T1 line with a number of computer ports, in effect doing the
> function modems would be doing on each POTS line otherwise.

> The TFN folks would appreciate some insight as to whether T1 lines
> would be more cost-effective than separate trunks/POTS lines,
> especially considering that there would have to be the equivalent of
> 100 POTS lines access at the outset of the FreeNet (scheduled to begin
> operation by April 1994). Are there any difficulties with establishing
> a local number access if T1 lines are used?

What are the local Bell Canada tariffs?  That's the first question to
ask!  In general, they should be happy to deliver on T1 for no more
than analog, since as Telecom Digest readers know, ALL Toronto COs are
digital (DMS) now.  Heck, it saves Bell money.

If you take digital delivery, you can get T1-size modems from Primary
Access, which will cost more per channel than el cheapo 9600s but be a
whole lot neater and more manageable.  Each T1 is broken out into 24
separate ports on the user side, but never into analog lines.

You can also take the calls at 56k!  That's right: With a digital CO
and T1 delivery, users with ISDN BRI (or Switched 56 if Bell allows
it) can dial in to an ordinary "voice" number and have 56 kbps
connectivity.  Primary Access can enable this on selected channels, if
Bell will let you designate a given phone number hunting across those
channels while analog calls hunt across other channels.  This is "poor
man's PRI".  Heck, you might get real PRI too, but that will probably
cost more.


Fred R. Goldstein [e-mail]
Opinions are mine alone; sharing requires permission

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

From: [e-mail]
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 93 15:32:48 EDT
Subject: Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"!


PAT notes:

> [Moderator's Note: See my comments early Monday regards this. What
> they are doing is not illegal or fraudulent -- just obnoxious. Of
> equal concern to me are government agencies which like to make crimes
> where none exist just to appease that segment of society which cannot
> or will not observe Caveat Emptor. Remember the guy who was calling
> pagers in New York City and asking them to call a 540 number? What
> crime was he committing? Is asking people to return a call to a toll
> number a crime?  Suppose I left a message with your secretary asking
> you to call me here in Chicago and you did not realize the call would
> cost extra?  It is too bad some businesses have such sleazy tactics,
> but rarely will any be operating illegally. They know the law very
> well and manage to stay inches inside it.  PAT]

To each his own. I know that I try to be fully aware of whats going to
cost me money when I dial, and what isn't. And if you're not sure,
simply call the operator first and check. That's one of the reasons we
even have operators now. Remember, 0 or 00 and check first.


Tony Pelliccio, KD1NR, Control Op 441.750+, ARRL VE
system @ garlic.sbs.com                Soon W5YI VE


[Moderator's Note: Well since I wrote the above, a couple messages in
the Digest have pointed out that some (most?, all?) of these bozos are
claiming to be 'the regular supplier' for the firms they call. That
does hinge on fraud I suppose, but barely.   PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Wm Randolph Franklin)
Subject: Re: U.S. Cuts Off the Canadian-Cuban Connection
Date: 29 Jul 1993 14:26:28 +0800
Organization: ECSE Dept, RPI.


Ask any Canadian.  The US plays bully with Canada whenever it feels
like it, and no American ever hears.  E.g., you heard about American
agents kidnapping the Mexican torture-doctor.  However you may not
have heard about the American bail bondsmen kidnapping -- from Canada
 -- the Canadian who'd jumped bond, and taking him back to Florida.
Imagine if a Canadian kidnapped an executive of an American midwestern
coal power plant for polluting Canadian air.

Technically in the phone case, the US is telling an American company
what to do.  In the same way, the US tells American companies to tell
their Canadian subsidiaries not to sell to Cuba.  I liked the
Argentinian response 20 years ago when the US told Ford to tell Ford
of Argentina not to trade with Cuba.  (This was during the Vietnam
war, when North Vietnam was using American trucks built in Russia with
American approval.  However that was OK apparently.)  The Argentinian
government simply told Ford of Argentina to do the deal or it would be
nationalized.  It did the deal.

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 93 18:17:16 -0400
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Chicago Area Man Charged in Computer Porn Transmission


Why should we be interested in helping the defense?  I'd be much more
interested in helping the prosecution (unless it's a case of mistaken
identity, of course).  There's far too much evidence of the harm of
pornography.


[Moderator's Note: Aside from the fact that there are studies which
conclude that harm is caused by pornography, and aside from the fact
that the gentleman apparently was caught with illegal contraband, and
aside from the fact that he apparently was transmitting copyrighted
material for which he had never been licensed, there still remains the
question of exactly *how* the transmission took place: if he was
decieved by the twelve year old user as to his age; if he transmitted
it automatically to all users; if he made it available for transmission
without verifying his users; etc.  Granted, owing to the other circum-
stances, he is hardly in a position to challenge his prosecution using
a defense of 'sysop rights' without raising the ire of the court where
the other quite proveable (and more serious, felony) matters are
concerned. But there are many sysops who have gone to sleep one night
and woke up the next day to find files on their system they did not
put there which had already been downloaded by young innocents; phreaks,
etc. only to wind up being accused of running a 'pedophile BBS' or a
'board for hackers', etc.

I grant you sysops should have rights to go along with the responsibil-
ities I've hammered on from time to time here and to this extent there
should probably be a limited defense provided to him *if and only if*
it is his contention that his young user either was deceptive or
violated system security to obtain the file. The 12-year old *claims*
 -- note I emphasize that -- to have been very surprised by the
contents of the file transmitted to him, thus his complaint to his
mother. IMHO, that remains to be seen. I suggested that others might
want to contact the sysop, if only to learn the exact sequence of
events surrounding the transmission. No more or less.  PAT]

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 93 12:30:39 CDT
From: [e-mail] (Len E. Elam)
Subject: Re: Area 205 to Split


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail].
nasa.gov (David Cornutt) writes:

> The split will be done at a line drawn from west to east across the
> state, approximately halfway between Birmingham and Montgomery.  I had
> thought that they might do it this way, but much to my surprise, it is
> the northern half of the state that will retain 205.  (It surprises me
> because I had thought that state politics would force SCB to keep
> Montgomery in 205, that city being the state capitol.)

Since Birmingham is probably still the biggest city in Alabama (it was
when I was growing in Alabama) and since it seems to be the biggest
business center in Alabama, it wouldn't surprise me if this were taken
into account in determining which area would "keep" Area Code 205.

Anyone have any idea what the number of South Central Bell customers,
espcially big business customers, will be in the "new" Area Code 205
versus the "new" Area Code 334?  I'll bet South Central Bell knows!!! :-)


Who Am I?: Len E. Elam                   Disclaimer:
Email:     [e-mail]  I speak only
   or      [e-mail]           for myself.

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

From: [e-mail] (Carl Oppedahl)
Subject: Re: Two Lines to One TAD
Date: 28 Jul 1993 18:38:50 -0400
Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and Unix, NYC


In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Steven A
Rubin) writes:

> When the device is connected, each line produces a noticable hum when
> making, and during phone calls.


How do you stop it from humming?  Teach it the words!

Yuk, yuk.


Carl Oppedahl AA2KW  (patent lawyer)
1992 Commerce Street #309
Yorktown Heights, NY  10598-4412
voice 212-777-1330


[Moderator's Note: Some additional lawyer jokes may be indicated here,
Carl.  If all of *yours* are that bad ... well I have a few that might
produce some laughter.   PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Mark Steiger)
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 17:53:54 -0600
Subject: Escort Digital Cordless
Organization: The Dark Knight's Table BBS:  Minnetonka, MN (Free!)


> The Escort phone uses 100 different frequencies between 902 MHz and
> 928 MHz.  It switches among them pseudo-randomly more than 20 times
> per second.  This frequency agility and the fact that the audio is
> digitized are the things that make it very hard to scan.

Where I work, we sell a 100 channel Cobra phone.  They don't digitize
the signal, but "spread" it out over multiple frequencies to make it
impossible to listen to.  It sounds great and it's an "Intenna" phone.
I don't have an item number for it, but we have it at Damark
International (1-800-729-9000).


Mark Steiger, Sysop, The Igloo BBS [phone]
Internet: [e-mail]    Fido: 1:282/4018  Simnet: 16:612/24

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

Subject: Re: MCI Makes Buses?
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 19:00:59 CDT
From: Ron Bean <nicmad!madnix![e-mail]>


[e-mail] (Nigel Allen) writes:

> MCI and Greyhound Bus Lines used to be a good example of vertical
> integration, Bell System-style, in which MCI would build buses and
> Greyhound would operate them. Both were subsidiaries of Greyhound
> Corporation (which eventually merged with Dial Corporation) until
> Greyhound Bus Lines' management responded to increasing competition
> from discount air travel by trying to reduce the wages of drivers and
> mechanics and, when the inevitable strike happened, using replacement
> workers. Eventually, Greyhound Bus Lines filed for Chapter 11
> reorganization.

   They sold Greyhound *before* the strike; it was the new management
that filed chapter 11. This was also complicated by trying to
integrate the lower-paid Trailways drivers into the system. They are
apparently doing OK now, although the combined fleet is less than
3000 buses (Greyhound alone used to operate over 5000 buses).

> Greyhound Bus Lines is still in business, and I assume that virtually
> all its buses are still built by MCI.

   They are right now, but when they bought Trailways (or they merged,
I forget which) the deal included the Eagle factory in Texas (which
built buses for Trailways), so they were using Eagles for a while.
When they reorganized, they sold the factory and went back to buying
(or leasing) MCI's. Another investor is trying to revive Eagle. MCI is
now building a special model for Greyhound that is basically the
previous model with some newer components, which makes it slightly
cheaper than their current model.


[e-mail] (Ron Bean)   uwvax!astroatc!nicmad!madnix!zaphod

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

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 13:59:11 -0700 (PDT)
From: Steve Edwards <[e-mail]>
Reply-To: Steve Edwards <[e-mail]>
Subject: Used Cell Phone $ and Bundling


I live in California where bundling cell phones and activation is
illegal.  Thus, the price for a used cell phone is usually in the $200
to $400 range.

In states that allow bundling and the price of a new phone may only be
$50 or even free, what do used cell phones sell for?


Steve Edwards      Internet: [e-mail]      Voice: [phone]
Newline               CompuServe: 73677,3561           Fax: [phone]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #522
******************************










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Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1993 16:35:31 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #523

TELECOM Digest     Thu, 29 Jul 93 16:35:30 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 523

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced (Tom Horsley)
    Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced (John R. Levine)
    Re: Used Cell Phone $ and Bundling (Carl Oppedahl)
    Re: Used Cell Phone $ and Bundling (John R. Levine)
    Re: Networks in Sarejevo? (Jon Carmichael)
    Re: Caller ID Blocking in N.J. (Terry Kennedy)
    Re: ADSI Specs Wanted (Jonathan Rosenberg)
    Re: What is This Number? (Elana Beach)
    Re: What Changes For Delaware? (Al Varney)
    Re: Area 205 to Split (Carl Moore)
    Re: Is This Legal? (Gowri Narla)
    Radar Detectors (was Re: AM Band Violates ...) (A. Padgett Peterson)
    Mystery Caller (Leonard Erickson)
    K00L International Numbers (J. Philip Miller)
    Cordless Phones on a Four-Party Line? (George Despinic)
    Sparcstation/Telephone Integration (Andrew Howlett)
    US West is OK With Emergency Forwarding (David Dodell)
    Computer Access to Voice Mail (Ken Mandelberg)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Tom Horsley)
Subject: Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced
Date: 29 Jul 1993 11:33:48 GMT
Organization: Harris Computer Systems Division


> The new regulations require a warning at the very start of the call
> that details the fee and tells callers they 'have three seconds after
> the signal tone is heard to hang up if you do not wish to pay.' In
> addition, telephone companies must block access to 900 numbers from
> individual phone lines if so requested by the customer.

So now I'm curious. How will uunet (or any other modem 900 line, but
uunet is the one I am most familiar with) achieve this on their 900
lines that provide dial-in access to the archives? If they manage to
do it, how many people's modems will hang up before the end of the
warning when they attempt to dial-in?


domain: [e-mail]       USMail: Tom Horsley
  uucp: ...!uunet!hcx1!tahorsley               511 Kingbird Circle
                                               Delray Beach, FL  33444


[Moderator's Note: They've got to send a message to your modem immed-
iatly on connection which describes the cost for the call, advise the
caller to disconnect if not willing to pay and ring the <CTL-G> Bell
a few times, then pause and wait about five seconds before they
continue the transmission. If you wish, you reach over to keyboard
and type whatever is needed to disconnect.   PAT]

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

Date: Thu, 29 Jul 93 11:53 EDT
From: [e-mail] (John R Levine)
Subject: Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced
Organization: I.E.C.C.


> In addition, 900 service providers *must* provide toll-free, pay per
> call information lines;

This same badly worded sentence appeared in our local papers.  I
presume this means that there has to be an 800 number you can call to
ask or complain about each 900 number.

> the use of *any* prefix other than 900 for pay-per-call services is
> prohibited.

Now that's interesting.  Does this affect prefixes like 976 and 540
which are presumably mostly used for in-state calls?


Regards,

John Levine, [e-mail], {spdcc|ima|world}!iecc!johnl


[Moderator's Note: I assume there has to be a handy, convenient and
toll-free way for consumers to reach the proprietor of a 900 service.
I also wondered about 976 and 540 numbers; I think they are to be
included, although $2 seems to be a magic number in the new regs. They
talk about $2 as the point where anything above that amount falls
under the rules, and a lot of 976 stuff (time, weather, etc) seems to
be less than that amount.  PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Carl Oppedahl)
Subject: Re: Used Cell Phone $ and Bundling
Date: 29 Jul 1993 08:32:29 -0400
Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and Unix, NYC


In <[e-mail]> Steve Edwards <steve%newline.UUCP@
UCSD.EDU> writes:

> I live in California where bundling cell phones and activation is
> illegal.  Thus, the price for a used cell phone is usually in the $200
> to $400 range.

> In states that allow bundling and the price of a new phone may only be
> $50 or even free, what do used cell phones sell for?

The store that sells a $400 cell phone for, say, $50 to someone who
signs a one-year dial tone contract is, of course, getting a $350+
commission from the dial tone provider.  So, you would think that if
you walk in the door with a used one and ask to have the phone
activated for a year, you would be able to talk them into giving you
part of their $350 commission.

I've never actually seen this, but you could ask.

The closest I have come is to find a store that has commission
relationships with both of the dial tone providers, and have the phone
programmed with phone numbers (in the dual NAM) for each provider.
The store gets commissions from both companies, and subtracts both
from the retail price of the phone.

Obviously, the *true* price of the phone is not what you pay to
receive it, but the total cost from now till the end of the minimum
service obligation that you have signed.


Carl Oppedahl AA2KW  (patent lawyer)
1992 Commerce Street #309
Yorktown Heights, NY  10598-4412
voice 212-777-1330

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

Date: Thu, 29 Jul 93 11:50 EDT
From: [e-mail] (John R Levine)
Subject: Re: Used Cell Phone $ and Bundling
Organization: I.E.C.C.


> In states that allow bundling and the price of a new phone may only be
> $50 or even free, what do used cell phones sell for?

There's no market for them at all.  Why would there be, if you can get
a new one with a warranty for little or nothing?  As far as I can
tell, the phone rates you get as part of the bundle are no different
than the ones you get if you walk in off the street with your own
phone.

Maybe the used ones get shipped to California to participate in the
ongoing phraud phest.


Regards,

John Levine, [e-mail], {spdcc|ima|world}!iecc!johnl

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

Subject: Re: Networks in Sarejevo?
From: [e-mail] (Jon Carmichael)
Date: 28 Jul 93 17:08:00 GMT
Organization: uuPCB - Demonstration Version
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Jon Carmichael)


> I was just asked to give ideas on how to establish email or network
> connectivity into Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.  The idea is to create a
> portable set of equipment that could support a few users with e-mail,
> or perhaps several users with full internet connectivity.

I run a PCBoard in the Los Angeles area. I don't know how they are
doing it, but about six months ago, I got three callers from Yugoslavia.
One of them was online this morning.  I thought it was B.S., so I
chatted, and one of the callers asked if he could call me voice, which
he did. Given his inability to speak English and his very heavy accent
I'd have to say he's authentic.  The cities they are calling from are
Sreska and Indjija.  You could write them a message on my board. If
you leave me a comment, I will give you their names on my BBS.


JONC
The Continuum PCBoard -*- @9600+ call 818-441-2625   @2400- call 818-799-9633

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

From: [e-mail] (Terry Kennedy)
Subject: Re: Caller ID Blocking in N.J.
Date: 29 Jul 93 06:01:57 EDT
Organization: St. Peter's College, US


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (John R
Levine) writes:

> The Privacy Journal notes that New Jersey Bell just started offering
> per-line and per-call CLID blocking.  N.J. was the only state where
> blocking was unavailable.

  Hmmm. I tried *67 here (from a residential class of service phone)
and got a very strange recording: "We are sorry, your call cannot be
completed as dialed. Please check your instruction manual or call the
business office for assistance."

  That is *not* the normal "you can't get there/do that from here"
recording.

  Even more strangely, that's the same recording used for Centrex
class of service. If you try "return call" or something similar from a
Centrex line, you either get " ... completed as dialed. Please ask
your attendent for assistance." or "The feature is not available."


Terry Kennedy        Operations Manager, Academic Computing
[e-mail]    St. Peter's College, Jersey City, NJ USA
[e-mail]    [phone]

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

From: Jonathan Rosenberg <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: ADSI Specs Wanted
Organization: Bellcore
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 93 13:07:08 GMT


> I've read that CID operates in compliance with specs contained in a
> document called ADSI -- Analog Display Services Interface.  This
> document goes beyond CID, e.g., spelling out ways for the end user to
> transmit info in the other direction.  Is this document available to
> developers?  Is it ftp'able?  I haven't a clue where to look for it,
> but I think it would make for interesting reading.

ADSI was developed by Bellcore.  I don't know what CID is, but ADSI is
a specification intended for communicating with screen phones over the
existing phone network (it allows mixed voice and commands).  In the
upstream direction, it simply uses DTMF tones.

I don't have any relationship to the ADSI work, but I believe that the
spec is available from Bellcore (unlikely to be ftp'able).  If you'd
like info on obtaining it let me know and I'll find out what to do.


JR    [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Elana Beach)
Subject: Re: What is This Number?
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1993 13:57:54 GMT


Will our dear Moderator PLEASE comment on this post from
*alt.fan.mike-jittlov* of all places...!

           --------begin forwarded article--------


In article <234djk$[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Seth
Warshavsky) writes:

>> What are these telephone numbers <deleted> and <deleted>? I saw them
>> in some magazine, I think it some sort of strange international sex line,
>> and I was wondering if anyone knew how they make money off of it, it
>> say's there is no premium charges, just long distance.  It makes no
>> sense to me how they make money off of it.  If anyone know's what it is
>> or knows how they make money off of it, please email me.

> Seth has been pushing these numbers for several weeks now. I think
> it's safe at this point to assume that they are a scam of some kind,
> and that he's making money off of it. It might take a while for the
> charges to get back to you, but they will.


[Telecom Moderator's Note: Elana, we had a comment very similar (to
whoever appended to Seth's remarks) in an issue of the Digest early
Thursday. It appears this Seth-person has gone around all over the net
asking people 'what is it?'. The people who actually call the number
(I refuse to print the number itself any longer) should be assured all
they will get charged for is an international call. No scams or other
bills showing up, etc. But still, Seth has had enough free advertising
for now.  PAT]

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

Date: Thu, 29 Jul 93 09:33:51 CDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: What Changes For Delaware?
Organization: AT&T Network Systems


In article <[e-mail]> Carl Moore <[e-mail]>
writes:

> At the end of my "county-plus" message, I mentioned long distance
> within Delaware, which is still 1 + 7D (and 7D is still useable for
> local calls to PA and MD, although local calls FROM PA TO DE are 1
> +302 + 7D now).  I still don't know what Delaware will get for long
> distance within it when it is time to prepare for the NNX area codes.

   PA had a confusing arrangement in a town off Route 322 midway
between Penn State and Harrisburg (right on the crease of my Rand
McNally map).  Used 555-1212 to reach DA for my sister's number in
Harrisburg.  No charge, no offer to complete the call (or maybe I hung
up too fast?).

   However, confusing announcements resulted from attempts at
variations on (10288) +0 + NPA + nxx-xxxx.  Finally, I tried 0+
nxx-xxxx, and it worked!  Are there still many places that require 0 +
seven digits for intra-NPA toll calls?  This was probably a 60-mile
call, and was handled by Bell of PA.  What reason would they have for
blocking 0 + NPA + seven digits?  Do non-coin phones in the same area
also use 0 + seven digits?


Al Varney

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

Date: Thu, 29 Jul 93 10:34:27 EDT
From: Carl Moore <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Area 205 to Split


There was a blurb about 512/210 split being set up so that San Antonio
went to 210 and Austin (the Texas state capital) stayed in 512.

But in Maryland (1991) and Virginia (1973), the state capitals went to
new area codes (410 and 804 respectively) and the DC suburbs stayed in
the old area codes (301 and 703 respectively).  201 covered all of New
Jersey, according to what I hear, until the late 1950s, and Trenton
ended up in area 609.  Tallahassee, Florida moved from 305 to 904 in
1965.  And if there was ever the "N0X in state having only 1 area
code" rule, that means Nashville moved from 901 to 615.

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

From: [e-mail] (Gowri Narla)
Subject: Re: Is This Legal?
Organization: Purdue University
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1993 15:41:13 GMT


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Gang
Zhou) writes:

> I'm living in an apartment owned by the USC housing service. I'm
> connected to Pacific Bell so far. But soon, USC will switch our phone
> lines to USC telephone service, so they have the absolute monopoly of
> my phone service. As you can guess, their long distance (especially
> international) rates are outrageously high.

I lived in Michigan State University (E.Lansing, MI) housing for two
years.  The long distance carrier is AT&T by default. And the rates --
incomparably high! The reason people don't complain, I guess, is that
there are no charges for installation or monthly flat rates or LEC
fees.

Some of the problems I faced?

1. Well, if I moved -- even if it were only to the next door apartment
 -- callers to the old number would not get any information about the
change (the number changed, of course).

2. I could never get them to provide any asssitance in international
directory services -- they would just say they have billing problems
or the service doen't include this feature ... (When I'd offer my AT&T
Calling Card for billing, she/he would say they cannot use it for some
countries including India, Israel, and Pakistan).

3. Could not receive any collect calls.

4. Call waiting feature not offered -- even for a fee.

5. Cannot access 900 services.

6. CLASS features? Forget it, what do you expect?!


Ram Narla    Dept. of Telecommunications
Michigan State University  East Lansing, MI 48823
[e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: The various peculiarities in telephone service for
students at universities (lack of reasonably priced long distance
calls; no international service, etc) is one of the reasons I am
actively seeking representatives for the Telepassport and Orange Card
programs. These programs permit long distance calls to bypass the
local facilities and are reasonably priced.   PAT]

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

Date: Thu, 29 Jul 93 09:05:55 -0400
From: [e-mail] (A. Padgett Peterson)
Subject: Radar Detectors (was Re: New AM Band Violates ...)


[e-mail] wrote:

> Michael Covington ([e-mail]) wrote:

>> A few states have banned automotive radar detectors.  As far as I
>> know, this has never been seriously challenged in court.

> I believe that the ban is not on owning or using a radar receiver, but
> on operating a motor vehicle while using one.  And I believe that many
> states have similar restrictions on operating a motor vehicle while
> listening to a scanner that receives the police bands.

Living in Florida, I do not have to worry (at least about radar
detectors, cash now ...) but as I recall the states in question are
Virginia and Conneticut (D.C. doesn't count 8*). In Virginia at least,
mere possession of a radar detector seems to be grounds for confiscation
(heard of one case in which a new unit, still in the box and wrapper
was seized). Now whether or not this was legal is open for debate and
certainly many other kinds of seizures are now being questioned.

However, I recall that it came under something like possession of
lock-picks, burglary tools, etc. and if a charge is made, it is
"interfering with a police officer" but then as an attorney once told
me after I received a ticket for "crossing a physical barrier" after
pushing a dead motorcycle across a deserted street (the "physical
barrier" was lines painted on the road and the policeman was on foot,
writing parking tickets -- of course that was in Texas 8*) "There is
no justice in traffic court."

Of course, we have other strange laws such as it is illegal here to
drive while wearing a headset but there is no law against using a
cell-phone while driving so no-hand driving (knee-action ?) is a
common sight as people on the interstate juggle pads and phones at
65+. At least the one-time law against using a turn signal for
signalling a lane-change has been, if not repealed, totally ignored.


Warmly,

Padgett

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

Date: Thu, 29 Jul 93 01:55:31 PDT
From: [e-mail] (Leonard Erickson)
Subject: Mystery Caller


I run a non-CM fidonet node. That means that I'm only *supposed* to
get calls from other nodes during "Zone mail hour" each night,
although other times can be arranged.

I've been getting strange calls for about a week now. My modem
connects at 9600/LAPM if I put it online. But the mailers don't
handshake.

I put a terminal program up and couldn't get a response. But I have
determined that the system on the other end is *attempting* to
handshake with a BREAK,pause, sequence. About 1/2 sec break, 1/2 sec
pause. It repeats until it gives up after 20 seconds or so.

Anybody recognize this handshake sequence? I'd like to track down the
caller, if only to get things fixed.

BTW, I've *tried* Call Trace. No luck, they are "out of area".


uucp: uunet!m2xenix!puddle!51!Leonard.Erickson
Internet: [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (J. Philip Miller)
Subject: K00L International Numbers
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1993 07:01:26 -0500 (CDT)


[Moderator's Note: This message could be retitled "Here Comes Seth
Again With His Phone Numbers" .... Mr. Miller said Seth sent this to
sci.med.aids, passing it off as a 'safe sex' phone service. <smirk>.
Miller rejected it in his group, and I would also if it were not good
for a laugh seeing to what extent people will go to promote things
on the net.  PAT]

> From: [e-mail]
> Newsgroups: sci.med.aids
> Subject: K00L Internation Numbers
> Date: 29 Jul 93 06:06:52 GMT

> I found these COOL internation phone sex lines, and they are FREE. So
> if you want to unload your STUFF all over the PHONE give them a call.

>     <deleted by moderator>
>
>          &
>
>     <deleted by moderator>


 J. Philip Miller, Professor, Division of Biostatistics, Box 8067
 Washington University Medical School, St. Louis MO 63110
 [e-mail] - [phone] [362-2693(FAX)]


[Moderator's Note: Gosh, on the one hand Seth goes to bunches of news
groups and asks 'what is this'; then he goes to sci.med.aids with the
above. And if his message is that frank in sci.med.aids, I have to
wonder what he had to say when he got around to alt.sex and others in
that genre. Now I wonder what other moderators will reject his message
and forward it to me asking if it is appropriate here instead? <sigh>.
Enough already, Seth! I don't even promote my Beloved Talk Tickets
with such vigor :)   PAT]

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

Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1993 08:21:11 -0400
From: George (G.D.) Despinic <[e-mail]>
Subject: Cordless Phones on a Four-Party Line?


I was wondering if anyone knows of a brand of cordless phone that
would work on a four-party line?  I would like to use a cordless phone
at my cottage which is serviced by a four-party line.  A sevice rep
that I talked to in Bell Canada told me that they didn't sell or rent
any such phone for four-party lines.  I am tempted to re-wire a
cordless phone myself but I'd rather buy one with the proper
circuitry.


Much appreciated,

George Despinic    Northern Telecom Canada Ltd.
Network Proposals Dept.S311
BUS [phone]  FAX [phone]
     ESN  333-2509       ESN  333-4334


[Moderator's Note: The general rule is customer owned equipment cannot
be installed on a party line, period. Why do you want to risk knocking
your neighbor's phone service out when *your* equipment malfunctions?
First thing you need to get is your own private service.   PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Andrew Howlett)
Subject: Sparcstation/Telephone Integration
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Andrew Howlett)
Organization: The National Capital Freenet
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1993 13:11:05 GMT


I'm looking at a project to integrate a telephone and a SparcStation.
The SparcStation is supposed to do the following:

a.  digitally record all the telephone conversations
b.  automatically record calling and called number for every conversation
c.  permit optional dialling of telephone from computer.

I was thinking that BRI would be a nifty solution.  An ISDN telephone
and the Sparc would be connected to the T bus.  The telephone can be
used normally, the Sparc will decode and record the D channel info,
and save the B channel data to a 2 gig hard drive or DAT drive.

Does a solution like this already exist?  Does anyone know of ISDN add-ons
for Sparcs?

Thanks for your time.


Andrew Howlett   [e-mail]

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

Subject: US West is OK With Emergency Forwarding
From: [e-mail] (David Dodell)
Reply-To: [e-mail] (David Dodell)
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 93 23:09:30 MST
Organization: Stat Gateway Service, WB7TPY


US West Arizona is OK for helping out with emergency forwarding.  My
fax machine at my office just died today ... it appears that the power
supply went dead.  After pricing out the repair, it just didn't seem
justified, so we're now shopping for a new low-volume machine (any
comments on this would be appreciated via email) ... anyway ...

I called US West Business repair and explained the situation. I asked
if they could setup temporary call forwarding from my business fax to
my home fax till we got a new machine.  No problem!  No charge!  Just
have to give them a call when I want things returned to normal.  Good
job US West!


David Dodell
Internet: [e-mail]   FAX: [phone]
Bitnet: ATW1H@ASUACAD      FidoNet=> 1:114/15
Amateur Packet ax25: [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Ken Mandelberg)
Subject: Computer Access to Voice Mail
Date: 29 Jul 1993 14:10:33 GMT
Organization: Emory University, Dept of Math and CS
Reply-To: [e-mail]


I have to deal with two voice mail systems. One is Southern Bell's
Memory Call, the other is a system than runs on our campus NT SL100
switch (is there more than one such offering?).

Is there any way to get remote computer access to either of these
systems? What I would at least like is to be able to check if my
mailbox is empty or not by modem. Of course I would really like is to
extract my messages in some digital format.


Ken Mandelberg      | [e-mail]          PREFERRED
Emory University    | {rutgers,gatech}!emory!km    UUCP
Dept of Math and CS | [e-mail]              NON-DOMAIN BITNET
Atlanta, GA 30322   | Phone: Voice [phone], FAX [phone]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #523
******************************










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From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #524

TELECOM Digest     Thu, 29 Jul 93 17:02:00 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 524

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Bell Atlantic Electronic Yellow Pages (Aninda Dasgupta)
    Catalogue of ITU-T Recommendations (Fernando Lagrana)
    ANI From Across the Pond (Haakon Styri)
    What is Category 5 (re: ISDN) (Albert Pang)
    Need Sources/Info For Cheap Voicemail (Dub Dublin)
    Touch-Tone Activated Line Switch? (Willie Smith)
    WAN Advice Needed (Mike Garvey)
    Wyse 60 Terminal Emulator? (Harold Hallikainen)
    Re: New AM Band Violates No-Intercept Rule? (William Sohl)
    Re: Zoom VFX Modem (Bob Natale)

                     ----------------------
TELECOM Digest is an e-journal devoted mostly -- but not exclusively --
to discussions on voice telephony. The Digest is a not-for-profit
public service published frequently by Patrick Townson Associates. PTA
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The Digest is delivered at no charge by email to qualified subscribers on
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Back issues and numerous other telephone-related files of interest are
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Login anonymous, then 'cd telecom-archives'. At the present time, the
Digest is also ported to Usenet at the request of many readers there,
where it is known as 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Use of the Digest does not
require the use of our products and services. The two are separate.
All articles are the responsibility of the individual authors. Organi-
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Digest is compilation-copyrighted, 1993. **DO NOT** cross-post articles
between the Digest and other Usenet or alt newsgroups. Do not compile
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love offerings to PO Box 1570, Chicago, IL 60690. :)  Phone: [phone].

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

Date: Thu, 29 Jul 93 15:29:49 EDT
From: [e-mail]  (Aninda Dasgupta)
Subject: Bell Atlantic Electronic Yellow Pages


A few weeks ago there was a question asked in the Digest about Bell
Atlantic's Electronic-Yellow-Pages-via-standard-TV-sets trials. (I
think Monty Solomon asked the question but I could be wrong; our
archives deleted the old articles while I was on vacation.) To
paraphrase the question: "How does Bell Atlantic display the yellow
pages on a standard T.V., what hardware, software etc. is used, what
data formats are used and are there any network connections available
to the devices. "

The Bell Atlantic trials that I am aware of use a Philips Compact Disk
Interactive (CD-I) box that connects to the TV set.  CD-I formatted
yellow pages are mailed to users periodically in the form of an
optical disk.  The user interaction is with a remote control unit and
the pages are displayed on the TV.  The CD-I machines do not currently
have any form of network connections (e.g. telco or ethernet outputs)
but I have heard that such connections are in the works.  I have
attached below an excerpt from a FAQ list on CD-I.  For more
information contact the keeper of the FAQ at:


Lex van Sonderen
Manager Knowledge Transfer
Philips Interactive Media of America
10050 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Phone:  [phone]
Fax:    [phone]
Internet:       [e-mail]
CompuServe:     71552,2204

CD-I systems were developed by Philips (and I think are marketed by
Philips and Sony). CD-I systems play conventional audio CD's, Kodak's
Photo-CD disks, CD-I disks (video games, instructional and educational
programs, etc.) and, soon to come, full motion feature movies from
Paramount. The GTE- Discovery Channel-Cerritos trials in interactive
TV also use CD-I players. By the way, CD-I is a published standard
that is easily available for implementation in hardware (players,
recorders) and software development (video game and other program
authoring).

=================Begin excerpt from FAQ============================

Where can I read more about CD-I?

Periodicals

-       CD-I World
Bi-monthly CD-I magazine on paper & disc.
Parker Taylor & Company Inc.
49 Bayview, Suite 200
Camden, ME 04843
Phone:  [phone]
Fax::   [phone]

-       New Media
Monthly magazine about multi-media in general
Hypermedia Communications Inc.
901 Mariner's Island Blvd., Suite 365
San Mateo, CA 94404
Phone:  [phone]
Fax:    [phone]

-       The Interactive Engineer
Publication about CD-I software engineering
Philips Interactive Media of America
11050 Santa Monica Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Phone:  [phone]
Fax::   [phone]

Books

-       CD-I Designer's Guide
Hoffos, Signe; Sharpless, Graham; Smith, Philip;Lewis, Nicholas
McGraw-Hill (UK), 1992
ISBN 0-07-707580-3

-       The CD-I Design Handbook
Philips IMS, Philips Electronics UK Ltd.
Addison Wesley, 1992
ISBN 0-201-62749-3

-       The CD-I Production Handbook
Philips IMS, Philips Electronics UK Ltd.
Addison Wesley, 1992
ISBN 0-201-62750-7

-       CD-ROM Handbook
Sherman, Chris
McGraw-Hill, 1989
ISBN 0-07-056578-3

-       Compact Disc-Interactive, A Designers' Overview
Preston, J.M., Philips International Inc.
McGraw-Hill, 1988
ISBN 0-07-049816-4

-       Discovering CD-I
Miller, Eric; Miller, Walden
Microware Systems Corporation, 1991
ISBN 0-918035-02-3

-       Introducing CD-I
Philips IMS, Philips Electronics UK Ltd.
Addison Wesley, 1992
ISBN 0-201-62748-5

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

How can I keep in touch with the CD-I development community?

CD-I Association
A professional association for developers of CD-I or for those
interested in developing CD-I.  Members receive a quarterly newsletter,
"Inside CD-I", and other publications.

CD-I Association of North America
Attn.: Laura Foti Cohen
11111 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 700
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Phone:  [phone]
Fax:    [phone]

European CD-I Association
Attn.: J.  Lynn Evans
188 Tottenham Court Road
London W1P 9LE
United Kingdom


CompuServe

The CompuServe information system is an electronic bulletin board that
has a very active community of CD-I users, designers and engineers
worldwide.  Experts in all fields of CD-I check in daily to answer
questions and exchange knowledge.  See the multimedia forum, section
CDI (GO MULTIMEDIA, Section 17).

CompuServe
5000 Arlington Centre Boulevard
PO Box 20212
Columbus, Ohio 43220
Phone:  [phone]

         --------End Excerpt from FAQ---------


Aninda DasGupta ([e-mail]) Ph:[phone] Fax:[phone]
Philips Labs\n 345 Scarborough Rd\n  Briarcliff Manor\n NY 10510

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

Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1993 11:57:56 +0200
From: Petrin <[e-mail]>
Subject: Catalogue of ITU-T Recommendations
Organization: International Telecommunication Union


The International Telecommunication Union electronic document exchange
project (ITUDOC) provides for remote electronic access to ITU
documents.

The last update of the Document Store contains the new list of ITU-T
(previouly CCITT) Recommendations in force after the WTSC-93. This
list is available as a complete document, or splitted per Series.

In order to retrieve these documents, send a message to the robot
mailbox:

[e-mail]

with one or more commands of the form:

GET <UPI>

where UPI is listed below.  The robot mailbox will send the document
back to you.

For example,

  To: [e-mail]
  From: Me
  Subject: <ignored>

  get itu-2767
  get itu-4181


LIST OF KEY ITU-T DOCUMENTS

List of ITU-T A-Series Recommendations in force. UPI: ITU-2767
List of ITU-T B-Series Recommendations in force. UPI: ITU-2768
List of ITU-T C-Series Recommendations in force. UPI: ITU-2769
List of ITU-T D-Series Recommendations in force. UPI: ITU-4181
List of ITU-T E-Series Recommendations in force. UPI: ITU-4307
List of ITU-T F-Series Recommendations in force. UPI: ITU-4306
List of ITU-T G-Series Recommendations in force. UPI: ITU-4303
List of ITU-T H-Series Recommendations in force. UPI: ITU-4304
List of ITU-T I-Series Recommendations in force. UPI: ITU-4305
List of ITU-T J-Series Recommendations in force. UPI: ITU-4259
List of ITU-T K-Series Recommendations in force. UPI: ITU-4716
List of ITU-T L-Series Recommendations in force. UPI: ITU-4265
List of ITU-T M-Series Recommendations in force. UPI: ITU-4266
List of ITU-T N-Series Recommendations in force. UPI: ITU-4267
List of ITU-T O-Series Recommendations in force. UPI: ITU-4276
List of ITU-T P-Series Recommendations in force. UPI: ITU-4275
List of ITU-T Q-Series Recommendations in force. UPI: ITU-4274
List of ITU-T R-Series Recommendations in force. UPI: ITU-4273
List of ITU-T S-Series Recommendations in force. UPI: ITU-4272
List of ITU-T T-Series Recommendations in force. UPI: ITU-4271
List of ITU-T U-Series Recommendations in force. UPI: ITU-4703
List of ITU-T V-Series Recommendations in force. UPI: ITU-4270
List of ITU-T X-Series Recommendations in force. UPI: ITU-4234
List of ITU-T Z-Series Recommendations in force. UPI: ITU-4235
List of ITU-T Recommendations in force.          UPI: ITU-4111
List of ITU-T Recommendations currently under
ballot (Resolution 1)                            UPI: ITU-4110
List of ITU-T Recommendations proposed for
adoption according to Resolution 1 Section 8     UPI: ITU-4109
List of obsolete ITU-T Recommendations cancelled
by the WTSC-93                                   UPI: ITU-4715


Fernando Lagrana
Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (former CCITT Secretariat)
Editor, Catalogue of ITU-T Recommendations
[e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Haakon Styri)
Subject: ANI From Across the Pond
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Norwegian Telecom Research
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 93 16:49:37 GMT


Recently some posters (among them the Moderator) asked about what
happens with ANI if a call originating in Europe terminates in North
America. I belive I've posted one reply, but I didn't state anything
about "why not."

After asking a few people that might know I returned with a simple
answer: the CCITT have decided it should be like that.  And, even if
it's technically possible you'd probably find that a few countries
would still object due to privacy and data protection regulations.

I agree it would be nice to have.

BTW, I'd like to know one thing about the use of ANI in the US. Have
the network operators (or whatever you call them) agreed to not use
the ANI they get from their competition to do traffic analysis in
order to identify potential costomers?


Haakon Styri    <[e-mail]>   *** std. disclaimer applies ***

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

From: [e-mail] (Albert Pang)
Subject: What is Category 5 (re: ISDN)
Organization: INSL, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1993 17:13:43 GMT


There is some renovation going on in our building and all the network
connection and telephone cables are rewired.  I have been hearing the
term Category 5 all the time. (All of panels containing the RJ45 plugs
even have a sign CAT 5 on it).  I was wondering what exactly does
Category 5 certified means in this context.


Albert Pang        <[e-mail]>
Information Networks & Systems Lab    McGill University
Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

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

From: [e-mail] (Dub Dublin,HOU281 2303,CTN-596-3199,)
Subject: Need Sources/Info For Cheap Voicemail
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Chevron
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1993 17:08:48 GMT


I need to find information about, and sources of *inexpensive* voice
mail systems.  I need a fair amount of programmability (new voice
information service), so I'm assuming a PC-based system is my best
bet.  If it's real cheap, I'll go single-line for now, until I pick up
some more customers, but I think I'm really going to need a multi-line
system soon.  It's VERY important that the system be able to execute
arbitrary commands in the OS as a result of a user menu choice.
Faxback would be a very desirable plus, but needn't be part of the
voicemail system, since if it meets the previous criterion, I can do
it external to the voicemail system.

I need info/sources/prices ASAP if I'm going to get this project going.


Thanks,

Dub Dublin -- Chevron Information Technology Company, Houston
    [e-mail] -- +1.713.596.3199

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

From: [e-mail] (Willie Smith)
Subject: Touch-Tone Activated Line Switch?
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 93 15:57:35 EDT


We've got two lines at home.  Line one goes to most of the phones and
is our 'incoming' (no special calling plans) line.  The other is our
'outgoing' line, which has the modem, a couple of phones, and a fax
for incoming pictures, and has all the calling plans (metro bay state,
reach-out-planet, etc).

We just got a cordless phone for the incoming line, but now we're
running into the problem that there's really only one place in the
house you 'should' make outgoing calls, which is inconvenient.  It's
possible to rewire the house for dual jacks everywhere, but then you
get into dual phones, two-line phones, or switches on the jacks.

I'm contemplating building a box which will connect to our 'incoming'
phones, which when it detects some touch-tones (say 1-900, as we've
got blocking) will switch the entire line over to the 'outgoing' line,
then revert when the phone hangs up.  This way I could pick up any of
the existing phones, dial 1900 to get the outgoing line, and dial my
call normally.

Does this kind of thing already exist, so I can buy it off the shelf?
Am I shooting myself in the foot because I can't call a local number
ending in 1900?  Is there a better number choice?  Are * or #
'reserved' by the telco for anything in particular?


Willie Smith    [e-mail]        [e-mail]
Usenet is a way of being annoyed by people you otherwise never would have met

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

From: [e-mail] (Mike Garvey)
Subject: WAN Advice Needed
Organization: Netcom Communications
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1993 20:27:33 GMT


We're installing a 60-70 node Mac/PC LAN in two sites and I have some
questions about remote-routing hardware.  We plan to use 12 channels
of a T1 line for data with AppleTalk, IPX, and TCP/IP protocols
travelling over the link.  Communication to and from the remote link
segment will be handled by a pair of low-end Cisco routers (1
Ethernet, 1 Remote connectors).  I need some recommendations on
hardware that serves the same purpose of a CSU/DSU for 56K leased
lines, i.e.:

Ethernet zone 1 ----- Cisco router ----- [ Help me fill in this blank ]
                                                        |
                                            12 channels of a T1 link
                                                        |
Ethernet zone 2 ----- Cisco router ----- [ Also tell me what goes here ]

Any help would be appreciated including where to look for more
information (newsgroups, archives, gopher, faqs, bibliographies,
etc.).  Thanks.

(Wanders off mumbling something about tip: cycle power on your laser
printers when you hook them to Ethernet otherwise they'll jabber
incessantly and flood the net trying to 'reset' themselves)


Be seeing you ...

The Black Cursor (c) & TM   Sysop: Valhalla -- an Ogg-Net BBS
Internet: [e-mail]    [phone]  300-14,400bps 8N1
GEnie: TBC

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

From: [e-mail] (Harold Hallikainen)
Subject: Wyse 60 Terminal Emulator?
Organization: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1993 21:22:58 GMT


    A friend is looking for software to emulate a Wyse 60
terminal.  Someone suggested pcTerm.  Anyone have info on this program
or any other program that may emulate a Wyse 60?


Thanks!

Harold


[Moderator's Note: And on the same topic, *I* need the escape seq-
uences and other details for a TVI-925 terminal, including information
on how to set the internal clock, the function keys, etc. If anyone
would care to send this info to me personally, I'll appreciate it.  PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (sohl,william h)
Subject: Re: New AM Band Violates No-Intercept Rule?
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 93 16:27:21 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
writes:

> In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
> (David Breneman) writes:

>> Michael Covington ([e-mail]) wrote:

>>> ... the ban on receivers that get the cellular frequencies ... :
>>> (1) The proper technical solution is to encrypt the signal ...; (2)
>>> Heretofore, Americans had been allowed to buy radios that would tune
>>> any frequency whatsoever; this is the very first peacetime ban on
>>> radio receivers ..

That is partially correct.  The ban is not on possession or ownership,
it is on the manufacturing or importation of cellular capable scanners
after April 26, 1994.  Even after the 4/26/94 date, ownership of
existing scanners AND sales of existing stocks of cellular capable
scanners can continue.  Technically, there is no ban on building your
own receiver that might be capable of receiving cellular.

>> A few states have banned automotive radar detectors.  As far as I
>> know, this has never been seriously challenged in court.

As of this time, only two locations ban the USE of radar detectors.
They are the state of Virginia and the District of Columbia.  I belive
that the Virginia law considers "possession" in a vehicle as a
presumption of use.

> I believe that the ban is not on owning or using a radar receiver, but
> on operating a motor vehicle while using one.  And I believe that many
> states have similar restrictions on operating a motor vehicle while
> listening to a scanner that receives the police bands.

True as to radar detectors per my above comments.  As to scanners
capable of receiving police, only a handful have such outright bans in
vehicles (Kentucky, Michigan, Florida, Indiana, Minnesota and New
York).  All six of these states have "exemptions for various types of
individuals (e.g. volunteer firepersons, the press, amateur radio
operators, etc.)

Source for my comments: 1991 Listener's Lawbook and the National
Motorists Association.


Standard Disclaimer- Any opinions, etc. are mine and NOT my employer's.
Bill Sohl (K2UNK) BELLCORE (Bell Communications Research, Inc.)
Morristown, NJ             email via UUCP      bcr!cc!whs70
201-829-2879 Weekdays      email via Internet  [e-mail]

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

Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1993 14:33:11 -0400
From: [e-mail] (Bob Natale)
Subject: Re: Zoom VFX Modem


[e-mail] (Todd L. Brooks) wrote:

> I would like to get some feedback on the quality and performance of
> the Zoom VFX v.32bis Faxmodem.  Have you had any problems with it or
> the company?  Please email.  Thank you.

We bought a pile of these modems recently for our customers and had a
very bad experience with numerous units blowing fuses in the field
after a couple of days of (continuous) operation.  Zoom Telephonics
was unhelpful.  I posted a query to this list asking if others had
encountered this problem and I received a few helpful responses.  Some
folks said they had ruled out Zooms in their internal tests against
other low-end brands.  Other folks offered good suggestions for
tracking down the problem or otherwise dealing with it.  We elected to
shift to USR Sportster modems.

On the other hand, I have been used the same Zoom modem at home -- on
a frequent (daily), but non-continunous basis -- for some time with no
problems and excellent connectivity at 9600 and up.  That's why I
recommended that my company go with Zoom in the first place :-(.  Go
figure!

Good luck.


Bob Natale               American Computer           301-258-9850 [tel]
Director                 209 Perry Pkwy              301-921-0434 [fax]
Network Mgmt Products    Gaithersburg MD 20877          [e-mail]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #524
******************************










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          31 Jul 93 20:33 EDT
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Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1993 17:40:39 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #525

TELECOM Digest     Sat, 31 Jul 93 17:40:30 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 525

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Broadcasters Conquer GTE (Don Kimberlin, FIDO via David Leibold)
    NCIC News ([e-mail])
    GTE Railfone in Canada Actually Worked (David Leibold)
    Long Distance to Cuba (John D. Gretzinger)
    Comments on Highest Quality and Lowest Rates on Int'l Calling (M. Donnelly)
    Help With NEAX NEC 2400 T-1     (Bret Wilkening)
    History.of.Area.Splits, July 28, 1993 Version (Carl Moore)
    PC Sound Messages on Telephone Lines? (Angelo Haritsis)
    Princess Phone Keychains From 60's (Doreen Hansen)
    Please Deposit Two Dollars When You See the Stop Light (Paul Robinson)
    AT&T Atlantic? (Alan Boritz)
    No Caller ID in Manhattan (Carl Oppedahl)
    Caller-ID Across LATAs? (Charles McGuinness)
    ATT Dedicated Lines (Charlie Rosenberg)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 93 11:45 EDT
From: [e-mail] (woody)
Subject: Broadcasters Conquer GTE


(The following was found in the Fidonet Broadcasting mailings;
authorship is Don Kimberlin's, in conversation with Bill Blomgren)

   From: Don Kimberlin
     To: Bill Blomgren
Subject: Telco loops

BB>The way I was able to get GTE to respond was simple.

BB>"What is your NAME?" " Thank you. I will need it for the letter to the
BB>FCC why we are off the air.  GTE failed to provide a tariffed service
BB>in a timely manner. And your supervisor is? "  " Very good.  I'll be
BB>sending the telegram immediately."

BB>At which point I usually got a sleepy sounding supervisor, who would
BB>insist that they WOULD have our lines back in just a few minutes.

Oh, darn, Blomgren.  You went and triggered the old War Story Gene
again!

SET WAR_STORY.SYS /on /gte_mode

In its first life, WRXB in St. Petersburg was called WILZ, and was
licensed to St. Petersburg Beach, with its studio out on the beach
(like a nice little legal station, maintaining its business presence
in that now-nebulous entity called the City of License), while its
transmitter was on the mainland, just west of 34th Street around 38th
Avenue South.  The program audio was a rented 5 kHz jobbie from Good
Old GTE of Florida, and it often suffered water intrusion into its
pulp pairs in lead-sheathed cable that constituted most of the route
up from the beach, across St. Pete, and then back down 31st Street to
the transmitter neck of the (then) woods.

We'd get all the GTE put-offs, ranging from the classic home repair
"committment" of "within 24 hours, because that's all we promise the
Florida PUC," to "It must be something wrong with your crummy
non-Telco equipment."  (I really _love_ that one ... the clown who
dribbles in with a lineman's test set and says, "I can't hear any hum
in my test set.  Must be your crummy radio broadcasting equipment."

Anyhow, we devised a couple of "get-backs."

"Get-back" Number One: Finding out that Phoneco program amplifiers had
_superb_ overload characteristics, we moved our peak limiter amplifier
that could put out a nice highly compressed +30 dBm to the studio and
of the line, and marked its nicely calibrated output dial with a
crayon mark for normal operation.  When the hum and junk came up on
the GTE program line, we'd just call the studio and tell the announcer
to crank that output pot up to full clockwise, and we'd often sail
over the junk, if moderate.  Of course, ten thousand people all over
the south side of St. Petersburg got familiar with WILZ's program in
the process, and GTE would hear from _lots_ of people.  They usually
got the message at that point.  Of course, they'd get out in the hole
and get to work, and cutting off our offending signal was their first
action.  At least, it got them to work, at which point we'd engage the
second stage.

"Get-back" Number Two: We only had a turntable at the transmitter, but
we were still in the last days of cutting our own acetate transcrip-
tions.  So, we made an announcement that we played from the transmitter
between every cut of fill music during the program line outage.  It ran:

        WILZ is sorry that we can't bring your our regular
        program of the music and information you expect and
        demand, but we are suffering from a _failure_of_the_
        tariffed_facilities_of_General_Telephone_.  Just as
        soon as _General_Telephone_ can correct its failure,
        WILZ, your favorite station for music, entertainment
        and news, will resume those programs you expect and
        demand.  Once again, this interruption is being
        caused by _General_Telephone_.  Please do not call
        our telephones at WILZ, because we can only wait for
        _General_Telephone_ to repair its failure."

THAT would result in about ten or fifteen cars and trucks from GTE
showing up at the little transmitter shack, all sent by minions from
different parts of GTE ... it would look like a GTE of Florida
convention out there.  Of course, they _all_ wanted us to stop playing
the announcement, and had a myriad of things from pleading to threats.
I _loved_ it when one of them would say he was going to stop the
repair work until we stopped the announcement.  It was _real_ fun to
say, "Let me see your company ID card, like the front of the phone
book says you produce on demand.  I want to make certain I get your
name spelled exactly right ... and you chaps, let's see yours, so I
can make sure we have the witnesses' names correctly spelled."

Needless to say, repairing WILZ's program line became top priority for
GTE at moments like that!

BB>In the case of WDAE, they had to pull that on all sorts of people. GTE
BB>used to periodically leave _no one_ in the test room, so the only person
BB>you could talk to was a regular "repair" operator.  Pulling something
BB>like the above on one of them was cruel and unusual punishment, but it
BB>worked...

Hmmm ... DAE, eh?  What year and circumstances was that?  Although it
was out in those goonies we've talked about, I don't recall theirs
being particularly flaky in the late Fifties/early Sixties.
Apparently it was off the beaten track of the cable diggers and
cutters back then.

Regardless, your advice is the Magic Weapon so many people fail to
use.  I call it Saying The Three Little Words: "What's Your Name?"
<delivered with Snidely Whiplash snicker if you wish ...>


* Origin: Borderline! BBS Kannapolis,N.C. [phone]  (1:379/37.0)

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

Subject: NCIC News
From: [e-mail]
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 93 21:04:53 EDT
Organization: The Cellar electronic community and public access system


I sent this to CuD, but thought that Telecom readers may also be
interested.

{Philadelphia Inquirer} - 07/29/93

CRIMINAL RECORDS ARE VULNERABLE TO ABUSE, CONGRESS IS WARNED

Sometimes the information is for sale, the GAO said.  It called for
greater security.

By Lawrence L. Knutson
ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON -- In Arizona, a former police officer gained access to
print-outs from the FBI's National Crime Information Center, tracked
down his estranged girlfriend and murdered her.

In Pennsylvania, a computer operator used the system to conduct
background searches for her drug-dealer boyfriend, who wanted to learn
if new clients were undercover agents.

In Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland and other states, private
investigators bought data from insiders with authorized access to the
criminal-record system.

These examples were presented to the House Judiciary and Government
Operations Committeess yesterday by the General Accounting Office,
which concluded that the criminal-records system is vulnerable to
widespread misuse.

The GAO recommended that Congress enact legislation with "strong
criminal sanctions" barring the misuse of the criminal record files
and that the FBI encourage state users to enhance security.

Laurie E. Ekstrand, the GAO's associate director for administration of
justice issues, said that while the FBI and the states do not keep
adequate records, "we did obtain sufficient examples of misuse to
indicate that such misuse occurred throughout the system."

"Furthermore, all the reported misuse incidents involve insiders,
while none involved outside [computer] hackers," she said.

"It appears that there are employers, insurers, lawyers or
investigators who are willing to pay for illegal access to personal
information, and there are insiders who are willing to supply the
data," said Rep. Gary Condit (D., Calif.) summing up the GAO's
findings.

The National Crime Information Center, with 24 million records, is the
nation's largest computerized criminal justice information system.
Its 14 separate files contain an extensive range of data, including
information about fugitives, stolen vehicles and missing persons.

The largest single file, known as "the III file" gives users access to
17 million criminal-history information records maintained in separate
state systems.

The GAO said more than 19,000 federal, state and local law enforcement
agencies in the U.S. and Canada, using 97,000 terminals, have direct
access to the system.

The GAO called the Arizona case the most extreme example of misuse it
uncovered.

The agency said investigators learned that the former police officer
was able to locate his estranged girlfriend using data provided from
the national records system by three people working in different law
enforcement agencies.

"After an investigation, the printouts provided by the three
individuals were discovered and they were identified, prosecuted and
convicted," the GAO said.

Other examples provided by the GAO:

    - In Maine, a police officer used the system to conduct a background
      check on one of his wife's employees who was then fired for not
      disclosing his criminal record

    - In Iowa, a dozen cases of misuse were reported over the last two
      years.  All involved computer operators conducting background
      searches on friends or relatives.

    - In New York state, an employee of a law enforcement agency provided
      criminal history information to be used by a local politician against
      political opponents.

    - In Pennsylvania, a police officer "accessed and widely disseminated"
      a fellow officer's criminal history record.

    - In South Carolina, a law enforcement agency conducted background
      searches on members of the City Council.

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

[Moderator's Note: Be aware however that much information people don't
like having released is considered public record, and that includes
criminal histories. There are perhaps right ways and wrong ways to go
about getting the information, but criminal background information on
any person can be obtained quite legally, and you don't have to be a
law enforcement officer to get it. Here is why: In the United States,
our constitution calls for *open, public trials*. To wit, anyone can
walk into a courtroom, sit down and observe a trial in progress.
Records are kept of trials (we call them transcripts) and the same
rules which provide that trials are open to the public say that by
extension, transcripts can be read by anyone who wants to get it and
read it later. The court may charge a fee for its expense in making
the copy, but pay the fee and you get the record.

Now no one is going to traipse around the country, state by state and
county by county looking to see if you are a criminal, a deadbeat or
whatever. What happens is that nearly every community has at least one
practioner of records research. Send them a note plus their fee and
*they* will walk over to the courthouse, pull the file and fax it to
you. Many researchers have cooperative arrangements with other
researchers. You pull files in your community that I need and I'll
pull files here for you. This then lead to computerized databases of
perfectly open, legally obtained information on criminal records
(among other things) in much the same credit bureaus work with each
other.

So you don't have to get into confidential records illegally to get
what you want to find out, you just have to know where to go for
*legal, public* files which say the same thing or the essence thereof.
If your record in the Podunk Circuit Court says Judge Greene sent you
away for ten years for refusing to select a default one plus carrier,
I don't have to have an illicit contact in the NCIC or law enforcement
to tell me the same thing at some risk to my own freedom if I get
caught snooping!  Remember, you can have all the information you want
on anyone quite legally. Public records abound. Learn to use them. PAT]

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

Date: Sat, 31 Jul 93 01:42 EDT
From: [e-mail] (woody)
Subject: GTE Railfone in Canada Actually Worked


I had the privilege of being aboard a test ride of the ABB X2000 train
during a Toronto test run this past week. Amtrak in the U.S. was
testing this train for possible use in the Washington DC - New York
City - Boston rail corridor, and possibly other routes; the Canadian
demonstrations are a side trip sponsored by CP Rail and ABB.

One feature on board was a Railfone, actually a cellular unit
activated by credit card. There was an attached Railfax unit, a rather
compact device, that could be used in conjunction with the Railfone to
send faxes from the train.  The unit bore GTE insignia.

The phone stated that '0' should work for free assistance. So I tried
it to see whether it would route through to a Canadian service like
Cantel or Bell Mobility instead. Surprisingly, I got a GTE operator.
The trip was a bit too far from Buffalo to reach a New York cell site,
so one possibility was that dialing 0 from the Railfone sent along
instructions to the cell site to dial an 800 number thus reaching GTE.
I didn't figure out whether the phone was linked to Cantel or Bell
Cellular, though.


David Leibold

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

From: [e-mail]
Date: 30 Jul 93 14:01:56-0400
Subject: Long Distance to Cuba


The following news clip is forwarded for your information.


* Sprint has asked the FCC for permission to provide service to Cuba.
The carrier's filing, dated July 26, asked the FCC to grant Special
Temporary Authority to provide switched voice service to Cuba via
Teleglobe, Canada's long distance company.  Sprint said it would use
its own facilities to reach the Canadian border and Teleglobe has
agreed to lease facilities to meet Sprint's connection at the border
and then transfer phone calls via satellite.  Sprint has also filed
for permanent links since the arrangement with Teleglobe is a stopgap.
The plan calls for leasing 30 circuits from Comsat to provide direct
service with Cuba.  Sprint expects channel growth to increase 26
percent in the first year, 20 percent in the second year, and 24
percent in the third.  Sprint projects it will hold 47 percent of the
market during the first full year of service and generate over one
million minutes of traffic.  However, Sprint expects the market share
to erode rapidly.  By 1997, Sprint said it expects to hold only 28
percent of the market, handling about 2.4 million minutes.  The plans
would require approval by the Cuban government.  (Communications
Daily, "Sprint asks FCC for license to provide Cuba service," 7/30/93)
#073001

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

John D. Gretzinger  Network Engineer
Sprint   +1.310.797.1187
I don't speak for Sprint, and they don't speak for me.

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 93 11:12:34 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Mark Donnelly)
Subject: Comments on Highest Quality and Lowest Rates on Int'l Calling


Which vendors have the best rate and line quality for moving data
around on international calls with run-of-the-mill modems?

If anyone has experience with this while moving significant amounts of
data I would really appreicate your comments.


Thanks,

Mark


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

From: [e-mail] (Bret Wilkening)
Subject: Help With NEAX NEC 2400 T-1
Organization: Microware Systems Corp., Des Moines, Iowa
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1993 14:24:19 GMT


I have recently been put in charge of our corporations PBX system, and
have some questions concerning the NEC T-1 cards which we just
installed.

The switch is the NEAX NEC 2400 SIM, and we just installed our FIRST
T-1 card, (a NEC 24DTG), and the appropriate clocking card ( CK-01),
also NEC's card.  We seem to be having problems getting the clock card
to sync properly to the signal supplied by MCI, our long distance
carrier.  We are confident that ALL the dip-switch setting on the
clock card and 24DTG card are set correctly, and have verified this
with various vendors involved (three companies involved).

The T-1 connection IS WORKING, and we are using it for a small portion
of our outgoing traffic currently with no problems.  Also, we have 800
service coming in on it also, with no problems.  However, we do not
beleive it is working correctly.  Below are some strange things which
lead us to beleive that things are still not quite right:

When hooking up a TBERD 211 T scanner analyzer it shows that our T-1
card is transmitting ALL ONES.  We have tried several different
combinations of switch settings, ( a vendors request ) but are unable
to clear this problem.  We we go OFF HOOK, the ALL ONES led clears,
and everything seems to be OK.  However, both MCI and our local fiber
company who put in this T-1 say that transmitting ALL ONES should not
be normal!

Our clock card also has the amber alarm light which lights.  It is
very strange, sometimes off for several hours, other times totally on.
Most of the time, the light just pulsates on/off.  We believe that it
is just not able to sync properly?

This problem we believe is directly related to the clocking problem.
Our NEC switch constantly generates both MAJOR and MINOR alarms.  We
think that this is due to the switch having to drop back to its'
internal clock, when the T-1 clock drops out of sync.

Again, all of this is just our speculation of the problems, and I am
hoping to find some help in solving these problems.  I am scheduled
into a factory school on this PBX, but not until September.  Please
advise is you can be of help.  ANY SUGGESTIONS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!

Thanks in advance for your help!


Bret D. Wilkening
Administrator of Internal Systems
Microware Systems Corporation

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

Date: Sat, 31 Jul 93 13:26:46 EDT
From: Carl Moore <[e-mail]>
Subject: History.of.Area.Splits, July 28, 1993 Version


As promised, I have mailed off a new version of subject file.

I had a comment about the first batch of NNX area codes being of NN0
form, and (due to the announcement of 205/334 split in Alabama) have
shifted this to the past tense ("It was thought that...").  (205/334
split has been noted as needed elsewhere in the file.)

Also, remember the quirk in the 215 area where two prefixes did not
make the dialing changes?  (I.e., they continued using 1+7D for
direct-dial long distance within 215, and continued using 0+7D for
operator-assisted calls within 215.)  I added a note saying those two
prefixes will move to area 610.


[Moderator's Note: Carl's area code history file can be located in the
Telecom Archives using anonymous ftp lcs.mit.edu.   PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Angelo Haritsis)
Subject: PC sound mesgs on telephone lines ?
Date: 30 Jul 93 01:47:32 GMT
Organization: Dept. of Computing, Imperial College, London


Hello everyone,

We need a PC board that would be able to play-back different sound
messages (pre-recorded on a disk) on one or more telephone lines,
while the operator is busy on some other line. The operator should be
able (through some kind of s/w running on the PC) to control what
message is played on each line.  Is there anything like that ?  I
presume telephone operator services (eg directory info) must use this
pronciple. But is there anything widely available?

Please reply by personal e-mail.


Thanks in advance,

#include <standard.disclaimer.h>
Angelo Haritsis, Applied Systems Section
s-mail: Dpt of Computing,Imperial College, 180 Queen's Gate, London SW7 2BZ, UK
e-mail: [e-mail] - tel:[phone] (x7511) - fax:[phone]

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

From: Doreen Hansen <[e-mail]>
Subject: Princess Phone Keychains from 60's
Date: Sat, 31 Jul 93 11:01:32 CDT


Hi!

Does anyone here have a collection of those little plastic princess
phones that say "The Princess phone ... It's little, it's lovely, it
lights!" on the bottom?  They have a ball-type chain on the right
side.  I have just started a collection of them after finding a few at
the local Goodwill.  I know they came in aqua, white, and pink.  Are
there any other colors?  How were these distributed?  with phone
books?  In the mail?  Did each household get one/two?  Were they given
out only one year?  Or did people buy them?  I have no idea cuz I was
born in 1966.  I know these are silly questions to many of you!  :) I
found two unmodified lifesize Princess phones (touch-tone) at a
hamfest (Ham-radio flea market).  One was all beat up, but with some
cleaning, it didn't look half bad!

(Yes, I did post a similar thing to rec.collecting).  Only one person
replied with one keychain!  Must not be a hot collectors item!!


Doreen Hansen         Internet: [e-mail]
28 Dewberry Lane      Duluth, MN  55810

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

Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1993 22:03:23 (EDT)
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Subject: Please Deposit Two Dollars When You See the Stop Light
From: Paul Robinson <[e-mail]>
Organization: Tansin A. Darcos & Company, Silver Spring, MD USA


{Washington Post Digest}, Page D8, July 29:

"NYNEX's cellular phone unit and New York's Taxi and Limousine
Commission started a 90-day pilot program to provide cellular pay
phones for passenger use in 200 cabs.  Calls will cost about $1.75 per
minute in the New York City area and more for long distance calls.
Separately, NYNEX joined Polish companies and investors in a venture
to publish telephone directories for Poland's national phone company.

 ...

British Telecommunications said first-quarter pre-tax earnings
rose 27 percent."


Paul Robinson - [e-mail]

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

Date: 30 Jul 93 07:50:44 EDT
From: Alan Boritz <[e-mail]>
Subject: AT&T Atlantic?


We received a most unusual call in the office yesterday.  Someone who
identified himself as a representative of "AT&T" asked for "the owner"
and quizzed our receptionist about whether or not someone had been
trying to reach a particular 800 number.  The strange caller left
another 800 phone number to call.  I returned the call and the
(Audix?) voice mail system at the other end identified itself as "AT&T
Atlantic."  The message on the mailbox greeting was a different person
than the one that called the receptionist, though used the same name.
A THIRD person using the same first and last name (different from the
first caller and the voice mail greeting) returned my call. The "third
Tony" ;) explained that "AT&T Atlantic" is a division of AT&T, located
in Florida, that sells telephone systems and that they had sales reps
in our area ... You probably already know the rest of the pitch. ;)

Would anyone know if there really is an "AT&T Atlantic" that competes
with AT&T's regular business clients, or was this what it appears to
be?


Alan Boritz     [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Carl Oppedahl)
Subject: No Caller ID in Manhattan
Date: 31 Jul 1993 12:38:08 -0400
Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and Unix, NYC


New York Telephone spends plenty of its ratepayers' money saying how
modern and flexible its network is ... as it should be in the city
that never sleeps -- the city that is the communications hub for
banking and finance -- the city that gets area code divisions every
few years due to the explosion in demand for telephone service ...

So what do I encounter recently?

Here I live in the middle of Manhattan, with central office 212-777,
and I am told that it is impossible for me to get ISDN.  That was last
week.  This week I am told it is impossible to get Caller ID, even
though it is being advertised all over New York City, complete with
inserts in the phone bills trumpeting its availability.


Carl Oppedahl AA2KW  (patent lawyer)
1992 Commerce Street #309
Yorktown Heights, NY  10598-4412
voice 212-777-1330

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

From: marks![e-mail] (Charles McGuinness)
Subject: Caller-ID Across LATAs?
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 93 9:24:25 EDT


I live in area code (201), which is in the Northern New Jersey LATA.
The other day, my Caller ID box showed a number from area code (215),
which is Philadelphia and obviously not in my LATA.  I received a
second call from the same number, and so the chances of the number
being in error are rather slim.

What I want to know is ... how'd this happen?  I never get numbers
from anybody outside of my LATA, except this once.  Is it just the
luck of everybody having SS7 connectivity from end to end?

Thanks!

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 93 05:41:52 PDT
From: Charlie Rosenberg <[e-mail]>
Subject: ATT Dedicated Lines


A friend asked me who to talk to at AT&T about leasing a
dedicated 56kb line to Latin America.

Does anyone have any contact info for the department at AT&T that
provides this service?

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #525
******************************










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Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1993 21:38:58 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #526

TELECOM Digest     Sat, 31 Jul 93 21:38:40 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 526

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    AT&T Spending $5 Million on Video Games (Paul Robinson)
    Canadian Caller ID Document Co$t$ (David Leibold)
    Exact Frequencies of 900MHz Cordless Phones USA/Germany (P. Jesinger)
    Paging Service Providers in Pittsburgh? (Marc Unangst)
    CCITT, ITU-T or TSS? (Basil Halhed)
    Voice Recognition and Third Party Billing (Jim J. Murphy)
    MCI Fax Dispatch Offers PostScript (Christopher Zguris)
    Area-code Splits and State Capitals (Garrett Wollman)
    Continuing Saga - Help Needed For Modem Line (Bruce D. Nelson)
    Seeking the Von Neumann Network (Rich Bauer)
    Need Addresses/Contacts For SOH/SONET (Jean Raymond)
    Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"! (Ehud Gavron)
    Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"! (Zane Shults)
    Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"! (Harold Hallikainen)

                     ----------------------
TELECOM Digest is an e-journal devoted mostly -- but not exclusively --
to discussions on voice telephony. The Digest is a not-for-profit
public service published frequently by Patrick Townson Associates. PTA
markets a no-surcharge telephone calling card and a no monthly fee 800
service.  In addition, we are resellers of AT&T's Software Defined
Network. For a detailed discussion of our services, write and ask for
the file 'products'.

The Digest is delivered at no charge by email to qualified subscribers on
any electronic mail service connected to the Internet. To join the mail-
ing list, write and tell us how you qualify: [e-mail].
 All article submissions MUST be sent to our email address: telecom@eecs.
nwu.edu -- NOT as replies to comp.dcom.telecom.

Back issues and numerous other telephone-related files of interest are
available from the Telecom Archives, using anonymous ftp lcs.mit.edu.
Login anonymous, then 'cd telecom-archives'. At the present time, the
Digest is also ported to Usenet at the request of many readers there,
where it is known as 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Use of the Digest does not
require the use of our products and services. The two are separate.
All articles are the responsibility of the individual authors. Organi-
zations listed, if any, are for identification purposes only. The
Digest is compilation-copyrighted, 1993. **DO NOT** cross-post articles
between the Digest and other Usenet or alt newsgroups. Do not compile
mailing lists from the net-addresses appearing herein.  Send tithes and
love offerings to PO Box 1570, Chicago, IL 60690. :)  Phone: [phone].

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

Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1993 12:04:59 -0400 (EDT)
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Subject: AT&T Spending $5(m) on Video Games
From: Paul Robinson <[e-mail]>
Organization: Tansin A. Darcos & Company, Silver Spring, MD USA


Summary from {Washington Post}, Page D8, July 29:

In "Game for a Multimedia Opportunity" Cindy Skryzcki describes AT&T's
purchase on July 28 for US $5 million of a 20% stake in the Sierra
Network, a computer system that allows users to play games against
each other; the description was that the network resembles "an
electronic amusement park."  The photograph above the article shows a
fuzzy image of several buildings in a park setting, apparently taken
off of a computer screen.

As part of the deal, the network has been renamed ImagiNation Network
Inc, and AT&T, which has the right to obtain a controlling interest,
said it would spend at least another $3 million to develop more
programming for the system.  The article says this is part of AT&T's
strategy "to be a major player in an emerging industry called
multimedia, where computers, communications technology, consumer
electronics and entertainment converge."  AT&T is involved with other
game related companies including 3DO, Sega and PF Magic.  Sierra's
interest is what AT&T can provide: the phone network which can allow
much better interactive entertainment; the other two things needed are
the programming and the delivery into the home.  "AT&T is now working
on all three."  The other reason for its owner to be interested is the
$12 million it has spent on the system and was still losing money.

AT&T has gotten involved in a number of ventures, including video
phones, personal communicators (which merge a fax machine, cellular
phone and E-Mail), video-on-demand and interactive shopping.  AT&T has
done a "major management reorganization" and was surveying its
employees "to find out if there was a market for interactive
programming using regular phone lines."  AT&T is also working on a
special modem to send voice and data simultaneously.  (Isn't that what
ISDN is supposed to do?)  But apparently AT&T doesn't want too much
read into this move; an AT&T vice president said it is not "AT&T's
definitive move in interactive networks" but AT&T is talking to
Hollywood about some things that could be done.

The owner of the system is a small California Company called Sierra
On-Line Inc., which made US $43 million in revenue last year.  Another
20% of the system was also sold for US $5 million to General Atlantic
Partners, a New York investment firm.  Sierra has also signed an
agreement with Prodigy to allow its two million subscribers access to
Sierra's games.


SIDEBAR:
Here are some of AT&T's 1993 investments in interactive
multimedia:

Jan  7: Joins with other companies to form 3DO to create
        interactive Compact Discs;
Jun  1: Creates Video Server as a means to provide video on
        demand;
Jun  2: Joins with Viacom to announce plans for two-way cable
        to allow services such as video on demand;
Jun  3: Joins with Sega to make video games accessible via
        phone lines;
Jul 28: Buys 20% of the Sierra Network.


Analysis of the situation:

A few years ago some other company did the same thing, e.g. allow
people to connect to a system and access video games and the
equivalent.  The company went bankrupt because people couldn't see
paying a monthly fee for access to video games when you can purchase
them once.  Access to other people might be more valuable, I'm not
sure.

I don't know if this sort of thing is capable of being done on a
paying basis.  I do know that if it is, it has to be low enough in
cost to encourage people to use it, yet not so low that the operators
can't make a profit on it.


Paul Robinson - [e-mail]

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 93 11:40 EDT
From: [e-mail] (woody)
Subject: Canadian Caller ID Document Co$t$


A few people in the area tried to get the Canadian Call # ID document
known as Interface Disclosure ID-0001 in recent days only to find out
that it costs $50. This document was originally administered by Bell
Canada and was free for the asking; it wasn't a massive epic by any
means (about 18 pages, Nov 1989 version). Now, the document is carried
by Stentor (formerly Telecom Canada), and perhaps the charge was
introduced with this change.

In the U.S., the comparable Bellcore document carried a cost as well,
though I don't have their catalogue handy to find out what that price
is. At least Bellcore is set up as a publications and information
service; as for Stentor, one wonders if the charge will be changed to
different amounts the following week.


David Leibold

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

From: [e-mail] (P. Jesinger)
Subject: Exact Frequencies of 900MHz Cordless Phones USA/Germany
Date: 30 Jul 1993 13:37:59 GMT
Organization: Universitaet Tuebingen


Hi,

Can anyone tell me the exact frequencies that are used be the new
900MHz cordless phones in the US?  How many channels do they use?

Are these exactly the same frequencies as the cordless phones in
Germany use?


Peter

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

From: [e-mail] (Marc Unangst)
Subject: Paging Service Providers in Pittsburgh?
Date: 31 Jul 1993 18:29:34 -0400
Organization: The Programmers' Pit Stop, Ann Arbor MI


I'm going to be moving to Pittsburgh, PA (from Ann Arbor, MI) in about
two weeks.  I currently have numeric pager service from PageNet of
Michigan, and own (not rent) a Motorola Bravo Plus pager.  I am on the
900MHz PageNet system, and I don't know whether the Bravo Plus I have
can be retrofitted for 70cm or 2m paging services.  I'm interested in
continuing to have paging service in Pittsburgh, so I'm looking for
recommendations on which company to go with.  For comparison purposes,
right now I pay $9.95/month for numeric paging service with a 500
page/month allowance.  I'm thinking of selling my Bravo Plus and
renting an alpha pager, so I'm primarily interested in rate
information from people who rent an alpha pager in Pittsburgh.  Also,
service information, testimonials, etc. are welcome, as is advice to
stay away from a particular company.

It's probably best to e-mail responses to me; I'll summarize to the
Digest when I decide which company to go with.


Marc Unangst, N8VRH        [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Basil Halhed)
Subject: CCITT, ITU-T or TSS?
Organization: National Capital Freenet, Ottawa, Canada
Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1993 17:34:02 GMT


I am currently writing an article for Business Communications Review
and I have a fundamental question about referencing CCITT
Recommendations since the merging of CCITT and CCIR.

According to [e-mail], "Following ITU's reorganization,
references to CCITT are being replaced by ITU-T ..."

Is there any retroactivity?  For example, are both old and new CCITT
Recs. to be referred to as ITU-T/H.261 for example?  Or, is it more
like IEEE where standards produced when the organization was called
IRE were subsequently referred to as IRE xxx (rather than IEEE xxx)?
(Which would mean that H.261 would be CCITT/H.261).

And then, to muddy the waters, I have also seen what used to be called
CCITT Recs. referred to as "TSS Recs."

Thanks for your assistance!

Also, please Cc: me directly as the news on my node seems to be
running about 18 hours behind today.


Basil

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

From: [e-mail]
Date: 31 Jul 93 12:15:45-0400
Subject: Voice Recognition and Third Party Billing


I had to make a long distance call from a customer's site today, and I
normally bill these calls on my supervisor's calling card.  But the
card number was in my truck, so I opted to just bill the call to our
office phone number.

The customer's line used ATT for the carrier and I just 0+ dialed the
call, thinking I would wait for an operator to take my third party
billing information.

After the Boing and the ATT announcement, I just waited, and instead
of an operator, another announcement said, "This is ATT.  Please say:
Collect, Calling Card, Third Number, Person to Person, or Operator,
now."

I said "Third Number" in my clearest and most distinct voice and the
announcement then said, "Using Touch Tones, please enter the area code
and number you wish to bill this call to, now".  And my call completed
as normal.

I experimented with this later back at the office.  If I slurred my
words or spoke too softly, the announcement said my request was not
understood, please try again.  If the second time was still not
understood, it said to standby for an operator.  I also had no trouble
entering a number to bill the call to; one of our office numbers, or
to any valid local number I might punch in.


Jim Murphy     AA0JG    Cresco, IA
[e-mail]   [e-mail]

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

Date: Sat, 31 Jul 93 04:13 GMT
From: Christopher Zguris <[e-mail]>
Subject: MCI Fax Dispatch Offers PostScript


   First off, I'm not affiliated with MCI in any way, I just have an
account there. I got a message from them advertising an upgrade (I
guess) to there Fax Dispatch service that allows users to
fax-broadcast PostScript-defined pages instead of just text. The way I
understand it, you create your "page" using whatever program, save it
as PostScript, upload the PostScript to MCI, and then you can
broadcast it to whoever you want.

   They used to only offer text fax-broadcast, so this is a major
improvement. I've seen messages here about fax-broadcast, so I thought
this might be of interest to the readers.


Christopher Zguris  [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Garrett Wollman)
Subject: Area-Code Splits and State Capitals
Organization: University of Vermont, EMBA Computer Facility
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1993 00:35:31 GMT


In article <[e-mail]>, Carl Moore <cmoore@BRL.
MIL> wrote:

> But in Maryland (1991) and Virginia (1973), the state capitals went to
> new area codes (410 and 804 respectively) and the DC suburbs stayed in
> the old area codes (301 and 703 respectively).

My initial reaction to this was "well, what about the population?"
Then I remembered that Baltimore also ended up in 410, and `Bawlamer'
and Washington are roughly equal in population, so this argument
doesn't seem to hold.  However, it is worth noting that many state
capitals are in relatively small cities.  Consider, for example,
Montpelier, VT (pop. 6500), or Carson City, NV (pop. unknown, but much
smaller than Reno or Las Vegas).  Oddly enough, these two cities lie
in Hamming-adjacent NPAs (802 and 702, respectively).

Of course, there is virtually zero probability that NPA 802 will ever
need to be split; there are less than 200 exchanges currently
allocated (according to my phone book) for a population of 550,000.
(It is considered very unlikely that Vermont's population should ever
reach one million.)


Garrett A. Wollman  [e-mail]
uvm-gen!wollman     UVM disagrees.


[Moderator's Note: Another area code which is greatly underused and
unlikely to ever need to split is 401 in Rhode Island. I think there
are fewer people in RI than on the north side of Chicago. Isn't the
entire state mostly a local call for anyone there?  :)   PAT]

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

Reply-To: [e-mail]
From: [e-mail] (Bruce D. Nelson (67890))
Subject: Continuing Saga - Help Needed For Modem Line
Date: 30 Jul 93 03:41:51 GMT
Organization: Eastman Kodak Company


As you may recall from my posting three weeks ago, I have a modem line
and a voice line. My modem line stopped having the ability to carry a
v.42 connection sometime around July 1st. The voice line works OK.

My first call to Rochester Tel resulted in "test from the office shows
the line is OK" and "lines only required to support speech and 2400
bps connections".

After I received some advice from some of you, I called Rochester Tel
again. Since that time, they have replaced all the wiring from my
interface block all the way to the pole. They have also exchanged CO
loops between my voice line (which worked) and the modem line (which
doesn't). I've also talked to the techs in the switchroom.  Although
the techs say they don't have to work on this problem, they have been
very helpful, except, the modem line still doesn't work (but the voice
line still can carry v.42).  At this point, the modem line is all new
wire to the pole, and is connected to the CO pair which formerly
carried my voice line.  I'm baffled. They're baffled. Any of you have
any advice I can give them?

Additional info: The link diagnostic reports on the "bad" line show
connection speeds of 2400/14400 (rcv/xmit) to 4800/14400 on most of my
v.42 calls where that line used to always get 14400/14400 as does the
voice line.  However, there's one line I need to call where my good
line gets 14400/14400 and the bad line negotiates to 7200 and then
drops the connection.

Thanks for any insights you can provide.


Bruce Nelson                            | Phone: [phone]
Rochester Distributed Computer Services | Internet: [e-mail]
Eastman Kodak Company                   |
Rochester, NY 14652-3302


[Moderator's Note: Unless you have a special requirement for the
number you are using as your phone line, why not just swap them out
and use the good line for your modem and the lesser quality line for
voice?   PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Rich Bauer)
Subject: Seeking the Von Neumann Network
Organization: Critical Path Project
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1993 01:30:26 GMT


Does anyone have the phone number or e-mail address of the
John Von Neumann Computer Network?  This is a company that
offers very low Internet connections in my area.

Unfortunately, directory assistance for 1-800 doesn't have their
number.

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

From: [e-mail] (Jean Raymond)
Subject: Need Addresses/Contacts For SOH/SONET
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1993 15:38:05 GMT


I would like to find addresses/contacts for different companies involved in
SDH/SONET network. Is it possible to someone give it to me ?

Thank you for your help.

List of companies I'n looking for :

- Spanish PTT, Telefonica
- PTT Telecom Netherlands
- Belgian PTT
- Germany's Deutsche Telekom
- Israel's ECI Telecom Ltd
- Philips Communications Systems in Paris
- Philips Kommunikations Industries AG, Nuremberg Germany
- and any other ones involved in SDH/SONET network (equipment, management...)


Jean Raymond    Hydro-Quebec, Telecommunications Control Center
Montreal, Quebec, Canada     email: [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Ehud Gavron)
Subject: Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"!
Date: 30 Jul 1993 23:50 MST
Organization: ACES Research Inc.
Reply-To: [e-mail]


ENOUGH ALREADY on toner phoners.  It has little if anything to do
with TELCOM, and it's hardly unlawful ...

Mumbles:

> [Moderator's Note: Well since I wrote the above, a couple messages in
> the Digest have pointed out that some (most?, all?) of these bozos are
> claiming to be 'the regular supplier' for the firms they call. That
> does hinge on fraud I suppose, but barely.   PAT]

Fraud is not a door, and it doesn't hinge on anything.  It is either
fraud or it isn't.  Fraud requires that there be provable malicious
deception.  Good luck proving malice when the guy says he's your
regular fax-paper guy.

Give me a break and go back to arguing if The Breakup was Good or
Evil, whether Steve will surplant John, or if the Pacific Northwest
gets enough rain (both Steve and John will have insight, I'm sure).

NOTE:  WHERE IS PROOF POSITIVE???  WHERE IS MCI'S PROMISED PROOF?
       Answer: their stupid tariff wasn't accepted.  They've had
       since 1984 and still can't show customer savings.  Too bad.

OB Comp.DCOM.Telecom info: I once had dinner with Monty Solomon.


Ehud Gavron  [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Zane Shults)
Subject: Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"!
Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1993 04:53:58 GMT
Organization: Colorado State U. Engineering College


Like they say:

Cheat me once, shame on you ...
Cheat me twice, shame on me.


Cheers,

Tim    [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Harold Hallikainen)
Subject: Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"!
Organization: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1993 19:32:37 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
writes:

> At our company, we cannot buy anything unless Purchasing issues a
> valid purchase order.  So when the scam artist would call and breezily
> ask for information about our machines, or say that they were a
> regular supplier of ours, I would start asking questions.  What I
> discovered was that when I asked even the most basic questions that a
> business would normally ask to identify a current or potential
> supplier, they would just hang up!  Things like the NAME and ADDRESS
> of their company!

    I, along with everyone else, get lots of telemarketing calls
both here at work and at home.  I listen to their pitch then explain
that it is really too bad they used telemarketing, since we don't buy
ANYTHING where the first contact is via a telemarketing call.  We
consider it a poor business practice and are doing our part to make it
not economically feasible.

    I am amazed, however, that any company bigger than one person
doesn't use purchase orders.  We put them in place immediately on
starting our company 20 years ago.  It documents who is responsible
for placing the order, what was ordered (so we can compare what is
received with what was ordered), shows that the items were received so
that invoices are approved for payment, documents what accounts to
charge for the purchase, and, if it is for our stock, what our part
number is, so we can update the inventory.  We generally place orders
by phone, so the supplier never sees the purchase order, but they get
the PO number so we can quickly find it when shipments and invoices
show up.  Pretty simple ... again, unless there is one person handling
everything at the company, it appears a simple purchase order system
would be mandatory.


Harold Hallikainen              [e-mail]
Hallikainen & Friends, Inc.     [e-mail]
141 Suburban Road, Bldg E4      phone [phone] fax [phone]
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-7590  telex 4932775 HFI UI

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #526
******************************










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Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1993 22:58:33 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #527

TELECOM Digest     Sat, 31 Jul 93 22:58:30 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 527

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: What is Category 5 (re: ISDN) (Keith G. McRae)
    Re: What is Category 5 (re: ISDN) (Gary Breuckman)
    Re: What is Category 5 (re: ISDN) (R. Kevin Oberman)
    Re: K00L International Numbers (Lee Sweet)
    Re: K00L International Numbers (Cris Simpson)
    Re: K00L International Numbers (Doug Sewell)
    Re: MCI Makes Buses? (Kenneth R. Crudup)
    Re: 800 Translation Questions (Ron DeBlock)
    Re: Area 205 to Split (Ethan Miller)
    Re: T1s Versus Regular Lines For a FreeNet? (Andrew Finkenstadt)
    Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced (David Leibold)
    Re: ADSI Specs Wanted (Brian Hess)
    Re: ADSI Specs Wanted (Jack Pines)
    Re: Caller ID (Miscellaneous Topics) (Carl Page)
    Re: Portable PC's in a Fleet of Cars (Steve Forrette)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Keith G. McRae)
Subject: Re: What is Category 5 (re: ISDN)
Organization: The New Brunswick Telephone Company
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1993 00:11:27 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Albert Pang) writes:

> There is some renovation going on in our building and all the network
> connection and telephone cables are rewired.  I have been hearing the
> term Category 5 all the time. (All of panels containing the RJ45 plugs
> even have a sign CAT 5 on it).  I was wondering what exactly does
> Category 5 certified means in this context.

Category 5 refers to the attenuation and (mostly) near-end-cross-talk
(NEXT) characteristics of a structured wiring plan, which are the
primary considerations determinig how fast data will go on said wires.
Cat-5 will support 100Mbps transmission now, and 150Mbps (ATM) later.
Reg'lar old telephone wire is rated Cat-2 or 3(4Mbps max), two year
old STP is Cat-4 (16Mbps max), no Cat-6 yet!  Structured wiring with a
mix of types (Cat-3 & Cat-5 f'rinstance) gives the lower of the two
ratings.  NEXT is the boogy-man, and very controlled twists per inch,
loose cable jackets, and so on do the high speed magic.  Bell and or
Northern Telecom would no doubt be delighted to put on a presentation
if you ask.


Keith G. McRae Internet: [e-mail] | |Customer Systems
Engineering Advisor Phone: [phone] | |The New Brunswick
Telephone Company Fax: [phone] | |644 Main St, 7th floor, P.O.
Box 340 Envoy100(tm) KEITH.MCRAE | |Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, E1C 8L5
My opinions do not necessarily reflect NBTel's position.

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

Date: Sat, 31 Jul 93 16:23:48 -0700
From: [e-mail] (Gary Breuckman)
Subject: Re: What is Category 5 (re: ISDN)
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Albert Pang) writes:

> There is some renovation going on in our building and all the network
> connection and telephone cables are rewired.  I have been hearing the
> term Category 5 all the time. (All of panels containing the RJ45 plugs
> even have a sign CAT 5 on it).  I was wondering what exactly does
> Category 5 certified means in this context.

The different categories refer to the frequency handling
characteristics of the circuit.  In the wire, it takes into
consideration the wire itself and the number of twists per foot.  In
connectors, it translates to the type of termination, it 110-type as
opposed to screw terminals.

CAT 3 is rated 16 Mb, and is for voice and 10-base-T
CAT 4 is rated 20 Mb, and is for token ring
CAT 5 is rated 100 Mb, and is for CDDI and ATM.

Of course, CAT 5 wiring is just fine for 10-base-t, etc ...

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

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: What is Category 5 (re: ISDN)
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 93 00:06:06 GMT
Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory


In Article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Albert Pang) writes:

> There is some renovation going on in our building and all the network
> connection and telephone cables are rewired.  I have been hearing the
> term Category 5 all the time. (All of panels containing the RJ45 plugs
> even have a sign CAT 5 on it).  I was wondering what exactly does
> Category 5 certified means in this context.

There is a complex set of specifications for catagory 5 cable, but, in
a nutshell, it means that the pairs can handle data at 100 Mhz for
lengths of 100 meters.


R. Kevin Oberman        Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Internet: [e-mail]    [phone]
Disclaimer: Being a know-it-all isn't easy. It's especially tough when you
don't know that much. But I'll keep trying. (Both)

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

From: decrsc![e-mail] (Lee Sweet)
Subject: Re: K00L Internation Numbers
Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1993 19:03:18 -0400 (EDT)


Here's a post from the AIX-L list (IBM Unix computers ...)

More free advertising, or what? [PAT may want to/have already changed
part of the numbers!]  As you can see these aren't the same country
codes as the earlier ones.  So, *is* this just more free advertising,
or what?  BTW, this just popped up on the AIX list.  No one asked for
it!

(Message deleted).

Lee Sweet                        Internet *lists* - [e-mail]
Chief Systems Consultant        Internet *e-mail* - [e-mail]
Datatel, Inc.                               Phone - 703-968-4661
4375 Fair Lakes Court                         FAX - 703-968-4625
Fairfax, VA 22033                (Opinions are my own, and only my own!)


[Moderator's Note: Every news grroup in the world received this
message from Seth. I received two copies myself: one to
comp.dcom.telecom and one to the Digest.

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

Date: Sat, 30 Jul 93 16:45:18 PDT
From: [e-mail] (Cris Simpson)
Subject: Re: K00L International Numbers
Organization: Pioneer New Media Technologies, Inc.


> if you want to unload your STUFF all over the PHONE give them a
> call.

Maybe we need a discussion on cleaning the phone afterwards.


cris    [e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: As the comedian Jack Benny would have phrased it,
"really, Mary ...".  PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Doug Sewell)
Subject: Re: K00L International Numbers
Date: 30 Jul 1993 01:39:38 GMT
Organization: Youngstown State University


In article <[e-mail]> TELECOM Moderator noted in
response to J. Philip Miller ([e-mail]):

> [Moderator's Note: This message could be retitled "Here Comes Seth
> Again With His Phone Numbers" .... Mr. Miller said Seth sent this to
> sci.med.aids, passing it off as a 'safe sex' phone service. <smirk>.
> Miller rejected it in his group, and I would also if it were not good
> for a laugh seeing to what extent people will go to promote things
> on the net.  PAT]

He wasn't even that bright in other places.  It appears he started at
bit.admin and started up through the bit.* hierarchy (probably his
site doesn't get alt.*, or he didn't feel it appropriate to advertise
there). I saw it in bit.listserv.aix-l (an IBM unix-ish OS), cumrec-l
(a higher-ed conference), and other places.

As a result, two mailing lists were disconnected from usenet and a
third was made moderated.  Fortunately this time around, it didn't
start a flood of "why the hell" posts going on-and-on in all the
different discussions, eliminating any meaningful discourse for a
week.


Doug Sewell, Tech Support, Computer Center, Youngstown State University
[e-mail]       [e-mail]    <internet>!cc.ysu.edu!doug

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

Date: Sat, 31 Jul 93 15:28:08 EDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: MCI Makes Buses?
Organization: AT&T


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail].
com (Fred) writes:

> Speaking of the overlaid initials "MCI", here in the Bay State, the
> term means "Massachusetts Correctional Institution at", as in MCI
> Concord, MCI Norfolk, MCI Gardner ...

I found that out in an amusing way. I moved to Boston a few years ago,
and one of the college radio stations, during their Saturday late nite
mood-music program, would have a section for dedications that were
called in (telecom relevancy hook :-) to be read. Well, every weekend
I'd hear all these people dedicating this or that to "John at MCI
Concord, Harry at MCI Norfolk, etc."

I used to be amazed at the presence MCI had here in Massachusetts, and
how they had so many people hired on the night shift until I told this
to someone who told me the real deal after about five minutes of
laughing.


Kenneth R. Crudup, ATT BL, 1600 Osgood St, N. Andover, MA 01845-1043
MV20-3T5B, [phone].    [e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: Let us consider the initials MCC. On the one hand,
it is the abbreviation for the federal Bureau of Prisons Metropolitan
Correctional Centers, the prisons located in downtown Chicago, San
Diego, and a few other places. On the other hand, it is also a very
accepted abbreviation for the Metropolitan Community Church. :) So the
next time someone you know misbehaves and winds up having to go to
court, to their probation officer or whoever, tell them if they don't
shape up they may wind up going to the MCC, and that you are not
referring to Sunday services at the gay church! :)  PAT]

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

Date: Sat, 31 Jul 93 16:54:26 EDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: 800 Translation Questions
Organization: AT&T


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Stephen Davis) writes:

> Hence, all the Pizza delivery chains will have a single 800
> number to call.  The computer/whatever will then decide what store to
> ring based on the number being called from.  This saves even more time
> than the average "Enter your area code and number at the tone for the
> number of the Pizza/Flowers/Widgets store nearest you" bit.

This has been done.  We (AT&T InfoWorx) have built dealer locators
that route to a dealer/store/office based on phone numbers.  Usually,
these applications are a bit more complex than just routing the call,
so a SCP can't be used to do the work.  An IVS is used instead, and we
use ANI and/or caller entered digits (usually NPA-NXX or ZIP (postal)
code).

Usually, the requirement is to find the dealers within N miles of the
caller's location.  Actually, this ends up being N miles from the CO
or post office, since we don't know the exact location of every phone
in the country.

For a company with many (thousands) dealers, the routing tables change
very frequently.  I'm not sure that the operations centers for the
SCPs could handle weekly updates of these tables.

Some companies have surprising methods for determining which dealer a
call should go to.  For example, the correct Pizza store may be chosen
based on how long it takes to drive from the store to the caller's
house.  This can't be determined from NPA-NXX or ZIP code.  Imagine a
database mapping every phone number in the US to a Pizza store.  Now
imagine maintaining it.

The pizza delivery chains actually have the data to build these
databases.  Every pizza store I've ordered from asks for your phone
number. The big chains use this information to identify you and your
pizza habits.  Invasion of privacy on yet another front.

"Thank you for calling Pizza Shack, Mr. Smith.  If you want 'the
usual', press 1 now.  Otherwise, please hold for the next available
droid."


Ron DeBlock  [e-mail]  (that's a number 1 in rdb1, not letter l)
AT&T Bell Labs   Somerset, NJ  USA

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

From: [e-mail] (ethan miller)
Subject: Re: Area 205 to Split
Date: 31 Jul 93 14:23:02
Organization: Berkeley--Shaken, not Stirred
Reply-To: [e-mail]


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Len E.
Elam) writes:

> In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail].
> nasa.gov (David Cornutt) writes:

>> (It surprises me because I had thought that state politics would
>> force SCB to keep Montgomery in 205, that city being the state capitol.)

> Since Birmingham is probably still the biggest city in Alabama (it
> was when I was growing in Alabama) and since it seems to be the
> biggest business center in Alabama, it wouldn't surprise me if this
> were taken into account in determining which area would "keep" Area
> Code 205.

Remember that, when 301 in Maryland split into 301/410, both the
largest city (Baltimore) *and* the capital (Annapolis) went into the
new area code.  I suspect this had something to do with federal
politics, since the DC suburbs kept 301.  Splits apparently try to
minimize national "effect," and reprinting all those government
numbers with 301 area codes would have been a major hassle.


ethan miller--cs grad student  [e-mail]
#include <std/disclaimer.h>

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

From: [e-mail] (Andrew Finkenstadt)
Subject: Re: T1s Versus Regular Lines For a FreeNet?
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Vista-Chrome, Inc.
Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1993 23:25:23 GMT


[e-mail] (woody) writes:

> The Toronto FreeNet (TFN) mailings recently included a suggestion to
> look at getting T1 lines for the forthcoming FreeNet facility rather
> than individual POTS lines. There are apparently adapters that can
> connect a T1 line with a number of computer ports, in effect doing the
> function modems would be doing on each POTS line otherwise.

The Motorola / UDS "DAS 925" V.32bis MDP modem is exactly what you
want.  You plug 24 of these little babies into a rack, attach T-1
interface card, and out the back comes up to 24 standard RS-232 serial
ports suitable for attachment to the terminal server or multi-port
serial box for Toronto Freenet.

Some features listed in the glossy brochure:

 *  Better than channel banks.  Reduced rack space.  Reduced shelf space.
 *  Responds to loop start, ground start, and Trunk/E&M signalling.
 *  Eliminates near-end echo.
 *  Sits directly on the T-1 DS0 channel stream.
 *  Uses the same technology as in the UDS V.3229 modem.
 *  Therefore:  V.32bis, V.42bis, MNP 5, and V.42/LAPM are supported.
 *  Works at 14,400, 12000, 9600, 7200, 4800, 2400, 1200, and 300 "baud".

Contact 416-495-0008 FAX [phone] in Ontario.

> Are there any difficulties with establishing a local number access
> if T1 lines are used?

Your mileage may vary.  Here in Centel/Sprint, they install T-1 for
local access lines only when it is to their advantage, such as a
wiring shortage or long distance runs.


Not associated in any way with Moto or UDS.
Andrew Finkenstadt  |  andy@{homes.com,vistachrome.com,genie.geis.com}
Systems Analyst     |  Vista-Chrome, Homes & Land Publishing Corporation
                    |  1600 Capital Circle SW, Tallahassee Florida 32310
[phone]     |  GEnie Postmaster, Unix & Internet RoundTables Sysop

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

Date: Sat, 31 Jul 93 20:41 EDT
From: [e-mail] (woody)
Subject: Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced


> In addition, 900 service providers *must* provide toll-free, pay per
> call information lines; ...

How do you set up an information line that is *both* toll-free and
pay-per-call? Inquiring minds would like to know ...

> and the use of *any* prefix other than 900 for pay-per-call services
> is prohibited.

Guess that is going to wipe out all those 976 and 540 numbers all over
the U.S.

Meanwhile, up in Canada, the decision on whether to expand national
900 service is pending.


David Leibold


[Moderator's Note: I think the way that is interpreted is that IP's
using 900 numbers have to have an 800 number where they can be reached
for questions about their services and/or an 800 number where their
service can be used with a credit card as payment.  Regards 976/540
style numbers, its hard to say what they meant, and if they regulate
in-state services. Still, the news release did say that each state
had the authority to prosecute offenders.   PAT]

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

Date: Sat, 31 Jul 93 23:02:10 -0500
From: [e-mail] (Brian Hess)
Subject: Re: ADSI Specs Wanted


In ADSI, Customer-to-service signalling is DTMF.  Service-to-customer
is Bell 202 (FSK) half-duplex modem, so chosen for its ability to sync
up within a couple tenths of a second.  Before any data is transmitted,
an alert tone consisting of 2130 Hz/2750 Hz is played for 75-85 msec.
An ADSI telephone will turn off the speaker or handset and send a DTMF
to acknowledge the alert.  It is intended that data is sent first,
then acknowledged, then the handset is turned on again and audio
information corresponding to the data is sent.  Then the customer
(hopefully) pushes a button.

Northern Telecom has a prototype phone set.  Screen is 4 x 40, with 33
x 40 memory for scrolling in.  There are soft keys on the phone, but
so far as I could determine, they just sent single or sequence of
ordinary DTMF.  Their reason for being is so that you can put labels
on the screen above them and don't need the "1 for sales, 2 for
service, 0 for operator" messages in the voice time.

For more information (Bellcore document numbers, all circa Dec. '92):
SR-TSV-002476, CPE Compatibility Considerations for Voiceband Data
Transmission TR-NWT-000030, Voiceband Data Transmission Interfacce
Generic Requirements, Ussue 2 SR-INS-002461, CPE Compatibility
Guidelines for the Analog Display Services Interface TR-NWT-001273,
Generic Requirements for an SPCS to Customer Premises Equipment Data
Interface for Analog Display Services SR-NWT-002495, Guidelines for
Writing Applications which use the Analog Services Interface for Data
Communications

To order Bellcore Technical References (TR) and Special Reports (SR),
contact Bellcore Customer Service, 60 New England Ave., Piscataway, NJ
08854-4196.  800-521-2673


Brian Hess  Active Ingredients, Inc.  [e-mail],  [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (jack pines)
Subject: Re: ADSI Specs Wanted
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1993 19:03:27 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Ray
Berry) writes:

> I've read that CID operates in compliance with specs contained in a
> document called ADSI -- Analog Display Services Interface.  This
> document goes beyond CID, e.g., spelling out ways for the end user to
> transmit info in the other direction.  Is this document available to
> developers?  Is it ftp'able?  I haven't a clue where to look for it,
> but I think it would make for interesting reading.

Bellcore publications TR-NWT-001273 and SR-INS-002461 both December
1992.

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

From: [e-mail] (Carl Page)
Subject: Re: Caller ID (Miscellaneous Topics)
Date: Sun, 01 Aug 1993 03:19:18 GMT
Organization: Mentor Graphics Corporation


Herb writes:

> 4. Since Anonymous Call Rejection is not available from the central
>    office, I connected a Colonial Data Technologies (80 Pickett
>    District Road, New Milford, CT 06776, [phone]) Caller ID
>    370 Deluxe Caller ID Display with "Block the Blocker".  (I
>    purchased this at Sears.)  If Privacy Block is turned on, this
>    unit intercepts all Private calls after the first ring (after
>    the Caller ID data is received), plays the message "This party
>    will not accept blocked calls", and hangs up.  I've had one of
>    my callers complain about "the rude guy" who answers my phone
>    now.

>    Note that this Caller ID Display unit has crummy display (low
>    contrast) and an inferior user interface.  The ONLY reason I
>    use it is for the "Privacy Block" feature.


I can't call you!

Note that since line blocking is available in Oregon (and I have it)
and cannot be turned off, there is no way for me to complete a call to
you.  All I'll get is your machines "rude" voice.

The reason line blocking cannot be temporarliy turned off in Oregon is
because the code to do so, *67, is also the code to block a
non-line-blocked phone. That makes it impossible to make a blocked
call reliably from an unfamiliar phone, or a phone with an unknown
line-blocking status.  US West refused to consider fixing this bug
because they claimed their were too few codes left to assign one to
unblock a line. (Other reasons were cited as well, but none that rang
true to me.)

Does anyone know if the operator could assist me to call you in an
emergency? Or would the operator also be subjected to your rejection
message.


(arl


[Moderator's Note: Your number being blocked would not prevent the
operator from seeing it, and any operator calling to a Caller-ID
equipped line causes the box to record it as an 'outside' call rather
than 'private'. So depending on what the call recipient does about
'outsiders', you'd probably reach him that way. This type of opera-
tor assistance however (using the operator to bypass Caller-ID on
someone's line) is not a satisfactory reason for waiving the operator
surcharge however, as it might be if there was trouble on line and the
operator assisted in dialing. You say 'you can't call him' because the
toggle is of no value when you don't know the status of the phone you
are using. But the fact is, on your calls to him from your home, you
know perfectly well what the status of that line is, so where is
the confusion?  And if you call from elsewhere, ask the owner of the
phone how they have it set if you think it is a big deal.   PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Steve Forrette)
Subject: Re: Portable PCs in a Fleet of Cars
Date: 31 Jul 1993 23:46:27 GMT
Organization: Walker Richer & Quinn, Inc.
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Steve Forrette)


In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Ed Casas) writes:

> Tina Argente <[e-mail]> writes:

>> I've been asked to check into the feasibility of installing portable
>> PC's into a fleet of cars, and having the PC's communicate somehow
>> with a remote host computer. I think some police departments do
>> something like this already, if I'm not mistaken, but I don't know
>> exactly how the communications take place.

> These mobile data terminal systems are used for dispatch and database
> enquiries by police, taxi, courier and utility companies.

> They use custom-designed ruggedized terminals and modems.  The modems
> interface directly with either custom or modified radio transceivers.
> Data rates are on the order of 4800 bps with packet-type protocols
> using FEC and ARQ.

There are also units made by someone that are ruggedized IBM PC
compatibles.  They have an integerated monitor/keyboard mounted on
some sort of swivel, and appear very much like the proprietary systems
that some companies make.  The advantage of such a system is that
off-the-shelf MS-DOS software can be run on them, and standard
development tools can be used for custom software development.  I
would assume that there are custom radio datacomm units that are sold
in combination with these to establish the datacomm path from the
mobile back to the central host.  There are several police departments
that use our DOS teminal emulation software to access their mainframe
databases using these units.


Steve Forrette, [e-mail]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #527
******************************










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Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1993 23:25:09 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #528

TELECOM Digest     Sat, 31 Jul 93 23:25:00 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 528

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Final Program For 5th Incident Response Workshop (Gene Spafford)
    Reflections on Hacker Sentencing (Newsbytes via John F. McMullen)
    Computer System Liability (Christopher Zguris)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1993 12:10:11 -0500
Subject: Final Program For 5th Incident Response Workshop
From: [e-mail] (Gene Spafford)
Organization: FIRST Steering Committee


This is the final program for the upcoming workshop.  We have a
first-rate agenda of speakers from around the world on incident
response & security.

To answer two common questions:

  1) It is still possible to register for the workshop, although
     it is at the higher rate.  The hotel still has rooms available.
     Registration at the door will be possible, but you may not
     be able to get copies of the handouts on-site unless you
     pre-register.

  2) St. Louis is not underwater ... at least the workshop hotel and
     airport are not.  A message from the St. Louis convention bureau
     is at the end of this announcement describing conditions.

Please pass this on to anyone interested!


gene spafford    Workshop Program Co-chair


                FINAL AGENDA
       5th Computer Security Incident Handling Workshop
Sponsored by the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST)

              August 10-13, 1993
                St. Louis, MO


TUESDAY, August 10, 1993  Full-day Tutorials

1.  Creating a Security Policy, presented by Charles Cresson Wood:
    Independent Information Security Consultant
    Sausalito, California

Based on his information security consulting work with over 80
organizations, Wood will discuss the practical aspects of information
security policies.  He will draw heavily from his third book, entitled
"Information Security Policies Made Easy," which contains 525
already-written policies.  His presentation will cover risk
assessments, the role of policies, policy needs analysis, policy
writing, management approval, policy issuance, user training, proper
uses of automated and manual controls, and policy enforcement.  The
intention of the workshop will be to acquaint attendees with the need
for policies, how they are best used, and how to handle policies
in-house (avoiding the need to hire a consultant).  Wood will also
discuss how policies can help move an information security effort
ahead with velocity while at the same time keeping security costs
down.  Special attention will be paid to the people aspects of
information security policies.  The workshop will end with critiques
of the policy statements brought by attendees (so bring your
policies).


2.  Vulnerabilities of the IBM PC Architecture: Virus, Worms, Trojan
      Horses, and Things That Go Bump In The Night
    presented by A. Padgett Peterson:

An intensive look into the architecture of the IBM-PC and MS/PC-DOS --
What it is and why it was designed that way. An understanding of
assembly language and the interrupt structure of the Intel 80x86
processor is helpful.

The day will begin with the BIOS and what makes the PC a fully
functional computer before any higher operating system is introduced.
Next will be a discussion of the various operating systems, what they
add and what is masked. Finally, the role and effects of the PC and
various LAN configurations (peer-peer and client server) will be
examined with emphasis on the potential protection afforded by login
scripting and RIGHTS.

At each step, vulnerabilities will be examined and demonstrations made
of how malicious software exploits them. Demonstrations may include
STONED, MICHELANGELO, AZUSA, FORM, JERUSALEM, SUNDAY, 4096, and EXEBUG
viruses depending on time and equipment available.

On completion attendees will understand the vulnerabilities and how to
detect attempted exploitation using simple tools included with DOS
such as DEBUG and MEM.

3.  Unix Security
    presented by Matt Bishop:

This tutorial will examine four areas of security critical to the
functioning of UNIX systems:

  * user authentication, which provides the first line of defense
    against attackers attempting to penetrate the system;
  * management of privileges, and managing access to the superuser
    account as well as programming for security;
  * defending against malicious logic, which will include a discussion
    of the workings of the Internet worm of November 1988, and several
    techniques for detecting malicious logic as well as blocking its
    effects; and
  * networking, covering the security mechanisms available in NIS, NFS,
    privacy-enhanced electronic mail, and Kerberos, as well as the
    Berkeley "trusted hosts" mechanism, Secure RPC, the network
    daemons and calls used by Berkeley's implementation of rlogin, rsh,
    and their kin, and (if time permits) both HoneyDanBer and 4.3 BSD
    UUCP.



 WEDNESDAY, August 11, 1993

 8:30 -  8:45  Opening Remarks - Rich Pethia - CERT Coordination Center

 8:45 -  9:30  Keynote Speaker - Dr. Vinton Cerf - Corporation for Research
                                                          Initiatives

 9:30 - 10:00  Break

10:00 - 12:00  International Issues - Computer networks and communication lines
               span national borders.  This session will focus on how computer
               incidents may be handled in an international context, and on
               some ways investigators can coordinate their efforts.
               SPEAKERS:
         Harry Onderwater - Dutch Federal Police
         John Austen - New Scotland Yard
         John Neily - Royal Canadian Mounted Police

12:00 -  1:30  Lunch with Presentations by various Response Teams

 1:30 -  3:00  Professional Certification & Qualification - how do you know if
               the people you hire for security work are qualified for the
               job?  How can we even know what the appropriate qualifications
               are?  The speakers in this session will discuss some approaches
               to the problem for some segments of industry and government.
               SPEAKERS:
         Sally Meglathery - ISC2
         Lynn McNulty - NIST
         Genevieve Burns - ISSA

 3:00 -  3:30  Break

 3:30 -  6:00  Incident Aftermath and Press Relations - What happens after an
               incident has been discovered?  What are some of the
               consequences of dealing with law enforcement and the press?
               This session will feature presentations on these issues, and
               include a panel to answer audience questions.
               SPEAKERS:
         Laurie Sefton - Apple Computer
         Jeffrey Sebring - MITRE
                 Terry McGillen - Software Engineering Institute
         John Markoff - NY Times
         Mike Alexander - InfoSecurity News

 7:00 -  9:00  Reception

THURSDAY  August 12

 8:30 - 10:00  Preserving Rights During an Investigation - During an
               investigation, sometimes more damage is done by the
               investigators than from the original incident.  This session
               reinforces the importance of respecting the rights of victims,
               bystanders, and suspects while also gathering evidence that may
               be used in legal or administrative actions.
               SPEAKERS:
         Mike Godwin - Electronic Frontiers Foundation
         Scott Charney - Department of Justice
         Frank Dudley Berry Jr. - Deputy District Attorney
                                            Santa Clara County

10:00 - 10:30  Break

10:30 - 12:00  Coordinating an Investigation - What are the steps in an
               investigation?  When should law enforcement be called in?  How
               should evidence be preserved?  Veteran investigators discuss
               these questions.  A panel will answer questions, time
               permitting.

               SPEAKERS:
         Jim Settle - FBI
         Jack Lewis - US Secret Service
         John Smith - Santa Clara DA's office

12:00 -  1:30  Special Interest Lunch

 1:30 -  3:00  Liabilities and Insurance - You organize security measures but
               a loss occurs.  Can you somehow recover the cost of damages?
               You investigate an incident, only to cause some incidental
               damage.  Can you be sued?  This session examines these and
               related questions.

               SPEAKERS:
         Mark Rasch - Arent Fox
         Bill Cook - Willian, Brinks, Olds, Hoffer, & Gibson
         Marr Haack - USF&G Insurance Companies

 3:00 -  3:15  Break

 3:15 -  5:30  Incident Role Playing -- An exercise by the attendees
           to develop new insights into the process of
           investigating a computer security incident.
           Organized by Dr. Tom Longstaff of the CERT Coordination Center.

 7:30 -  ?     Birds of a Feather and Poster Sessions


FRIDAY  August 13

 8:30 - 10:00  Virus Incidents - How do you organize a successful virus
               analysis and response group?  The speakers in this session have
               considerable experience ans success in doing exactly this.  In
               their talks, and subsequent panel, they will explain how to
               organize computer virus response.

               SPEAKERS:
         Werner Uhrig - University of Texas, Austin
                 David Grisham - University of New Mexico
         Christoph Fischer - CARO
         Karen Pichnarczyk - LLNL/DoE CIAC

10:00 - 10:15  Break

10:15 - 11:15  Databases - How do you store incident, suspect, and
               vulnerability information safely, but still allow the
               information to be used effectively?  The speakers in this
               session will share some of their insights and methods on this
               topic.

               SPEAKERS:
         John Carr - CCTA
         Michael Higgins - DISA/CISS

11:15 - 1:00   Threats - Part of incidence response is to anticipate risks and
               threats.  This session will focus on some likely trends and
               possible new problems to be faced in computer security.

               SPEAKERS:
         Karl A. Seger - Associate Corporate Consultants, Inc.
         Craig Worstel - Boeing
                 Genevieve Burns - Monsanto

 1:00 -  1:10  Closing Remarks - Dennis Steinauer (NIST/FIRST)

 1:10 -  2:00  Lunch

 2:00 -  3:00  FIRST General Meeting and the Steering Committee Elections

 3:00 -  4:00  FIRST Steering Committee Meeting


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Registration Information/Form Follows^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

INQUIRES:

Direct questions concerning registration and payment to: Events at
412-268-6531

Direct general questions concerning the workshop to:  Mary Alice "Sam" Toocheck
                                                      at 214-268-6933
                              [e-mail]

Return to:   Helen E. Joyce
             Software Engineering Institute
             Carnegie Mellon University
             Pittsburgh, PA  15213-3890
             Facsimile:  412-268-7401
TERMS:

Please make checks or purchase orders payable to SEI/CMU.  Credit
cards are not accepted.  No refunds will be issued, substitutions are
encouraged.

The registrations fee includes materials, continental breakfast,
lunches (not included on August 13), morning and afternoon breaks and
an evening reception on August 11.

GOVERNMENT TERMS:

If your organization has not made prior arrangements for reimbursement
of workshop expenses, please provide authorization (1556) from your
agency at the time of registration.

GENERAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION:

Workshop................................. ..............$300.00
All registrations received after July 10, 1993..........$350.00
Tutorial................................................$190.00

NAME:

TITLE:

COMPANY:

DIVISION:

ADDRESS:

ZIP:

BUSINESS PHONE:

EMERGENCY PHONE:

FACSIMILE NUMBER:

E-MAIL ADDRESS:

DIETARY/ACCESS REQUIREMENTS:

CITIZENSHIP:  Are you a U.S. Citizen?    YES/NO

Identify country where citizenship is held if not the U.S.:

(Note: there will be no classified information disclosed at this
workshop.  There is no attendance restriction based on citizenship or
other criteria.)

GENERAL HOTEL INFORMATION:

RATES: A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hyatt Regency at
Union Station, One St. Louis Union Station, St. Louis, Missouri 63103.
The hotel will hold these rooms until July 10, 1993.  Hotel
arrangements should be made directly with the Hyatt, 314-231-1234.  To
receive the special rate of $65.00 per night, please mention the Fifth
Computer Security Incident Handling Workshop when making your hotel
arrangements.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Six-story hotel featuring 540 guest rooms, including
20 suites.  All rooms have individual climate control, direct-dial
telephone with message alert, color TV with cable and optional pay
movies.  Suites available with wet bar.  Hotel offers three floors of
Regency accommodations, along with a Hyatt Good Passport floor, and a
special floor for women travelers.

LOCATION/TRANSPORTATION FACTS: Downtown hotel located in historic
Union Station one mile from Cervantes Convention Center and St. Louis
Convention Center and St. Louis Arch.  Fifteen miles (30 minutes) from
St. Louis Zoo.

DINING/ENTERTAINMENT: Italian Cuisine is featured at Aldo's, the
hotel's full-service restaurant.  Enjoy afternoon cocktails in the
Grand Hall, an open-air, six-story area featuring filigree work,
fresco and stained glass windows.  The station Grille offers a chop
house and seafood menu.

RECREATIONAL/AMUSEMENT FACILITIES: Seasonal outdoor swimming pool.
Full health club; sauna in both men's and women's locker rooms.
Jogging maps are available at the hotel front desk.

SERVICES/FACILITIES/SHOPS: Over 100 specialty shops throughout the
hotel, including men's and women's boutiques, children's toy shops and
train stores.

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

 July 19, 1993

 TO: Meeting Planner

 FROM: St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission

 RE: Flooding


The ongoing Midwest flooding along the Mississippi River obviously is
a great and unfortunate drama -- and we in no way seek to minimize the
tragedy of loss of lives, homes and businesses.

However, in the midst of national media coverage of flooding above and
below St. Louis, people are being left with the impression that St.
Louis itself is under water. The St. Louis Convention & Visitors
Commission's telephone lines are constantly busy as our information
specialists answer calls from anxious travelers who have made plans to
visit St. Louis this summer. They wonder if the Arch is "OK," if Union
Station is "submerged" as they have heard, and where the Cardinals
will be playing baseball if Busch Stadium is under water!  We're doing
our best to battle these and other misperceptions, but your help would
be greatly appreciated in getting the word to your readers.

Here's the truth: A visitor to St. Louis will be able to do everything
he could have done before the floods (see baseball games, ride to the
top of the Arch, enjoy dockside riverboat gaming, visit the brewery,
zoo, art museum, etc ...) with the exception of taking Mississippi
River sightseeing cruises.  And all highway access to St. Louis is
clear and open. The flood crested today, and the waters are beginning
to recede.

So, as you can see, it is a battle of perception versus reality in St.
Louis' hospitality industry. If you're interested in talking about
this aspect of the flood, please contact the Convention Services
Department at 1-800-325-7962.

Thanks very much for the consideration.

ST LOUIS CONVENTION & VISITORS COMMISSION
10 SOUTH BROADWAY   SUITE 1000
ST. LOUIS, MISS0URI 63102
[phone]  [phone]  FAX [phone]

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

Subject: Reflections on Hacker Sentencing
From: [e-mail] (John F. McMullen)
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 93 16:41:16 EDT
Organization: [Phantom Access] / the MindVox system


The following appeared on {Newsbytes}, a commerical copyrighted
international news service on July 29th. It is reposted here with the
express consent of the author (This notice must accompany any
subsequent re-postings which I am authorizing here).


Reflections On Hacker Sentencing 07/29/93

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A.(NB) 072993 -- I sat in federal court this
week and watched two young men be sentenced to prison. It was not a
pleasant experience.

The young men, Ellias Ladopoulos, known in the hacker world as "Acid
Phreak", and Paul Stira, a/k/a "Scorpion", were each sentenced to six
months imprisonment, six months home detention, seven hundred fifty
hours of community service, and $50 assessment charge for conspiracy
to commit computer crimes. Both had pled guilty on March 17th on this
charge so there was not a question of guilt or innocence.

The six months imprisonment also does not seem draconian -- six months
doesn't seem very long unless you happen to be the one serving it.
Time is extremely relative as I found out when I spent five years at
Fort Sill, Oklahoma between January 1963 and April 1963. It is safe to
say that these young men will find the six months loss of freedom to
be a very long period.

The penalty, however, may be reasonable. It is certainly well within
the sentencing guidelines for the infraction (The maximum sentence
quoted for the crime pled to is five years in prison and a $250,000
fine).

If I think that the sentencing may be just, or at least defensible,
then what is the problem? Well, first, I have known the young men for
over three years and like them both. I would have preferred that they
not go to prison. I also personally feel that Stira never should have
been a part of the indictment; a view shared by some law enforcement
folks that I have spoken to (he is only mentioned in the papers twice
and any illegal activities seeming stopped in January 1990; the
activities enumerated involved possesion a "trap door" program and a
list of user passwords to systems).

I recognize that is a personal feeling and that all people want their
friends not to bear hardship. Some place Ted Bundy probably had a
friend who wanted him loose and running around.

Another problem relates to the procedures that got the defendants to the
sentence. Stira and Ladopoulos (along with Mark Abene a/k/a "Phiber Optik")
 were the subjects of a search and seizure by Secret Service agents in
January 1990. Stira and Ladopoulos' fate then languished until July
1992 when they were indicted along with Abene and two new players,
John Lee a/k/a "Corrupt" and Julio Fernandez a/k/a "Outlaw", on
conspiracy to commit computer crimes.

During the over three years that have gone by, Stira and Ladopoulos
have undergone changes. They are both college students -- Stira would
have graduated had his college not pulled his computer account when he
pled guilty; an action which prevented him from completing his last
course requirement.

Both have performed community service through contacts provided by
Robert Ambrose, a director of the New York Amateur Computer Club
(NYACC). Ladopoulos is employed by a major New York broadcasting
company and has impressed his employer to the extent that the employer
wrote a letter to the judge, asking for leniency, and came to the
sentencing.

Ladopoulos' attorney, Scott Tulman, speaking at the hearing, said "He
goes to school, works and donates time to working with the
handicapped, teaching them to use computers. He acknowledges his
culpability and has been attempting to atone for it. His probation
officer noted his sincere efforts to rehabilitate himself. The stupid
young person, 'Acid Phreak', who was involved with other person's
computers no longer exists. It is Elias Ladopoulos who will be
sentenced and that will cause a hardship to his family."

There are those who may say "It doesn't matter how long ago they did
something wrong. They did it and they have to pay the piper." They may
well be right in some cases but these are not past serial killers;
they are two young men who have been under tremendous pressure for a
substantial part of their lives (3 years out of 21 is significant)
since the indictment.  Perhaps that should have been considered
sufficient punishment.

There is, further, an overriding problem. From day one of the case,
the judge, Richard Owen, showed a complete lack of understanding of
the technology related to the case. At the initial scheduling meeting,
then- Assistant US Attorney Steve Fishbein pointed out that the
discovery process might take a long time as the government had
intercepted over "50 megabytes" of electronic evidence. The judge
asked what a megabyte was and, when told it was a million characters,
seemed to look rather panicked when he said "You're not going to show
all that to a jury are you?"  Fishbein assured him that he would not.

It seemed obvious to those of us in attendance that Judge Owen had
visions of 50 million pieces of paper being delivered to a jury. He
was understandably concerned.

That was only day one and a federal judge may not be computer literate
at the start of such a case. That would certainly be a lot to expect.
One might expect, however, that, a year later, at the conclusion of
the case, knowledge would have been acquired. Sadly, that did not seem
to be the case.

One of the charges made against Stira and Ladopoulos (and Abene) was
that they both pulled a prank and caused damage to a computer system
belong to WNET, the PBS television channel in New York. While Stira
and Ladopoulos admitted being on the system, both deny causing any
damage (it is a common belief that another hacker, known for malicious
actions, left unindicted by the federal government because of his age,
knowingly committed the damage). A major part of the sentencing
dialogue between Ladopoulos and Judge Owen had to do with this
incident. Newsbytes reported it this way:

"In response to questions from Judge Owen concerning his involvement
with the damage to the WNET system, Ladopoulous said 'Another hacker
whose name I have already provided to the government was the one who
took the system down. When I saw the problem, I called the station and
left my own phone number and offered to help. If I had caused the
damage, I would not have done that. The person who caused the damage
is a very deranged person.'

"Owen said that he could not believe that it was merely a coincidence
that the damage was done to the WNET system in the same time frame
that Ladopoulous was on the system. Ladopoulous replied by saying that
the system log showed that he was off the system when the damage
occurred. A discussion followed on the entire incident."

The discussion actually had knowledgeable persons in the court room
shaking their heads. The judge didn't understand. He said that there
was too much work for this mysterious hacker to have done to copy
messages from Ladopoulous, add destructive material to it and shut
down the system all on the same day -- just too much typing.
Ladopoulous tried to explain about capture routines, editors, etc. and
then, seeming to realize the futility of it, just gave up.

Speaking later to {Newsbytes} about the experience, Ladopoulous said
"It was terribly frustrating. The judge just didn't understand about
WNET. I tried to explain that I did not damage the system but he
didn't understand."

Now it certainly is not clear that the judge based his sentencing on
the WNET episode. He may not have -- at John Lee's sentencing, the
same judge mentioned that evidence showed that Lee had insulted
someone's mother on the net. One suspects and hopes that this social
transgression played no part in Lee's year-and-a-day sentence; there
were, after all, substantive charges against Lee.

We will never know whether or how much this misunderstanding
influenced the sentence -- and it is a light sentence under the
guidelines. So, perhaps, no harm was done.

No harm? Not quite! At a minimum, the dialogue shook the confidence of
everyone in the room about the sentence. Perhaps the prosecution was
satisfied because the defendants were being punished for their illegal
acts -- perhaps the defense took it in stride because of the relative
lightness of the sentence -- perhaps it was a good sentence. However,
any one with an understanding of computers and telecommunications had
to feel that the judge had no grasp of these issues.

So what happens next? Organizations like the Electronic Frontier
Foundation (EFF), the Society for Electronic Access (SEA), and
Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR) are trying to
close the knowledge gap between public officials and technologists.
Congress is holding hearings on technology issues. There is
recognition at the national level on the importance of understanding
the changes that the telecommunications revolution has brought.

Progress may be made. I hope so. Can you imagine if it were your case
 -- or that of a member of your family being sentencing? Scary, isn't
it?


John F. McMullen           [e-mail]    Consultant,
[e-mail]        [e-mail]            Writer,
[e-mail]   [e-mail]                 Student,
GEnie - nb.nyc             [e-mail]                     Teacher

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

Date: Sun, 1 Aug 93 01:47 GMT
From: Christopher Zguris <[e-mail]>
Subject: Computer System Liability


   I've followed the messages about the sysop in legal trouble
regarding the downloading of adult-oriented material to a minor. This
has made me curious about the general liability of computer systems.
What sort of liability do computer systems like MCI Mail, CompuServe
et al face from users transferring information in violation of the
law, for example copyrighted software? I seem to remember BBS sysops
getting into trouble and having their hardware confiscated because of
user abuses, do the big guys like MCI Mail face the same threat? For
that matter, does a company providing employees with Internet access
have liablility from the same sort of abuses?  The issue of e-mail
privacy on the COMPUTER PRIVACY DIGEST and the issue here on
disclaimers got me thinking on this subject.


Christopher Zguris    [e-mail]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #528
******************************










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Date: Sun, 1 Aug 1993 00:29:12 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #529

TELECOM Digest     Sun, 1 Jul 93 00:29:00 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 529

Inside This Issue:                       Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Radar Detectors (was Re: New AM Band Violates ...) (Brian Troxell)
    Re: Radar Detectors (was Re: New AM Band Violates ...) (David Cornejo)
    Re: Call Trace is Bogus (Harold Hallikainen)
    Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching? (Richard Nash)
    Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom SWitching? (Dub Dublin)
    Re: ANI From Across the Pond (Christian Weisgerber)
    Re: WAN Hardware Advice Wanted (Mike Garvey)
    Re: WAN Hardware Advice Wanted (John D. Gretzinger)
    Re: Phone Number -> Name/Address (Dennis Ritchie)
    Re: Dark Fiber? (Jon Carmichael)
    Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"! (Marc Unangst)
    Re: Review From 2600: Inside (Paul Houle)
    Re: Do We Have a Theme Song? (Mike King)
    Seth Recieves Punishment (was Re: What Is This Number?) (Bob Kupiec)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Brian Troxell)
Subject: Re: Radar Detectors (was Re: New AM Band Violates ...)
Date: 31 Jul 93 20:19:53 GMT
Organization: AudioFAX, Inc., Atlanta, GA


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(A. Padgett Peterson) writes:

> Virginia at least, mere possession of a radar detector seems to be
> grounds for confiscation (heard of one case in which a new unit, still
> in the box and wrapper was seized). Now whether or not this was legal
> is open for debate and certainly many other kinds of seizures are now
> being questioned.

This is untrue. While driving back home to Northern Virginia from
Georgia Tech a few years ago, I got stopped by a VA State Trooper who
proceeded to inform me that the proper place for my radar detector was
in my glove compartment, and not hooked up to the lighter outlet.

No confiscation; he just told me to disconnect it.


Brian Troxell  AudioFAX, Inc.
2000 Powers Fy Rd Suite 200 Marietta, GA 30067 - [phone]
[e-mail] - My views certainly ain't AudioFAX's.

See the happy moron! He doesn't give a damn.
I wish I were a moron. My God! Perhaps I am!


[Moron's Note: That's what they say about me over in news.groups now
and then; I'm the Moderator who doesn't give a sh--. Perhaps that's
right. Maybe this whole thing is my idea of a sick joke!  :) I'm sure
when the trooper told you to disconnect your radar device you did so
immediatly, and left it put away, at least until you got into the next
county, or a least a few miles down the highway.  :) PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (David Cornejo)
Subject: Re: Radar Detectors (was Re: New AM Band Violates ...)
Date: 31 Jul 1993 16:07:13 -0700
Organization: Telco Systems Network Access Corp


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(A. Padgett Peterson) writes:

> Living in Florida, I do not have to worry (at least about radar
> detectors, cash now ...) but as I recall the states in question are
> Virginia and Conneticut (D.C. doesn't count 8*). In Virginia at least,
> mere possession of a radar detector seems to be grounds for confiscation
> (heard of one case in which a new unit, still in the box and wrapper
> was seized). Now whether or not this was legal is open for debate and
> certainly many other kinds of seizures are now being questioned.

Before I left Virginia two years ago, this policy of immediate seizure
had been abandoned (maybe it's been reinstated?)  Having had the
experience of a Herndon, Virginia police officer confiscate my radar
detector the procedure went as follows: First the officer asked me to
turn the unit on (to verify that it was capable of being powered),
after he had removed it he called in another police officer to verify
that it was functional. I was informed at the time that it was being
confiscated and that at such time as I was acquitted or had paid the
fine I could reclaim it.

After paying the fine, I went to the police station to reclaim it and
after some hassle (though the shift supervisor apparently ordered the
officer to apologize to me as I left) they returned it.

(P.S. If you're ever in Herndon, don't mess with the cops, one once
gave me a 10mph over ticket while his partner stood off my front
bumper and pointedly unsnapped his holster. I guess they were afraid I
would try and shoot my way out of a $50 fine.)


Dave Cornejo        Telco Systems NAC
Fremont, California, USA  [phone] x5158
also: [e-mail], [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Harold Hallikainen)
Subject: Re: Call Trace is Bogus
Organization: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1993 18:25:26 GMT


> [Moderator's Note:

[deleted example of wrong number calls from fax machine misprogramming]

> About eight years ago, a FIDO sysop here had a wrong number listed in
> his system for a place he polled each night. His machine was calling
> some poor woman night after night for a couple weeks and when IBT
> traced it to him, they not only gave him hell, they told him to take
> down the BBS *or* get the phone disconnected; his choice. Moral of the
> story: all droids are created equal, but droids who operate big banks
> are created more equal than pitiful sysops of home computers.  PAT]

    I remember reading SOMEWHERE about some countries requiring
modems to remember bad numbers and disallow calls to them.  If the
modem tries a particular number so many times and does not get
carrier, it locks the number out.  Note also that 68.318(c) requires
registered terminal equipment to cease automatic dialing of a
particular number after 15 successive attempts.  It seems that the
bank's fax machine should have complied with this requirement.
Further, both the fax machine and the FIDO sysop's systems should
have generated reports as to calls that did not go through.  I'd
expect these reports to be reviewed within a day, preventing this sort
of problem.

    Of course, I once shipped a system with a wrong phone number
programmed in it.  Instead of calling the radio network control point,
it called some invalid number over and over all weekend long.  AT&T
called my customer on Monday asking what was going on.  I think I'll
put a call count limitation in my next software.


Harold Hallikainen              [e-mail]
Hallikainen & Friends, Inc.     [e-mail]
141 Suburban Road, Bldg E4      phone [phone] fax [phone]
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-7590  telex 4932775 HFI UI

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1993 23:42:49 -0600
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching?
Reply-To: [e-mail]


In comp.dcom.telecom, article <[e-mail]>, John
Nagle wrote:

> The interesting thing is that COs still mostly follow the
> model of a big dumb crosspoint run as a computer peripheral.  One
> would think by now that switches would be much more distributed, with
> little CPUs all through the switch fabric.  But given the amount of
> trouble people still have designing distributed systems, it's not
> clear that using lots of little CPUs would improve reliability, and
> might well make it worse.

More than likely I won't be the first or the last person to respond to
the above statements.  CO's are built with lots and lots of
distributed CPU's.  These peripherals are all networked together to
create the switch.  General purpose computer makers still don't make
the extensive fault diagnostic and detection processors.  How many
general prupose computers offer instruction synchronized processing
platforms with dedicated fault detection?


Richard Nash     Edmonton, Alberta Canada T6K 0E8
UUCP:            [e-mail]
Amateur Radio:   ve6bon.ampr.ab.ca [192.75.200.15]

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

From: [e-mail] (Dub Dublin)
Subject: Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching?
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Chevron
Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1993 18:59:49 GMT


I'm amused that so many people seem to think that large switches based
on PC tecnology would be a good thing.  I don't have anything against
PC's for applications where cost-effectiveness is a primary criterion,
but as someone who once designed control systems for critical
processes, I can tell you it's risky.

It's standard practice NOT to use PC-based systems for critical
applications (I think a telephone switch qualifies here) due to their
susceptibility to many of the same viruses and other vermin that
afflict desktop systems.

Tell me, how would you feel if your telco switch (or worse, your life
support controller in a hospital) somehow became afflicted with
Jerusalem, Stoned, or (less likely, but much more destructive) Whale?

Proprietary and custom systems are by their very uncommonness less
susceptible to such attacks.  Sometimes it's good not to be "open."
(Some people on the Net just fell over, incredulous that *I* actually
said that ...)


Dub Dublin -- Chevron Information Technology Company, Houston
        [e-mail] -- [phone]

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

Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1993 02:05:32 +0200
From: [e-mail] (Christian Weisgerber)
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: ANI From Across the Pond


In <[e-mail]>, Haakon Styri writes:

> Recently some posters (among them the Moderator) asked about what
> happens with ANI if a call originating in Europe terminates in North
> America. I belive I've posted one reply, but I didn't state anything
> about "why not."

> After asking a few people that might know I returned with a simple
> answer: the CCITT have decided it should be like that.  And, even if
> it's technically possible you'd probably find that a few countries
> would still object due to privacy and data protection regulations.

 From the above paragraphs I understand that ANI is not delivered from
Europe to the U.S. Interesting. Are there any SS7 links Europe-> North
America already in place? SS7 without ANI seems a bit strange.

What about ANI between European countries and/or other places in the
world?

I think I've heard that ANI/CID is delivered on intra-European ISDN
calls.


Christian 'naddy' Weisgerber, Germany   [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Mike Garvey)
Subject: Re: WAN Hardware Advice Wanted
Organization: Netcom Communications
Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1993 15:05:36 GMT


In a prior missive, [e-mail] (Earl Ferguson) eloquently
scribed this stuff:

> I interpret this differently, since 12 T-1 lines represent more
> bandwidth that is available in the local area (18Mbps vs 10Mbps) and
> since a low end Cisco router is being used, which probably has a single
> V.35 interface.

> If what you are suggesting is, instead, 1/2 of a T-1 (12 of the 24 DS-0
> channels), then the question becomes what is to happen to the other 12
> channels? Are you getting a 672Kbps leased line from the telco that is
> provided on a local loop T-1?

Sorry if I wasn't clear.  Our cabling contractor determined that the
company needs 12 channels of the T-1 line for voice, citing
conferencing requirements among other things.  This leaves me with 12
channels for data (Ethernet frames, AppleTalk, IPX, TCP/IP protocols).
We're only purchasing ONE T-1 line.

> There should be several providers of this type of equipment, including
> the T-1 mux companies. NET has some, but probably your local
> telecommunications distributor can supply the appropriate equipment.

Thanks.

(Wanders off mumbling something about hope this clears things up a
bit.)

Then, [e-mail] (Alan Millar) said:

> What goes in there depends on what else is going over the T1.  Is this
> a fractional T1 that will only be used for this data, or is this half
> of a full T1?

We're using on half of a full T-1 (12 channels) for data.

> If this is just a fractional T1, then all you need is a CSU.  Presumably
> it is half of a full T1, and the other 12 channels are being used
> for voice.

Yes to the latter.

> In this case, you need a T1 multiplexor.  A T1 mux takes several
> inputs and feeds them into the 24 channels.  So you would likely
> have a V.35 interface for the router, and a DS1 interface (or
> whatever the PBX wants) for the voice.  Same on both ends.

I've received a number of replies telling me I need a T-1 CSU/DSU but
I was unaware of the need for a MUX.  I suppose I should talk this
over with our vendor of voice equipment who will be installing our
cable and equipment that uses the other half of the T-1.

> I would call up several comm vendors such as Glasgal Communications
> etc. and ask them for recommendations on what such products are
> available.  Good magazines are {Communications Week}, {Network World}.

Thanks, will do.

> Also, definitely ask on comp.dcom.telecom.

I've redirected all follow-ups to that newsgroup.

(Wanders off mumbling something about how much bux would a good mux
flux if a good mux could flux bux.)


Be seeing you,

The Black Cursor (c) & TM  -=-  Sysop: Valhalla -- an Ogg-Net BBS
Internet: [e-mail]   -=-  [phone]  300-14,400bps 8N1
GEnie: TBC

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

From: [e-mail]
Date: 31 Jul 93 13:43:36-0400
Subject: Re: WAN Hardware Advice Wanted


In Volume 13, Issue 524, [e-mail] (Mike Garvey) writes (in
part):

> We're installing a 60-70 node Mac/PC LAN in two sites and I have some
> questions about remote-routing hardware.  We plan to use 12 channels
> of a T1 line for data with AppleTalk, IPX, and TCP/IP protocols
> travelling over the link.

> Ethernet zone 1 ----- Cisco router ----- [ Help me fill in this blank ]
>                                                         |
>                                             12 channels of a T1 link
>                                                         |
> Ethernet zone 2 ----- Cisco router ----- [ Also tell me what goes here ]

Unless I am missing something, the [fill in the blank] needed is
whatever you are using to break out the 12 channels.

Is this a new line (fractional T-1 service with only 12 channels
turned up) or are you taking 12 channels from an existing t-span?  If
this is an existing line, you have to have a channel bank, data CSU or
drop and insert box to get the channels broken out.  If it is a new
service, then you need a CSU/DSU, channel bank or drop and insert box
to break out the lines.

Does this make sense?

Call me if you need additional information.


John D. Gretzinger    Network Engineer
Sprint  +1.310.797.1187
My opinions are mine, and only mine.  Sprint can't have them!!!

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

From: [e-mail]
Date: Sat, 31 Jul 93 01:15:56 EDT
Subject: Re: Phone Number -> Name/Address


Aha!  A mystery is partially solved.  I decided to try the UnDirectory
service mentioned by Blake Patterson (900-933-3330).  It successfully
got (and pronounced) my brother's name and address in Newton
Highlands, MA.

Then I tried my own number.  I've been living in this house for two
years, and have always been normally listed with NJ Bell.  Frequently
during the first year, less often this year, I would get calls asking
for Mr. Starr, who I assume was the previous owner of the number.  The
callers were always satisfied with a quick explanation of that fact
and didn't persist (he must be at most a minor deadbeat).

At any rate, UnDirectory told me that my number belongs to James
Starr, nine five oh, Berkeley Heights New Jersey 07922.

Somebody isn't updating databases.


Dennis Ritchie   [e-mail]

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

Subject: Re: Dark Fiber?
From: [e-mail] (Jon Carmichael)
Date: 31 Jul 93 20:57:00 GMT
Organization: uuPCB - Demonstration Version
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Jon Carmichael)


> I've recently received some literature from a company regarding
> multiplexing voice over broadband (re: CATV).  They claim they
> support DS1 and DS2 interfaces for voice.  Now I know what DS0, DS1
> and DS3 are, but what is a DS2 interface, in terms of DS0 channels?

Yes, a DS2 is seven DS1s, which is the same as seven T1s, however
DS2s are never exchanged in the raw; they always go in foursomes
where four DS2s is a DS3. 4 DS2s with 7 DS1s inside equals 28 DS1s
inside of a single DS3, 4 X 7 = 28. Is it making any sense yet?


JONC
The Continuum PCBoard -*- @9600+ call 818-441-2625  @2400- call 818-799-9633

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

From: [e-mail] (Marc Unangst)
Subject: Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"!
Date: 31 Jul 1993 03:45:18 -0400
Organization: The Programmers' Pit Stop, Ann Arbor MI


[e-mail] writes:

> the Digest have pointed out that some (most?, all?) of these bozos are
> claiming to be 'the regular supplier' for the firms they call. That
> does hinge on fraud I suppose, but barely.   PAT]

Not really, assuming that the toner-foner has any smarts at all.
What's to prevent them from registering a DBA for "Your Regular
Supplier Copier Supplies, Inc."?  If they do, it's perfectly legal and
aboveboard for them to call you and say, "Hi, this is John from Your
Regular Supplier."  Of course, you probably can't hear the capital
letters over the phone, but that's hardly their fault, is it?


Marc Unangst, N8VRH   [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Paul Houle)
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1993 12:07:00
Subject: Re: Review From 2600: Inside an ESS


> * (In the letters section) some COCOTs in Texaco stations in
> Washington (State) have no security -- dial 1-800 and wait; no
> keypad lockout and talk-path is not cut [I assume this implies
> dial tone is returned].  The editor suggested phreaking COCOTs is
> more dangerous than phreaking Ma because the owner could well be
> lurking nearby.

        Well, I lived about two blocks in back of a supermarket last
summer. I had no phone, but the supermarket had a bank of COCOTs in
front.  Well, one day I tried to make a call on one of the COCOTs, and
found that it appeared to be inoperative. You'd get the funny dial
tone, dial your number, and then nothing would happen.  One time I
stayed on the line for about a minute, and then phone reset itself and
I got a real dial tone, and neither the tone pad nor the voice path
was cut.  I did discover, however, that the line had 900-number
blocking from the telco.

        Unfortuantely there are people out there who can't tell a
feature from a bug, and these people reported to the supermarket that
the phone was broken, and it was repaired within a week.


Origin: NETIS [phone]/432-0922 (HST/V32) (1:132/189)

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

Date: Sat, 31 Jul 93 15:11:36 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Mike King)
Subject: Re: Do We Have a Theme Song?


I haven't seen this one mentioned:  _Hey_Operator_, by Aldo Nova.

"Hey Operator, make the telephone talk to me ..."


Mike King * Software Sourcerer * Fairchild Space * +1 301.428.5384
[e-mail] or [e-mail]  *  (usual disclaimers)

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

From: beyonet!olwejo![e-mail] (Bob Kupiec)
Subject: Seth Recieves Punishment (was Re: What Is This Number?)
Reply-To: beyonet![e-mail]
Organization: Olwejo - Private UNIX System
Date: Sun, 01 Aug 1993 03:43:19 GMT


In <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] writes:

>> What's this telephone #? 011-351-xx-xxxxx?

> Oh no, not again!  This person has been posting this identical
> question to newsgroups left right and centre, and it has been answered
> at length.

Here is a message from the administrator of Seth's site:

    --- begin message ---

  From: [e-mail]

This is a semi-automated reply.

We appreciate your concern in the matter of Seth vs. Usenet.  This
user compiled a program that traversed our active file, automating a
post to hundreds of newsgroups.  These were not done as follow-up's
but as individual posts, making cancellations difficult, if not
impossible.

We have eliminated the problem.

Please note that the first few complaints only indicated that the post
was to inappropriate newsgroups.  We were unaware for a few hours that
that there was an insidious force at work.

Please!  Don't shoot the messenger on account of the message.

Again, thanks for taking the time to notify us.  If you have the
opportunity to enter into a discussion in any of the newsgroups
regarding this, please let folks know that we have taken action.

 --- end message ---


Bob Kupiec, N3MML   Internet: beyonet![e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: Poor Seth ... this reminds me of the line from the
Three Stooges movie where Moe says does something ignorant with two
older ladies watching him and after he waltzes away, the one lady
looks at the other and says, "I wonder what's wrong with that young
man?". If Seth owns the conference bridges he was advertising, I hope
business picked up for him. If he is just a customer of the service(s)
eagerly waiting to see if it is true that (a) God loves him and has a
 .plan for his life; (b) God loves him and has a man for his life; or
(c) God loves him and has a man for his wife, then God bless him. I
hope whatever Seth was trying to accomplish has been accomplished.
Thank you for passing along the site's official notice to us.  Poor
Seth ...   PAT]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #529
******************************










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Date: Sun, 1 Aug 1993 23:09:12 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #530

TELECOM Digest     Sun, 1 Aug 93 23:09:00 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 530

Inside This Issue:                       Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Telecottage'93 International Symposium, Australia  (Tom Worthington)
    Congressional Hearings on Privatizing the Internet (Bill Pfeiffer)
    Telecommunications and Art Research Study (Derek Dowden)
    Relative Time (was Re: Reflections on Hacker Sentencing) (Gary Breuckman)
    Is There a Way to Skip "Thank You For Using AT&T?" (Michael Rosen)
    800 ANI Number Changes Behaviour (David Leibold)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Tom Worthington)
Subject: Telecottage'93 International Symposium, Australia 29 Nov - 1 Dec
Organization: Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, Australia
Date: Mon, 2 Aug 1993 00:52:39 GMT


Telecottage `93 will be the first Telecottage symposium to be held in
Australia and will be a landmark event. World leaders in telecottages,
teleworking and telelearning will present their latest findings on the
potential benefits for rural communities in developed and developing
nations.

Telecottages are multipurpose work and learning centres established by
rural and remote communities to provide:

 . Distance working opportunities
 . Access to distance education
 . Local training
 . Services to the local community
 . Aid to rural adjustment
 . Reduced social isolation

29 November - 1 December 1993
Pan Pacific Hotel, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Sponsors:

 . Telecom Australia
 . Telecentre Program, Department of Primary Industries Energy, Canberra
 . The Office of Rural Communities, Administrative Services Department,
Queensland

In Conjunction With: International Association of Community Tele-Service
Centres (CTSC)

Conference Administrator: Winkler Marketing Services Pty Ltd, PO Box 889,
Kenmore, Queensland, 4069, Australia. Telephone [phone] Fax [phone]
(International #61 7)

A group of eminent international speakers in the field has been
assembled and brought to Australia for the first time under the
sponsorship of Telecom Australia, the Federal Department of Primary
Industries and Energy and the Queensland Government.

GIL GORDON is considered by many to be the most widely known and
respected telecommuting authority in the world. Since 1984, he has
published the industry newsletter, Telecommuting Review and has also
co-authored the book "Telecommuting: How To Make It Work For You And
Your Company". He has consulted widely, spoken to business and
government audiences throughout the US and around the world and has
been widely quoted in the business and professional press.

WENDY SPINKS is one of the founding members of the International
Telework Forum and the Satellite Office Association in Japan. She is
an Australian who has been working in Tokyo for more than ten years.
She is currently attached to the Institute for Economic and Financial
Research, under the Japanese Ministry of Finance. Wendy has intimate
knowledge of the development of telecommuting in Japan, especially
satellite offices and resort offices.

ANN MOFFATT is Principal Executive Officer of Technology Solutions Pty
Ltd, a company which she established in 1993. Ann has wide experience
of the information technology industry in both the United Kingdom and
Australia.

PROFESSOR JACK WOOD pioneered research into telecommuting applications
in Australia and has spoken at many international forums.

VIRGINIA OSTENDORF is President of a large teleconferencing and
distance education publishing company in the U.S. and is a well known
consultant and teletrainer. She has received several national awards
for her books and has written on new technology for more than a dozen
magazines. She has recently been listed in the Who's Who of American
Women.

ADRIAN RAWLINGS has been extensively involved in distance learning at
the Open University in the United Kingdom and has recently completed a
project for the European Community DELTA program on future strategies
for distance learning in Europe.

DR ROY LUNDIN is a Senior Lecturer at the Queensland University of
Technology and recently led a project investigating the future
directions for open learning in Australia.

LARS QVORTRUP lectures at Odense University in Denmark and has vast
experience in telematics and telecottages in Scandinavia and Europe.
Lars Engvall is President of the International Association of
Community Tele-Service Centres (CTSC), and has wide experience in the
establishment of telecottages in Europe, South America and Africa.

ALAN DENBIGH is Executive Director of the British Telecottage
Association and has been the telecottage and telework adviser to
Britain's Rural Development Commission.

BENEFITS OF ATTENDING:

Telecottage `93 promises to be an outstanding forum for discussion of
the latest developments in Teleworking, Telelearning and Telecottages.
Delegates can hope to:

 . Find out how Telecottages can benefit their communities

 . Meet and network with world experts in the Teleworking and Telelearning
community

 . Learn how to plan and establish a Telecottage

 . Hear the current government policies and plans for Telecottages

 . Discuss Telecottage case studies from around the world.


AUSTRALIA'S GOLD COAST:

The Gold Coast is one of Australia's premier tourist locations and is
a favoured convention centre. It has a warm climate with almost 300
days of sunshine each year The range of natural attractions is
unsurpassed. More than twenty patrolled surfing beaches are the
backdrop to sailing, boating and fishing. The unspoiled hinterland
with sub-tropical rain forests is just.an hour from the city centre.
Koalas can be cuddled, kangaroos and colourful wild lorikeets
hand-fed. Theme parks and golf courses rival the world's best.

SUNDAY 28 NOVEMBER 1993

9.00 am Optional bus tour to Byron Bay and visit to Australia's third
Telecottage (Prior booking required)

7.00 pm  Evening cocktail reception to welcome delegates

MONDAY 29 NOVEMBER 1993

8.30 am  Registration

9.00 am  Welcome by the Chairman Opening Address by the Hon. Simon Crean,
MP Minister for Primary Industries and Energy, Canberra

9.30 am  Keynote Address: Teleworking in Rural Areas and Global Trends Mr
Gil Gordon

10.30 am Morning Tea

11.00 am Teleworking Case Studies: Teleworking in Japan: Resort
Offices Ms Wendy Spinks, International Telework Forum; Telework in
Europe: The F.l.  Experiment Ms Ann Moffatt, former Director, F.l.
International Teleworking; In Australia Prof Jack Wood, University of
Sydney.

12.15pm Question Time- Panel

12.45 pm Lunch

2.00 pm  Keynote Address: Telelearning in Rural Areas Ms Virginia
Ostendorf

2.30 pm  Telelearning in Europe Mr Adrian Rawlings, Open University, UK

3.00 pm  Telelearning in Asia/Pacific Rim Speaker to be advised

3.30 pm  Afternoon Tea

4.00 pm  Telelearning in Australia Dr Roy Lundin, Queensland University of
Technology

4.30 pm  Question Time - Panel

5.00 pm  Close

7.30 pm  Symposium Dinner

TUESDAY 30 NOVEMBER ,993

9.00 am  Address by Hon. Tom Burns, MLA, Queensland Deputy Premier and
Minister for Rural Communities

9.30 am  Telecottages and Rural Revival Mr Lars Qvortrup, Secretary, CTSC

10.00 am Community Teleservice Centres in Developing Countries Mr Lars
Engvall, President, CTSC

10.30 am Morning Tea

11.00 am Telecottage Case Studies: Sweden: Ms Lillian Holloway, Swedish
Telecottage Association;  United Kingdom: Mr Alan Denbigh;  Finland: Ms
Mirja Lauronen, Finnish Telecottage Association

12.30 pm Lunch, Address by Mr David Oertle, Managing Director, Consumer
Business Unit, Telecom Australia

2.00 pm  North America: Mr Kris Kimel, President, Kentucky Science &
Technology Council Inc.;  Brazil: Ms Helena Fischer & Mr Joao Mello Da
Silva, Telebras;  Australia: Mr Tom Cass, Telecom Australia & Mr Ian
Crellin, Dept of Primary Industries and Energy

3.30 pm  Afternoon Tea

4.00 pm  Question Time - Panel

4.30 pm  Proposal: "Formation of an Australian Co-operative Telecottage
Organisation"

5.00 pm  Summary

5.30 pm  Close

Evening  Informal dining options available

WEDNESDAY 1 DECEMBER 1993

Optional Workshops 9.00am to 12.30pm

1. Planning, Implementation and Management of a successful Telecottage
Chair: Ms Gay Short, Western Australia Open Learning Network & Telecentres

2. Inter/Intra-Governmental Policy Issues. Chair: Mr Kenneth Moore, Rural
Division, Federal Department of Primary Industries and Energy

3. Technology For Teleworking, Telelearning and Telecottages in Rural
Areas - Today and Tomorrow. Chair: Mr Anton Donker, Queensland Department
of Administrative Services

12.30pm Light Lunch

2.00 - 4.00 pm International Association of Community Tele-Service Centres
Open Forum. Theme:  International Co-operation and Networking

The organisers reserve the right to alter the program without notice to
registrants.


WHO SHOULD ATTEND

 . Representatives' of Federal, State and Local Government involved in
policy development, job creation and training

 . People involved in community social development activities

 . Educators involved in distance education and open learning

 . Academics interested in social change

 . Telecommunications and information industry consultants

 . Equipment suppliers

 . Human resources practitioners

 . Business people interested in training and productivity improvement

 . Future analysts and strategic planners


REGISTRATION FORM

Please print clearly  photocopy for more delegates

Preferred Title     _____________________________________________________

Surname             _____________________________________________________

Preferred First Name ____________________________________________________

Position            _____________________________________________________

Organisation        _____________________________________________________

Address             _____________________________________________________

 ________________________________________________ Postcode/Zip   ________

Country             _____________________________________________________

Telephone ___________________________   Fax  ____________________________

Please register the above delegate for:

[ ]  Telecottage `93 Symposium
Sunday - Cocktail Reception
Monday and Tuesday - attendance at the two day symposium, conference
papers, morning and afternoon teas and luncheons;
Early Bird Offer (Register by 31 August 1993)                         $395
Normal Fee (From 1 September 1993)                                    $495

[ ]  Conference Dinner Monday evening

[ ] Single                                                             $50
[ ] Double                                                            $100

[ ]  Day Tour to Byron Bay, Sunday - tour and visit to the Byron Bay
Telecottage, refreshments and luncheon                                 $80

[ ] `Workshop, Wednesday - participation at one of three workshops,
morning tea and luncheon                                              $100

Please indicate your most likely choice of workshop:

[ ]  Planning and Managing a Successful Telecottage
[ ]  Inter/Intra-Governmental Policy Issues
[ ]  Technology for Teleworking, Telelearning and Telecottages

TOTAL PURCHASE                                                   $________

Conference Payment: [ ] Cheque [ ] Or charge my

[ ] Bankcard   [ ] Visacard  [ ] Mastercard

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REGISTRATION AND ENQUIRES

Telephone [phone]
Fax       [phone] (International:  +61 7)
Mail      Return the registration form with payment in Australian $ to:

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Payment: All payments are to be made in Australian $. Please include a
cheque, or for overseas delegates a bank draft, payable to
"Telecottage `93 Symposium" or complete the credit card payment
details on the registration form.

Conference Language: English

Conference Address:
Pan Pacific Hotel, 81 Surf Parade, Broadbeach,
Gold Coast, Queensland 4218 Australia
Telephone [phone] Fax [phone] (International: + 61 75)

Cancellations: If you are unable to attend, a substitute delegate is
always welcome. Alternatively, a full refund will be made for
cancellations received in writing two weeks before the conference.
Within two weeks no refunds are applicable.

Accommodation and Travel: All travel and accommodation arrangements
are the delegates personal responsibility. Special conference
accommodation packages at the Pan Pacific Hotel are: Single or
Twin/Double room $115.00 per night.

To arrange the above accommodation package or alternatives, please
complete the enclosed form and return to the accommodation organiser
Ozaccom Pty Ltd.

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

Posted as a community service by Tom Worthington, Director of the
Community Affairs Board, Australian Computer Society Inc.

ABOUT THE ACS: The Australian Computer Society is the professional
association in Australia for those in the computing and information
technology fields. Established in 1966, the ACS has over 14,000
members and on a per capita basis is one of the largest computer
societies in the world. ACS activities are announced in the Usenet
News group "aus.acs", available on the Internet.

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

From: [e-mail] (Bill Pfeiffer)
Subject: Congressional Hearings on Privatizing the Internet
Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1993 21:24:51 -0500 (CDT)


[Moderator's Note: Bill forwarded this FYI to the Digest.  PAT]

  From uunet.uu.net!owner-council Wed Jul 21 12:21:23 1993
  Date: Wed, 21 Jul 93 09:21:02 -0400
  From: [e-mail] (Steve Stevenson)
  Subject: Town.hall.org

I'm enclosing a note I got from the NANet Digest Monday.

Steve

NA Digest   Sunday, July 18, 1993   Volume 93 : Issue 26

 From: Daniel B. Szyld <[e-mail]>
 Date: Fri, 16 Jul 93 15:42:59 EDT
 Subject: Congress Hearings on the Future of the Internet

As many of you may know there is a push to privatize the Internet and
charge per connect time and/or per bit transmitted.  Congress has
scheduled hearings on the subject.  If you have an opinion on the
subject, the following message might be of interest:

 From: Ted Baker <[e-mail]>
 Subject: on-line congressional hearing on internet

 This is an abbreviation of a longer message I received.  I think
 all internet users should probably drop our Congress a line.

  --Ted Baker

      On July 26 at 9:30AM EDT, the Subcommittee on Telecommunications
 and Finance of the U.S. House of Representatives will hold the first
 Congressional Hearing ever held over a computer network....

      One of the primary points that we are hoping to demonstrate is
 the diversity and size of the Internet.  We have therefore established
 an electronic mail address by which people on the Internet can communicate
 with the Subcommittee before and during the hearing:

           [e-mail]

      We encourage you to send your comments on what the role of government
 should be in the information age to this address.  Your comments to this
 address will be made part of the public record of the hearing.  Feel free
 to carry on a dialogue with others on a mailing list, cc'ing the e-mail
 address.

      Your cards and letters to [e-mail] will help
 demonstrate that there are people who use the Internet as part of their
 personal and professional lives.  We encourage you to send comments on
 the role of government in cyberspace, on what role cyberspace should play
 in government (e.g., whether government data be made available on the
 Internet), on how the Internet should be built and financed, on how you
 use the Internet, and on any other topic you feel is appropriate.  This
 is your chance to show the U.S. Congress that there is a constituency
 that cares about this global infrastructure.

      If you would like to communicate with a human being about the
 hearing, you may send your comments and questions to:

           [e-mail]

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

William Pfeiffer - Moderator
rec.radio.broadcasting - Internet Radio Journal
Article Submission - [e-mail]
Subscription Desk  - [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Derek Dowden)
Subject: Telecommunications and Art Research Study
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Date: Sun, 1 Aug 1993 17:31:41 GMT


CI%SR - Research Study in Multimedia, Telecommunications and Art

The Centre for Image and Sound Research (CISR) is seeking expressions
of interest in a Research Study in Multimedia, Telecommunications and
Art. We are inviting participation of three types:

1. Theoretical and critical papers, technical and research studies.
Submit a short synopsis of proposed participation and approach by
August 20, 1993.  Fees are paid for work accepted.

2. Artistic concepts and summary proposal descriptions for potential
art projects, experiments and events for Phase II of the project (Nov
1, 1993 - March 15, 1994).

3. General input, involvement and feedback in the project development
process, as well as suggestions, information and reports of related
activities, artists and institutions.

Organisation:

The Centre for Image and Sound Resrach (CISR) is an independent
non-profit interdisciplinary organisation in which industry,
government, academia and the arts community collaborate on research,
technology transfer, and development.  CISR is positioned at the
interface between technology and culture, with a mission to conduct
applied research in the technological and artistic aspects of image
and sound. CISRUs primary research facility is the VISTA Laboratory, a
joint venture with Simon Fraser University and the University of
British Columbia. CISR, now over six years old, is funded primarily by
the Canadian federal government and local industry, and is part of
RAPPORT, a pan-Canadian network of research centres.

Study Objectives:

% To survey the impact and possibilities of emerging art forms
specific to new communications media % To investigate theoretical,
technical and creative issues and challenges in art and communications.

% To develop new critical criteria for the creation and evaluation of
interactive communications art % To create a map defining the issues,
language, theory and relationship of art and telecommunications.


Research Study Goals:

% Survey of current activities, participants and resources in the field.

% Investigate the evolution and future of the area and itUs contextualisation
within other fields.

% Identify and evaluate appropriate systems, tools and technologies for
artistic applications.

% Demonstrate prototype experiments in artistic applications of communica-
tions technologies.

Topics and Issues:

% Investigations of the process of communications as art.

% Network interactivity including hypermedia, hypertext and wide area
information systems.

% Design of multidimensional information environments and virtual spaces.

% Creation of online autonomous or intelligent art forms, agents and
processes.

% Conceptualisation of animated iconic, ideographic and post-symbolic process
languages.

% Development of new navigational and interface design metaphors for
telecommunications.

% Creation and design of online shared and collaborative creative
environments.

Project Schedule:
Phase I : Research Study: August 1 - October 30, 1993
Phase II : Program of Activities: November 1, 1993 - March 15, 1994

VISTA Laboratory - Project Resources Available:

PictureTel 4000 Video Teleconferencing unit, Broadband ISDN lines,
InterNet Site with dedicated direct line, PC running OS2 with Maximus
BBS Software,EtherNet local area network with Macintosh Quadras,
Radius VideoVision, Video Camera, Video Projector, Silicon Graphics
Iris Indigo and Extreme2 workstations, etc.

Contact:

Derek Dowden, Director, Multimedia,
Telecommunications and Art Project
Centre for Image and Sound Research
200-1140 Homer
Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6B 2X6
Direct: 604-737-3626
CISR Office: 604-669-7943
Fax: [phone]   BBS: 604-669-7914
Video2;  Internet: [e-mail]

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

Date: Sun, 1 Aug 93 10:31:46 -0700
From: [e-mail] (Gary Breuckman)
Subject: Relative Time (was Re: Reflections on Hacker Sentencing)


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(John F. McMullen) writes:

> The following appeared on {Newsbytes}, a commerical copyrighted
> international news service on July 29th. It is reposted here with the
> express consent of the author (This notice must accompany any
> subsequent re-postings which I am authorizing here).

> Reflections On Hacker Sentencing 07/29/93

> The six months imprisonment also does not seem draconian -- six months
> doesn't seem very long unless you happen to be the one serving it.
> Time is extremely relative as I found out when I spent five years at
> Fort Sill, Oklahoma between January 1963 and April 1963. It is safe to
                              ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^    ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Puma grins, "Time certainly is extremely relative, it must have only
SEEMED like five years ... circumstances and all ..."  Seriously, typos
[assuming this is one ...] can be funny, especially when they fit in SO
WELL in context.


[e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Michael Rosen)
Subject: Is There a Way to Skip "Thank You For Using AT&T?"
Organization: University of Denver, Dept. of Math & Comp. Sci.
Date: Sun, 1 Aug 93 00:07:18 GMT



Is there anything I can dial in addition to either my calling card
number of my Call Manager number to speed up the connection?  I'm more
concerned with the latter, the Call Manager.  I dial a few long
distance numbers on my modem and I use call manager to separate my
calls.  It's annoying to have to wait for the "Thank you for using
AT&T" after every call, especially if a redial is necessary.


Thanks,

Michael Rosen  [e-mail]
George Washington University Alumni
Tau Epsilon Phi, Tau Theta 381


[Moderator's Note: You might try putting '#' at the end of the calling
card number to process things a little faster. I don' think it will
then avoid the 'thank you' message, but it might get you to that point
a couple seconds faster.  PAT]

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

Date: Sat, 31 Jul 93 01:47 EDT
From: [e-mail] (woody)
Subject: 800 ANI Number Changes Behaviour


The 800 235 1414 number that gave out caller number readback along
with an ad for 900-STOPPER and a privacy publication, had a different
message tonight.  Just Thursday, the old Joker was up to his ANI
tricks. On Friday afternoon, the 800 number got an unusual fast busy
condition for a while. Now, Friday night, the number just has a
message identifying as "Private Line", advertising 900-STOPPER and
recommending a new 800 number for "caller ID".

The new number is 800 852.9932. This gives out a short burst of
950.xxxx carrier tone, then reads back the calling number. Nothing
else seems to happen on that call.


David Leibold

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #530
******************************










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From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #531

TELECOM Digest     Mon, 2 Aug 93 00:26:00 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 531

Inside This Issue:                       Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced (Chris Ambler)
    Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced (Bob Frankston)
    Re: Radar Detectors (was Re: New AM Band Violates ...) (Povl H. Pedersen)
    Re: Radar Detectors (was Re: New AM Band Violates ...) (Rob Levandowski)
    Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"! (Stephen Friedl)
    Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"! (Dan Hartung)
    Re: Phone Number -> Name/Address (Steven J. Tucker)
    Re: Phone Number -> Name/Address (Willard Dawson)
    Re: Used Cell Phone $ and Bundling (Zane Shults)
    Re: Used Cell Phone $ and Bundling (Harold Hallikainen)
    Re: Area-Code Splits and State Capitals (Gregory M. Paris)
    Re: Area-Code Splits and State Capitals (John R. Levine)
    Re: Area-Code Splits and State Capitols (Tony Pelliccio)
    Re: Is This Legal? (Bonnie J. Johnson)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Chris Ambler -- Phish)
Subject: Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced
Organization: The Phishtank
Date: Sun, 01 Aug 1993 23:24:21 GMT


> [Moderator's Note: They've got to send a message to your modem immed-
> iatly on connection which describes the cost for the call, advise the
> caller to disconnect if not willing to pay and ring the <CTL-G> Bell
> a few times, then pause and wait about five seconds before they
> continue the transmission. If you wish, you reach over to keyboard
> and type whatever is needed to disconnect.   PAT]

And how does UUCP do this? When dialing an information provider with a
protocolled communications package, the human usually has little to no
interaction. In fact, once carrier is detected, there's nothing to be
seen or heard (especially with anonymous UUCP). Anything sent before
the UUCP protocol initiates is thrown away as garbage.


[e-mail] | Christopher J. Ambler
[e-mail]  | Author, FSUUCP 1.32


[Moderator's Note: You are correct where UUCP transmissions are
concerned but I don't think UUCP is the sort of casual connection
being discussed here. For UUCP there has to be a pre-arranged deal;
you and the other end have to agree in advance on certain things: if
not the money to change hands (or other good and valuable consideration
such as swapping news and/or mail with that site) then at least the
admin at that place has to establish a UUCP login for you. A casual
visitor, looking around at various BBS sites, etc would not likely
come in on a UUCP login. Are there UUCP arrangements with sites such
as uunet which involve 900?  *I know* that uunet has or had a 900
number for downloads from their extensive library of holdings, but I
was not aware they serviced their UUCP logins via 900. I'd think a
person making a UUCP (or any unattended transmission) would be a fool
to do it via 900 ... what if the connection got hung for several hours
as those things will do?  I've seen local uupeople here up with eecs
when doing a finger; 15 hours ... 18 hours ... something went wrong or
else it was a humongous news feed that day (which is likely). You want
pay 900 rates on that kind of timetable?   PAT]

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

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1993 16:31 -0400


When a computer calls a computer, there is no human involved in the
process to see a message. A voice might confuse the modem and a data
message would confuse the protocol. While I like the idea of
legislation requiring the disclosure of information, a failure of
imagination and understanding leads to new problems. I also assume
that once there is a protocol to transmit the charge information to
the subscriber out of band, and millisecond setup times are standard,
we'll still see the connect time of 10.001 seconds required by
statute.

But then, I've argued that 900 numbers are fundamentally a bad idea
and should be replaced by billing protocols so maybe this will
encourage the transition.


[Moderator's Note: See the message before this. Give me one example of
a 'computer to computer unattended' transmission now which goes via
900 numbers. Yes, there are computer to computer connections via 900
but at least the originating end has a human being watching a screen
calling a BBS, etc. I agree mostly with your contention that 900 is a
bad way of working things, but more important consider *how long* the
connection would have to be up relative to using spoken words to
deliver or receive the message. We converse with each other at a high
rate of speed compared to how slowly we type. What we say in a minute
using our mouths to communicate takes at least three or four times as
long to type out. That's one reason why 'hot chats' via modem over 900
lines does not work out. I don't think we will ever see widespread use
of 900 lines with modems, and the new regs are really not intended so
much for sophisticated telecom users as they are the mainstream of our
society.   PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Povl H. Pedersen)
Subject: Re: Radar Detectors (was Re: New AM Band Violates ...)
Organization: UNI-C, Danish Computing Centre for Research and Education
Date: Sun, 1 Aug 1993 11:49:45 GMT


I just saw in a paper that Sweeden has big success with new laser
'guns' they use for measuring speed. They are small, difficult to see,
and almost undetectable (at least it is difficult to detect them
before it is too late).

Only problem with them is, that they can only be used in sparse
traffic, as they have to be able to get a reflection off the
front/back of your card.

Danish police do not want them. They use the old ones, that are quite
usable in dense morning/evening traffic.


Povl H. Pedersen   -   Macintosh specialist. Knows some DOS and UNIX too.
[e-mail]    -   [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Rob Levandowski)
Subject: Re: Radar Detectors (was Re: New AM Band Violates ...)
Organization: University of Rochester - Rochester, New York
Date: Sun, 1 Aug 93 16:26:26 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(A. Padgett Peterson) writes:

> Living in Florida, I do not have to worry (at least about radar
> detectors, cash now ...) but as I recall the states in question are
> Virginia and Conneticut (D.C. doesn't count 8*). In Virginia at least,
> mere possession of a radar detector seems to be grounds for confiscation
> (heard of one case in which a new unit, still in the box and wrapper
> was seized). Now whether or not this was legal is open for debate and
> certainly many other kinds of seizures are now being questioned.

Connecticut re-legalized detectors last year. The law was too unpopular,
and I think they were afraid it wouldn't hold up under the legal barrage.

However, Connecticut also made hand-held radar guns and dash-mount
radar guns illegal around the same time, forcing departments to go out
and buy new guns leading to a preponderance of Ka-Stalker and laser
guns per capita in CT.

The troopers out here in NY still have the old guns. I guess the NY
legislature doesn't care so much about troopers getting testicular
cancer.  That's why CT passed their law.


Rob Levandowski   (CT resident when he's not at school)

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

From: [e-mail] (Stephen Friedl)
Subject: Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"!
Date: 31 Jul 93 21:44:42 GMT
Organization: Software Consulting, Tustin, CA


A customer of mine is MIS director of a chain of family restaurants,
and apparently they are *inundated* with teleslime trying for their
payphone LD business at the stores.  They get slammed constantly, and
they apparently find ways to get store managers to agree to this (the
teleslime identify themselves with vague names that sound very
official).  An amazing amount of time is spent undoing this kind of
thing.

On Friday he showed me the latest scam: he got a "commission
statement" plus a check for about $12 that itemized earnings from four
phones (which my customer did not operate).  The obvious scam here is
that the back of the check had an endorsement qualifier that said that
depositing this check was authorization to change LD carriers.

While my libertarian principles might say that vigilance is the price
of liberty and every company has an obligation to be careful when
doing business, these payslime really push it.  How obnoxious.

My customer is furious about this check thing and is going to investigate
legal action; it dances around the edges of fraud.


Stephen J Friedl | Software Consultant | Tustin, CA |     [phone]
3B2-kind-of-guy  | I speak for me ONLY |   KA8CMY   | uunet!mtndew!friedl

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

From: [e-mail] (Dan Hartung)
Subject: Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"!
Organization: Chinet Public Access UNIX
Date: Sun, 1 Aug 1993 03:41:12 GMT


Fred Ennis <[e-mail]> wrote:

> [someone named Laird wrote:]

>>  3.Having (apparently) less than two brain cells to bang together, you
>>    agree to purchase supplies at the inflated prices.

>> Where exactly is there fraud involved here?  Has "caveat emptor" gone
>> entirely by the wayside; are Americans no longer willing to accept
>> even the slightest responsibility for their own actions?

*Sigh* Was there anyone saying anything different in this matter than
"take responsibility for your own actions and make sure you don't get
ripped off" ?

(Sorry, I know that wasn't Fred, but it needed to be said.)

> Here's what every person who ever answers the phone in a small company
> should know:

> 1. Do not give any info about office equipment, especially model or
> serial numbers out to ANY caller for any reason.

This is an interesting NEW development.  About ten years ago when I
worked for a small non-profit we had this problem occasionally, I
learned to be careful.

What's amusing is that the fact that they now use serial/model numbers
(whichever, who cares, it's just a tool to them) to "confirm" their
identity as the supposed legitimate supplier.  Why do they need to do
this?

Because some smart people are onto them.

> While I am speaking of telecom scams, there's also the outfit in
> Europe that sends out bills for fax or telex directory listings, and
> if you pay the bill the fine print says you're agreeing to be listed
> in the NEXT directory and pay that bill as well!

This is becoming a common practice in certain business areas here too.
Fine print says "payment in advance" or something like that but the
un-fine print makes it seem like a legit invoice for services already
contracted for.


Daniel A. Hartung  --  [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Steven J Tucker)
Subject: Re: Phone Number -> Name/Address
Date: 1 Aug 1993 17:29:06 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Steven J Tucker)


In a previous article, [e-mail] says:

> Aha!  A mystery is partially solved.  I decided to try the UnDirectory
> service mentioned by Blake Patterson (900-933-3330).  It successfully
> got (and pronounced) my brother's name and address in Newton
> Highlands, MA.

> At any rate, UnDirectory told me that my number belongs to James
> Starr, nine five oh, Berkeley Heights New Jersey 07922.

I missed this thread, am I right that this mean someone is selling CN/A
information?


Steve


[Moderator's Note: Companies have been selling CNA for years in the
form of 'criss-cross' directories and the like. Compuserve sells it as
well as the company listed in the earlier message.   PAT]

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

Subject: Re: Phone Number -> Name/Address
From: [e-mail] (Willard Dawson)
Date: Sun, 01 Aug 93 18:45:26 EDT
Organization: Willard's House BBS, Atlanta, GA -- [phone]


[e-mail] writes:

> Aha!  A mystery is partially solved.  I decided to try the UnDirectory
> service mentioned by Blake Patterson (900-933-3330).  It successfully
> got (and pronounced) my brother's name and address in Newton
> Highlands, MA.

> Then I tried my own number.  I've been living in this house for two
> years, and have always been normally listed with NJ Bell.  Frequently
> during the first year, less often this year, I would get calls asking
> for Mr. Starr, who I assume was the previous owner of the number.  The
> callers were always satisfied with a quick explanation of that fact
> and didn't persist (he must be at most a minor deadbeat).

> At any rate, UnDirectory told me that my number belongs to James
> Starr, nine five oh, Berkeley Heights New Jersey 07922.

> Somebody isn't updating databases.

Hmmmmm ... just tried my own number, as well.

This explains the millions of calls for Harry S. Rosenberg I still
get, even though I've been at this number for well over a year.  As an
employee of BellSouth, I'd always just assumed it was our fault,
despite knowing that I was listed correctly (BellSouth Mobility had my
number for yet another customer, but at least that's not in the white-
pages).

(I missed the original info on UnDirectory ...)  How does one contact
them and others to get this mis-information cleared?


[e-mail] (Willard Dawson)
gatech!kd4nc!vdbsan!willard!dawson
emory!uumind!willard!dawson
Willard's House BBS, Atlanta, GA -- [phone]


[Moderator's Note: It really does not explain it because it is
unlikely the 'millions of calls' you have received originated with
people who first called UnDirectory with your number, copied down Mr.
Rosenberg's name then proceeded to call and ask for him. It is much
more likely Mr. Rosenberg had a lot of business dealings over the
phone and there are many people trying to reach him for whatever
reason -- to pay his bills maybe? -- who are working from old infor-
mation in their own files. Don't bother hunting down UnDirectory to
change anything; I'm sure the company has procedures in place to
update their records each time they get new directories from the
telcos. Something tells me they get a dozen directories per day from
telcos all over the USA.  Nothing UnDirectory could do at this point
would keep people from looking at two or three year old credit appli-
cations and the like from calling you looking for Rosenberg.  PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Zane Shults)
Subject: Re: Used Cell Phone $ and Bundling
Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1993 05:01:30 GMT
Organization: Colorado State U. Engineering College


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Carl
Oppedahl) writes:

> In <[e-mail]> Steve Edwards <steve%newline.UUCP@
> UCSD.EDU> writes:

>> signs a one-year dial tone contract is, of course, getting a $350+
>> commission from the dial tone provider.  So, you would think that if
>> you walk in the door with a used one and ask to have the phone
>> activated for a year, you would be able to talk them into giving you
>> part of their $350 commission.

Of course, you could just walk into your local BOC service center for
cellular phones and they'll be glad to do it for you.

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

From: [e-mail] (Harold Hallikainen)
Subject: Re: Used Cell Phone $ and Bundling
Organization: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Date: Sun, 01 Aug 1993 07:09:04 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> Steve Edwards
<[e-mail]> writes:

> I live in California where bundling cell phones and activation is
> illegal.  Thus, the price for a used cell phone is usually in the $200
> to $400 range.

> In states that allow bundling and the price of a new phone may only be
> $50 or even free, what do used cell phones sell for?

    I saw an ad for a cell phone for something like $99.95 in this
morning's {LA Times}.  No activation required (since it's in CA).
Pretty amazing!


Harold

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

From: [e-mail] (Gregory M. Paris)
Subject: Re: Area-Code Splits and State Capitals
Organization: Motorola Codex, Canton, Massachusetts
Date: Sun, 1 Aug 1993 13:18:35 GMT


> [Moderator's Note: Another area code which is greatly underused and
> unlikely to ever need to split is 401 in Rhode Island. I think there
> are fewer people in RI than on the north side of Chicago. Isn't the
> entire state mostly a local call for anyone there?  :)   PAT]

As a twelve year resident of little Rhody, I must react!

Unfortunately for us million or so residents of Rhode Island, the
state is not one local calling area.  Yes, it's true you could fit the
whole state into many of our nation's larger metropolitan areas (for
instance Detroit metro, near where I'm from), but we still get to pay
for "long" distance calls within the state.

There have been several attempts to come up with a "one state, one
rate" calling plan.  I don't think there's one in place right now; the
problem always seems to be that New England Telephone (NYNEX) wants to
set the rate too high for the likes of the one state one rate
advocates.

Now if you want an example of a lightly used area code, check out 906,
the upper peninsula of Michigan.  The region itself is large enough to
form a respectably-sized state (by eastern standards anyway), but I
believe the population is in the neighborhood of 200,000 people.  I
like the "906 is God's area code" bumper stickers, though.


Greg Paris <[e-mail]>
Motorola Codex, 20 Cabot Blvd C1-30, Mansfield, MA  02048-1193

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

Date: Sun, 1 Aug 93 10:35 EDT
From: [e-mail] (John R Levine)
Subject: Re: Area-Code Splits and State Capitals
Organization: I.E.C.C.


> [Isn't the entire state [of Rhode Island] mostly a local call for anyone
> there?  :)   PAT]

You might expect so, but you'd be sadly mistaken.  As far as I can
tell, the rule in Rhode Island is that you get free calling to any
point to which you can walk in under five minutes.  Everything else is
toll.


Regards,

John Levine, [e-mail], {spdcc|ima|world}!iecc!johnl


[Moderator's Note: Are you serious?  That would a half-mile or so if
you were a fast walker; for me, as I shuffle my feet waddling down the
street looking at the sidewalk for coins people have dropped and failed
to pick up it might be two city blocks! :)  Telco in RI must do better
than that for its customers.   PAT]

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

From: [e-mail]
Date: Sun, 01 Aug 93 23:36:14 EDT
Subject: Re: Area-Code Splits and State Capitols


> [Moderator's Note: Another area code which is greatly underused and
> unlikely to ever need to split is 401 in Rhode Island. I think there
> are fewer people in RI than on the north side of Chicago. Isn't the
> entire state mostly a local call for anyone there?  :)   PAT]

Actually, there are about one million people in Rhode Island right
now. We have the second highest population density in the country,
behind New Jersey.

As for 401 being underutilized, not quite so. We add roughly ten to
twenty new exchanges each year. Why? Business, pagers, cell phones,
fax machines, etc. Seems as though the average home now has two lines
or more.

Lets put it this way: if the system wasn't getting congested would New
England Telephone decide to replace the #1A ESS in Providence with a
#5 ESS like they're doing right now? And yes, wonder of wonders we're
getting true AT&T #5 ESS vs. DMS-100 ... I guess NE Tel doesn't like
those switches ... they've got them running in about ten communities.

As for the entire state being a local call, here are some facts:

Providence, Cranston, East Providence, and parts of Warwick have
calling areas that extend to 75% of the state. But, go two miles down
the road to Pawtucket, and they're only allowed to call 55% of the
exchanges in the state. I can call as far down as North Kingstown
(about 24 miles) and all the way west of Providence, and as far as
Cumberland (ten miles north). If you live in Pawtucket you can call as
far south as some parts of Warwick (about seven miles) as far west as
Johnston (five miles at the most) and as far north as Woonsocket (twelve
miles).

Not a very fair calling plan if you ask me. Matter of fact, intra
state tolls run as follows:

 Day           Evening        Night
 1st  Addl     1st  Addl      1st  Addl
 .37  .18      .24  .12       .15  .07

This is more expensive than calling out of state! Under MCI I
currently pay ten cents a minute from 5PM to 8AM.

So let's say I make a ten minute toll call in Rhode Island:

Total cost: .78 night rate.

A ten minute call to my parents house in FL would cost me $1.00 and
that's for a 1200 mile trek. So, per mile MCI works out to .0008
cents vs. NE Tel (Average toll call for me is 30 miles) at .03 cents
a mile. Not bad for NET is it?

One State, One Rate ... a plan that has been shot down by our Public
Utilities Commission several times because in reality, it's the
Utility's Utility Commission.


Tony Pelliccio, KD1NR, Control Op 441.750+, ARRL VE
system @ garlic.sbs.com                Soon W5YI VE


[Moderator's Note: How many miles wide and long is RI?  PAT]

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

Date: Sun, 01 Aug 93 07:43:27 EDT
From: Bonnie J Johnson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Is This Legal?


Gang from USC is apparently upset because the school is taking charge
of their own telephone system. Instead of the monster he expects, it
could be a blessing in disguise!

Most higher education institutions (at least in our case in 1985)
break away from the local operating company and "do it ourselves"
because we can run our own phone company's at a lower rate, save money
(funds to be used for upgrades to telecommunications and newer
technologies) and pass some savings on to our customers, i.e.,
Faculty, Staff and Students.

I wouldn't bet my next pay check on this (because it's already spent)
but I would imagine Gang's monthly line charge will be the same or
LESS than what he paid thru Pac Bell.  Also if he is worried about
his International carrier being changed TELL HIM TO REMEMBER EQUAL
ACCESS!!  Schools are now considered aggregators and MUST provide
access to all the major carriers.  He can shop around for the lowest
rate if he likes and then call the campus telecomm office to determine
the dialing plan to get his carrier of choice.  Equal access is the
law -- no way to get around this one.

Good luck Gang.


bj

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #531
******************************










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From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #532

TELECOM Digest     Mon, 2 Aug 93 03:29:30 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 532

Inside This Issue:                       Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: No Caller ID in Manhattan (Barry Margolius)
    Re: No Caller-ID in Manhattan (Dave Niebuhr)
    Re: Computer System Liability (Steven J. Tucker)
    Re: Computer System Liability (Fred Morris)
    Re: Voice Mail by Modem (John D. Gretzinger)
    Re: Cheap Voice Mail System (John D. Gretzinger)
    Re: Determine Carrier From an 800 Number? (Steve Forrette)
    Re: Big Rivers (Bob Ackley)
    Re: Cordless Phones on a Four-Party Line (Dave Carpentier)
    Re: Dark Fiber? (Basil Halhed)
    Re: 1-800-COLLECT (Dave Niebuhr)
    Re: Reflections on Hacker Sentencing (Dave Grabowski)
    Re: Seth Recieves Punishment (But it's Only a Minor Setback) (M. Otto)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Barry Margolius)
Subject: Re: No Caller ID in Manhattan
Date: 31 Jul 1993 23:37:31 -0400
Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and Unix, NYC


I live in the Wall Street area of NYC, and I also cannot get Caller
ID.  In fact, I can't even get distinctive ringing.  I haven't tried
ISDN.  I'm in the 212-227 exchange.  I've even offered to change phone
numbers and/or exchanges in order to get distinctive ringing, but to
no avail.


barry

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

Date: Sun, 1 Aug 93 08:16:24 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Dave Niebuhr)
Subject: Re: No Caller-ID in Manhattan


In TELECOM Digest Volume 13 : Issue 525 [e-mail] (Carl
Oppedahl) writes:

> Here I live in the middle of Manhattan, with central office 212-777,
> and I am told that it is impossible for me to get ISDN.  That was last
> week.  This week I am told it is impossible to get Caller ID, even
> though it is being advertised all over New York City, complete with
> inserts in the phone bills trumpeting its availability.

I would advise Carl to contact the Utility (Oops Public) Service
Commission and complain about the discrepancy between what was written
(I, too, saw the flyer about CID coming to Manhattan) and what NYTel
is telling him.

Look for about a two-hour response time from the time the call to the
U/PSC is completed and NYTel calls the complainer.  Don't bother
talking to the NYTel droids; unless contact is made at above the
supervisor level, they tend to get huffy, at least the last one I did
deal with was.


Dave Niebuhr      Internet: [e-mail] / Bitnet: niebuhr@bnl
Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton, LI, NY 11973  (516)-282-3093
Senior Technical Specialist: Scientific Computer Facility

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

From: [e-mail] (Steven J Tucker)
Subject: Re: Computer System Liability
Date: 1 Aug 1993 17:20:35 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Steven J Tucker)


In a previous article, [e-mail] (Christopher Zguris)
says:

> I've followed the messages about the sysop in legal trouble
> regarding the downloading of adult-oriented material to a minor. This
> has made me curious about the general liability of computer systems.
> What sort of liability do computer systems like MCI Mail, CompuServe
> et al face from users transferring information in violation of the
> law, for example copyrighted software? I seem to remember BBS sysops
> getting into trouble and having their hardware confiscated because of
> user abuses, do the big guys like MCI Mail face the same threat?

I know I'll get flamed, but the truth of the matter is that MCI,
SprintNET, etc will never get the same 'harsh' treatment, if any at
all because they have money and lawyers to defend themselves.

  ... MCI verdict -- three years court battle, not guilty.

The BBS operators, who are most of the time simply donating thier time
and money get smashed by the same power structure.

  ... xyz BBS verdict - one day - Guilty.


Steve


[Moderator's Note: You are absolutely correct. In the middle 1970's,
when First National Bank of Chicago mailroom employees were stealing
cash money which arrived in the mail at their remittance box in the
post office in error instead of my box, where it belonged, getting the
post office or FNB to do anything about it at all was nearly impossible
until I finally sued FNB to get the money they rifled from the mail,
or at least my part of it. They cashed checks which came addressed to
me even though I had no account there (they endorsed them 'pay to the
order of the payee named within') and refused to pay them back, etc.
At the same time FNB was getting my mail, at least once a week for
several weeks I'd get a check payable to FNB from First Boston Corp.
for fifty thousand dollars put in my box because it had my box number
on the check.

FNB's excuse for tampering with my mail, cashing the checks payable to
me and pilfering the cash money people sent me in the mail: 'we are
much too busy to actually read who envelopes are addressed to before
we open them or read who checks are payable to before we endorse and
process them.' How far do you think that would have gotten me had I
cashed one of the checks payable to the bank -- I'm much too busy, etc
 ... I filed a complaint with the Postal Inspectors who told me
frankly that they had never been able to get FNB to follow the law. If
FNB had complained about me though, I would still be in jail today
probably. I finally got my money but it took months of effort even
after I filed suit. FNB did clean out their mailroom afterward though;
the {Tribune} said *18* employees of FNB were fired on the same day.
Shortly thereafter, the Postal Inspectors did a major clean out of the
60690 post office as well. I'll print an account of the whole sordid
affair if anyone is interested. But yes, big companies do violate the
laws all the time with impunity.  You try it!  PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Fred Morris)
Subject: Re: Computer System Liability
Date: 1 Aug 1993 01:07:51 -0700
Organization: Northwest Nexus Inc.


Christopher Zguris <[e-mail]> writes:

> I've followed the messages about the sysop in legal trouble
> regarding the downloading of adult-oriented material to a minor. This
> has made me curious about the general liability of computer systems.
> What sort of liability do computer systems like MCI Mail, CompuServe
> et al face from users transferring information in violation of the
> law, for example copyrighted software? I seem to remember BBS sysops

Yeah, this bothers me, too. I am listening to a radio station that
says "if it's new, we're SPANKIN' it" and even if they didn't know
about Seven Year Bitch or any other politically incorrect group; we're
not going to give these uppity people who really are hacked off equal
time, are we?

And what about that song about two days before the dogs begin to smell
it?  WHAT's UP WITH THAT??


Fred Morris            Ohhh... never mind!   [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail]
Date: 01 Aug 93 13:51:18-0400
Subject: Re: Voice Mail by Modem


Ken Mandelberg ([e-mail]) writes

> I have to deal with two voice mail systems. One is Southern Bell's
> Memory Call, the other is a system than runs on our campus NT SL100
> switch (is there more than one such offering?).

> Is there any way to get remote computer access to either of these
> systems? What I would at least like is to be able to check if my
> mailbox is empty or not by modem. Of course I would really like is to
> extract my messages in some digital format.

If Southern Bell's offering is from their CO I'll bet you a dinner at
your favorite McDonalds that there is absolutely no way they will let
you access the phone mail system via modem; the same goes for the
campus system.

The only way to see the status of a subscriber box on most (I have not
worked with all of them) is to have administrator privileges on the
system and then run the system administration program. As you can well
imagine the mail system administrator does not want users to have the
ability to reprogram the system.

As for the SL100, you could have virtually any system integrated with
the switch.  NT provides a product call Meridian Mail that I think
also runs on the SL series.  Besides that, all major voice mail
vendors can fully integrate their systems with the NT line.  Again,
the voice mail system administrator is the only person (well there is
the maintenance account also) who has the ability to check status via
modem.

It would be possible to program your computer to dial your mailbox,
send the sequence to check your mail box, then capture the resulting
voice signal, but I don't think that's really what you are after.


John D. Gretzinger    Network Engineer - Sprint   +1.310.797.1187
All opinions are mine, and only mine.  Sprint can't have them!!

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

From: [e-mail]
Date: 01 Aug 93 13:43:28-0400
Subject: Re: Cheap Voice Mail System


In Volume 13 Issue 524, [e-mail] writes:

> I need to find information about, and sources of *inexpensive* voice
> mail systems.  I need a fair amount of programmability (new voice
> information service), so I'm assuming a PC-based system is my best
> bet.  If it's real cheap, I'll go single-line for now, until I pick up
> some more customers, but I think I'm really going to need a multi-line
> system soon.  It's VERY important that the system be able to execute
> arbitrary commands in the OS as a result of a user menu choice.
> Faxback would be a very desirable plus, but needn't be part of the
> voicemail system, since if it meets the previous criterion, I can do
> it external to the voicemail system.

I think you are looking for a system that will end up costing well
beyond the "cheap" arena.

Your desire to set up a service bureau is laudable, but a single line
system and limited functionallity is going to be a tough sell to
customers.  Users will not be happy the first time they call in and
get a busy signal.  The second time, they will go someplace else
unless you have a truly unique service.

Although many will argue with me, I think you had best talk to someone
like Micom, VMX, or OCTEL.  They are not cheap, but they are well
supported, programmable, expandable and can do what you need.

BTW, hope you can program in C ... you may well need it.


John D. Gretzinger     Network Engineer   Sprint   +1.310.797.1187
My opinions are my own.  Sprint can't have them!!!


[Moderator's Note: You should have included Dialogic in your list
above. And yes, the C routines are helpful. For some equipment in my
office I had to talk with someone at Dialogic to get them to send me
the C routines they use to support their hardware. I am still trying
to make heads or tails out of the programming manual they sent me.  PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Steve Forrette)
Subject: Re: Determine Carrier From an 800 Number?
Date: 31 Jul 1993 00:17:34 GMT
Organization: Walker Richer & Quinn, Inc.
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Steve Forrette)


> [Moderator's Note: A listing with 800-555-1212 does *not* require that
> the number be handled by AT&T. Unlike regular numbers where the
> listing is free and a non-pub status costs money, with 800 it is the
> other way around. Non-pub is free and the listing costs money.

This is not true for all carriers and all rate plans.  For example,
the standard AT&T ReadyLine 800 includes a free listing with 800
Directory as part of the $20/month fee.  When I was with Cable &
Wireless, their $15/month 800 product did not include a directory
listing, which was $12/month extra.  So whether you get it for free or
not depends on your carrier and rate plan.


Steve Forrette, [e-mail]

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

Date: Sun, 01 Aug 93 12:23:55 CST
From: [e-mail] (Bob Ackley)
Subject: Re: Big Rivers
Reply-To: [e-mail]


In a message of <21 Jul 93 07:20:44>, Dave Niebuhr (11:30102/2) writes:

> The Missouri did that in the 1800's with Iowa and Nebraska at Omaha.
> Originally, the Missouri made an indentation into the Nebraska side,
> but then (maybe due to flooding) moved to the east toward Iowa and
> looped back in such a way the people having to go to the Omaha airport
> from the south and west (correct me if I'm mistaken) had to go through
> Carter Lake, Iowa and then back into Omaha.

        Actually, the COE cut across the narrow neck of a light bulb
shaped bend in the river -- to improve navigation and/or for flood
control.  They did the same thing thirty miles or so north at DeSoto
Bend, among other places.  It is true that the road from downtown
Omaha to its airport runs through Carter Lake, Iowa (which is now on
the Nebraska side of the river).  Coincidentally, Carter Lake is also
the name of the riverbed lake that remained when the river was rerouted.

        It's also a problem when the river moves over time but the
state boundaries don't -- or at least the state losing the ground
claims it doesn't, so it doesn't lose property tax revenues; but the
state gaining the ground claims it does -- so it can collect the same
property tax revenues (it's amusing to watch a state try with equal
vigor to justify either argument depending on which way the river
moved in different specific cases).  There are several parcels along
the Missouri River that are being assessed property taxes by counties
on both sides of the river, it's a real problem for the property
owners.

        I wonder how (or if) such things affect tariff areas and/or
company service boundaries.


Bob's Soapbox,  Plattsmouth  (1:285/1.7)


[Moderator's Note: Perhaps readers have seen the news from the weekend
which noted several more levees were breeched in recent days. Southern
Illinois and Missouri towns are losing their levees at the rate of
about one per day. Alton, IL lost their water works Saturday when the
levee came down and put much of the town under water *ten feet deep*.
Granite City lost their water works several days ago in the same way.
Some homes entirely under water; can you imagine that?  Bad, bad news.
You have to drive 200 miles to find a bridge open to cross the river
now. People in those little towns who live on one side of the river
and work each day across the river (in the other state) are going nuts
getting to and from work. A small local airline operating in the St.
Louis area is running a commuter service between one side and the
other, $15 per ride.

As the people flee their homes -- and each day brings a new territory
where the people are ordered to evacuate in a big rush -- they leave
behind their dogs to guard the property. The Anti-Cruelty Society in
Chicago has been running rescue missions daily in cooperation with the
animal shelters in the river towns. They are rescuing dogs and cats
which are sitting *on top of their master's house* (with water up to
the second floor windows). They swoop down in a helicopter, attempt to
tranquilize the animals and bring them aboard.  Other times they row
out to the house in a boat to get them. Some animals are trapped
inside buildings and unable to get out; they are understandably very
paranoid and refuse to allow the humane workers to touch them. The
Anti-Cruelty Society obtained a court order allowing workers to
euthanize those animals -- by shooting them :( -- to alleviate further
suffering.

Some people are refusing to leave their homes and their land until the
water is literally rushing in around them. It is a very hard judgment
call I guess; do you walk away and leave your possessions behind as
ordered by the authorities 'when the time comes' or do you stay and
hope at least once the authorities are wrong about the levee protecting
your town? Then the rescue workers have to come and get you in a boat
or with a helicopter.

An animal shelter worker in one town Saturday when the levee
collapsed said the water rushed in covering the land so quickly it was
two feet deep over several hundred acres in a matter of a few minutes.
Citizens were long gone; only emergency workers were in town.  She
noted, "... the sad part was watching the animals try to escape.  Most
animals are good swimmers; dogs and cats, squirrels, foxes, even
insects -- all swimming for their lives to reach higher ground."  The
whole thing is a huge ecological disaster with ramifications which
will go on for a long time. President Clinton was given a proposal
over the weekend which calls for the government to buy much of the
flooded land and restore wetlands in the area, most of which have been
wiped out as towns were built there over the past 150 years.  Bad bad
news.  PAT]

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

From: [e-mail]
Date: Mon, 02 Aug 1993 00:04:50 -0400
Subject: Re: Cordless Phones on a Four Party Line


George, the best bet would be to use a ringer isolator with an outdoor
ringer, and leave the ringer of the cordless "off" all the time.  We
had to go this route with ours on a two party, because a) the cordless
would ring on either side of the line (no matter which way it was
wired) and b) the outdoor ringer caused too much hum on the line (too
much load on the Ring-to-Ground side -- our side of the line). The
ringer-isolator isolates the ground path to the outside ringer until
your side rings.

On another note, my brother in-law uses a cordless phone on his
four-party with no problems, unmodified. He's set up with only one
other party, and they are on the same side (ring) of the line. Funny
thing is, the other party _also_ uses a cordless phone! There is a wee
bit of hum, so the 'phantom' bells on the tip side could be increased
(or they could both get isolators).

Really though, couldn't you get a 1B line out at the cottage? This
would solve your problem better, and an added bonus would be taking
the computer/modem out to the cottage! (the wife wouldn't mind, eh?  <g>)

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

From: [e-mail] (Basil Halhed)
Subject: Re: Dark Fiber?
Organization: National Capital Freenet, Ottawa, Canada
Date: Sun, 1 Aug 1993 12:14:08 GMT


Um, a DS-2 operates at 6.132 Mb/s and therefore would have great
difficulty accommodating more than four DS-1s.  Also, in the past DS-2
was normally not passed along to users but now adays, DS-2 is starting
to be used for visual telephony and similar wide-band applications.


Hope this helps,

Basil

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

Date: Sun, 1 Aug 93 08:35:48 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Dave Niebuhr)
Subject: Re: 1-800-COLLECT


I posted an article about 1-800-COLLECT about a week ago and promised
a followup when I received some literature from MCI about this
service.

Basically, it is a bunch of hype about how much a user of 1-800-COLLECT
can save over AT&T, Sprint and other services when calling real long
distance (across the US for example) and talking for 10 - 30 minutes.

If I wanted to do that, I'd contact PAT instead.

Not one blasted thing was said about a short (one to two minute)
collect call from someone in my calling region (intra-areacode and
LATA).

The only really useful pieces of information were two glossy sheets
that contained the AT&T Tariffs filed October 1, 1890.  I wish that
the printing was more legible so that I could translate it and
possibly send it to the archives :-(.

Page two has information about "Collect Calls" and I quote:

"Messages can be sent "Collect" if satisfactory to the receiver.
Managers will satisfy themselves that the person receiving a "Collect"
message understands that it is to be charged to him (nothing said
about a woman answering the phone), and will then enter up and check
the message as if sent from the receiving end."

The costs of a five minute call for the day period (8 AM to 6 PM) and
the night rates for 6 PM to 8 AM) are listed and are a little more
legible: A $.60 US day call is the same during both periods, but if
the charge is $6.00 day, then the night would be $3.00.

The tariff for private wire costs are given and are based on a Message
Tariff of ONE DOLLAR (AT&T's emphasis).

Monthly rates during the day period $300 US, 1/2 hour illegible and
1/3 hour $75 (I believe).

All in all, I can't see really using this service unless I'm out of
state (in NY I can use 10-NYT-0).

I've read a lot of postings and mail from various people who
consistently missed my points (which surprised me): My kids calling
collect to home from 10-20 miles away hopefully bypassing scumbag
telephone.

My Detail Charge Listing for July 7 to August 6 will be coming in
around the end of August and I'll learn how much a one-minute call
(nine miles) was.


Dave Niebuhr      Internet: [e-mail] / Bitnet: niebuhr@bnl
Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton, LI, NY 11973  (516)-282-3093
Senior Technical Specialist: Scientific Computer Facility

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

From: Anonymous ([e-mail])
Subject: Re: Reflections on Hacker Sentencing
Organization: Not relevant
Date: Sun, 1 Aug 1993 09:00:31 GMT


[Moderator's Note: This message arrived in the mail over the weekend.
I have altered the headers as he requested.  PAT]

***** NOT FOR PUBLICATION *****

(Well, not really. I'd like this to be published in the Digest,
however, I do *NOT* want my name to appear in the header, and I'd like
my .signature deleted. I'm not particularly interested in making it
known to the net about my past mishaps with the feds, but I feel that
my contributions are worthwhile to the thread. Since the Digest is
moderated, I figure I can send this without trying to anonymize
myself, thereby proving that I'm not some kid full of BS just wanting
to see stuff I've written be in the Digest. Perhaps you could post it
yourself, stating in the first few lines that "this came from a reader
who wants to remain anonymous." Do what you want to do with this, Pat,
but please keep my name off it it. Thanks.)

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

  Two and a half years ago, I got arrested for "accessing a computer
system illegally" and "disclosure of information" -- fancy terms for
getting access to Equifax and snagging a couple people's credit
reports and showing them to a few friends. I was a senior in high
school. The next year was definitely the worst year of my live (as
short as it has been.)

Although some readers may not understand the analogy, hacking (or,
technically, "cracking"), to the average high-school kid, is similar
to joyriding (something that doesn't happen much anymore, except in
inner cities). It's a kid's way of getting a "high" -- a kind of "let
me see if I can do THIS" idea. Sure, I knew it was wrong ... everyone
involved in it did. But the teenage feeling of invincibility prevents
one from thinking about it. Until you get caught.

I'm glad I got caught, because if I didn't, I'd be doing worse, real
criminal-type things now. Something more damaging than phreaking a
phone call to Cali or being part of an Alliance Teleconference. I'd
probably be stealing real cash, or merchandise, or who knows what
else; but it'd be something that I'd deserve to go to jail for.

What amazed me was something that is mirrored in the article I'm
posting my followup to. The police have absolutely no idea what they
are doing.  Their "investigation" amounted to a kid who told the cops
everything they ever wanted to know, and a state trooper running
"XTree" on a PC they seized from me. It appeared that there was nobody
in the entire state of New Jersey who knew what the hell they were
doing.

I was faced with a decision. I could drag the whole thing through
court, make fools out of everyone, and get off on the charges --
estimated cost was a mere $20,000. I opted for the budget settlement:
a plea agreement, giving up seized items (you wouldn't believe some of
the stuff they took), pleadig guilty, and settling for community
service.

At my sentencing, the judge read a letter from the president of
Equifax.  If it was up to him, I'd burn in Hell. He wanted to make
sure that a precident would be set. The judge seemed to agree with the
letter, stating that whether a crime is committed with a gun or with a
modem, it's just as bad (I'd like to go up to the judge someday and
hold a gun up to him, and note his reaction. Then, put the gun down,
pick up a modem, and see if he still feels as threatened).

I'm done with probation and my community service (computer-related, of
course), and I'm going to be entering my third year of college --
majoring in computer engineering. I don't know how I'm ever going to
find a job, with this felony looming in my past. I'm unsure if I'll be
able to get it expunged, because there is no precident. What
corporation would want to hire a convicted felon as an engineer?

Who was the real criminal in all of this? Yes, I committed a crime,
and it appears that I may have to pay for it for the rest of my life.
Meanwhile, the person who works for Equifax who initially released the
account information that let us IN the system in the first place is
probably still working there. (No, I have no idea who this person
was).

I have no idea what will happen in the future. My lawyer is still
working on getting everything expunged, and I will just have to hope.
Maybe I'll just try to stay in school for the rest of my life.


[Moderator's Note: Thank you for sharing this and for taking me in
your confidence when you wrote. Things will work out for you. What you
did as a minor has no relevance on your adult life, with or without
the expungement.  Best of luck in future endeavors!    PAT]

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

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Seth Recieves Punishment (but it's only a minor setback)
Organization: University of North Texas
Date: Sun, 1 Aug 1993 10:52:02 GMT


beyonet!olwejo![e-mail] (Bob Kupiec) writes:

> Here is a message from the administrator of Seth's site:

[explanation of problem deleted]

> We have eliminated the problem.

[...]

Seth is now [e-mail], and he's still working his way
down the list of newsgroups.  Each time I find another non-crossposted
copy, I let him and his admin know about it.  I urge others to do the
same.  He's using the net and our dollars to line his own pockets.


M. Otto   [e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: Like the waters of the Mississippi working their
way down to the Gulf of Mexico, poor Seth works his way down the list
of newsgroups. Has he gotten as far as 'sci' or 'talk' yet with his
flood of messages?  Like Old Man River, Seth just keeps rolling along.
Imagine ... some people say *I* commercialize the net when it comes
time to pay my rent each month ... hmmm ...   PAT]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #532
******************************










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From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #533

TELECOM Digest     Mon, 2 Aug 93 04:06:30 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 533

Inside This Issue:                       Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching? (Kevin Williams)
    Re: Princess Phone Keychains from 60's (Syd Weinstein)
    Re: Voice Recognition and Third Party Billing (Steven J. Tucker)
    Re: Voice Recognition and Third Party Billing (David Horvath)
    Re: Premiere Group? (Greg Abbott)
    Re: Networks in Sarejevo? (William M. Eldridge)
    Re: Mystery Caller (Chris Ambler)
    Re: Standard Practice For Wiring House (Steve Forrette)
    Re: High Speed Modem Connect Signals (Fred R. Goldstein)
    Re: Phone Noises, Frequencies and Durations (Steve Forrette)
    Re: Review From 2600: Inside the 5ESS (Brett Eliott)

                     ----------------------
TELECOM Digest is an e-journal devoted mostly -- but not exclusively --
to discussions on voice telephony. The Digest is a not-for-profit
public service published frequently by Patrick Townson Associates. PTA
markets a no-surcharge telephone calling card and a no monthly fee 800
service.  In addition, we are resellers of AT&T's Software Defined
Network. For a detailed discussion of our services, write and ask for
the file 'products'.

The Digest is delivered at no charge by email to qualified subscribers on
any electronic mail service connected to the Internet. To join the mail-
ing list, write and tell us how you qualify: [e-mail].
 All article submissions MUST be sent to our email address: telecom@eecs.
nwu.edu -- NOT as replies to comp.dcom.telecom.

Back issues and numerous other telephone-related files of interest are
available from the Telecom Archives, using anonymous ftp lcs.mit.edu.
Login anonymous, then 'cd telecom-archives'. At the present time, the
Digest is also ported to Usenet at the request of many readers there,
where it is known as 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Use of the Digest does not
require the use of our products and services. The two are separate.
All articles are the responsibility of the individual authors. Organi-
zations listed, if any, are for identification purposes only. The
Digest is compilation-copyrighted, 1993. **DO NOT** cross-post articles
between the Digest and other Usenet or alt newsgroups. Do not compile
mailing lists from the net-addresses appearing herein.  Send tithes and
love offerings to PO Box 1570, Chicago, IL 60690. :)  Phone: [phone].

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

From: [e-mail] (Kevin W. Williams)
Subject: Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching?
Date: 1 Aug 1993 13:40:22 -0700
Organization: gte


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail].
com (Chris Brady) writes:

> It seems as though the latest central office switches are still
> offered on proprietary software -- and frequently, hardware --
> platforms.  This appears to me to be due to the stringent real time
> expectations we have placed on telephony, combined with strict
> requirements for massive throughput, data integrity, system
> availability and environmental conditions.  Nonetheless, there have
> been efforts in Bellcore and elsewhere to essentially reduce the CO
> switch to a peripheral of a general purpose computer, and thus enjoy
> the supposed benefits of riding more popular technology curves.  I'd
> be interested in discussion on why this vision is not being realized
> in the CO market: do the technical constraints really demand
> proprietary computer implementations, or are there market forces that
> are disincenting major telecom providers from making this leap?

> In a related question, does anyone have a good estimate for lines of
> tested code per person per day for a central office switch?  Does this
> figure change dramatically when you are reusing existing code and just
> testing it (or, alternatively, how much loading is the simple code
> test and the full regression test)?  The argument is frequently made
> that CO software requires more regression testing than most and thus
> gets written more slowly than other commercial software applications.

The primary issue here is reliability: both hardware and software. For
hardware, we are allowed two hours down per 40 years of service. Such
outages must stay under an exponential decay curve, such that a ten
minute outage occurs less often than one time in fifteen years.

On the hardware side, this requires massive redundancy operable on a
real-time basis, with no human interaction necessary to effect the
switch from one copy to another. It also requires (and this is much
more difficult) sufficient fault detection hardware to reliably detect
failures. The GTD-5, for example, uses a quadruplex common control
structure: a pair of processors is active, with each output matched
bit for bit in real-time. If a mismatch occurs in one pair, a standby
pair is brought in to replace it. Previous generations have used
triplex architectures with a "minority vote loses" algorithm. Other
machines tend more towards software monitoring of the processors,
executing real-time instruction sanity mazes on a continuous basis.
Duplicated and quadruplicated paritied and ECCed rams, duplex
peripherals, complex cross-over structures, etc., are the norm.
Discussions of the basic architectures of the standard central offices
throughout the industry are available in the various vendors public
relations and marketing material.

The software tends to be carefully tested (although I am not going to
comment on productivity figures: such information is considered
proprietary by all companies that I am aware of) and is significantly
more complex than "normal" code because of the reliablity constraints.
The ability to be able to switch instruction streams from one
processor to another without missing a beat, reconfiguring peripherals
on-line without affecting the applications using them, and performing
diagnostic tests on subsystems without impairing the ability of the
system to operate requires significant amounts of code, and this code
tends to place requirements on the structure and operation of
application code.

So my answer to when General Purpose Computing will overcome Telecom
Switching: never.  There is simply no way that the general purpose
computing community is ever going to bear the cost of the reliability
that we consider mandatory for switching.


Kevin Wayne Williams
Speaking for myself, but employed by AG Communication
Systems, an AT&T/GTE joint venture

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

From: [e-mail] (Syd Weinstein)
Subject: Re: Princess Phone Keychains from 60's
Date: 1 Aug 1993 10:39:46 -0400
Organization: Datacomp Systems, Inc., Huntingdon Valley, PA
Reply-To: [e-mail]


Doreen Hansen <[e-mail]> writes:

> Does anyone here have a collection of those little plastic princess
> phones that say "The Princess phone ... It's little, it's lovely, it
> lights!" on the bottom?  They have a ball-type chain on the right
> side.  I have just started a collection of them after finding a few at
> the local Goodwill.  I know they came in aqua, white, and pink.  Are
> there any other colors?  How were these distributed?  with phone
> books?  In the mail?  Did each household get one/two?  Were they given
> out only one year?  Or did people buy them?

Somewhere in my archives, I have a box of those things ... (small
box.)  They were indeed free.  Bell handed them out as a come-on to
get people to rent the new phones.  The box I have is about 3"x6"x
2.5-3" and it was full of them at one time.  They were just handing
them out left and right in the Philadelphia are back in the early
60's.  My father came home with the box of them, he got them from a
table in his office (he was a CPA) ...


Sydney S. Weinstein, CDP, CCP          Elm Coordinator - Current 2.4PL22
Datacomp Systems, Inc.                 Projected 3.0 Release: ??? ?,1994
[e-mail] or dsinc!syd      Voice: [phone], FAX: [phone]

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

From: [e-mail] (Steven J Tucker)
Subject: Re: Voice Recognition and Third Party Billing
Date: 1 Aug 1993 16:21:58 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Steven J Tucker)


In a previous article, [e-mail] says:

> I had to make a long distance call from a customer's site today, and I
> normally bill these calls on my supervisor's calling card.  But the
> card number was in my truck, so I opted to just bill the call to our
> office phone number.

> understood, it said to standby for an operator.  I also had no trouble
> entering a number to bill the call to; one of our office numbers, or
> to any valid local number I might punch in.

Yon can bill third party to ANY VALID number (except payphones, and
other restriced numbers ...) from a private billable line. The only
times the operator is reqired to get approval is if your at a payphone,
since they cant bill back the call if the other party refuses to pay
when the bill comes.


Steve

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

From: [e-mail] (David Horvath)
Subject: Re: Voice Recognition and Third Party Billing
Date: Sun, 1 Aug 93 21:40:53 EDT


A few years ago, Bell of Pennsylvania (now part of Bell Atlantic)
changed its policy on third number billing.  Prior to this change, the
call would just be put through -- permission to bill was not verified.

This "feature" was discovered by many unscrupolous people and
prankster/kids so Bell changed the policy to require verification of
permission to third party bill.

My last phone bill (in the AT&T section) had several third-party calls
billed to my phone number -- which were not made or permitted by my
wife or I.  I called AT&T and they were very happy to remove the
charges and suggest that I get third-party billing blocked by Bell
Atlantic.  I did so.

To make a long story short, doesn't AT&T verify third-party billings?
I noticed a recent note that AT&T is using automated call making for
this class -- are they verifying?  If they verify, is it automated
also?  Our answering machine answers the phone 90+% of the time, even
when we're home ... I remember a posting about automated collect call
accpetance.

An odd side note -- we've gotten a number of phone calls at about that
time of night (on a regular basis) with dialtone when the answering
machine is done its message.


Thanks!

David


[Moderator's Note: See an earlier message in this issue. AT&T will
verify the third number billing if the call is originating from a
phone to which the company has no recourse for collection, i.e. a
payphone or COCOT phone, etc.    PAT]

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

Date: Sun, 1 Aug 1993 13:46:37 -0600 (CST)
From: Greg Abbott <[e-mail]>
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Premiere Group?


Recently I posted a note requesting information on a group called
"Premiere Publications".  This group has been conducting phone
solicitation for a city directory and leaving some citizens with the
idea that if they refused to provide information, 9-1-1 would be
unable to assist them in the event of an emergency.

After some investigation, I found the company to be based out of
Rochester, IN.  I spoke with one of their office managers (who
happened to be the manager for the Champaign area as well) and
explained the problem to him.  He advised me that they utilize a
script and that his people are not to deviate from the script.  He
further advised that the people calling me probably misunderstood what
was being said to them (I couldn't produce any "victims" of the calls,
just some general comments which had been made to our dispatchers when
these citizens called in to check).  I asked him to talk to his
people, which he said he would do.

Later that afternoon, I got another call from a concerned citizen who
had just received a call from this company.  She said that the caller
had indeed stated that the information she was attempting to collect
*would* be used to backup the 9-1-1 computers in the event the
computer failed.  This, of course, couldn't be further from the truth.
I conferenced in the manager that I had spoken with earlier and let
this lady tell her story again.  He really didn't know what to say
except that he was very sorry.  He apologized to both of us several
times.  I explained to him that this activity had to stop right now
and asked him to call me back on Monday with the details of his
investigation.

The local newspaper is going to run a short article on this topic
sometime this week.  I asked them to make sure that the citizens
understand that 9-1-1 does not need any of the information they may
provide to this group in order to dispatch any type of emergency
assistance.

I'll keep you posted on the progress.


GREG ABBOTT           INTERNET: [e-mail]
9-1-1 COORDINATOR   COMPUSERVE: 76046,3107
                         VOICE: 217/333-4348
METCAD                     FAX: [phone]
1905 E. MAIN ST.         PAGER: 800/222-6651
URBANA, IL  61801         PIN # 9541

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

From: [e-mail] (William M. Eldridge)
Subject: Re: Networks in Sarejevo?
Date: 1 Aug 1993 14:51:04 -0700
Organization: UCLA Cognitive Science Research Program


Bruce Taylor <[e-mail]> writes:

> I was just asked to give ideas on how to establish email or network
> connectivity into Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.  The idea is to create a
> portable set of equipment that could support a few users with e-mail,
> or perhaps several users with full internet connectivity.

> [Moderator's Note: You know it is too bad our European correspondent
> Richard Budd is off line for a month or so. Maybe he will see this and
> respond anyway. He has been in Poland and other nearby areas for a
> couple years now at least working with schools, etc in setting up
> connections to the net among other things. I *know* he could fill you
> in with a lot of details and prove quite helpful. Richard, are you
> out there?  PAT]

I'm currently researching similiar options for Macedonia, and could
really use some advice from someone who's doing this already.  Perhaps
some basic scenarios to start:

  - what's the cheapest way to provide one user with a 9600 or 19200
bps Usenet connection?

  - what options are available for something like a T1 line?

  - what kind of satellite connections/technology would be applicable
for say a university? a country?

  - are there any wireless technologies that are reasonable
alternatives to running cable for a site with basically no existing
network infrastructure?

Of course answers for Europe (and Easter/Southeastern Europe
especially) will be quite different, considering state of
telecommunications and size of budgets available.

At the same time, these questions are going to come up again
and again as all the lesser-developed countries start networking,
and it would be nice to set up an archive that begins to address
some of the major questions that arise in this regard (I'll be
happy to maintain the archive -- it's the info that I'm lacking).


Thanks,

Bill Eldridge     [e-mail]       310-206-3960 (3987 fax)

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

From: [e-mail] (Chris Ambler -- Phish)
Subject: Re: Mystery Caller
Organization: The Phishtank
Date: Sun, 01 Aug 1993 23:39:00 GMT


[e-mail] (Leonard Erickson) says:

> I put a terminal program up and couldn't get a response. But I have
> determined that the system on the other end is *attempting* to
> handshake with a BREAK,pause, sequence. About 1/2 sec break, 1/2 sec
> pause. It repeats until it gives up after 20 seconds or so.

> Anybody recognize this handshake sequence? I'd like to track down the
> caller, if only to get things fixed.

This sounds a lot like UNIX to me. UUCP, in particular, will dial out
and wait for a string, usually "ogin:" and send breaks and/or returns
until it sees it or times out. Your mystery caller may be someone who
thinks you're a UUCP site. Try answering with the terminal program and
send them "login:" and see what they do :-)


[e-mail] | Christopher J. Ambler
[e-mail]  | Author, FSUUCP 1.32

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

From: [e-mail] (Steve Forrette)
Subject: Re: Standard Practice For Wiring House
Date: 2 Aug 1993 02:41:51 GMT
Organization: Walker Richer & Quinn, Inc.
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Steve Forrette)


In <[e-mail]> Bruce_Sullivan++LOCAL+dADR%
[e-mail] (Bruce Sullivan) writes:

> Thomas Hinders ([e-mail]) writes:

>> If a telephone technician was dispatched to install jacks and wiring
>> for a home under construction, would the standard practice be for him
>> to wire the jacks in daisy-chain or run a separate line to some common
>> point.

> I'm NOT from a BOC, but I did have MY BOC (US West) out last year to
> rewire an older house which I'd purchased. They did not daisy-chain
> them. They ran each one back to a common point at the demarc, which I
> believe is common practice -- at least around here -- AND technically
> superior, in my opinion.

US West definately recommends that this practice be followed.  I have
a pamphlet from US West which is designed to tell people who plan to
do their own inside residential wiring (or contract with someone to do
so) what the correct specifications are.  The pamphlet is done quite
nicely, and if you follow the rules they give, you would have an
excellent inside wiring setup, IMHO.  Among other things, they say:

- Use twisted-pair wire, with each pair individually twisted on its
own axis.
- Run a separate cable from each jack to a common point, and connect
to the demarc from there.
- Use at least for pair wire (eight conductor) as a minimum for
residential installations.
- Never run AC current through telephone wire (okay, so how am I
supposed to talk?  :-))

These seem like pretty common-sense rules, but it is amazing how
little they are followed.  One problem is that the general public
(including general contractors) doesn't seem to understand why anyone
would possibly need more than one phone line, so they figure that
providing two pairs is more than enough.  And as far as twisted pair,
since the deaded straight "quad" wire is generally cheaper, why not go
with that?  Your average contractor doesn't know a whole lot about
inductive pickup of AC currents.

I'd agree with the previous posters -- regardless of what the telco
says, if you contracted with someone to do it a specific way and they
did not, they should redo it to the agreed-upon specs.  If US West is
your LEC, ask them for a copy of the residential wiring pamphlet, and
show that to the contractor.


Steve Forrette, [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Fred R. Goldstein)
Subject: Re: High Speed Modem Connect Signals
Organization: Digital Equipment Corp., Littleton MA USA
Date: Mon, 2 Aug 1993 02:44:18 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Brett Elliott) writes:

> After conducting research I think I may have answered my own question.
> Echo supression cancels out energy in the 2010-2240Hz range.  The CCIT
> standard is to blurt out a 2100Hz for at least 250ms, which will stop
> the EC equipment.  I believe that this is correct, might be wrong.  EC
> will re-activate after a 400ms squelch.

Unlike Professor Erwin Corey, I'm not the World's Most Foremost
Authority on this... :-) but as I recall reading it in CCITT V.25, the
echo SUPPRESSOR cancel tone is 2100 Hz.  This is obsolete.  The echo
CANCELLOR cancel tone is 2100 Hz, phase-reversed every 450 millisec-
onds for a two-second burst.

I don't know why anybody would implement it such that single-phase
tone would get garbled, but that's what I found when I searched the
Blue Books.


fred ([e-mail])

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

From: [e-mail] (Steve Forrette)
Subject: Re: Phone Noises, Frequencies and Durations
Date: 2 Aug 1993 04:45:57 GMT
Organization: Walker Richer & Quinn, Inc.
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Steve Forrette)


In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Jack the
Ripper) writes:

> Steve Forrette ([e-mail]) wrote:

>> For the standard calling card "bong," there is a particular Bellcore
>> standard.  I used something that was easiest for me to implement, and
>> it sounds quite close to the real thing.  I use 60ms of "#" tone
>> (941Hz and 1477Hz), followed by a decaying dialtone sound that lasts
>> one second, with the amplitude at full volume at the beginning of the
>> second, ramping down linearly to 0 amplitude at the end of the second.

> What kind of EQUIPMENT do you guys use for all your tone generations?

Right now, I'm using voice processing cards from Natural MicroSystems
of Natick, MA.  They have the capability of generating arbitrary tones
of one, two, or three concurrent frequencies, with each of the 3
frequencies and their relative amplitudes changable every 20ms.  This
is a very flexible mechanism, as it allows me to generate just about
any tone I could possibly want, whether it be user-signalling (such as
a realistic-sounding 'bong' tone that's generated from scratch rather
than sampled and played back), to various tones that might be needed
for network signalling.


Steve Forrette, [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Brett Elliott)
Subject: Re: Review From 2600: Inside the 5ESS
Organization: Calif State Univ/Electronic Information Services
Date: Mon, 2 Aug 1993 06:50:19 GMT


[e-mail] (Mike King) writes:

> The Summer '93 edition of {2600} magazine (V10, #2) has some
> interesting articles in it.  The lead article is "A Guide to the
> 5ESS."  The author discusses switch topology, hardware, software, and
> how to program it.  As an example, the author shows how the RCF
> feature would be added to a line.  The article is eleven pages long.

I bet the kid who wrote it was half the average age of comp.dcom.
telecom subscribers. ;-)


[e-mail]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #533
******************************










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From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #534

TELECOM Digest     Tue, 3 Aug 93 00:22:00 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 534

Inside This Issue:                       Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Borneo Malaysia Phones (Wm Randolph Franklin)
    Psychological Effect of "Busy" Signal (Will Martin)
    New Newsgroup For SmartCards (Lars Kalsen)
    Questions About Telecom (Kirsten Hanson)
    New Improved UUCICO For Waffle Available (Horacio Stolovitzky)
    Who/What Determines Caller-ID? (Greg Chartrand)
    Encrypted Faxes (Chris Norley)
    Alternates Wanted to "Call Me" Cards (David Maynard)
    Pennsylvania Local Calls (was Re: What Changes For Delaware?) (Carl Moore)
    Traffic Calculator Wanted ([e-mail])
    No, They Are Not Toll Numbers (Paul Robinson)
    Re: Seth Recieves Punishment (But Only a Minor Setback) (Chris Zguris)
    More on That International Phone Number Scam (Daniel Burstein)
    Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced (Christopher Zguris)
    Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced (Garrett Wollman)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Wm Randolph Franklin)
Subject: Borneo Malaysia Phones
Date: 2 Aug 1993 17:38:06 +0800
Organization: Institute Of Systems Science, NUS.


This is a report on telephones in the Malaysian states of Sabah and
Sarawak on the island of Borneo, where I recently spent two weeks.
mostly in the back country.  This info is generally from the phone
book.  All dollar figures are US$ for your convenience.  I included a
few Singapore notes also.  I've avoided all editorial comment; this
note is an attempt at an unbiased description of the facts.

Much of the system uses electronic switches, as advanced as in the
USA.  Besides three-party calling etc, there are two options I haven't
seen in the US: call transfer on no answer after 30 seconds, and call
transfer if busy.  Each option is under $1/month.

Smartfon is a 100m range cordless phone, which you use near to a
posted transmitter.  It's smaller than a cellular phone, which I think
may also be available.

The book has a whole page describing the Inmarsat system.  Calls are
about $10/minute.

There are Malaysia Direct numbers available in many other countries
for calling to Malaysia.  The book also lists the direct numbers from
Malaysia to many other countries, including for the three big US
carriers.  Otherwise, calling the US is about $2/minute.

The book says that the phone company also provides videotext (with
info from third party suppliers), stock quotes by phone, email, and data
lines, both packet switched and circuit switched.

Short-distance local calls are about $0.06.  Farther calls are
metered.  However, the phone itself costs $80/month for a personal
line, or $120/month for a business.

They allow third party call billing, if your number is okayed by their
database.

Domestic 800 numbers costs $400 to install; international ones $800.
There are the obvious usage charges.

Popular phone numbers are auctioned.

There is an international person-to-person call option, which is the
operator rate plus $.80.  The $.80 is charged whether or not the
person, or an acceptable substitute is there.

Leased lines and radio channels are available.  This is convenient
since much of the back country has no roads or other utilities.  You
get there by boat, foot, or plane, and use portable generators for
electricity.

Many public phones are cardphones.  The book says that they use a
holographic technology, not magnetic.  I don't know what this means.

There are many COCOTs, which are private coin phones, which a store
owner rolls outside his store in the morning.  They cost about $0.04
for a local call.  I don't know what happens with long distance calls.

There appear to be no AOSs, alternative carriers, or 900 numbers.

Satellite dishes are illegal in Malaysia and Singapore.  This is to
prevent unwanted culture coming in, and to prevent bypassing the PTT.
The Malaysian government is considering allowing satellite dishes in
Borneo only, since there are so many.

In Malaysia, it is forbidden to import radios that can receive the
following frequencies: 26.95-27.88 MHz, 68-87, and 108-174.

In Singapore, both radio and TV receivers require annual licenses.
This applies to car radios also.  Dunno about Malaysia.

9911 is the Malaysian version of 911.  It gets abused a lot.  Firemen
in Pulau Penag reported that isix a 6 month period, 40% of all calls
(that's 15479 calls) were from love-sick women.  Only 2% of the calls
were to report fires.

Finally, the {International Herald Tribune} has some telecom ads.  MCI
is really pushing their country-to-country calling via their Direct
number.  This is not always a good deal for the customer.  When I
asked them last fall about calling from Italy to Germany, they quoted
$2/minute, much more than the Italian phone system wanted.  Also
something called Kallback is advertising cheap calls to the US from
other countries.  Let's use our Moderator's version when it becomes
available.

Bye for now.  I've been out of the US for four months continuously on
this trip and nine months in the last twelve; it'll be good to get
back soon.


Wm. Randolph Franklin,  [e-mail], [phone];  Fax: -6261
ECSE Dept., 6026 JEC, Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst, Troy NY, 12180 USA

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

Date: Mon, 2 Aug 93 10:25:13 CDT
From: Will Martin <[e-mail]>
Subject: Psychological Effect of "Busy" Signal


I've been trying to get through to a constantly-busy number, and the
irritation and hostility I feel more and more on an ever-rising level
as I repeatedly hear the braaaaap braaaaap of the "busy" signal on
each try leads me to wonder just WHY that particular tone and pattern
had been chosen by the telco so many years ago to indicate "busy".
The tone/pattern itself is extrememly irritating, regardless of the
emotion one feels when one cannot get to the number one wants.

I suppose there were (and maybe still are) other tones or signals that
also indicate "busy" from non-AT&T sources, both domestic and
international.  But this tone I cited is practically universal in the
US, at least; enough that it is used in movies and on TV shows and
everyone recognizes it for what it means.  I find it odd that they
should deliberately choose something that irritates the caller.  It
exacerbates a situation that may already be emotion-laden; I'm sure
that the offensive "busy" tone, heard repeatedly by someone trying to
get through to a perpetually-busy number, has cost the telcos a number
of pay phones ripped from their mounts or phone booths smashed by cars
or trucks when the caller was pushed beyond his level of endurance.
Why would the telcos continue to use this tone pattern when it costs
them this with no particular benefit?

Originally, I'm sure the tone was selected and adopted because it was
economically-generatable by some mechanical device. But now, digital
circuitry could just as easily generate a soothing pattern of words
like "sorry ... line busy ... sorry ... line busy..." or some other
non-English (if there is a language issue here) pattern of tones or
signals; anything but this foul "braaaaap braaaaap" business ... :-)

I can appreciate there will be a recognition problem and some
confusion over a period of transition if the ordinary "busy" signal is
changed to something else. But a lot of telco stuff has changed over
the years; why not this? As a side benefit, the vague distinction we
now have between "busy" and "fast busy" (which I have trouble with,
personally) could be eliminated, and both signals could be replaced
with distinctively different sounds, so that their meanings
("destination phone off hook" vs. "trunk unavailable between this CO
and the destination CO" [vs.  whatever else that "fast busy" now
means]) could each have their own clear signals. Wouldn't everybody
prefer that?


Will

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

From: [e-mail] (Lars Kalsen)
Subject: New Newsgroup For SmartCards
Organization: DKnet
Date: Sun, 1 Aug 1993 21:55:27 GMT


A new newsgroup - alt.technology.smartcard - has been created.

Try it !

Rationale

A SmartCard is commonly understood to be a single chip integrated on
card like a credit card. The chip can be a pure memory device, but it
can also be a full microprocessor for more sophisticated use.

The functions of the card is defined by programming the chip and
it can of course be done in many ways. Therefore the wide spread
of use.

SmartCards are today used in many different areas and there will
be many new possibilities in the future. A market survey from
1992 looks like this:

             Mobil Telephones          25 %
             Banking                   25 %
             Pay Telephones             5 %
             Access Control            15 %
             Health Care                5 %
             Transportation            15 %
             Others                    10 %

SmartCards are often used for identification purposes which means
that security is important issue when we are discussing these cards.

The SmartCards are an emerging technology which will have great im-
pact on a lot of different businesses in the future, therefore the
newsgroup will be of great help to a lot of people.


A charter for alt.technology.smartcards.

Alt.technology.smartcards (unmoderated) will be a newsgroup which
will provide a common forum for all persons interested in the use
and development of SmartCards and the technologies behind.

(1) To share ideas, information and specific experience about the use
    of SmartCards.

(2) To discuss the design, programming and manufacturing of Smart-
    Cards.

(3) To discuss the use of SmartCards in various businesses and pro-
    spectives for the future use.

(4) To discuss economic issues concerning SmartCards.

(5) To discuss security issues around the SmartCards.

(6) To discuss standard issues concerning SmartCards.

(7) To educate and inform others about the the strength, weaknesses
    and general use of SmartCards.

(8) To share information and ideas about the future use of Smart-
    in all appropriate areas.


Lars Kalsen   [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Kirsten Hanson)
Subject: Questions About Telecom
Date: 2 Aug 1993 08:22:14 GMT
Organization: University of Washington


I know these may seem like rather naive questions, but I would
appreciate it if some kind soul could either send me email or follow
up to them here. Here they go:

1. What is Anac? Is it similiar to Ani?
2. Where is the faq for this group?
3. Are there area codes that do not represent a certain geographical area?
4. Does the military/government operate on phone systems that are
seperate from the "normal" phone systems?

Any answers are appreciated.

Thanks,

V


[Moderator's Note: The FAQ is sent automatically to new list
subscribers, appears once a month or so in comp.dcom.telecom, and is
available using anonymous ftp lcs.mit.edu in the archives. 'Area
codes' which do not represent specific geographical areas are usually
called 'service codes'. Examples include 700, 710, 800, 900. Yes, the
government and military have their own phone systems, with gateways
into the public telephone network. Someone else can tell you about
ANAC and ANI.   PAT]

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

Subject: New Improved UUCICO For Waffle
From: [e-mail] (Horacio Stolovitzky)
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Horacio Stolovitzky)
Date: Sun, 01 Aug 93 12:07:58 ARG
Organization: SatLink Uucp/Internet Gateway [ARGENTINA] [phone]


I have uploaded to WSMR-SIMTEL20.Army.Mil and OAK.Oakland.Edu:

pd1:<msdos.waffle>
FXUC02B.ZIP     Enhanced UUCICO for Waffle 1.65 BBS

FX UUCICO is an enhanced replacement for WAFFLE UUCICO. It's full
compatible with WAFFLE. Shorter and faster, still has exciting new
features already available in this first release, and many more and on
the way.

  - Up to 115200 bps, and use of the 16650AFN FIFO (no need for FOSSIL)
  - File restart (crash recovery)
  - File size negotiation and free space management
  - A very robust and efficient protocol 'g' implementation.
  - Smart protocol 'g', with variable packets upto 4096 bytes.
  - A new, extremely fast protocol 'y' for high-speed modems.
  - Protocol 'f' for X.25 or other 7-bits lines.
  - Full support for incoming and outgoing grades

                Uploaded by the author.


Horacio Stolovitzky      Internet address: [e-mail]
SatLink S.R.L.
Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA   V.32bis/Turbo-PEP Access: [phone]

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

From: [e-mail] (Greg Chartrand)
Subject: Who/What Determines Caller-ID?
Organization: Superconducting Super Collider Laboratory
Date: Mon, 2 Aug 1993 17:08:11 GMT


Maybe this has been answered before, but I would like to know what
determines the text that gets displayed on an ISDN phone with caller
I.D.?

I own XYZ Corporation, and I telemarket, will the text read XYZ
Corporation when I call someone? Can I tell my LEC that I want my
personal name to appear instead of XYZ Corporation? When I order my
phone circuits, is there a mechanism to specify what will appear in
the caller I.D.?

As a private individual, can I specify my caller I.D.? If my name is
Clarence Jones and I go by "Buck", can I have the I.D. changed to
reflect "Buck Jones" as my preference?


Greg

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

Date: Mon, 02 Aug 93 11:53:07 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Chris Norley)
Subject: Encrypted Faxes


I'm interested in finding out about the availability and cost of
encrypted fax machines. Does anyone have any information on marketers
or manufacturers of these machines?

Direct replies to me ([e-mail]) would be appreciated.


Thanks.

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

Subject: Alternates Wanted to "Call Me" Cards
Date: Mon, 02 Aug 1993 10:41:15 -0500
From: David Maynard <[e-mail]>


AT&T used to push something named a "Call Me" card that could only be
used for placing calls to a specific number.  "Kids" could use it to
call home, but not to make other calls.

What options are available for this type of service?  I don't think
Sprint or MCI offer similar programs.  I could get 700 or 800 service,
but I don't think my monthly call volume would justify it.  Any
suggestions?


Thanks,

David P. Maynard, Carnegie Mellon University & Dependable Solutions Consulting
USMail: 14312 Richard Walker Blvd, Austin, TX 78728-6862
EMail: [e-mail],  Tel: [phone],  Fax: [phone]


[Moderator's Note: A very low volume 800 number would probably work
okay. I offer them with no monthly fee and no installation costs.
Calls range from 17-22 cents per minute depending on volume of
traffic. If you use less than $25 per month in calls, the rates are
about 33 cents per minute with a $5 per month service fee.   PAT]

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

Date: Mon, 02 Aug 93 16:13:54 EDT
From: Carl Moore <[e-mail]>
Subject: Pennsylvania Local Calls (was Re: What Changes For Delaware?)


> PA had a confusing arrangement in a town off Route 322 midway
> between Penn State and Harrisburg (right on the crease of my Rand
> McNally map).  Used 555-1212 to reach DA for my sister's number in
> Harrisburg.  No charge, no offer to complete the call (or maybe I hung
> up too fast?).

I have been on U.S. 322 from the bridge at Chester, Pa. (it goes to NJ
there) to Port Matilda (sp), which is on U.S. 220 west of State
College.  I notice you didn't dial a leading 1, but that is a small
matter for me right now.  You were apparently in the 717 area; U.S.
322 is a four-lane divided highway going over a hill between Lewistown
and State College, somewhere around the 717/814 border.

> However, confusing announcements resulted from attempts at
> variations on (10288) +0 + NPA + nxx-xxxx.  Finally, I tried 0+
> nxx-xxxx, and it worked!  Are there still many places that require 0 +
> seven digits for intra-NPA toll calls?  This was probably a 60-mile
> call, and was handled by Bell of PA.  What reason would they have for
> blocking 0 + NPA + seven digits?  Do non-coin phones in the same area
> also use 0 + seven digits?

I think I was on United Telephone when I was using a pay phone at
Loysburg (814-766) in northern Bedford County, when I was on route 26
heading north from U.S. 30 at Everett, which is between Breezewood and
Bedford.  I wanted to use AT&T (switch from Orange Card because I did
want the calling location on my phone bill), and got blocked when I
tried 10288-0 + area code + seven digits.  I got to use AT&T, but had
to omit the 10288.  History file mentions some prefixes in 717 in
Lancaster County near the 215 border having removed the leading 1 from
1+7D.  Aside from this (and I didn't really check 0+ calls), I am not
aware of changes having been made yet to dialing instructions in 717
and 814.

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

Date: Mon, 2 Aug 93 12:41:36 EDT
From: [e-mail] (McHarry)
Subject: Traffic Calculator Wanted


At one time I had a neat little program for doing traffic calculations
on a PC.  Does anyone know where to find another?  It was a lot nicer
than using the tables.

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

Date: Mon, 2 Aug 1993 11:29:51 -0400 (EDT)
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Subject: No, They Are Not Toll Numbers
From: Paul Robinson <[e-mail]>
Organization: Tansin A. Darcos & Company, Silver Spring, MD USA


Marty Hoag <[e-mail]>, writes on
list [e-mail]:

> I did see something similar but different on one other list I'm
> on. But it asked if they were toll numbers and how they made money
> if not like our 900 numbers...

I think they posted this on every news group they could find; the guy
probably has a monetary interest in them.

>     011-239-1xx-xxxx         &     011-592-2xx-xxx

If you were to get a rate quote for these, you'd discover there is no
surcharge, they are billed as regular calls.  The "592" indicates
South America; there are several chat or sex lines terminating to
special facilities in some of those countries.

The way they make their money is the "Termination Fee" e.g. the
national telephone company in that country pays the information
provider part of the fee it gets from the carrier that connects the
call, based on the increased traffic the calls generate.

I made up a name for this, "The Nevada Plan".  There was a company in
Nevada at a 702 area code number that had a sex line, and someone
could call it by dialing the number.  The catch was that the call had
to be placed via AT&T; if you called it via another carrier, the
caller got a recording telling the caller to dial 10288 first.  The
recording was the *real* number; AT&T terminated the calls to the
number in question someplace else (the chat line equipment), and paid
the provider the 2c per minute termination fee for each call made over
AT&T.

There is a company is Oregon called Speedway, that is running a
dial-up Unix system and will provide SLIP, UUCP or any other internet
connections you want; and it doesn't cost anything extra, but you have
to be connected via AT&T.  If you were to dial the number 1 503 520
2222 by any means except AT&T (either local in the 503 area code, or
dialing it over MCI), you'd get a busy signal.  If you dial via 10288
or your long distance company is AT&T, you'd get a modem carrier.
AT&T pays them the 2c per minute connection fee that would have to be
paid to the local company; means no difference to them.


Paul Robinson - [e-mail]

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

Date: Mon, 2 Aug 93 15:02 GMT
From: Christopher Zguris <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Seth Recieves Punishment (but it's only a minor setback)


> [Moderator's Note: Like the waters of the Mississippi working their
> way down to the Gulf of Mexico, poor Seth works his way down the list
> of newsgroups. Has he gotten as far as 'sci' or 'talk' yet with his
> flood of messages?  Like Old Man River, Seth just keeps rolling along
> Imagine ... some people say *I* commercialize the net when it comes
> time to pay my rent each month ... hmmm ...   PAT]

This is the funniest thing I've read in a long time, well done Pat! A
way to start the week off with a smile! :-)

If I understand correctly, Seth was bounced from one provider and has
moved to another? Is there anything strictly illegal about what he's
doing (I understand irritating, but illegal?)? Incidentally, I got his
announcement on the TIPSHEET mailing list as well, so maybe he's
trying to move beyond newsgroups to automated email distribution
lists?


Christopher Zguris    [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Daniel Burstein)
Subject: More on That International Phone Number Scam
Date: 02 Aug 1993 13:19:31 -0400
Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and Unix, NYC


Regarding that posting by (name deleted) which went to just about
every Usenet group trying to get people to call his (deleted)
phone-sex number, I found the following in another Usenet group:

  From alt.fan.mike-jittlov Sat Jul 31 23:14:19 1993
  From: [e-mail] (Lee Morgan)
  Newsgroups: alt.fan.mike-jittlov
  Subject: Re: What is this #?
  Date: 31 Jul 93 06:13:48 GMT

Peter Trei ([e-mail]) wrote:

<section deleted>

>     Seth has been pushing these numbers for several weeks now. I think
> it's safe at this point to assume that they are a scam of some kind,
> and that he's making money off of it. It might take a while for the
> charges to get back to you, but they will.

  He is involved with some sort of 1-900/1-800 style sex line. I work
for a small software shop that wrote an access database to keep track
of customers for him. Given his dealings with us, I'm not too suprised
that he is pushing his business on the net.

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

Date: Mon, 2 Aug 93 14:01 GMT
From: Christopher Zguris <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced


All this fuss over modems using 900 numbers, does the FTC have
computers and do they actually investigate before they pass rules?
How hard would it have been to add an exclusion for non-voice
applications? It would have heen obvious that there are non-voice 900
lines if they would have looked around just a little bit! It seems
like loopholes/errors _always_ creep into legislation, Is it becuase
of stupidity or to guarantee future "reviews" and "investigations" to
correct these errors?


Christopher Zguris   [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Garrett Wollman)
Subject: Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced
Organization: University of Vermont, EMBA Computer Facility
Date: Mon, 2 Aug 1993 18:18:12 GMT


In article <[e-mail]>, TELECOM Moderated noted in
response to Chris Ambler -- Phish <[e-mail]>:

> Are there UUCP arrangements with sites such
> as uunet which involve 900?  *I know* that uunet has or had a 900
> number for downloads from their extensive library of holdings, but I
> was not aware they serviced their UUCP logins via 900.

PAT, the only way to download /anything/ from uunet is via UUCP.  If
you want to do it anonymously (without already being a customer of
theirs), then you set up your UUCP to call 900-GOT-SRCS (468-7727) and
log in as (I think) `uucp'.


Disclaimer: I'm on the Internet and therefore don't have any need to
use this service.

Garrett A. Wollman  [e-mail]
uvm-gen!wollman     UVM disagrees.

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #534
******************************










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From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #535

TELECOM Digest     Tue, 3 Aug 93 09:35:20 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 535

Inside This Issue:                       Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Newton MessagePad Now Available From Apple (Monty Solomon)
    CT2 Phones in Hong Kong (Wayne Sung)
    Zoom Hotshot (*67) Problem (Ken Jongsma)
    Busy Signal Strangeness (was Re: Revisit ...) (Jack Winslade)
    How to Apply Reverse Battery Signalling to DID? (Yen-Wen Chen)
    CIS Feedback Response to Email Question (Bruce Sullivan)
    Seeking Info on Singapore as Test Site For Telecommunications (C Biberman)
    Octel Voicemail (Patrick Laschet)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Tue, 3 Aug 1993 01:38:29 -0400
From: Monty Solomon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Newton MessagePad Now Available From Apple


[Moderator's Note: Monty passed along this message from Apple.  PAT]

First Newton -- The MessagePad -- Hits The Market

CUPERTINO, California -- July 30,1993 -- Apple Computer, Inc. today
announced that the first product based on its innovative Newton
technology -- the Newton MessagePad -- will ship on Aug. 2, 1993.  The
Newton MessagePad is a handheld communications assistant that allows
people to gather, manage, and share information with tremendous ease
and spontaneity.  By combining rich communications capabilities with
technology that actively assists people in getting work done, Apple
has created a new class of personal digital assistant (PDA) devices --
one that lets people communicate ideas with greater speed, clarity,
and effectiveness.  The Newton MessagePad is also a rich platform for
a wide variety of new applications and software titles that take
advantage of its unique technology, convenience, and usability.

    The Newton MessagePad is the first in a family of products based
on Newton technology: others will be introduced in the future by both
Apple and its licensees.

    "We believe that Newton will be seen as the defining technology of
the digital age," said John Sculley, Apple chairman.  "It will be a
focal point for the coming convergence of industry sectors such as
computers, communications and consumer electronics.  Communications is
a key component of this new emerging industry and the Newton
MessagePad demonstrates how this capability can be powerfully yet
intuitively built into a handheld device.  I look forward to a full
lineup of products and services based on Newton Intelligence, not just
from Apple but from innovative, creative companies around the globe."

    The Newton MessagePad is based on the concept of Newton
Intelligence, which is a combination of software and silicon.  Newton
Intelligence is what makes Newton understandable, friendly, intuitive
and useful.  It is the "soul" of the Newton MessagePad that allows the
product to "learn" the user's preferences and requirements.  For
example, the user could receive a wireless message from a colleague to
attend a meeting and Newton could automatically place the appointment
in its calendar.  More importantly, Newton Intelligence actively
assists users in completing their tasks. It "learns" users work habits
and patterns -- and then implements them on cue. Whether it's printing
a letter in an accustomed format, or faxing a message to a client's
office, the MessagePad learns over time to adapt to the user's
preferences.

Communication capabilities:

    Because of Newton technology's robust communications architecture,
the MessagePad comes with a wide variety of powerful communications
capabilities.  The Newton Communications Architecture is highly
modular.  This means that when new applications and services become
available, they can easily be added and supported in an integrated,
plug-and-play manner.  The communications capabilities in the
MessagePad allow users to send, receive, and share information through
virtually every communication method in the workplace today -- through
telephone lines, wireless networks, and computer networks.


 -- Faxing.  The MessagePad can act as a handheld facsimile (fax)
machine -- allowing users, with the optional modem, to send facsimiles
to virtually any fax machine in the world. Additionally, Newton
Intelligence makes the process of sending a facsimile simple: With the
press of one button, the MessagePad automatically formats the output,
adds a cover page, and places the facsimile in the system's Out Box,
awaiting connection to a telephone line. It is anticipated that future
products in the family will additionally offer the capability to
receive fax messages.

 -- Wireless Messaging.  Users of Newton MessagePad are expected to
have access to a wireless messaging service with both national (U.S.)
and local access.  This service will deliver alpha-numeric paging and
messaging capabilities to users of the Newton MessagePad.  This
service is expected to give the users a fully-featured method of
keeping in touch that is totally integrated with the MessagePad.
(Full details of this service will be available in the near future.)

 -- Electronic Mail.  MessagePad users will be able to send and
receive electronic mail messages to and from other MessagePad users
who are NewtonMail subscribers -- or just about any computer, by using
the NewtonMail service and the optional modem. NewtonMail is a
subscriber-based service to be offered by Apple that is an extremely
cost effective way of communicating across the United States and the
rest of the world. Availability of the NewtonMail service will be
announced at a later date. Over time, it is anticipated that
NewtonMail will be expanded to offer a wide range of information such
as news, weather and financial information as well as the potential
for online transactions.

 -- Beaming.  Making use of its built-in infrared function, the
MessagePad can send -- or "beam" in Apple engineer parlance**quick
messages to other Newton devices across a one meter distance, without
any wiring or cabling. This capability is ideal for the quick exchange
of items such as business cards, meeting notes, maps, or appointments.

 -- Printing.  The MessagePad can print any document it creates --
notes, drawings, addresses, maps, letters -- on most popular dot
matrix, portable inkjet, thermal and laser printers. These printers
can be either connected directly, or accessed through a local area
network.


Desktop Connections:

    The Newton MessagePad can share information -- quickly and easily
 -- with millions of personal computers. Using the optional Newton
Connection package, users can transfer, synchronize, back up, and
update information between a Newton MessagePad and a Macintosh
personal computer or a personal computer running the Windows operating
system.  Newton Connection is based upon a technology Apple calls
"Smart Synchronization," which automatically updates information
between a MessagePad and a personal computer. Any changes made to the
information on the Newton -- or on the personal computer -- will be
automatically synchronized and updated between the two when they are
connected. Newton Connection also includes a set of complementary
Newton applications intended to let users create, view, and edit
Newton information on a personal computer, even when the computer is
not connected to a Newton.

    Newton Connection is planned to be available in the following
versions for either Macintosh or PCs running Windows: The Newton
Connection Kit, which backs up and restores information; and The
Newton Connection Pro Kit, which gives complete file to file
synchronization. The product allows creation of a "virtual Newton" on
the desktop.

    Availability for Newton Connection products will be announced at a
later date.

Keeping in Control:

    The Newton MessagePad also includes a collection of capabilities
that help people capture and organize an array of information in the
way that suits them best. The system can capture and file notes,
sketches and other details on file, ready for almost instant access.
Built-in calendars, alarms, and reminders help people keep track of
busy lifestyles. Its built-in address book holds hundreds of names and
addresses. The MessagePad's advanced recognition architecture not only
understands printed and cursive script, but also cleans up drawings
and diagrams, making them easier to understand and communicate.

Applications, Titles, Developer Support:

    More than 20 developers are announcing products for Newton
MessagePad, including CE Software, Claris Corp., Fingertip, Great
Plains, Integrated Systems, On Technology, Pastel and Pastel, Slate
and Strategic Mapping. These products range from specialized realtor
systems to titles for sports enthusiasts.  Many more developers are in
the process of creating innovative new applications for the system. In
addition, Apple's PIE Publishing group, Starcore, announced six titles
ranging from financial assistance to interactive city maps. (see
associated releases).

Licensing:

    From the beginning, Apple had signaled its intention to broadly
license Newton technology.  This activity has resulted in agreements
with leading corporations around the world, including Sharp and Kyushu
Matsushita Electric in Japan and Motorola in the United States.
Siemens/ROLM will also be incorporating Newton technology in its
forthcoming NotePhone product.  For customers, it is anticipated that
this licensing effort will mean that software, titles and accessories
can be used across a variety of products from these and other
corporations.

Distribution and Availability:

    Initially the Newton MessagePad will be available in limited
volume at Apple Computer resellers in Boston and New York. During the
week of August 2 Newton MessagePad will also be sold at MacWorld Expo
in Boston. By mid to late August, it is anticipated that the product
will roll out across the United States, and will be available in more
than 2,000 computer retailers and consumer electronic stores.
Availability in some international markets will follow in September,
with localized versions following through 1994.

Pricing:

    There is no suggested retail pricing for the Newton MessagePad.
Individual retailers will price the products according to their
specific solutions offerings. However Apple expects the Newton
MessagePad to be priced from $699 to $949, depending on configuration:

 -- Newton MessagePad with AC Adaptor
 -- Newton MessagePad Communications System (Newton MessagePad with
    AC Adaptor and External Modem)
 -- Newton MessagePad Professional Communications System (Newton
    MessagePad with AC Adaptor, External Modem and Newton Connection
    Pro)
 -- Apple Messaging Service: Formal pricing to be announced upon
    availability.
 -- Newton Messaging Card: pricing to be announced
 -- NewtonMail: pricing to be announced
 -- Newton Connection Kit: pricing to be announced
 -- Newton Connection Pro: pricing to be announced

Apple, the Apple logo and Macintosh are registered trademarks, and
Newton, MessagePad, Newton Connection and NotePhone are trademarks of
Apple Computer, Inc.

Product Specifications for Newton MessagePad and Accessories:

Newton MessagePad Hardware Architecture:

 -- ARM 610 processor at 20 MHz
 -- Apple custom system ASIC
 -- Low-power, reflective LCD display (336 x 240 pixels)
 -- Transparent tablet with passive pen
 -- 4MB of ROM
 -- 640K of RAM
 -- One PCMCIA type 2 card slot
 -- LocalTalk compatible serial port
 -- Low-power, half-duplex, infrared transceiver (9600 baud at 1
    meter)

Size and weight
 -- Height: 7.25 in. (184.75 mm)
 -- Width: 4.50 in. (114.3 mm)
 -- Depth: 0.75 in. (19.05 mm)
 -- Weight: 0.9 lb. (0.4 kg)

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

Date: Tue, 3 Aug 93 08:23:32 -0400
From: Wayne Sung <[e-mail]>
Subject: CT2 Phones in Hong Kong


Last year when I was in Hong Kong I saw advertisements for a
forthcoming CT2 phone system. This year the system is in use and both
CSL (the landline phone company) and Hutchison (the alternate) have
service offerings. I saw phones from Motorola and Casio. One other
brand of phone had the service company's logo on them so I couldn't
tell who made them.

The Motorola unit is available with a base station which turns the
phone into a cordless unit. There is a selector switch on the phone to
allow choosing the base unit or the off-air system. I did not see base
units offered with the other phones, but they also had the
public/private selectors. Indeed one of the phones allowed two public
and two private lines.

Hutchison claims to have over 6000 cells operational, targeting over
7000 by year end. The cells cover small areas. Typically a restaurant
or a club might have one cell, while a mall might have several.
However, there is a note in the Motorola unit handbook which advises
against movement once a call is established.

The phones run on 3 AAA batteries or a rechargable pack. The antenna
is retractable. When used with the base retracting the antenna causes
a noticeable loss of range. In public use there is an extra twist -
these phones are not able to receive incoming calls so it won't matter
if the antenna is down (or the unit powered off for that matter).

The companies have developed a system to effectively allow incoming
calls. You buy a beeper as well as the phone, and someone trying to
reach you calls a 'meet-me' number which activates your beeper. You
then call into the 'meet-me' number to talk to the caller. The
Motorola phone can be bought with the beeper mounted in the flip top.

A phone costs a little less than $200 US. The beeper adds another $70
or so. The base goes for about $125. It seemed suspicious at first
that the Motorola phone and the Casio phone are advertised at exactly
the same price, but it turns out that these are promotional rates and
you have to sign up to get these prices.

Rates are about $25 US per month, with 100 free minutes included.
There are other rates with more time included. Voice quality on the
phones is quite good, perhaps better than my Tropez, even though it is
supposed to be compressed (I don't know that for a fact).

The store clerks were not able to tell me what frequency band these
units worked in. However, I just saw a Northern Telecom article which
mentioned the 860 MHz area for their CT2 offering, which is meant to
be a wireless pbx application.

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

Date: Mon, 02 Aug 1993 21:30:44 EDT
From: Ken Jongsma <[e-mail]>
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Subject: Zoom Hotshot (*67) Problem


Based on recent discussion here, I went out and bought a Zoom Hotshot
Dialer from the local Graybar office. It was less than $50 and was
very straight forward to set up.

I set it to send a *67 one second after hearing a dialtone the first
time on every call and it works like a champ.

The problem: the unit apparently interferes with my modem. Calls at
14.4 will no longer connect to any other site, including the Practical
Peripherals BBS. Calls at 9600 or slower seem to be OK.

Does anyone else have any experience with the Zoom? I'd hate to have
to return it, as it makes for a seamless per-line blocker, but I have
to be able to connect at 14.4.

(Why I had to pay ~$50 for a feature that MiBell should provide free
is whole 'nuther issue.)


Kenneth R Jongsma             [e-mail]
Smiths Industries        [e-mail]
Grand Rapids, Michigan             [phone]

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

Date: Tue, 03 Aug 93 02:56:30 CST
From: [e-mail] (Jack Winslade)
Subject: Busy Signal Strangeness (was Re: Revisit ..)
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: DRBBS Technical BBS, Omaha


> A while back, I wrote of getting a busy signal of high pitch and
> different frequency mix (this is not the fast busy signal) than the
> one I am accustomed to for the electronic exchanges.

> On Saturday July 24, I had occasion to call a number in such an
> exchange, and got that busy signal.  The next day, I was at the
> location of that number, and I went to that phone and dialed its own
> number, and got the EXPECTED busy signal for that exchange.

Years ago this possibly related anomaly happened to me a few times and
I've never really understood why this was so.  I would call a busy
(real case of line busy) number and would get a couple busy-back tones
from the far CO, with loud clicks at the onset of each tone which
almost sounded like line reversal or supervision.  The far end busy
would then switch to a local busy (I did verify that it came from MY
switch) and apparently free up the trunk.

These were all LD calls through the old AT&T network back in the old
days.

I haven't noticed this since the breakup.  The last time I remember it
happening was the night of the NYC blackout in the late 70's.  I
phoned my brother who was on a #5 xbar.  I was on a #1 ESS in downtown
Omaha.  His line WAS busy -- he verified that when I finally got
through, but every few attempts would result in this switched busy
signal.  The call would progress normally.  I could hear the hiss of
the analog LD circuit followed by the reverberant 'clunk' at the far
end office, followed by a couple bursts of the loud raucous
BAW-BAW-BAW busy tone, then followed by a switch to the gentle
tweet-tweet-tweet busy tone of the local ESS.  The tone was more of a
clickBAWclunk-clickBAWclunk click tweet-tweet-tweet.

I'm assuming something existed to sense a heavy load on the trunks and
to do this, but nobody, even friends at TPC could explain it.

Anyone know for sure ??


Good day!   JSW    DRBBS, Omaha  (1:285/666.0)

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

Date: Tue, 3 Aug 93 10:03:22+080
From: [e-mail] (Yen-Wen Chen)
Subject: How to Apply Reverse Battery Signalling to DID?


Hi, Networker:

For most telephone switches provide "Reverse Battery" signalling for
supporting Direct Inward Dialing (DID) for using with PBX system. Is
there any people can give me more detail information about how to
apply "reverse battery" to DID?

Thanks for your any information.


Yen-Wen Chen        | internet : [e-mail]
ITRI/CCL            | Tel : [phone]
System Engineer     | Fax : [phone]
Address : N200, Bldg. 14, 195 Sec 4, Chung Hsing Rd., Chutung,
          Hsinchu, Taiwan 310, R.O.C.

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

Date: Mon, 2 Aug 93 21:01 GMT
From: Bruce Sullivan <[e-mail]>
Subject: CIS Feedback Response


You all no doubt recall the lengthy discussion originally titled "Is
CIS blocking Internet?" wherein many theories were proffered as to why
one could not send mail from CIS to MCI Mail (or vice versa) by way of
the Internet.

I attempted to extract an answer from CIS Customer Service (aka
FEEDBACK). After exchanging mail with three different Reps -- none of
whom seemded to understand the nature of my question (Is this just
me?)  AND uploading a portion of the discussion, here's the reply I
received.


> #: 121 S0/CompuServe Mail  {MAIL}
>     29-Jul-93 06:06 PDT
> Sb: Feedback reply (Ref #0608)
> Fm: CompuServe {70006,101}

> There is no longer a surcharge to send mail to MCIMAIL, so this is a
> mute point.

> The reason that we can't send to MCIMAIL via the Internet is not a
> restriction that we put in place but one that MCIMAIL is responsible
> for.  If you want to discuss the details about it, you will need to
> contact them.

> Thank you for using CompuServe Feedback,
> Teemu

                       ----------

I'm not sure if "mute point" simply means they don't want to talk about
it or what ...  ;-)

I did send an email from CIS to MCI to verify, and this APPEARS be
true, inasmuch as I did not see the usual message telling me how much
it just cost me. I still find it hard to believe, however. I wonder
who IS paying for it.

On the MCI side, my contact there is digging up the formal policy. I
emphasized that he do his Real Job first, however, so I'm not waiting
with bated breath.


Bruce

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

Date: Mon, 02 Aug 1993 15:13:47 -0400 (EDT)
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Seeking Info on Singapore as Test Site For Telecommunications


Hello,

I am seeking articles or reports on the use of Singapore as a test or
pilot site for new telecommunications devices.  I would appreciate any
references you might have.  Please respond directly to me.


Caren J. Biberman
Rutgers, School of Communications, Information and Library Science

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

From: [e-mail] (Patrick Laschet)
Subject: Octel Voicemail
Organization: Communication Networks
Date: Tue, 3 Aug 1993 07:49:39 GMT


Hi,

I am the administrator of an Octel Voicemail System and I have a
problem with a mismatch of the number of installed mailboxes.

Equipment:

- For the mailbox administration we are using the Octel Data Module
with the CSA application running on this platform.

- The Voicemail System we are using is an Octel Sierra with 30000
mailboxes maximum capacity.

- The Data Module and the Sierra are connected via a DPN 100 packet
network from Northern Telecom.

Problem:

I run regular backups of the mailbox profiles in the Sierras with the
CSA application on the Data Module. Since several weeks, with one
Sierra there is a mismatch of numbers of mailboxes between the Sierra
and what the Data Module makes a backup from. The Sierra shows the
real number of mailboxes and the Data Module shows approximate 4500
less.

If you have any ideas how to solve this problem or where the problem
comes from please send me a e-mail.


Best regards,

Patrick Laschet (e-mail: [e-mail])

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #535
******************************










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Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1993 19:58:13 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #536

TELECOM Digest     Wed, 4 Aug 93 19:57:30 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 536

Inside This Issue:                       Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    PCPursuit Service Still Around? (Laird P. Broadfield)
    Shared Tenant Services? (Meg Arnold)
    Valid Card Declared Invalid? (Marshall Levin)
    Old Tariffs (Was: 1-800-COLLECT) (Paul Robinson)
    Push 1 to ... (Rupa Schomaker)
    Movie: In the Line of Fire (Jack Dominey)
    Tracking Incoming Calls (Karen Conyngham)
    Caller-ID Hardware (Clay Jackson)
    Solved: Local Carrier Blocking 10222 Direct Dial Intl. Calls (S. Lee)
    Security Features on Digital Cordless Phones (Mark Wilkins)
    Roam and $ave! (Larry Rachman)
    COCOT Sleaze Escalates One More Notch (Clive Dawson)
    AT&T is Testing 6 ghz Cellular in Boston (Dave Emery)
    Pay-Phone Wanted -- Where to Get? (Christopher Hudel)
    800 Alternatives and Billing (Bruce Albrecht)
    MCI Proof-Positive (Christopher Zguris)
    Foreign Switches Need Reprogramming, Too (Carl Moore)
    Scams Related to Miss. River Floods (Carl Moore)
    Easily Re-Routable 800 Service? (Greg Broiles)
    Looking For Equivalent to Comp.Dcom.Snail-Mail (Peter Rukavina)
    Topological Network Design Problems (Brian Borchers)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Laird P. Broadfield)
Subject: PCPursuit Service Still Around?
Date:  4 Aug 93 23:53:42 GMT


I need to put somebody in touch with the old PCPursuit service (or
something similar. He needs to establish a low width (1200 or 2400)
link from NY to L.A. that needs to be open all through business hours
five days a week.)

If anybody has contact info for them (if they're still around) or
alternative suggestions, lay 'em on me.


Thanks!

Laird P. Broadfield     [e-mail]  ...{ucsd, nosc}!crash!lairdb


[Moderator's Note: PC Pursuit is still around, and operated by Sprint
over in (I think) Reston, VA. Try 1-800-TELENET but I am not certain.
I do not think however PC Pursuit is designed for quite the application
your associate has in mind.  PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Meg Arnold)
Subject: Shared Tenant Services?
Date: 4 Aug 1993 18:36:22 GMT
Organization: SRI International


Hi All --

I am looking for information about the status of the shared tenant
services market, or sources of this information.  Seven to ten years
ago, this market was supposed to just take off with explosive growth,
and since then nothing spectacular has happened.  Does anyone know the
reasons for the performance failure of this market, its status today,
and future prospects?  Source material appreciated.


Thanks!

Meg Arnold   SRI International
333 Ravenswood Avenue
Menlo Park, CA  94025
415-859-3764  [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Marshall Levin)
Subject: Valid Card Declared Invalid?
Organization: University of Denver, Dept. of Math & Comp. Sci.
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 03:09:21 GMT


Just to test if it would work, from a payphone I dialed
10222-0-xxx-xxx-xxxx, waited for the "MCI bong" and then dialed my
card number.  It asked me to dial a valid card number (my card is
valid :)

Then I dialed 1-800-674-7000, waited for the tone, dialed my card
number, waited for the tone, dialed xxx-xxx-xxxx and it did work.
Obviously the card is valid -- why did this problem occur, and why
does the recrording declare a valid card invalid?


Thanks,


[Moderator's Note: Because cards other than AT&T or local telco have
to be dialed via their 950 or 1-800 gateway rather than through their
10xxx gateway. Stuff going through 10xxx is checked or validated by
the local telco I think. Did you try MCI's 800 or 950 number and get
the same results?   PAT]

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

Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1993 09:28:54 -0400 (EDT)
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Subject: Old Tariffs (Was: 1-800-COLLECT)
From: Paul Robinson <[e-mail]>
Organization: Tansin A. Darcos & Company, Silver Spring, MD USA


Dave Niebuhr <[e-mail]>, writes:

> The only really useful pieces of information were two glossy
> sheets that contained the AT&T Tariffs filed October 1, 1890.
                                                          ^^^^
> I wish that the printing was more legible so that I could
> translate it and possibly send it to the archives :-(.

I think the archives are the only place useful for 103-year-old tariff
schedules.  :)


Paul Robinson - [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Rupa Schomaker)
Subject: Push 1 to ...
Organization: NeoSoft Communications Services -- [phone]
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1993 14:03:51 GMT


I'm looking for a `voice mail' type system which would interface with
some sort of database.

The system would be used for members of a club to book the facilities.
The member would call in, enter a membership ID, and then traverse a
menu listing dates/times which are still available.  The member could
then reserve a time slot for usage of the facility.  Since the member
would be reserving time, the database of available time slots would
have to be updated after every call.

Is there a such a system which is commercially available that can do
this?  Ease of programming would be nice.


Thank you.

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

From: [e-mail] (jdominey )
Date: 4 Aug 93 13:35:41 GMT
Subject: Movie: In the Line of Fire


The new Clint Eastwood thriller, _In the Line of Fire_, is about a
Secret Service agent trying to thwart an assassin who plans to kill
the President.  The most dramatic non-action sequences are when the
assassin and agent are on the phone.  A necessary premise is that the
killer can call and talk for a while without being traced because he
can "fake the ANI".  This doesn't actually prevent the trace; it seems
to just slow it down.  There's no implication that telco is involved
in the trace; the Secret Service experts apparently do it all
themselves.

After reading this Digest for a couple of years, I'm kind of skeptical
of these ideas.  It would have made sense to me if the assassin had
been calling through 1-900-STOPPER (though it would have taken too
much explanation to the telecom-illiterate), but what do you other
readers think?  Is there reason to believe that any end-user device
could spoof ANI?  Could a government agency run a trace without telco
assistance? (Let's exclude speculations about the NSA, since we all
know they're magic and can do anything. ;-)


Jack Dominey AT&T Network Planning, Atlanta GA
[phone]  [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Karen Conyngham)
Subject: Tracking Incoming Calls
Organization: Motorola SPS, Austin, TX
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1993 15:03:57 GMT


Please respond directly to:  [e-mail]

   I work for a social service agency and we cannot answer all the
calls we receive.  As a result, even though we put many people on
hold, we still have a number of abandoned calls.  We can install a
1-800 line or an Automatic Call Director, but we do not feel that
either of these are palatable options.  We need a method of tracking
the number of calls to a particular number, versus the the number of
calls that get answered.  We do not want our legislators calling in to
an Automatic Call Director.

   If anyone out there knows of a system or method to perform this
tracking, or has any other thoughts on how to solve this problem,
please respond to: [e-mail].

   Thank you in advance!

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

From: [e-mail] (Clay Jackson)
Subject: Caller-ID Hardware
Date: 4 Aug 93 17:45:32 GMT


Well, we're finally getting Caller ID here in 206-land, and I'm
looking for the caller-id hardware to go with it.  Ideally, what I'd
like to find would be a box that I can hang off a serial port on a PC
that would read the caller-id from the incoming call, hand it to the
serial port, and receive back a "disposition" code (ring now, pass to
voicemail/ answering machine/hang up/time out). Knowing that I
probably won't find such a beast, what ARE my options?

Thanks in advance -- if folks want to email me, I'll summarize and
repost responses.


Clay Jackson - N7QNM   uunet!uswnvg!cjackso

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

From: Seng-Poh Lee <[e-mail]>
Subject: Solved: Local Carrier Blocking 10222 Direct Dial Intl Calls
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1993 14:20:13 -0400 (EDT)


Seng-Poh Lee, Speedy ([e-mail]) wrote:

> Although AT&T is my dial 1 carrier, I subscribe to MCI's Friends Around
> The World Plan (FATW). So, when I direct dial international calls, I use

> 10222-011-country code-area code-number

> Recently, when I tried to make a call, after dialing the number, I got
> a 'bong', followed by 'MCI', after which the operator came on. I said

Well, for those who are interested, the problem is finally solved.
After three trouble tickets, three customer service reps, two
supervisors, and some accounts specialist.  And it was not my LEC's
fault, but MCI.

Turns out that someone at MCI had accidentally programmed my
number/account for call accounting.  I guess MCI has this program for
managing call accounting off a single phone number. Each user uses a
two digit account code which they enter AFTER dialing the called
number. Without this number, the system doesn't know which account to
charge to, and defaults to a calling card/operator assisted call.

Apparently, someone had a line on this yesterday, and was told that it
should have been fixed. However, this morning, when he called me, I
tried it again (three way, with him on the line), and it STILL didn't
work.  How embarrasing. But this afternoon, I received a call from
someone who works in that call accounting area, and she wanted me to
try it again, but to try dialing in an extra two digits. I guess this
was her way of checking whether my number had that feature (?)
enabled. As it turned out, it now worked without those digits. The fix
was implemented yesterday, but it took until this afternoon for it to
be propagated/downloaded to the entire network.

So, like most people here realize, you CAN talk to people who know
what they are doing, but its tough to get to them. The number of times
I've had to say "Yes, I DID dial 011" or "Yes, my phone does send out
DTMF 1 correctly"!


Seng-Poh Lee    <[e-mail]>

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

From: Mark Wilkins <[e-mail]>
Subject: Security Features on Digital Cordless Phones
Organization: Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA 91711
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1993 16:39:19 GMT


  Last night I purchased a VTech Tropez 900DL 900 MHz digital cordless
phone, and the manual went on at length about the fact that the phone
encrypts transmitted data.


  Apparently the key is 16 bits and is changed pseudo-randomly every
time the handset is replaced in the base unit.  My question is whether
anyone has any ideas or maybe entertaining speculation about how the
digitized voice data is encrypted?

  By the way, these 900 MHz digital phones are absolutely wonderful in
terms of clarity and range ... the sound quality is good, not
outstanding, but it doesn't change when you reorient the antenna or
walk into another room.


Mark Wilkins    SRI International

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

Date: 04 Aug 93 14:37:03 EDT
From: Larry Rachman <[e-mail]>
Subject: Roam and $ave!


Not too long ago our local Cellular service provider decided that
light usage customer should have a minumum usage charge of 15 minutes
added to their bills, whether they use it or not. That pushes my bill
up to about $35 per month before I make a call. About half my light
usage is roaming, which (of course) doesn't count as part of the 15
minutes.

This got me thinking. Why not get my service from someone other than
the local provider? Since 99% of my calls are outgoing, I wouldn't
miss having a local number, and my gut feeling is that the roamer
service charge versus the potential savings of using another carrier
would be at worst a wash.  Once I get some rate information, I can
look at my last few bills and decide for sure.

I'm looking for two things from the comp.dcom.telecom crowd:

First, what do you think of the idea? Will the service provider get
antsy when it notices that I'm *always* roaming? Any logistical
problems in getting the number/billing set up (I know the recipe for
reprogramming my phone, but I suspect they won't casually assign the
number to me.)

Second, who should I go to for service? If your carrier seems to offer
a decent 'light usage' plan, could you please email me the particulars
(ie.  base rate, and peak + off-peak rates. I could also use a phone
number for customer service, and the full name and location for the
company.


Thanks,

Larry Rachman, WA2BUX    [e-mail]

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

Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 14:26:04 CDT
From: Clive Dawson <[e-mail]>
Subject: COCOT Sleaze Escalates One More Notch


Every time I think I've heard all the possible tricks COCOT operators
use to prevent you from using your preferred LD service, up comes
another one.  This latest incident happened a few days ago at a Mr.
Gatti's Pizza restaurant in Austin, Texas.  The COCOT was labled as
being run by Austin PayFones, using USLD (U.S. Long Distance).

I dialed 10-288-0-nnn-xxx-xxxx.  Then I heard something like: "Save
half the price of your call by using coins! Hang up now and dial 1
plus!".  Then the phone went "dead", i.e. no hint of background hiss.
I had never heard anything like this before, and my first reaction was
to start looking at the phone label to get the complaint number.
Almost TEN seconds went by.  I was about to hang up Then I heard a
faint hiss, followed by "BOING ... AT&T!".

I suppose the regulation simply states that COCOTs have to give you
access to your LD carrier, but doesn't limit how long they can make
you wait for it, or whether they can try to make you change your mind
while you wait.  Amazing ...


Clive Dawson   MCC   Austin, TX


[Moderator's Note: What is the big deal about waiting ten seconds? The
phone had to draw dialtone, dial your number, and then wait for AT&T
to answer. Ten seconds (less the time spent dialing) is only about two
rings. I agree, I've never heard of them making an advertising spiel
in the middle of it though. PAT]

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

Subject: AT&T is Testing 6 ghz Cellular in Boston
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 16:36:30 EDT
From: jjmhome!pig![e-mail] (Dave Emery)


    AT&T apparently has a 6 ghz cellular personal communications
system under test in the Boston metropolitan area.  About a year ago
they put up a strange new tower along route 128 on Bear Hill in
Waltham Mass, at a former TD-2 4 ghz microwave site once used as a
video spur route for relaying the broadcast TV networks into Boston;
the site is located on a hill that overlooks much of the Boston
skyline and the western suburbs of Boston.  Today I was able to find
out that the tower, and a similar one in Boston itself, are being used
as part of an alpha test of a 6 ghz hand held personal communications
system by Bell Labs.

    The 300 foot tall tower has a platform at the top with 9
rectangular antennas arranged in a semicircle to provide 180 degree
coverage pointed in an arc facing east toward Boston and route 128 to
the north and south.  Each antenna seems to be intended to serve about
20 degrees of azimuth, and seems to be pointed downward at about -10
degrees or so elevation.  Each of the antennas is fed with 6 ghz
circular waveguide with an apparent transition to rectangular guides
at the base of the tower.  The antennas themselves appear to be about
4 feet wide by perhaps 12 feet tall and to consist of a thin slice of
a parabola oriented in the vertical plane with a multihorn feed in
front.  This would suggest a fairly broad pattern in azimuth (perhaps
as much as 20 degrees) with an electronically steered beam in
elevation.

    The tower has a single 10 foot dish pointed at the horizon
north toward the North Andover Bell Labs (one of the primary Bell Labs
microwave equipment development facilities) test facility about 20
miles to the north of Bear Hill.  And while the west facing 4 ghz
dishes have been removed, the 4 ghz dishes facing east toward Boston
have not, suggesting that the 4 ghz link may be in use to connect to
the Boston 6 ghz site.

    I am told that the tower is being used to communicate with
hand held transceivers (cellphones) at 6 ghz and that each antenna is
supported by one "transmitter".  This would imply some sort of spot
beam TDMA system with each transciever getting bursts at its elevation
and 20 degree azimuth slot.

    Apparently the system is in use by lab staffers and works well
enough to be tested more extensively.  I was not able to find out if
the 6 ghz signals penatrated buildings at all or how the multipath
issues have been dealt with or what exactly the bit rate or other
modulation characterstics are.  But it does appear that AT&T 6 ghz PCS
systems are real enough for such a test bed to be built.

    It will certainly be interesting to look at what is coming out
of the antennas on a spectrum analyzer.



          David I.  Emery - N1PRE - Lexington Mass.
    Former senior technical consultant (and currently hopeless unemployed bum)
Internet: jjmhome!pig![e-mail] (preferred) or [e-mail]
UUCP:     ...uunet!stratus.com!jjmhome!pig!die    Phone + fax: 1+(617)-863-9986

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

From: Christopher Hudel <[e-mail]>
Subject: Pay-Phone Wanted -- Where to Get?
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1993 16:08:37 -0500 (EDT)


I'd like to put one of those old (or not so old) pay-phones in my
apartment as a "novelty" item and wonder if anybody knows where I can
pick one up and approximately how much I should expect to pay.

I'm aware of pay-phones available from "Hello Direct" etc ... but
these all seem to be "hotel" pay-phones and not the big, old, clunky
pay-phone boxes that I really want. ;-)


Thanks!

Christopher Hudel   [e-mail]

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

Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 09:58:29 CST
From: [e-mail] (Bruce Albrecht)
Subject: 800 Alternatives and Billing


Back in my youth, some friends of mine somehow discovered that a 800
number for our school's timesharing system could be dialed as a local
call with some prefix and the last four digits of the 800 number.  We
found it amusing, and would occasionally dial the local number.  Do
modern phone systems still tie a local phone number with the 800, or
is that now done special so that it is not possible to call the 800
number without going through LD?  Also, when we called the local
number, was anything billed back to the 800 user?


[e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: When you did that, the 800 user got billed for the
call and you got billed as well (or made a 'free local call' but still
caused the 800 number to get charged.  Now days, many 800 numbers
are just set to ring a regular seven digit number, but there are still
a few cases around where the 800 number is on a dedicated pair to the
customer premises in which case many of them are dialable if you know
the number assigned for the purpose.   PAT]

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

Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 00:27 GMT
From: Christopher Zguris <[e-mail]>
Subject: MCI Proof-Positive


  I spoke to an MCI rep today who said their PROOF POSITVE program was
in effect. Didn't I read in a recent message that MCI has been trying
and failing to make PROOF POSITIVE available?


Christopher Zguris   [e-mail]

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

Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 15:59:25 EDT
From: Carl Moore <[e-mail]>
Subject: Foreign Switches Need Reprogramming, Too


To repeat in this Digest, given the coming of NNX area codes in 1995:
foreign switches, not just domestic ones, have to be programmed to
accept new area codes.  Foreign switches do "know" about country code
1, but according to this Digest, they also have to know the area codes
within it, because they have to start making routing decisions at
their end.

In an analogous situation, some foreign post offices start breaking
down mail intended for the U.S.  Back in 1980, I worked in the postal
service and noticed a Dutch slip saying "Delaware", meaning the state,
and accompanying it was a letter going to Delaware, Ohio.  So that
letter had to be sent from (state of) Delaware through Columbus, Ohio.

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

Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 18:33:28 EDT
From: Carl Moore <[e-mail]>
Subject: Scams Related to Miss. River Floods


This just in from KYW news-radio in Philadelphia:

There are some scam artists around who are trying to solicit
contributions for the flood victims.  There have requested credit-card
numbers and/or offered to send a courier to pick up contributions.
People who receive such solicitation are advised to call their local
prosecutor.  (KYW did not say this, but I heard -- unrelated to these
floods -- that you should not give out your credit card number in a
call you did not originate.)

I guess someone is to say something about scams involving the victims
themselves?

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

Subject: Easily Re-Routable 800 Service?
From: [e-mail] (Greg Broiles)
Date: Wed, 04 Aug 93 16:24:44 PDT
Organization: iDeath / Golden Bear Consulting


Greetings. I am looking for a vendor who offers inbound 800 service
that can be easily (via touch-tone, for example) routed to different
terminating numbers by the end user (e.g., me.)  I realize that
most/all 800 numbers can be re-routed; but the folks that I've talked
to (AT&T, Sprint, MCI, and Pat) all want me to call and talk to a
human before changing the destination phone number, which makes me
think that it'd be a hassle if I wanted to do it with any frequency or
at peculiar times (nights, weekends, whatever.)

Is anyone familiar with a service like this?


Greg Broiles                            [e-mail]
Golden Bear Computer Consulting         [phone]
Box 12005 Eugene OR 97440               BBS: [phone]


[Moderator's Note: So far as I know, Cable and Wireless is the only
provider of 800 numbers *for small time users* who offers remote
call forwarding capability. If you are talking BIG $$ traffic, then
AT&T has ways to route 800 numbers by time of day, day of week, etc.
For casual use, switching it around where you want to go when you want
to go, C&W is probably your best choice -- maybe the only one.  PAT]

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

Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 11:34:33 -0300
From: [e-mail] (Peter Rukavina)
Subject: Looking For Equivalent to Comp.Dcom.Snail-Mail


I am looking for information/conversation in the style of
comp.dcom.telecom but related to the world of 'snail mail' -- postal
systems of the world, inter-country mail protocols, postal rates, etc.
Not interested in stamp collecting or other related hobbies.  Does
such a newsgroup/mailing list/info server exist somewhere on the net?


Thanks,

Peter Rukavina -- [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Brian Borchers)
Subject: Topological Network Design Problems
Organization: New Mexico Tech
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1993 18:04:58 GMT


A student here is interested in research on algorithms for topological
network design problems.  He's looking for sample network design
problems, especially problems that may have been solved by other
researchers.  We'd also be interested in technical reports,
bibliographies, etc. that might be available on the net.


Brian Borchers   [e-mail]
Department of Mathematics  505-835-5813
New Mexico Tech   Socorro, NM 87801

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #536
******************************










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From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #537

TELECOM Digest     Wed, 4 Aug 93 20:54:00 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 537

Inside This Issue:                       Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Telecommunications - How Many Features... (John Anderson)
    French ISDN Report Now Available (Jean-Bernard Condat)
    How Does One Get Tariffs on the Cheap? (Cam Elliott)
    Central Office Tours? (Scott McClure)
    Experiences With Phone Companies (Shishir Kumar Khetan)
    How is Hangup Detected? (Dan Reiner)
    How to Change Pager Alert Sound? (Dan Reiner)
    Telecommunications Seminars (Randy Gellens)
    6 ghz Cellular is Under Test in Boston (David Emery via Danny Burstein)
    Modem/Data Tax - Technically Possible (Danny Burstein)
    Hunting and Anonymous Call Rejection ([e-mail])
    T1 Test Equipment For Delay (Claire E. Yates)
    OSI Stack Question (Yu Shen)
    ETSI Address Needed (Steve Elias)
    Need a Telecom Mentor (Mark Edwards)
    Cordless Headset Telephone (Greg Economides)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 15:58:32 CDT
From: [e-mail] (John Anderson)
Subject: Telecommunications - How Many Features ...


August's {IEEE Computer Magazine} is entitled " Telecommunications -
How Many Features Can You Add ?".

It's dedicated to the feature interaction problem found in switches.
The addition of new features take a long time because new/existing
features often interact in ways not originally thought of by
designers.

For those of you that haven't had the fortune (misfortune :-) of
working on switching software (or any large embedded systems for that
matter), this may provide some insight into the complex nature of
software development for switches.

It may also add some insight into the "When Will General Computing
Conquer Telecom Switching?" debate.


Enjoy,

John

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

From: [e-mail] (Jean-Bernard Condat)
Date: Wed,  4 Aug 1993 17:45:11 GMT
Subject: French ISDN Report Now Available


     The 1993 edition of France Telecom's "Repertoire Numeris" is
now available.  This is a complete report on the status of ISDN
in France, including services being offered, tariffs, suppliers,
and applications.  Although in France, it is easily understood by
anyone with a little knowledge of French and ISDN :-)

     Price is FF 390.

     For further information and for copies, contact France Telecom
Expertel, CMK/MVP, "Repertoire Numeris," 251 rue des Jeuneurs,
75002 Paris, France. Fax: [phone].


                         Jean-Bernard Condat
                          General Secretary
     Chaos Computer Club France, B.P. 155, 93404 St-Ouen Cedex, France
          Private Address: P.O. 8005, 69351 Lyon Cedex 08, France
               Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
         InterNet:  [e-mail]   or  [e-mail]

***For a free subscription to _Chaos Digest_, send a message to:
   [e-mail]
   with a mail header or first line containing the following information:
   X-Mn-Admin: join CHAOS_DIGEST
   and you will put freely on the ChaosD mailing list. Don't hesitate!  **

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

From: [e-mail] (Cam Elliott)
Subject: How Does One Get Tariffs on the Cheap?
Organization: Claircom Communications, L.P.
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1993 18:45:22 GMT


I am interested in researching all the data networking options
available from my RBOC and I was wondering if there is a way to find
all the tariffs cheaply.


Thanks,

[e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: The tariffs go on and on for page after page ... I
don't think you really want *all* the tariffs ... but even if you do,
getting them cheap will still cost a bundle because there are so many
of them.   PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Scott McClure)
Subject: Central Office Tours?
Organization: NIX - The Network Information eXchange
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1993 18:54:54 GMT


Hi all,

    I called PacBell today to see if they still gave tours of
CO's.  After bouncing around several different offices, the response
was "oh, we don't give tours anymore."

    When did this start (or stop, in this case)?  Is this normal
for telcos these days, just PacBell, or just PacBell here in San Diego?


Scott

INTERNET:  [e-mail]   Non-MX:  ryptyde![e-mail]
UUCP: {crash, nosc}!ryptyde!scott

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

From: [e-mail] (Shishir Kumar Khetan)
Subject: Experiences With Phone Companies
Date: 4 Aug 1993 18:01:30 GMT
Organization: University of Maryland College Park


Hi, my name is Shishir Khetan and I am doing a research project for
school on telecommunications, more specifically, on comparing various
phone companies I will be looking at their rates as well as problems
and conveniences both international and nationally.  If you could mail
me your experiences, I would really appreciate it!  My address is
[e-mail]

Thank in advance!!

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

From: [e-mail] (Dan Reiner)
Subject: How is Hangup Detected?
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1993 14:13:08 GMT


How do devices like answering machines detect a caller's hang-up?
Aside from curiosity, I'm asking because my Panasonic answerer
recently stopped disconnecting promptly when the caller hung up, and
now it waits for VOX time-out before it resets.

I don't want to waste bandwidth with clues to my specific problem, but
a general explanation of the signalling or sensing process might be
enlightening to many readers here.


Thanks,

Dan

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

From: [e-mail] (Dan Reiner)
Subject: How to Change Pager Alert Sound?
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1993 14:11:56 GMT


My Motorola Bravo-plus pager signals an incoming page with a loud,
annoying "short-long, short-long" beep.  Other same-make/model pagers,
from a different paging service, signal a page with the brief
double-beep that mine makes on power-up.

I own my pager.  Can I change its beep style by moving a jumper or
something like that?  Or is this in firmware?  The paging service
declines to get involved.  Any do-it-yourself info would be
appreciated.

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

From: [e-mail]
Date: 04 AUG 93 17:22
Subject: Telecommunications Seminars


This was posted in an internal news group:

SEMINARS OPEN FOR REGISTRATION ... The Unisys International Management
Centre (UIMC Saint-Paul, France) is accepting registrations for two
executive seminars.  "Telecommunications -- Operational Needs and the
Role of IT Suppliers in the Late 90s" is a Unisys ... seminar
scheduled for September 8-10, 1993.  The seminar is targeted at senior
management from telecommunications operating companies.  [Invitations
are available from Unisys representatives.]

The seminar will address trends, such as the requirement for new
marketing and customer servicing systems; and network managers seeking
tailor-made network solutions.  The seminar will also seek to provide
answers to questions such as:

* Will the telecommunications operators seek to buy in from a single
  prime contractor?
* Is the era of the large in-house army of systems designers and coders
  over?
* Is the role of the Systems Integrator/Prime Contractor going to be
  the future role for the traditional information technology vendors?
* How will emergent pan-European consortia Telcos formed out of
  alliances tackle this new era of information technology supply?

"Geographical Information Systems in Action" is a Unisys GIS seminar
to be held September 27 through 29 at the UIMC.  Considerable
experience now exists in Europe and elsewhere of planning, acquiring
and implementing, managing and using GIS technology.  This seminar
brings together speakers from across Europe who have been actively
involved in some of these projects.  The speakers will describe the
plans which they had and the current status of their projects.  The
seminar is aimed at executives from those organizations where GIS
technology is a future plan and who wish to benefit from the
experiences of those who have preceded them in the adoption of GIS.

Detailed information about the programs are available [by contacting
Unisys].

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

From: [e-mail] (danny burstein)
Subject: 6 ghz Cellular is Under Test in Boston
Date: 4 Aug 1993 00:42:39 -0400
Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and Unix, NYC


[Moderator's Note: Danny passed this along from other newsgroups where
it appeared recently, as written by David Emery.   PAT]

    AT&T apparently has a 6 ghz cellular personal communications
system under test in the Boston metropolitan area.  About a year ago
they put up a strange new tower along route 128 on Bear Hill in
Waltham Mass, at a former TD-2 4 ghz microwave site once used as a
video spur route for relaying the broadcast TV networks into Boston;
the site is located on a hill that overlooks much of the Boston
skyline and the western suburbs of Boston.  Today I was able to find
out that the tower, and a similar one in Boston itself, are being used
as part of an alpha test of a 6 ghz hand held personal communications
system by Bell Labs.  Boston is apparently the first site in the
country in which this system is being tested.

    The 300 foot tall tower has a platform at the top with 9
rectangular antennas arranged in a semicircle to provide 180 degree
coverage pointed in an arc facing east toward Boston and route 128 to
the north and south.  Each antenna seems to be intended to serve about
20 degrees of azimuth, and seems to be pointed downward at about -10
degrees or so elevation.  Each of the antennas is fed with 6 ghz
circular waveguide with an apparent transition to rectangular guides
at the base of the tower.  The antennas themselves appear to be about
4 feet wide by perhaps 12 feet tall and to consist of a thin slice of
a parabola oriented in the vertical plane with a multihorn feed in
front.  This would suggest a fairly broad pattern in azimuth (perhaps
as much as 20 degrees) with an electronically steered beam in
elevation.

    The tower has a single 10 foot dish pointed at the horizon
north toward the North Andover Bell Labs (one of the primary Bell Labs
microwave equipment development facilities) test facility about 20
miles to the north of Bear Hill.  And while the west facing 4 ghz
dishes have been removed, the 4 ghz dishes facing east toward Boston
have not, suggesting that the 4 ghz link may be in use to connect to
the Boston 6 ghz site.

    I am told that the tower is being used to communicate with
hand held transceivers (cellphones) at 6 ghz and that each antenna is
supported by one "transmitter".  This would imply some sort of spot
beam TDMA system with each transciever getting bursts at its elevation
and 20 degree azimuth slot.

    Apparently the system is in use by lab staffers and works well
enough to be tested more extensively.  I was not able to find out if
the 6 ghz signals penatrated buildings at all or how the multipath
issues have been dealt with or what exactly the bit rate or other
modulation characterstics are.  But it does appear that AT&T 6 ghz PCS
systems are real enough for such a test bed to be built.

    It will certainly be interesting to look at what is coming out
of the antennas on a spectrum analyzer.  And looking in time domain
mode may also be interesting as it should be possible to see the beam
step from transceiver to transceiver.


David I.  Emery - N1PRE - Lexington Mass.
Former senior technical consultant (and currently hopeless unemployed bum)
Internet: jjmhome!pig![e-mail] (preferred) or [e-mail]
UUCP:  ...uunet!stratus.com!jjmhome!pig!die    Phone + fax: 1+(617)-863-9986

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

From: [e-mail] (danny burstein)
Subject: Modem/Data Tax - Technically Possible
Date: 4 Aug 1993 00:54:02 -0400
Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and Unix, NYC


Every so often we see stories about proposals for extra taxes and fees
for sending fax/modem data over "voice" phone lines.

Just as a side note: Technically, it -is- possible for the telcos (at
least the IXCs, and probaly the LECs as well) to differentiate between
voice and data calls.

And yes, they do it. How do I know? Our company has an MCI account (don't
know the specific name) which groups together lots of different location
phone lines.  WHen we get the bill each month, each call is coded with
things like "dfx" or "ifx", standing for domestic fax call and
international fax call. (Afraid I don't remember the coding for voice)

So yes, they can, and do, make the distinction.


Take care,

[e-mail]

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

Subject: Hunting and Anonymous Call Rejection
From: [e-mail] (Kai)
Date: Wed, 04 Aug 93 17:07:53 EDT
Organization: [Phantom Access] / the MindVox system


Dear readers of the Telecom Digest,

I have a problem with the combination of anonymous call rejection and
hunting (rollover) on my phone service.

I have discussed the problem with a repair supervisor of C&P in
northern VA already, after the 'front-desk' (611 repairs) didn't have
any clue what 'anonymous call rejection' is, but I am left unsure
whether the whole problem is of a sensible technical nature or rather
a we-want-more-revenue thing.

My phone service consists of two lines:
Line 1 : modem/fax use mostly, no caller id
Line 2 : voice ,caller id, anonymous call rejection feature available
Both lines are on the same NT DMS100 switch.
Both lines have hunting (rollover) to each other.

Problem description:

Whenever someone calls me on line 1 (which is assumed to be busy) ,he
gets transferred to line 2 (if not busy), and that person's number is
shown on my caller id (or it shows 'private', when he has number
blocking on), even though I don't have caller id on (the originally
dialed) line 1 .  Now, when I put anonymous call rejection on line 2,
the whole rollover seems not to work properly. Whoever calls line 1
with his number NOT blocked (e.g. = normal) gets through to line 2
(assuming it's not busy), BUT: when that person has his number blocked
(*67, almost everywhere), he gets a busy signal when dialing line 1
even when line 2 is NOT USED.

The way the repair supervisor explained it to me was: because I don't
have that service (anonymous call rejection) on line 1, the caller
gets a busy.  He wouldn't if I add anonymous call rejection to line 1,
then he'd get the recording that this number won't take blocked calls.
(you have to PAY to have anonymous call rejection for a line that
doesn't have caller id, which I didn't want to do.)

What I understood was: the switch finds line 1 busy, hunts to line 2,
finds that one 'not available, because the CND is blocked', but
instead of giving the recording 'no blocked calls', it assumes 'both
lines not available -> give busy signal.

Could someone shed some light on what is happening here? What if
there is an 'out of area' call coming in on line 1, will it hunt
through to line 2?  (I assume yes.)

Why isn't the bahaviour of the switch software like this:

1.) Anonymous call comes in on line 1, hunts through to line 2, line 2
has anonymous call rejection and gives the caller the 'no blocked
numbers' recording OR:

2.) The call is hunting through to line 2, and shows the 'private'
flag on the caller id.

Behavior 1 would be the most logical (I assumed it,before finding out),
while behaviour 2 is the most convenient/customer/caller-friendly.

The supervisor mentioned some "state regulations" about "if you don't
have that service (anonymous call rejection) on line 1, and you won't
get around it by having it hunt to another line, where the service is
in place" which sounds like total crap to me, as they always pass
through the CND information from line 1 to line 2, even if I don't have
caller id on line 1. (Or are they giving me something for free????)

Please answer in the Digest, because I assume a broad interest,and cc:
it to me via email, as my daily 'volume' is so high, I am not getting
to read it all.


Bye,

Kai


[Moderator's Note: Why in the world would you have your service
configured the way you do with the line most likely to receive calls
(line one) NOT equipped for the features you deem desirable?  Why do
you have your modem and fax calls on line one where they can roll over
to (no equipment in place) on line two instead of the other way
around? Here in IBT territory it appears that in the CO the decision
to screen calls is made *ahead* of the decision to hunt to an idle
line in a hunt group.  If you are only willing to pay for one caller
id equipped line with anonymous call rejection, then let it be the
first one since the blocking feature will do its work before the CO
passes the call to your second line. You will get the benefit of call
screening/blocking on both lines that way. Of course if the caller
dials direct to your second line then this won't work, but if you
direct all voice calls to your first line, allowing overflows to reach
line two *without actually giving out that number to anyone* and you
have your modem/fax deliberatly dialed via line two, you should find
things to work okay. You'll catch all your voice calls via blocking
and screening, etc.   PAT]

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

From: telenet![e-mail]
Subject: T1 Test Equipment For Delay
Date: 4 Aug 93 17:00:03 GMT


I'm looking for some test equipment that could simulate propogation
delays on T1 lines.  (Actually, I'm interested in T1 for now, but T3
in the near future).  Basically I guess I'd like a box that could
store data for a configurable period of time (msec-second range) and
then retransmit it as though it had just suffered a long propagation
delay.  I think I may have heard of such a thing (it doesn't seem like
it would be that hard to do, memory is cheap).  Is anyone familiar
with such a product?  Email me direct or respond to the newsgroup.
I'll summarize e-mail responses here if I get any responses, and if
anyone is interested.


Thanks,

Claire E. Yates
Alcatel Data Networks  aries![e-mail] (sun)
Reston, VA             uunet!sprintintl.sprint.com!claire.e.yates (smail)
[phone]         telenet![e-mail] (from sprintnet)

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

From: [e-mail] (Yu Shen)
Subject: OSI Stack Questions
Organization: Universite de Montreal -- Laboratoire Incognito
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1993 22:47:32 GMT


I would like to know if there is any product available of OSI stack
for various layers:

layer 7: X.217, X.227 ACSE
layer 6: X.216, X.226
layer 5: X.215, X.225
layer 4: CLNS
lyaer 3: CLNP
layer 2: LAPD

Thank you for your help,

Yu Shen

Dept. d'Informatique et Recherche Operationnelle
University de Montreal, C.P. 6128 Succ. A.
Montreal, Que. Canada, H3C 3J7

[phone] (H) [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail]
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Subject: ETSI Address Needed
Date: 4 Aug 93 17:41:05 +0100
Organization: Institute of Automation and Communication


Hi,

Do you know if ETSI - European Telecommunication Standart Institute is
on Internet ?


Thanks,

[e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] ([e-mail])
Subject: Need a Telecom Mentor
Date: 4 Aug 1993 20:38:35 -0400
Organization: General Videotex Corporation


I have been a computer and telecomm nut for over 15 years, and am
presently working on an Information Systems degree at the University
of Texas at Arlington. I hope to specialize in telecommunications, but
don't know where to start to work on my "informal" education in
telecomm (so I'll be educated in the areas that school misses).

I have some understanding of the OSI model and very little of TCP/IP.
Anybody care to point me in the right direction(s) so I can pursue
what I love the most? Uh, make that the second most favorite <grin>.


[e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Greg Economides)
Subject: Cordless Headset Telephone
Date: 4 Aug 1993 20:43:18 GMT
Organization: Center for Biosystems Modelling, Texas A&M University


A few months ago I received a catalog from _some_ company which was
filled with various kinds of telephones and telephone accessories.
There was some pretty cool stuff in it.  Well, I tossed the catalog,
figuring that I had all that I needed and wanted of this kind of
stuff.

One of the items in the catalog was a headset telephone with a
wireless link between the base unit (which physically connects to the
phone line) and the headset.  I, now, find myself needing to buy one
of these ... oops.

Does anyone know where to find a cordless headset telephone? or what
company it might have been (who specializes in phones) that sent me
that catalog?  All of my attempts to find a phone like this locally
have come up with nil.  I'd appreciate any help you folks have to
offer.


Peace,

Greg Economides,   Systems Administrator, Center for Biosystems Modelling
Texas A&M University  WERC 214-O  Internet: [e-mail], Phone:[phone]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #537
******************************










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From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #538

TELECOM Digest     Wed, 4 Aug 93 21:52:45 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 538

Inside This Issue:                       Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Is This Legal? (Atri Indiresan)
    Re: Is This Legal? (Gang Zhou)
    Re: Is This Legal? (Alan Boritz)
    Re: Who/What Determines Caller-ID? (Carl Oppedahl)
    Re: Who/What Determines Caller-ID? (Tim Gorman)
    Re: Princess Phone Keychains From 60's (David Breneman)
    Re: Princess Phone Keychains From 60's (Steven H. Lichter)
    Re: Psychological Effect of "Busy" Signal (Ethan Miller)
    Re: Psychological Effect of "Busy" Signal (Craig Nordin)
    Re: Psychological Effect of "Busy" Signal (John J. Butz)
    Re: Psychological Effect of "Busy" Signal (Gary W. Sanders)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Atri Indiresan)
Subject: Re: Is This Legal?
Date: 4 Aug 93 13:12:37
Organization: University of Michigan


In article <[e-mail]> Bonnie J Johnson
<[e-mail]> writes:

> Most higher education institutions (at least in our case in 1985)
> break away from the local operating company and "do it ourselves"
> because we can run our own phone company's at a lower rate, save money
> (funds to be used for upgrades to telecommunications and newer
> technologies) and pass some savings on to our customers, i.e.,
> Faculty, Staff and Students.

The U. of Michigan Telecom (UMTEL) has operated all campus phones
since 1984 (offices, dorms, family housing). This is part of the lease
conditions for university housing. They buy long distance calling in
bulk from the major carriers at a discount, and pass on some of the
savings to the users. The service is reasonably good, with 24 hour
operator assistance, voice mail, call waiting etc.

Advantages:

1. Monthly line rates are marginally lower than Michigan Bell.

2. All calls are discounted. About 18% for US and Canada, and about
   10% for other international destinations. This saves money for
   anyone who makes daytime calls.

3. We are not liable for some taxes -- saves about 3%, I think.

4. It is very profitable for the university. I believe UMTEL
   contributes a few million dollars to the university general fund.

Disadvantages:

1. We are not allowed to choose our long distance carrier - neither as
   a dial-1 or through the 10-ATT etc. access codes. We can get to other
   carriers only using calling cards.

2. This means that we cannot sign up for any calling plans. The
   discounts are based on the normal rates for the long distance
   carriers, and plan calling rates (like Reach Out World, Primetime plan
   etc.) can be much lower than the normal rates - in some cases, 30-50%
   lower. For the calls I make, I find UMTEL anywhere between 20-100%
   more expensive than calling plans from AT&T, MCI or Sprint. To be fair
   to UMTEL, the provide discounts to all countries, not just the 40-50
   typically covered by the calling plans of major carriers. Not much
   comfort to me since all major carriers cover the countries I call ...

3. Night time calls within the US tends to cost a little more than
   calling plans.

> Also if he is worried about his International carrier being changed
> TELL HIM TO REMEMBER EQUAL ACCESS!!  Schools are now considered
> aggregators and MUST provide access to all the major carriers.  He can
> shop around for the lowest rate if he likes and then call the campus
> telecomm office to determine the dialing plan to get his carrier of
> choice.  Equal access is the law -- no way to get around this one.

Interesting. Could you give me a specific reference for the equal
access regulation? As I understand it, UMTEL operates as a private
exchange and is regulated by the UM Board of Regents. Since UMTEL
provides residential service, can they be regulated by the FCC or any
other external agency?

Clearly, from my description above (and that of someone from Michigan
State), we have no equal access. I have been negotiating with UMTEL
for over 6 months now to get access to the major carriers, but have
been stymied by replies about the technical problems in accounting,
sending caller information to the carriers.  This will involve a
software upgrade that they are at present unwilling to pay for since
(a) it will cost the money (b) they will lose business and (c) (they
say) they are liable for any unpaid bills for calls made from within
the U. system, even if the caller bypassed the U. system by dialing
10-code (is this true?).

As you can see, I have a bunch of questions here. I'd be grateful for
any help.


Atri

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

From: [e-mail] (Gang Zhou)
Subject: Re: Is This Legal?
Dat4: 2 Aug 1993 10:34:55 -0700
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA


In article <[e-mail]> Bonnie J Johnson
<[e-mail]> writes:

> but I would imagine Gang's monthly line charge will be the same or
> LESS than what he paid thru Pac Bell.  Also if he is worried about
> his International carrier being changed TELL HIM TO REMEMBER EQUAL
> ACCESS!!  Schools are now considered aggregators and MUST provide
> access to all the major carriers.  He can shop around for the lowest
> rate if he likes and then call the campus telecomm office to determine
> the dialing plan to get his carrier of choice.  Equal access is the
                                                 ^^^^^^^^^^^^
> law -- no way to get around this one.

The problem is: USC does NOT offer any equal access. They give our
long distance business away to a private for-profit company -- Student
Telephone Service in Phoenix which has a USC local phone number. We
even mistakenly believed this company to be a USC office, didn't know
it's in Phoenix.

The only choises for us are:

1) We sign up with this company and are charged with outrageous rates. Or

2) We use a calling card of MCI, AT&T or whatever. The only equal
access are the calling cards which charge a service surcharge.

I never believed that this is possible after the break down of the
AT&T monopoly.


Thanks,

Gang

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

Date: 04 Aug 93 20:56:33 EDT
From: Alan Boritz <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Is This Legal?


[e-mail] (Gang Zhou) writes:

> [Moderator's Note: Whenever the landlord makes substantial changes in
> the accomodations offered, or arranges things in such a way that the
> tenant winds up paying much more than before, the landlord is in viol-
> ation of the lease.

No, Pat, that's not the way it works every time.  In order to break a
lease in the way you've suggested you'd first have to make a case for
breach of the covenant of peaceful enjoyment (a common law provision
in everyone's leases, whether explicitly stated or not).  The writer
would first have to sue the landlord to break the lease.

But I'm also sure you're aware that when a university decides to set
up shop as an aggregator and (possibly) a telephone service reseller
that they must first have in place a tariff, among other various and
sundry legal requirements (like tax authority and tax collection
mechanisms, etc.).  If USC wants to force the writer to give up
regulated telephone service in order to take USC's telephone service,
I'm sure that USC wouldn't mind the writer requesting a copy of their
latest tariff, and certificate of authority, from their state utility
regulatory commission. ;)


Alan Boritz     [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Carl Oppedahl)
Subject: Re: Who/What Determines Caller-ID?
Date: 4 Aug 1993 11:25:29 -0400
Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and Unix, NYC


In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Greg
Chartrand) writes:

> Maybe this has been answered before, but I would like to know what
> determines the text that gets displayed on an ISDN phone with caller
> I.D.?

> I own XYZ Corporation, and I telemarket, will the text read XYZ
> Corporation when I call someone? Can I tell my LEC that I want my
> personal name to appear instead of XYZ Corporation? When I order my
> phone circuits, is there a mechanism to specify what will appear in
> the caller I.D.?

> As a private individual, can I specify my caller I.D.? If my name is
> Clarence Jones and I go by "Buck", can I have the I.D. changed to
> reflect "Buck Jones" as my preference?

I don't know the answer with any authority, but I suspect the rule is
that the telco will no put anything that differs from what is in the
phone book for that number.  To permit otherwise would leave the telco
participating in potentially fraudulent activity with some callers.

Now, if for the phone number you have more than one phone-book
listing, I could imagine the telco letting you pick which listing will
be used in the caller-ID data stream sent to others.


Carl Oppedahl AA2KW  (patent lawyer)
1992 Commerce Street #309
Yorktown Heights, NY  10598-4412
voice 212-777-1330

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

Date: 04 Aug 93 15:48:56 EDT
From: tim gorman <[e-mail]>
Subject: Who/What Determines Call


[e-mail] (Greg Chartrand) asks in TELECOM Digest
V13 #534:

> Maybe this has been answered before, but I would like to know what
> determines the text that gets displayed on an ISDN phone with caller
> I.D.?

> Can I tell my LEC that I want my personal name to appear instead of
> XYZ Corporation?

> When I order my phone circuits, is there a mechanism to specify what
> will appear in the caller I.D.?

> As a private individual, can I specify my caller I.D.? If my name is
> Clarence Jones and I go by "Buck", can I have the I.D. changed to
> reflect "Buck Jones" as my preference?

ISDN doesn't actually provide for sending an originating name as part
of the call setup. Following is the setup message format and the
format of the calling number information element.

ISDN does have specified an information element that could be used to
pass a calling name. It is my understanding that most vendors and
LEC's have not yet implemented this. (I suppose because no one knows
yet how to bill for it.)

If you actually have an ISDN phone that is showing a name, it would be
interesting to see how it is being implemented.


                Setup Message Content
                ---------------------

                                Optional/
    Information Element         Mandatory      Length
    ----------------------      ---------      ------

    Protocol Discriminator          M             1
    Call Reference                  M            2-3
    Message Type                    M             1
    Bearer Capability               M            4-6
    Channel Ident.                  O             3
    Facility                        O            11-*
    Progress Indicator              O             4
    Keypad                          O            3-32
    Signal                          O             3
    Feature Activation              O             3-4
    Endpoint Identifier             O             3-4
    Calling Party Nbr               O             4-16
    Called Party Nbr                O             4-27
    Redirecting Nbr                 O             4-16
    Locking Shift                   O              1
    Call Appearance                 O             3-4

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

                Calling Party Number Information Element
               ----------------------------------------

    8      7      6      5      4      3      2      1     (bit position)

    0      1      1      0      1      1      0      0     Octet 1
                                                           CPN Element Id

    *--  Length of calling party number contents   --*     Octet 2

   0/1     *-Type of Nbr-*      *--  Nbr Plan Id  ---*     Octet 3
   (Ext)

    1      *Present.*     0     0       0      * Scrn*     Octet 3a*
   (Ext)   Indicator                           Indicator

     0      * ------------ number digits ------------ *     Octet 4
   (spare)

                 Note:   * - This octet may be omitted
                Calling Party number is an optional information
                element. If not provided, the default number for
                the terminal is used.

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

From: [e-mail] (David Breneman)
Subject: Re: Princess Phone Keychains From 60's
Date: 4 Aug 93 19:44:29 GMT
Organization: Digital Systems International, Redmond WA


Syd Weinstein ([e-mail]) wrote:

> Doreen Hansen <[e-mail]> writes:

>> Does anyone here have a collection of those little plastic princess
>> phones that say "The Princess phone ... It's little, it's lovely, it
>> lights!" on the bottom?  They have a ball-type chain on the right
>> side.  I have just started a collection of them after finding a few at
>> the local Goodwill.  I know they came in aqua, white, and pink.  Are
>> there any other colors?  How were these distributed?  with phone
>> books?  In the mail?  Did each household get one/two?  Were they given
>> out only one year?  Or did people buy them?

They also came in beige, I believe.

> Somewhere in my archives, I have a box of those things ... (small
> box.)  They were indeed free.  Bell handed them out as a come-on to
> get people to rent the new phones.  The box I have is about 3"x6"x
> 2.5-3" and it was full of them at one time.

In towns with smallish phone books, the book usually had a hole drilled
through the upper left corner so it could be hung on a hook.
Frequently one of these was found looped through the hole when the
phone book arrived.  It seems to me this campaign lasted a couple
years.  I remember a girl who lived next door to me had several of
them -- phones for her Barbie dolls!


David Breneman       Email: [e-mail]
System Administrator, Software Engineering Services
Digital Systems International, Inc.  Voice: 206 881-7544  Fax: [phone]

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

From: [e-mail] (Steven H. Lichter)
Subject: Re: Princess Phone Keychains From 60's
Date: 4 Aug 1993 09:38:16 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)


They were give for the most part when the local phone company (Bell)
had an open house in one of their switch rooms. I have four complete
sets all colors at the time. They have been put away for some years,
but after seeing your post I pulled them out. I guess I'll put them up
by my computer now, I wonder what they are worth, at the time that I
got them I was 13 years old and that was in 1959.

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

From: [e-mail] (ethan miller)
Subject: Re: Psychological Effect of "Busy" Signal
Date: 4 Aug 93 12:58:28
Organization: Berkeley--Shaken, not Stirred
Reply-To: [e-mail]


In article <[e-mail]> Will Martin <wmartin@STL-06SIMA.
ARMY.MIL> writes:

> Originally, I'm sure the tone was selected and adopted because it
> was economically-generatable by some mechanical device. But now,
> digital circuitry could just as easily generate a soothing pattern
> of words [...]

The busy signal also has to be machine-recognizable.  My modem needs
to distinguish between ringing, busy, carrier detected, and everything
else.  If the "busy signal" doesn't provide a tone, how can a device
tell the line is busy?  Modems, faxes, and other automatically dialing
devices need to know when to connect and when to retry.  For them, the
annoying "braap-braap" is easiest to deal with.


ethan miller--cs grad student
[e-mail]    #include <std/disclaimer.h>

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

From: [e-mail] (Craig Nordin)
Subject: Re: Psychological Effect of "Busy" Signal
Organization: U.S. D.O.L - Occupational Safety & Health Admin.
Date: Wed, 04 Aug 1993 20:43:18 GMT


In <[e-mail]> Will Martin <wmartin@STL-06SIMA.
ARMY.MIL> writes:

> I've been trying to get through to a constantly-busy number, and the
> irritation and hostility I feel more and more on an ever-rising level
> as I repeatedly hear the braaaaap braaaaap of the "busy" signal on
> each try leads me to wonder just WHY that particular tone and pattern
> had been chosen by the telco so many years ago to indicate "busy".
> The tone/pattern itself is extrememly irritating, regardless of the
> emotion one feels when one cannot get to the number one wants.

I was watching the Branch Davidian seige footage and the night-time
scenes were gruesome.  The FBI had concocted a seemingly effective
harrasment at night where they would shine moving spotlights over the
compound and play all kinds of music and TV audio at very loud levels.
Among the sounds, and repeated often, was that same annoying/angering
busy signal.  You would think that the telephone companies would get
the hint!

But what do I do with all of my modems when they can no longer
recognize the busy signal?


US Department of Labor      Craig Nordin          [e-mail]
OSHA OMDS FSDB #N3661                  uunet!osh1.osha.gov!osh3!craig
200 Constitution Ave. NW Phone (FTS/202) v:219-7788 x57  fax:[phone]
Washington D.C. 20210    Standard, Complete, and Constant Disclaimers


[Moderator's Note: Ah yes, our Federal Bureau of Inquisition at work.
Try standing outside their headquarters making that sort of commotion
and see what it gets you. Amazing isn't it how they got away with
starting that fire which killed all the children. Then they spoon-fed
their media friends with the story that Koresh must have actually done
it. To them, 'Miranda' is Carmen's last name.  PAT]

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

From: [e-mail]
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 18:47:21 EDT
Subject: Re: Psychological Effect of "Busy" Signal


Will Martin <[e-mail]> writes:

> I've been trying to get through to a constantly-busy number, and the
> irritation and hostility I feel more and more on an ever-rising level
> as I repeatedly hear the braaaaap braaaaap of the "busy" signal on
> each try leads me to wonder just WHY that particular tone and pattern
> had been chosen by the telco so many years ago to indicate "busy".
> The tone/pattern itself is extremely irritating, regardless of the
> emotion one feels when one cannot get to the number one wants.

Oh boy, here's one for the amateur analysts among us.  Please lay on
my couch and tell me about your childhood!

It's not the busy signal that's annoying, its the frustration of not
being able to contact the called party.  Over time, we collectively as
an American culture have assigned the symbolic meaning of irritation
to the busy signal.  (It can especially irritating if the calling
person is jealous of the conversation between the called person and
the third party!)  Similar frustrations arise for ring/no answer and
getting an answering machine.  (ie. suspicions of where the called
party may be, why s/he isn't answering or my pet peeve, INTENSE
dislike of having my call screened, rooted in the fact that screening
gives the called party the option to talk to the calling person.)

Proof for this cultural symbolism can be shown with a simple
experiment.  What if a recording of a busy signal was played to a
Australian aborigine?  Busy has no symbolic meaning for a bushman.  He
doesn't know what the hell a busy tone means, to him it's just noise.
He'd be lucky if even knew what a phone was for.

> circuitry could just as easily generate a soothing pattern of words
> like "sorry ... line busy ... sorry ... line busy..." or some other
> non-English (if there is a language issue here) pattern of tones or
> signals; anything but this foul "braaaaap braaaaap" business ... :-)

So, does replacing busy with a worded announcement or other tones
really solve anything?  No.  Since "getting busy" in some form is
always likely to happen, there will always be the associated
frustration of the caller and in time the symbolic meaning of busy
would be transferred to the new "busy" announcement.  End result:
hearing a present or future busy signal is alway going to upset
someone.

In addition, I think this change would be far reaching.  I'm sure
there's plenty of software that does tone detection that would have to
be fixed.  Of cour$e, thi$ co$t get$ pa$$ed to Joe-Ratepayer.  <== more
symbols!

> As a side benefit, the vague distinction we now have between "busy" and
> "fast busy" (which I have trouble with, personally) could be eliminated,
> and both signals could be replaced

Without luck, I once tried to convince my parents to get touch-tone,
but they are telecom illiterate and prefer to live in the telecommun-
ications "stone-age."  I couldn't imagine trying to explain the
difference between busy and fast busy to people like them.


Jung Butz        ER700 Sys Eng
[e-mail]    AT&T - BL

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

From: [e-mail]
Date: Wed,  4 Aug 93 12:57:18 GMT
Subject: Re: Psychological Effect of "Busy" Signal
Organization: AT&T


In article <[e-mail]> Will Martin <wmartin@STL-
06SIMA.ARMY.MIL> writes:

> I've been trying to get through to a constantly-busy number, and the
> irritation and hostility I feel more and more on an ever-rising level
> as I repeatedly hear the braaaaap braaaaap of the "busy" signal on
> each try leads me to wonder just WHY that particular tone and pattern
> had been chosen by the telco so many years ago to indicate "busy".
> The tone/pattern itself is extrememly irritating, regardless of the
> emotion one feels when one cannot get to the number one wants.

THESE are my views not my employers ...

Looks like whoever you're calling needs a visit from their phone
company sales office -:) You're trying to call a number and get a busy
and are mad about it. Phone Company Salesman are trying to convince
people that if they don't have more than enough lines the customer will
be mad at them because of busy signal and go elsewhere with their
bussiness.  Now the salesman can sell voicemail, alt number on busy,
more trunk lines.

I get a number of hostile callers on my home line during the day. I
use my voice phone line during the day for outgoing uucp. Since I am
not home I don't care if the phone is in use, but salesman and
telemarketers get real snotty, when they have been calling all day and
if they finally get through they get an answering machine. I have had
several calls yelling about they know I am home because the phone been
busy for the last four hours and now my answering machines has
answered.


Gary W. Sanders (N8EMR)   [e-mail]
AT&T Bell Labs    614-860-5965

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #538
******************************










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Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1993 23:20:22 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #539

TELECOM Digest     Wed, 4 Aug 93 23:20:20 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 539

Inside This Issue:                       Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching? (Dub Dublin)
    Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching? (jentto@ihlpe)
    Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching? (coyne@thing1)
    Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching? (G. Wollman)
    Re: Newton MessagePad Now Available From Apple (Christopher Zguris)
    Re: Newton MessagePad Now Available From Apple (Brad Hicks)
    Re: What is Category 5 (re: ISDN) (Jon Carmichael)
    Re: What is Category 5 (re: ISDN) (Harold Hallikainen)
    Re: Do We Have a Theme Song? (Daniel MacKay)
    Re: Do We Have a Theme Song? (Bruce Albrecht)
    Re: MCI Makes Buses? (John Perkins)
    Re: MCI Makes Buses? (David Wolff)
    Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced (Tatsuya Kawasaki)
    Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced (Chris Ambler)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Dub Dublin,HOU281 2303,CTN-596-3199,)
Subject: Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching?
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Chevron
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1993 18:21:29 GMT


O.K., O.K., off with the flamethrowers!  (I'm constantly amazed at the
number of people participating in c.d.t.) I've been toasted many times
now for my comments that using a PC for critical applications (ie:
telephone switces) is not a good idea.  The basic rejoinder is along
the lines of, "PC's doing such things don't run DOS, you idiot, they
run some other OS, so viruses aren't a problem."

Not so, Glasshoppah.  Some types of viruses (most notably some boot
sector infectors) can infect ANY PC-based system.  Admittedly, this is
unlikely, but maybe not as unlikely as you think: Every formatted PC
floppy disk contains an executable program on its boot sector (note
that this even includes "non-bootable" disks!).  Normally, all this
program does is print the message, "Non-system disk or disk error;
replace and strike any key when ready."  When you see this message, it
means the executable *on the boot sector of the floppy* was just run
on your PC.  If it's infected with a virus, it just had a chance to
infect the boot sector of the hard disk containing the OS of your
choice.  Note that all of this happens *BEFORE* you've had a chance to
load the other OS that's supposed to protect you from such things.
[The comp.virus FAQ discusses this in a little more detail.]

I'm not against PC's for control applications, but they carry
non-trivial risks if used for truly critical applications.  Hardware
and software diversity provides some inherent resistance to such
attacks.  *That's* my point ...


Dub Dublin -- Chevron Information Technology Company, Houston
        [e-mail] -- [phone]


[Moderator's Note: Yes, there are a wide variety of people and a large
number of C.D.T. readers. C.D.T. has been the 'mainstream', newsgroup
of record for telecommunications for more than a decade. Analysis of
the reading habits of Usenet users show about 45,000 - 55,000 readers
of each issue. They come from many different telcos and other organ-
izations. We're even starting to get back a number of GTE employees
who left in droves about a year ago when a former Digest participant
was in the midst of one of his all-to-regular GTE flame tantrums.
Welcome to all our new readers; particularly the GTE folks who have
joined or re-joined us in the past month.    PAT]

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

Date: Wed,  4 Aug 93 17:58:25 EDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching?
Organization: AT&T


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail].
edmonton.ab.ca writes:

> In comp.dcom.telecom, article <[e-mail]>, John
> Nagle wrote:

>> The interesting thing is that COs still mostly follow the
>> model of a big dumb crosspoint run as a computer peripheral.  One
>> would think by now that switches would be much more distributed, with
>> little CPUs all through the switch fabric.  But given the amount of
>> trouble people still have designing distributed systems, it's not
>> clear that using lots of little CPUs would improve reliability, and
>> might well make it worse.

> More than likely I won't be the first or the last person to respond to
> the above statements.  CO's are built with lots and lots of
> distributed CPU's.  These peripherals are all networked together to
> create the switch.  General purpose computer makers still don't make
> the extensive fault diagnostic and detection processors.  How many
> general prupose computers offer instruction synchronized processing
> platforms with dedicated fault detection?

Another thing to think about. How many non-switching systems have this
reliability requirement? "Less than three minutes down time per year".
This includes scheduled and non-scheduled, hardware and software
caused, and operator initiated service interruptions. No PM. No, you
can't just un-plug it.  Even while you are loading a completely new
software release, the switch has to be able to process calls. Imagine
changing car engine while running at 50 miles/hour. Set hardware issue
aside just look for a architecture which can run 4~5 million lines of
C code nonstop is a challenge, to put it modestly. Compare with
computers named "Nonstop", I claim every CO switch can be called a
"Neverstop" computer.

No. I don't know any commerical system has ever been designed to meet
this kind of requirement. Perhaps SDI has something closer.  I wish
someone knowledgable can enlighten us.


Jen

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

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching?
Date: 4 Aug 1993 21:46:35 GMT
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas


In comp.dcom.telecom, article <[e-mail]>, John
Nagle wrote:

> The interesting thing is that COs still mostly follow the
> model of a big dumb crosspoint run as a computer peripheral.  One
> would think by now that switches would be much more distributed, with
> little CPUs all through the switch fabric.

It is difficult to imagine what computer driven system on this planet
is more distributed than the telephone system.  We have zillions of
subscriber lines connected to who knows what computer driven device at
the subscriber end and one of tens of thousands of autonomous COs at
the other.  The COs are laced together with lines belonging hundreds
of service providers.

As the copper and fiber get more expensive and switches and other
computer controlled devices get cheaper, the system will get more
distributed rather than less.  Already, there is frequent mention (in
this forum) of two COs in one structure, a sub exchange in a shelter
somewhere that something bad happened, or a big end user accepting
call delivery directly from a long distance carrier.  Actually, it is
a little scary to consider how many logic operations will be required
to deliver a phone call or this posting.

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

From: [e-mail] (Garrett Wollman)
Subject: Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching?
Organization: University of Vermont, EMBA Computer Facility
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1993 19:07:13 GMT


In article <[e-mail]>, Kevin W. Williams
<[e-mail]> wrote:

> So my answer to when General Purpose Computing will overcome Telecom
> Switching: never.  There is simply no way that the general purpose
> computing community is ever going to bear the cost of the reliability
> that we consider mandatory for switching.

I disagree, and I'll explain why.

The reasons why it is so important for the current generation of telco
switches to have extremely high reliability are fairly well-known.
The basic reason is the economies of scale dating back to
electromechanical days have caused telcos to try to concentrate as
much switching capacity in as few locations as possible.  So long as
telco is responsible for providing battery to every single telephone
in their service area, this will likely continue.

However, we have seen a new approach to reliability take hold in our
computer networks: by distributing the switching capabilities out into
the network, then the effects of any failures are minimized.  As a
result, the overall failure cost (in user-hours) can be kept the same
or reduced, while relaxing the unit-failure requirements of individual
switching elements (routers).  Remember, the original ARPANET was
supposed to keep on working even when whole chunks of the network were
evaporated in a nuclear holocaust.  It has turned out that the same
sort of dynamic routing structures that provide for this kind of
"survivability" also stand us in very good stead when the network
stays intact, but individual compoments fail.

I feel that the ultimate marriage of voice and data will inevitably
end up looking more like today's Internet than like today's telephone
network.  In particular, switching capacity will inevitably end up
being distributed out at customer locations, rather than centralized
to the great extend that it has been thus far.  Of course, reasonable
people may disagree with my view.


Garrett A. Wollman  [e-mail]
uvm-gen!wollman     UVM disagrees.

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

Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 18:24 GMT
From: Christopher Zguris <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Newton MessagePad Now Available From Apple


   It seems like the Newton in its current configuration is somewhat
limited as a electronic communication device -- lots of plans but
little actually available -- I thought it was supposed to be able to
tie into a cellular network. It doesn't seem like much more than a
Sharp Wizard!


Christopher Zguris   [e-mail]

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

From: mc/G=Brad/S=Hicks/OU=[e-mail]
Date: 4 Aug 93 21:07:28 GMT
Subj: Re: Newton MessagePad Now Available From Apple


> First Newton -- The MessagePad -- Hits The Market

> CUPERTINO, California -- July 30,1993 -- Apple Computer,
> Inc. today announced that the first product based on its
> innovative Newton technology -- the Newton MessagePad --
> will ship on Aug. 2, 1993.

The words "Now Available" in the subject line are an exaggeration.  I
spent yesterday rattling doors to try to buy one, and I'll share the
details with you.  But NPR and other news sources say that unless you
snagged one of the several thousand units for sale in Boston at the
MacWorld Expo this week, you're out of luck until around Labor Day.

By the way, words do not convey just how cool this device is, or how
beautifully the networking and telecom features have been integrated
into the (protected mode, preemptive multitasking, object oriented,
full scriptable, AI-assisted) operating system on this (20 MHz
RISC-based, low power consumption, ruggedized, no moving parts) box.
The OS and user interface on this thing are so beautiful that I fully
expect that every other computer will fall into the sea by the end of
the century.

Telecom user interface alone: a consistent, near-invisible user
interface that supports fax, e-mail, printers, pagers, and
Newton-to-Newton or Sharp Wizard-to-Newton communications via wireless
infrared, with support for wireless modems built into the O/S and
waiting only for the PCMCIA drivers to be firmed up, with all those
features available at all times to send any chunk of data you can see,
or receive data from any of those sources into any application,
current or future.

But right now, there are a few flies in the ointment.  Aside from the
delayed availability, the dealers who did have prices said they could
only sell it in bundled systems, the Newton Communications Kit and the
Newton Professional Communications Kit.  Here's what you get: the
Newton MessagePad, an external 2400 bps data/9600 bps fax modem, and
the software and cables to connect the MessagePad to a Macintosh for
file sharing and file transfer.  (The PC/Windows version will be
available in a few months; I spoke to someone who's beta testing it
and says it's just as good.)  What separates the Professional edition
from the regular one, at about $100 to $130 difference, is that the
Professional version includes more file translations and is
AppleEvents scriptable.

It's that stupid modem that's really driving me nuts.  Are you beating
down the doors to pay $100 or so for a 2400 bps modem half the size of
a paperback book?  A third the weight and two thirds the size of the
Newton itself?  I'm not; I'd rather buy the unit, some RAM cards, and
the cable and software and wait until the 14.4 kb/sec PCMCIA modem
makers write Newton drivers.  But no, at least for the forseeable
future you can't buy it without that stupid modem.

Most of the dealers didn't have pricing yet.  CompUSA quoted a price
of $899 for the Communications bundle and $999 for the Professional
Communications bundle; Computer City, $869 and $999.  (CompUSA, BTW,
told me they could have one for me "in a few days;" we'll see if
they're over-promising.)  If you call a dealer (or Sears, Circuit
City, or Best Buy) and they don't know what you're talking about, keep
trying until you find the (in my experience, only one) person in each
store who knows.


J. Brad Hicks     Internet: mc![e-mail]
X.400: c=US admd=ATTMail prmd=MasterCard sn=Hicks gn=Brad

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

Subject: What is Category 5 (re: ISDN)
From: [e-mail] (Jon Carmichael)
Date: 4 Aug 93 07:25:00 GMT
Organization: The Continuum PCBoard - Pasadena, CA - 818-441-2625
Reply-To: cntinuum![e-mail] (Jon Carmichael)


> There is some renovation going on in our building and all the network
> connection and telephone cables are rewired.  I have been hearing the
> term Category 5 all the time. (All of panels containing the RJ45
> plugs even have a sign CAT 5 on it).  I was wondering what exactly
> does Category 5 certified means in this context.

Category 5 wire is used for high speed data communications in the
Local Area Network area.  ISDN which pushes data in the 150Kbps range
over one pair is very slow compared to a LAN that pushes data at 4, 10
or 16 Megabits per second. The slowest token ring is 4M/150K or
about 25 times faster than ISDN BRI.

Basically level 5 wire is regular telephone wire that's twisted so
tightly that it's looks more like it's braided. 18 twists per foot is
level 5; 15 to 18 (not as consistent) in my experience is level 4; and
level 3 is regluar modern telephone wire, ... about 2 to 5 twists per
foot.

Your RJ-45 is a LAN connection, and would not usually be used for an
ISDN connection as ISDN is too slow to need it.  The RJ-45's all go to
the same physical point where it is then connected to a LAN hub for
everyone in the building to share.


JONC

The Continuum PCBoard -*- @9600+ call 818-441-2625   @2400- call 818-799-9633

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

From: [e-mail] (Harold Hallikainen)
Subject: Re: What is Category 5 (re: ISDN)
Organization: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Date: Wed, 04 Aug 1993 02:33:23 GMT


    Can anyone give a BRIEF description of the electrical coding
scheme on all these high speed twisted pair systems (such as ISDN)?  I
haven't taken the time to research it at all.  How many bits per baud
are being run?  Is it a multi-level coding system or just two or three
level (such as positive/negative or positive/zero/negative).  I've
always thought that on an analog medium, such as a pair of wires, we
should run as many levels as we can until noise starts making level
determination at the far end difficult, making the error correction
overhead exceed the data throughput benefit of running more levels.
Do such systems treat the twisted pair as a transmission line,
matching the characteristic impedance to prevent reflections?  Do they
work full duplex using some sort of hybrid, or just go real fast half
duplex?  Can we use these techniques over leased lines ordered from
the local phone company (like 3002 lines)?

    Thanks for the info!


Harold

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

From: [e-mail] (Daniel MacKay)
Subject: Re: Do We Have a Theme Song?
Organization: NSTN Network Operations Centre, Nova Scotia, Canada
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1993 14:31:55 GMT


ELO tunes: "Telephone Line" and "Ma Ma Ma Bell".


Daniel MacKay    [e-mail]
Homo habilis    Nova Scotia, Canada

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

Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 09:36:25 CST
From: [e-mail] (Bruce Albrecht)
Subject: Re: Do We Have a Theme Song?


> [Moderator's Note: You are correct and I stand corrected regards the
> movie. But I still liked Judy Garland a lot when she was alive. PAT]

Yes, her work deteriorated immensely when she died, and she no longer
can perform the way she used to. :-)


[e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: Thank you for your meditation.   PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (John Perkins)
Subject: Re: MCI Makes Buses?
Organization: Rosemount, Inc.
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1993 16:54:43 GMT


> [Moderator's Note: Let us consider the initials MCC. On the one hand,
> it is the abbreviation for the federal Bureau of Prisons Metropolitan
> Correctional Centers, the prisons located in downtown Chicago, San
> Diego, and a few other places. On the other hand, it is also a very
> accepted abbreviation for the Metropolitan Community Church. :) So the
> next time someone you know misbehaves and winds up having to go to
> court, to their probation officer or whoever, tell them if they don't
> shape up they may wind up going to the MCC, and that you are not
> referring to Sunday services at the gay church! :)  PAT]

Yes, and don't forget MCC also refers to Middlesex County Council, and
for that matter Marylebone Cricket Club (the club of the English
cricket team to this day).


John Perkins


[Moderator's Note: Before long, this is going to get as confusing for
me as the 'ATM' abbreviation!   :)  PAT]

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

Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 16:01:06 EDT
From: [e-mail] (David Wolff)
Subject: Re: MCI Makes Buses?


Reminds me of a story.  The good citizens of Walpole MA asked that the
name of MCI Walpole be changed, since their town's name was becoming
so closely connected to the maximum security prison there.  Much
discussion followed, but by far the funniest suggestion was ... Sprint
Walpole!


David Wolff

[e-mail] (yes, changed again!), [e-mail]
Disclaimer:  Reflecting Computervision policy is a non-goal of this posting.

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

From: [e-mail] (Tatsuya kawasaki)
Subject: Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced
Date: 5 Aug 1993 00:35:11 GMT
Organization: Brigham Young University


In article <[e-mail]> TELECOM Moderator
<[e-mail]> writes:

>  From the {Chicago Tribune} news wire, Wednesday, July 28, 1993:

> A victory for consumers of telephone 900 information services occurred
> Tuesday when the final regulations of the Federal Trade Commission
> were announced. Starting November 1, people who dial 900 services must
> be warned of the cost of the call and get a chance to hang up before
> being charged.

Sad news for everybody ... another way for government to control your
life.

> In addition, 900 service providers *must* provide toll-free, pay per
> call information lines; customers must be sent pay-per-call disclosure
> statements annually; and the use of *any* prefix other than 900 for
> pay-per-call services is prohibited.

Why must they provide 800 numbers?

> In addition, the new rules provide that print and broadcast ads must
> carry details of the fees that callers will be charged for any call
> that would cost at least $2.

As far as I am concerned, people who use 900 are not intelligent any way.
Some people might argue what about my kid calling those numbers ...

1. That is your problem; that you can not control/teach your kid is
none of the 900 provider's responsibilities.

2. You can always block 900 free of charge.

As far as I am concerned, the lesser the regulation, the better for
the both parties, comsumer and provider.


Thanks,

tatsuya

PS: Please reply to me directly.

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

From: [e-mail] (Chris Ambler)
Subject: Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced
Organization: The Phishtank
Date: Wed, 04 Aug 1993 21:02:23 GMT


I said ...

> And how does UUCP do this? When dialing an information provider with a
> protocolled communications package, the human usually has little to no
> interaction.

Then our Moderator noted ...

> [Moderator's Note: You are correct where UUCP transmissions are
> concerned but I don't think UUCP is the sort of casual connection
> being discussed here. For UUCP there has to be a pre-arranged deal;

No, actually, I'm under the impression that UUNET offers 900 service
to their anonymous UUCP, so there IS NO pre-arranged deal. This is for
doing file requests for public software.

And, while I'm at it, what about "Hey, call 1-900-xxx-xxxx and fax us
what YOU want to send to the president!" or other such deals. I *have*
seen this on TV :-)


[e-mail] | Christopher J. Ambler
[e-mail]  | Author, FSUUCP 1.32


[Moderator's Note: Maybe I am missing something here. Every UUCP-style
account I have ever seen requires that the host have a daemon-user by
the login name of 'uusomething'. When 'something' calls in, there is
not only the password sequence, but a remote identification, handshaking,
window openings, etc. For 'something' to get its mail or news, there
have to be things similar to a .newsrc file in place, no? Otherwise
how does the host know who to give mail to and who has received which
news, etc?  I know (or am pretty sure) that UUNET has an anonymous
FTP-like thing running on a 900 number, but anonymous UUCP? How does
that work? How could the host possibly know how to hand out mail and
news under the circumstances?   PAT]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #539
******************************










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Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1993 00:54:51 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #540


TELECOM Digest     Thu, 5 Aug 93 00:30:00 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 540

Inside This Issue:                       Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: "County-Plus" Calling in Delaware (Ken Weaverling)
    Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching (Nigel Roles)
    Re: Caller-ID Across LATAs? (Carl Oppedahl)
    Re: Big Rivers ([e-mail])
    Re: Big Rivers (Curtis Bohl)
    Re: Big Rivers (Brad Hicks)
    Re: Call Trace is Bogus (Andrew Marc Greene)
    Re: AT&T Atlantic? (Paul Cook)
    Re: Phone Number -> Name/Address (Justin Greene)
    Re: Used Cell Phone $ and Bundling (Phydeaux)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Ken Weaverling <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: "County-Plus" Calling in Delaware
Date: 4 Aug 1993 08:46:08 -0400
Organization: Delaware Technical & Community College


In article <[e-mail]> Carl Moore <[e-mail]>
writes:

[text about County-plus local calling within Delaware deleted.]

About two years ago, Diamond State filed plans to implement the
"County Plus" calling plans but also filed plans for an increase in
the basic dial-tone rate of over $3.00 a month to pay for the decrease
in revenue from lost intra-LATA calls. The commission hasn't ruled on
either yet.

However, Diamond State is allowed to start charging the new rates
under a bond. If the PSC declines the increase, we get the money
refunded.  However, I am paying the increased monthly rate now, and
still get charged for intra-LATA calls to Dover from Wilmington.

Wonder if my LD charges for calls to what should be a local call under
the new call will get refunded?  Didn't think so ...


Ken Weaverling,  Sys Admin/Faith Healer
Delaware Tech College  [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Nigel Roles)
Subject: Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching?
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Interconnect
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1993 06:55:34 +0000


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:

> It's standard practice NOT to use PC-based systems for critical
> applications (I think a telephone switch qualifies here) due to their
> susceptibility to many of the same viruses and other vermin that
> afflict desktop systems.

> Tell me, how would you feel if your telco switch (or worse, your life
> support controller in a hospital) somehow became afflicted with
> Jerusalem, Stoned, or (less likely, but much more destructive) Whale?

> Proprietary and custom systems are by their very uncommonness less
> susceptible to such attacks.  Sometimes it's good not to be "open."
> (Some people on the Net just fell over, incredulous that *I* actually
> said that ...)

While I agree with the general sense here ("general purpose hardware
is bad news for providing good switches"), the suggestion that general
purpose hardware gets viruses because its general purpose is the sort
of attitude that anthropomorphised viruses into malevolent front page
leaders, rather than the inconsiderate illustrations of poor operating
system design that they are. PCs (for example) don't just run MSDOS. I
sincerely hope switches never run MSDOS for a whole bunch of reasons,
apart from it's susceptibility to viruses. It is perfectly possible to
run other O/S on a PC, and that O/S could be mil.  spec. secure if you
wished.

What really matters here is that most general purpose hardware is not
designed for reliability, redundancy etc., as other correspondents
have pointed out. Our PABXes have a high degree of distribution
(answering the original point of this thread) which could not be
achieved using PCs. We do use a PC (for the operator console) but do
not need it to be running for the switch to stay up. The only part we
really really need is the RT clock to reset the switch's clock after a
power out.

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

From: [e-mail] (Carl Oppedahl)
Subject: Re: Caller-ID Across LATAs?
Date: 4 Aug 1993 07:58:28 -0400
Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and Unix, NYC


In <[e-mail]> marks![e-mail]
(Charles McGuinness) writes:

> I live in area code (201), which is in the Northern New Jersey LATA.
> The other day, my Caller ID box showed a number from area code (215),
> which is Philadelphia and obviously not in my LATA.  I received a
> second call from the same number, and so the chances of the number
> being in error are rather slim.

> What I want to know is ... how'd this happen?  I never get numbers
> from anybody outside of my LATA, except this once.  Is it just the
> luck of everybody having SS7 connectivity from end to end?

I find this a very interesting question, for several reasons.

First, it is conceivable that a local telco is handling the whole
call, if an interLATA corridor has been authorized between the two
area codes.  For example, New York Telephone is authorized to carry
traffic from 212 to most of 201, even though that is interLATA,
apparently because it convinced the FCC to honor some historical
corridor.

If this is how the 215-to-201 call was handled, then maybe that
explains how the caller ID info got onto your screen.  I could imagine
such a corridor for New Jersey Bell or for Bell of PA.

If no single local telco was handling your call, then I think the
theory you offer, namely SS7, is the only possible correct answer.
But the thing is, the big three long-distance carriers have had SS7
for more than a year now (they need it for 800 portability, for
example) and so it is difficult to know what recent change would have
suddenly put the out-of-state call onto your caller ID screen.

I have always assumed that the failure of caller ID to show the phone
number if out-of-LATA was political, not technical -- namely that it
was technically possible for SS7 to give the origin number to the
local telco, who would give it to the caller ID customer.

I always figured the issue was, the long-distance carriers would want
a cut of the action on the caller ID revenues if they were to provide
the origin information.  Why should they give it away for free, they
would ask.

Everything in my post is speculation.  Anybody got any hard data?


Carl Oppedahl AA2KW  (patent lawyer)
1992 Commerce Street #309
Yorktown Heights, NY  10598-4412
voice 212-777-1330

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

From: [e-mail] (Mike S.)
Subject: Re: Big Rivers
Organization: BITS, St. Louis, MO
Date: Wed, 04 Aug 1993 16:54:57 GMT


TELECOM Moderator noted:

> which noted several more levees were breeched in recent days. Southern
> Illinois and Missouri towns are losing their levees at the rate of
> about one per day. Alton, IL lost their water works Saturday when the
> levee came down and put much of the town under water *ten feet deep*.
> Granite City lost their water works several days ago in the same way.
> Some homes entirely under water; can you imagine that?  Bad, bad news.

And it keeps getting worse.  The river was expected to crest at about
_50_ feet today (though I believe that was revised to 49.x').

- the area's second largest airport (and several smaller airports)
  are under 8-12 feet of water;

- propane tanks are bobbing about;

- coffins are being unearthing and floating downriver;

- two of three bridges linking St. Louis County and St. Charles
  County are out (causing nightmarish traffic problems on the one
  remaining bridge);

- the only bridge directly linking St. Louis County and Alton, Il
  is out;

- sewer systems are allowing water to pass under levees;

- and the latest:  riverfront boats are breaking free of their
  moorings on the St. Louis riverfront!  Sunday night, a large
  riverboat containing a Burger King restaurant tore loose and
  slammed into the main bridge (carrying I-70, I-64, and I-55
  between Il and Mo) over the Mississippi.  Two other boats
  also broke free, but they somehow passed this bridge (I don't
  know how -- there is very little clearance under the bridge
  presently).  This bridge was partially closed last night,
  but I don't have any more details yet.

However, the Arch and the rest of downtown St. Louis are dry (though
the 52' flood wall doesn't looking as large as it used to ...)

The crest today is supposed to be the highest (provided there are no
more storms such as Friday's affair, complete with tornados), but the
rivers are expected to be over flood stage for at least 4-6 WEEKS!


Mike

[e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Big Rivers
Organization: University of Missouri
Date: Wed, 04 Aug 93 20:09:30 CDT


Reports concerning telecom problems caused by flooding:

- Report on St. Louis TV station that SW Bell lost a CO in flood water,
leaving 11,000 customers out of service.

- Friday, 7/30, areas on the north side of Missouri River at Jefferson City
lost all phone service from a cable washout.  Unknown how many are served
by United Telecom, but included several small towns and local TV station.

- Sunday, my hometown of Hermann, MO (on the Missouri River) lost all
long distance service.  Town served by United until in the last few
years, then swapped with Contel, which merged with GTE.  When the
digital switch was installed two years ago, Contel laid fiber to
replace the old AT&T copper long distance lines.  Supposedly, the
fiber crossed the river under the river bridge, and also made a
underwater crossing about 15 mi. downriver.  Attempts to call LD
(including Repair Service) caused fast busy.  When I got back home to
Columbia (a usual 1:15 drive, now 3 hours) I tried calling home and
received a message stating that service was out due to flood
conditions.

One of the local cops I saw said that GTE was bringing in some
satellite equipment to replace the fiber.

(Ironically, a Sprint fiber repeater station is located in town for
their lines that follow the UP rail line, but it does not provide
service to the local exchange.)

To restore long distance service to several areas, including Hermann,
MO (my home town), to replace a washed-out fiber line, GTE is building
two microwave towers at Warrenton (north of Missouri river) and Lyon,
MO (south of river), about 30 miles away.  According to newspaper
reports, service was lost early Sunday, and GTE began pouring pads on
Sunday and Monday for the new towers.  (Question: Did they have to get
FCC approval for this temporary installation?)  Service may be
restored by Thursday.  I've already noticed a change from a "flood
outage" announcement to an "all circuits busy" announcement.

I also found out today that the University lost part of its fiber
network in western Missouri.  According to reports, the data traffic
has been rerouted to avoid the washout.


Curtis Bohl                      Computer Programmer/Analyst
[e-mail]           4-H Youth Development
Alternate: [e-mail]                   Programs
                             University of Missouri-Columbia

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

From: mc/G=Brad/S=Hicks/OU=[e-mail]
Date: 4 Aug 93 20:38:15 GMT
Subect: Re: Big Rivers


> Alton, IL lost their water works Saturday when the levee came down
> and put much of the town under water *ten feet deep*.

Minor correction: Alton's levee didn't fail; the river just soaked
through the ground underneath it with enough force to bubble up
through the street, demolishing the pavement.  But the (now useless)
levee is still standing, anyway.  And based on this morning's local
news: less than 20 blocks of Alton is under water.  This makes sense
to me; Alton's business district has a small stretch down along the
water, the rest is up a =steep= hill.

Lots of areas are losing their water treatment plants and/or their
sewage treatment plants.  For some reason or other, those all tend to
be near the river.  (Surprise.)  But so far the areas that need it are
doing OK using trucked-in water; Alton, in particular, was expecting
this and had the water distribution system up and running about four
days in advance.

Bridges are a real problem, not because the bridges themselves are
failing but because the roads going up to them are under water.
There's only one bridge across the Missouri between St. Louis and
Kansas City that's open right now, and that's in Columbia.  Oh, and
half the bridges connecting St. Charles county with St. Louis county
are down, creating horrible traffic snarls -- but as you'll see in a
few paragraphs, I don't much mind.

Here in the immediate greater St. Louis metropolitan area, almost
everything is high and dry.  (St. Louis is almost entirely built up on
the bluffs, very little is actually in the flood plain.)

In fact, should you come to St. Louis for the conference that was
advertised here a few days ago, you'll get an excellent chance to try
out our brand-new Lite Rail system, MetroLink, before we tear it up
(*grin*); it doesn't quite reach the airport yet (they're busy moving
some very old stiffs so they can run the line through the graveyard
between them and the airport) but you can catch a shuttle to it, and
ride all the way downtown for a tad over a buck, and then after the
conference take the shuttle down to Laclede's Landing for good live
music, some good dance clubs, some better-than-adequate restaurants,
and the National Pinball and Video Arcade Museum.  If you're a
taxpayer, you might as well ride it -- you paid for it.

I have a hard time crying about most of the areas that are under water:

LEMAY and other parts of SOUTH ST. LOUIS (city): The most notoriously
racist area in the region; just about the only place north of the
Mason-Dixon line where those Bircher/KKK-front "Concerned Citizens
Councils" can still run slates of guaranteed racist candidates -- and
win.  Thanks to this part of the city of St. Louis, they haven't been
able to pass a bond issue for the schools in years.  Why?  Ask the
politicians in that area who campaign against it (off the record) and
they'll tell you: they can't stand the thought of white people's money
going to pay for schooling for those worthless n----r kids up in north
St. Louis.

CHESTERFIELD and ST. CHARLES: In the 1980 census, St. Charles county
was listed as the fastest growing county in the United States.  Why?
Ask an African American friend of mine (a vice president at
MasterCard, no less) who tried to buy a house there; she and her
husband had to send a white friend over under false pretenses before
any realtor would admit that there were houses available to sell.
You, the US taxpayer, are about to be soaked with more taxes to pay
for a bridge that runs right through protected wetlands and a large
park (Creve Coeur Park, which you already paid federal taxes to buy in
the first place, and now you're going to pay to ruin it) and why?  So
that white folks who used to live in St. Louis county can flee across
the Missouri river but still work here.  And Chesterfield, which is
just as far away or farther, is growing as fast as St. Charles used to
be, and guess what?  They're working just as hard to keep African
Americans out.

Oh, I forgot to mention the other part of St. Charles, the part that
flooded first: the West Alton penninsula, which juts out into the
convergence of the Missouri and the Mississippi.  People, limit your
sympathy for these white trash -- West Alton floods about every six
years.  Your tax dollars pay for rebuilding each time.  I'd bet that
some of those people don't have any other source of income.  And
ignorant -- I spent a year teaching Sunday School up there, I could
tell you stories.

So, screw them all!  You think I'm going to lift a hand to help them?
Fat chance; my only problem with the flooding in south St. Louis, St.
Charles, and Chesterfield is that they let the residents evacuate
first, passing up an excellent opportunity to improve the species.

ObTelecom: In now throroughly-flooded Grafton, just up the road from
here, they put the telephone exchange way, way up the hill.  I saw in
the paper a few days ago that the telephone manager was getting
worried, because in the event of a worst-case crest he might be under
a foot or so of water.  So, =well in advance=, he set out to buy up a
big stack of hydraulic jacks and plywood; he said he figured he had
just enough play in the cables to jack the whole assembly up 18
inches.  That's resourcefulness.  And as far as I know, throughout
this area no phone switches have been lost, just phones that are under
water and some of the phone lines that run through the river's new
(presumably temporary) course.


J. Brad Hicks     Internet: mc![e-mail]
X.400: c=US admd=ATTMail prmd=MasterCard sn=Hicks gn=Brad


[Moderator's Note: Well, you certainly have some interesting comments
about your neighbors in their time of need. Would you care to comment
on the reports in the news Wednesday that certain areas south of St.
Louis were deliberatly flooded this week in order to alleviate the
flood damage likely to occur at a historic town a bit south in the
next day or two (had authorities not diverted the water yesterday and
put a dozen more farmers out of business in the process? It seems now
the authorities are going to be selective in their flooding. If the
water has to go somewhere -- and it does -- let it bring ruin to
people in one area who don't have quite the political pull people in
another area have, eh? Care to comment on that, Brad, that authorities
deliberatly broke down the levee south of Alton at the request of the
town a bit further south so *they* would not get quite as much?  PAT]

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

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Call Trace is Bogus
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1993 13:20 -0400


Here's a silly idea.  Why can't modems and fax machines be programmed
to play an audio sample of someone saying "This is a modem/fax call."
over and over while waiting for carrier detect?  Really sophisticated
ones could even let you program your phone number into the message:
"If this is a wrong number, please report it to 1-617-555-1212".  I
don't see that this would hurt the initial handshaking, or would cost
too much, and it would make a lot of people angry at 3AM instead of
making them angry and scared at 3AM.

Any manufacturers on this list?  :-)


Andrew Greene

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

Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 17:29 GMT
From: Proctor & Associates <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: AT&T Atlantic?


Alan Boritz <[e-mail]> writes:

> Would anyone know if there really is an "AT&T Atlantic" that competes
> with AT&T's regular business clients, or was this what it appears to
> be?

Yes, they are real.  I have sold them customer premises type equipment.
The AT&T Atlantic that I dealt with was in Tampa.

They are a large interconnect, wholly owned by AT&T, and their area of
interest is the east coast.  They have been operating under that name
for about a year.


Paul Cook                             206-881-7000
Proctor & Associates             MCI Mail 399-1080
15050 NE 36th St.                fax: [phone]
Redmond, WA  98052-5378        [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail]0Ou (Justin Greene)
Subject: Re: Phone Number -> Name/Address
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix at U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 18:38:24 GMT


Don't forget that most public libraries have Coles, Hynes or some
other species of criss-cross directories in the reference room.  You
may have to contact a branch in the city you need however.

BTW: when finding out where a NPA-NXX is located, use 00 rather than
411, it's free.

> telcos. Something tells me they get a dozen directories per day from
> telcos all over the USA.  Nothing UnDirectory could do at this point

This brings up a question, how do they update?  Are they mailed mag
tape whenever a new directory comes out, or do they maybe scan in the
actual books (is that information copylefted?).  Or, hopefully they
recieve updates periodically from the various telco's.  I doubt the
latter since Metronet (Coles Publications parent company) is always
out of date.

Always double check any criss-cross listing with directory assistance
as they seem to be the most accurate publicly available source.


Justin Greene <[e-mail]> Finger for PGP 2.x public key


[Moderator's Note: A lot of people are unaware of that simple technique
for locating names at street addresses or phone numbers. Call and get
the number of the public library in the town you want. Call the library
there and ask for the reference librarian or the 'Business and Tech-
nology Department'. Ask if they have a 'cross reference directory to
streets and addresses' for their town. Ninety percent or more of them
do. Ask the librarian if they will bring the book to the phone if they
are not busy and read some of the entries to you over the phone. Almost
all will accomodate. Some will say you have to come to the library in
person to use the criss cross. Most will get it and look up whatever
entries you want. Presto, a quick easy way to check out that phone
number you have or address across the country. Remember, there is so
much information *publicly available* between courthouse records, library
criss cross books, post office box rental and forwarding address
records, voter registration offices, and more, that you don't have to
resort to illegal sources (for the public) such as NCIC.  PAT]

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

Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 11:56:06 PDT
From: [e-mail] (Phydeaux)
Subject: Re: Used Cell Phone $ and Bundling


> The store that sells a $400 cell phone for, say, $50 to someone who
> signs a one-year dial tone contract is, of course, getting a $350+
> commission from the dial tone provider.  So, you would think that if
> you walk in the door with a used one and ask to have the phone
> activated for a year, you would be able to talk them into giving you
> part of their $350 commission.

> I've never actually seen this, but you could ask.

I actually had a store offer this to me the other day -- he offered to
split his $300 commission with me in exchange for my signing up for one
year of service.  I'm sure if you look around enough you'll find
someone willing to do this.

Unfortunately, my employer will not pay for two phones, so I still
have my trusty Motorola Ultra Classic sitting in a box.  Anyone
looking for a slightly used phone ;-)


reb

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #540
******************************










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From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #541

TELECOM Digest     Thu, 5 Aug 93 01:36:30 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 541

Inside This Issue:                       Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: U.S. Cuts Off the Canadian-Cuban Connection (Steve Forrette)
    Re: Flow Control With Unixware (Steve Forrette)
    Re: Is There a Way to Skip "Thank You For Using AT&T?" (Craig R. Watkins)
    Re: Maximum Number of Phone Lines to a Residence? (Karl L. Swartz)
    Re: AT&T Dedicated Lines (Bruce Sullivan)
    Re: Maryland NPA Split vs Population (Karl Johnson)
    Re: Reflections on Hacker Sentencing (Gowri Narla)
    Re: Mystery Caller (Pierre Asselin)
    Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced (Pierre Asselin)
    Re: Calls From Prison (Paul Buder)
    Re: Alternates Wanted to "Call Me" Cards (Charles McGuinness)
    Re: Exact Frequencies of 900MHz Cordless Phones USA/Germany (Tom Scheer)
    Re: CIS Feedback Response (R. Kevin Oberman)
    Re: Cell Phone Fraud Losses Triple in a Year (Bruce Albrecht)
    Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"! (Bruce Albrecht)
    Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"! (Steve Forrette)
    Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"! (David Breneman)
    Re: MCI Makes Buses? ([e-mail])
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Steve Forrette)
Subject: Re: U.S. Cuts Off the Canadian-Cuban Connection
Date: 4 Aug 1993 21:03:30 GMT
Organization: Walker Richer & Quinn, Inc.
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Steve Forrette)


In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Jack Decker) writes:

> Those folks who really have the potential to do damage to U.S. efforts
> to unseat Castro probably already have fifty different ways to
> communicate with Cuba, so I suspect that this embargo is really only
> hurting those who make casual calls back to relatives in Cuba.
> ... so you'd practically have to block all calls to ANY country
> that allows customers to have more than one phone line(!) in order to
> totally prevent any U.S. caller from being able to have a call extended
> into Cuba.  I'm sure the bad guys already know this, so only the
> "little people" are being hurt by this inane regulation.

The main purpose of the US government's ban for calls to Cuba is
economic, not military.  They don't want the Cuban telco (i.e.
government) to get paid for their end of the call.  I don't think
anybody in the US government is seriously thinking that they're
preventing spies and so on from calling home.  They just don't want to
line Castro's pockets with Yankee dollars.


Steve Forrette, [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Steve Forrette)
Subject: Re: Flow Control With Unixware
Date: 4 Aug 1993 21:21:03 GMT
Organization: Walker Richer & Quinn, Inc.
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Steve Forrette)


In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (David Mason) writes:

> Finally, while I am here and this is sort of applicable, does anyone
> know of any inexpensive device/card/whatever that would allow us to
> reset the systems remotely? Sometimes one of them will die and it
> isn't possible to come here quickly to reboot, so I'd like to be able
> to do it remotely. Even something as simple as something that hooked
> to a phone line and put the power off for a minute then on when
> triggered properly would be good.

I just got such a system set up for my voice response server last
week.  I considered rigging something up myself as a last resort, but
I preferred an off-the-shelf solution, and I found one at Radio Shack.
It's part of their Plug-N-Power AC carrier remote control system (also
marketed as BSR or X-10 by others).  I used a standard appliance
remote module (under $15).  The key piece of this is the telephone
remote control device.  Nobody in any of the stores knew anything
about it, and of course looked at me as if I was from Mars when I
described what I wanted it to do, which was "control the Plug-N-Power
remotes by dialing in on the telephone and punching in commands."  I
went home dismayed, but was sure I had seen such a device at RS in the
past.  Checking my catalog, it was indeed there.  Going back to the
store, I pointed it out in the catalog.  It turns out it is a special
order item, and is not stocked in the stores normally, which is why
nobody knew about it.  It costs $79.

The remote device works rather well.  You set a security code, from
one to three digits.  I have it set up on my modem line, which
normally only places outgoing calls.  When I call that line, it
answers after six or seven rings, and prompts with three beeps.  I
enter the security code, then one or more commands.  I can have up to
ten remotes, and can turn each one off or on individually.  So, to
reboot my switch, I just turn remote one off, wait a few seconds, and
turn remote one back on.  It works great, and I have an off-the-shelf
solution, which is both FCC and UL certified, for under $100.  And, I
can add up to nine more devices to be individually controlled for
under $15 each.


Steve Forrette, [e-mail]

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

From: Craig R. Watkins <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Is There a Way to Skip "Thank You For Using AT&T?"
Date: 4 Aug 93 18:17:03 EST
Organization: HRB Systems, Inc.


> [Moderator's Note: You might try putting '#' at the end of the calling
> card number to process things a little faster. I don' think it will
> then avoid the 'thank you' message, but it might get you to that point
> a couple seconds faster.  PAT]

That definitely helps, particularly on the four digit Call Manager
numbers.  I've considered the "Thank you ..." message in the past and
wondered if removing would actually speed up the call or not.  I would
guess that it would since when you're at that point it has already
done all the verification that it needs to do.


Craig R. Watkins   [e-mail]
HRB Systems, Inc.  [phone]

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

Date: 04 Aug 1993 23:18:07 +0000 (GMT)
From: [e-mail] (Karl L. Swartz)
Subject: Re: Maximum Number of Phone Lines to a Residence?
Organization: Stanford Linear Accelerator Center


[e-mail] posted:

>> Busy forwarding is pretty much what I wanted,
>> although it's not as perfectly robust as a hunt group ...

What's the difference?  Is there some additional delay involved in
busy forwarding or what?


Karl Swartz        |INet    [e-mail]
SLAC Computing Services    |       or [e-mail]
1-415/926-3630        |UUCP    uunet!lll-winken!unixhub!kls  -or-  ditka!kls
(SLAC and the US Dept. of Energy don't necessarily agree with my opinions.)

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

Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 21:16 GMT
From: Bruce Sullivan <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: ATT Dedicated Lines


> A friend asked me who to talk to at AT&T about leasing a
> dedicated 56kb line to Latin America.

> Does anyone have any contact info for the department at AT&T that
> provides this service?


Charlie,

AT&T Small Business Systems and Fax:        [phone]
     Large Business Communications Systems: 1.800.247.1212

Or, try your local Business Marketing Sales Office.

I found all of the above in the business listings of my local phone
book. I'll bet they're in yours too.


Bruce ([e-mail] or [e-mail])

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

Date: 04 Aug 93 18:33:38 EST
From: Karl Johnson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Maryland NPA Split vs Population


More than one reader of TCD in recent issues of the Digest have
commented that the largest CITY and the state Capitol moved into NPA
410 in the split of NPA 301. (One commented that DC and Baltimore are
about the same size).  This overlooks the size of the counties forming
the suburbs of Washington.  The largest COUNTY in Maryland (Montgomery
County) is larger in population than Baltimore and remained in 301.
The other county bordering DC (Prince George's County) is the second
or third largest City/County (Baltimore is the other).  The Washington
suburbs are currently extending into counties that are closer to
Baltimore than DC (I saw an article in the WASHINGTON POST several
years ago on people who live in Baltimore and work in DC.  In fact I
have a friend who lives inside the Baltimore Beltway and works in
Reston, VA southwest of DC.  I believe that more than 50% of the
people in Maryland kept the 301 AC.

The source of Montgomery County as the largest City/County is the 1990
census.  It passed Baltimore City in the 1980s.  Baltimore has very
small suburbs.


Karl

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

From: [e-mail] (Gowri Narla)
Subject: Re: Reflections on Hacker Sentencing
Organization: Purdue University
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1993 03:19:27 GMT


In article <[e-mail]>, Anonymous (telecom@eecs.
nwu.edu) writes:

> I have no idea what will happen in the future. My lawyer is still
> working on getting everything expunged, and I will just have to hope.
> Maybe I'll just try to stay in school for the rest of my life.

Thanks to the anonymous hacker for the candid thoughts. I wish I could
help.  BTW, I would like to suggest an interesting reading, which is
not directly related, but which might help the anonymous person
ponder.  It's a novel by McMahoney titled, "LOVING LITTLE EGYPT".

It's the story of a brilliant blind kid at the turn of the century
who, with an instinct and understanding of sound and telephony, is
able to create and travel thru networks. Kind of a "Lord of the Flies"
story? Won't say more -- let's hear your comments. Very interesting
read.


Ram Narla   [e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: Will the person who wrote the original on this
thread, asking me to keep it anonymous, write to me again please. I
have something to pass along, and I've already ditched your address so
I can't send what arrived.  PAT]

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

Subject: Re: Mystery Caller
Date: 4 Aug 93 23:03:31 PDT (Wed)
From: [e-mail] (Pierre Asselin)


[e-mail] (Chris Ambler -- Phish) writes:

>> I put a terminal program up and couldn't get a response. But I have
>> determined that the system on the other end is *attempting* to
>> handshake with a BREAK,pause, sequence. About 1/2 sec break, 1/2 sec
>> pause. It repeats until it gives up after 20 seconds or so.

> This sounds a lot like UNIX to me. UUCP, in particular ...

A UUCP program trying to log in would wait a lot longer than 1/2 sec
between breaks, though.  Furthermore, it would send that sequence only
if its configurable chat script told it to.

Changing speed on a break is indeed a common Unix convention.  The
"getty" program that listens for incoming calls *may* be configured to
cycle through a list of speeds when it detects a break.  This
convention is becoming obsolete, because many modems can now negotiate
one speed over the phone line and talk to the computer at another
speed.  It's easier to run the getty at a fixed speed and let the
modem do the buffering.

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

Date: 4 Aug 93 23:03:31 PDT (Wed)
From: [e-mail] (Pierre Asselin)
Subject: Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced


> [Moderator's Note: You are correct where UUCP transmissions are
> concerned but I don't think UUCP is the sort of casual connection
> being discussed here. For UUCP there has to be a pre-arranged deal;
> you and the other end have to agree in advance on certain things:

The site administrator can also set up an "anonymous uucp" account and
publish the login name and password.

> *I know* that uunet has or had a 900 number for downloads from their
> extensive library of holdings, but I was not aware they serviced their
> UUCP logins via 900.

Their paying UUCP customers don't use the 900 number, since UUNET can
bill them later.  Their accounts allow them to send and receive
mail/news as well as download archive files.  The anonymous account on
the 900 number is just a convenient way to download files without
signing up for anything.

For the record, here is the login prompt.

> UUNET Communications Services (uunet)

> Use of this 900 number costs $0.50 per minute.  This will be
> billed on your regular phone bill.  If you don't wish to pay
> this, hang up now.  No additional transfers are allowed after
> 30 minutes of connect time.

> login:

That should keep the regulators happy ...


Disclaimer:  I have no connection with uunet.

Pierre Asselin, Santa Barbara, California  [e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: But as pointed out by some, UUCP operates without
human intervention. So who is there to see the warning message?  PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Paul Buder)
Subject: Re: Calls From Prison
Date: 4 Aug 1993 03:48:58 -0700
Organization: TECHbooks - Public Access


Sometimes I get an automated operator in Oregon and sometimes not.  I
know someone who spent time in the Washington County Jail.  The AOS
identified itself as Gateway Technologies (bleh -- can you believe that
name?) and it showed up on the phone bill as from Operator Assistance
Network.  When she was moved to the state prison in Salem all calls
came from US West.  They were automated once in a while but usually I
heard a live operator say "This is US West. [...] is calling collect
from a correctional facility.  The call may be monitored.  Will you
accept the charges?


[e-mail]  Not affiliated with TECHbooks  Paul Buder
Public Access UNIX at [phone] (1200/2400, N81)

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

From: marks![e-mail] (Charles McGuinness)
Subject: Re: Alternates Wanted to "Call Me" Cards
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 9:59:28 EDT


The Moderator has recommended a low-cost 800 number as an alternative
to a "Call Me" card.  I second his recommendation.  I have one, and it
has proven itself very handy. I use it when I'm away from the office,
and our nanny uses it to call us (e.g., from the subway station to
report she's stuck).


[Moderator's Note: Well, whichever one you have, you don't have mine!
How about switching it over? You can keep the same 800 number if you
wish, but the business on my end would sure be great about now! :) PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Tom Scheer)
Subject: Re: Exact Frequencies of 900MHz Cordless Phones USA/Germany
Date: 4 Aug 1993 16:04:03 GMT
Organization: CERFnet Dial n' CERF Customer


900 MHz cordless phones in the US may use any frequency from 902 MHz
to 928 MHz inclusive.  There are no specified frequency steps or
spacing.

Phones currently available are using from 20 to 100 different
channels.  The number of channels is not specified unless Digital
Spread Spectrum is used.


Tom Scheer   [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: CIS Feedback Response
Date: Wed,  4 Aug 93 16:34:57 GMT
Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory


In Article <[e-mail]> Bruce Sullivan
<[e-mail]> writes:

> I'm not sure if "mute point" simply means they don't want to talk about
> it or what ...  ;-)

It means that they don't know the difference between "moot" and
"mute". A moot point is one that may be debated, but is no longer of
real significance. For example, whether someone should be executed is
moot after he's dead! That does not mean it is not worthy of
discussion and debate, but no matter what the discussion leads to,
he's still dead.

In this case, since there is no longer an extra charge for CIS to
MCImail, CIS feels that the issue is no longer of significance
(maybe), and is moot. So they are not going to "waste" too much time
talking about it.

Common problem, right up there with the physical (fiscal) year.


R. Kevin Oberman    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Internet: [e-mail]    [phone]

Disclaimer: Being a know-it-all isn't easy. It's especially tough when you
don't know that much. But I'll keep trying. (Both)

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

Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 10:56:59 CST
From: [e-mail] (Bruce Albrecht)
Subject: Re: Cell Phone Fraud Losses Triple in a Year


In <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] writes:

> upchrch![e-mail] (Joel Upchurch) writes:

>> Is it just me or does surface mounting the firmware sound really dumb?
>> Most boards I've seen the ROM's will be socketed even if everything
>> else is surface mounted. I'm not an EE, but I'd think that if I had to
>> surface mount the ROM I'd use an EEPROM and design it so I could
>> reprogram it in place. I doubt that someone is going to like hearing
>> that their $1,000 phone's problem can't be fixed because the firmware
>> can't be updated.

> You have to remember the type of product these parts are in. It has to
> be very small and as low cost as possible.  A DIP ROM chip in a socket
> is just way too big and too expensive to put into a portable cellular
> phone.  EEPROM memories are also way too expensive.

Not so expensive that GSM cellular phones tend to use $10-$20 smart
cards (essentially a microcomputer with EEPROM) for maintaining
subscriber information and the current algorithm forencryption/
identification.  It seems to me that when fraud losses get large
enough, the $10 additional cost of a smart card or embedded EEPROM
would be cheaper for the cellular phone subscriber to bear than
increased charges by the carrier to compensate for phone fraud.


[e-mail]

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

Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 11:28:06 CST
From: [e-mail] (Bruce Albrecht)
Subject: Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"!


In <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Fred Ennis)
wrote:

> Here's what every person who ever answers the phone in a small company
> should know:

> 1. Do not give any info about office equipment, especially model or
> serial numbers out to ANY caller for any reason.

> 2. Do not give permission to ship to anyone who calls, unless you,
> personally, have placed the order.

> 3. Check all incoming shipments against what you ordered, and from
> which supplier.

> Those three rules make it much more difficult for these scam artists
> to operate. Unfortunately, most small businesses are not that well
> organized, and these scams prey on that.

I think Rule 2 is extremely important.  I once took a phone call where
the scammer was trying to sell computer related cleaning supplies, and
she made it sound like they were going to send us some FREE SAMPLES.
I was suspicious, and told her that I was not authorized to make
purchases, and asked enough questions until she admitted that she was
not giving anything away.  Unfortunately, I transferred her to the
person who could buy stuff, instead of telling her off (and hanging up
on her).


[e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Steve Forrette)
Subject: Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"!
Date: 4 Aug 1993 20:09:01 GMT
Organization: Walker Richer & Quinn, Inc.
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Steve Forrette)


In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Ehud
Gavron) writes:

> ENOUGH ALREADY on toner phoners.  It has little if anything to do
> with TELCOM, and it's hardly unlawful ...

I saw several of these type of scams with my living group when I was
in college.  They are often targets to these sorts of scams.  We would
get cases of light bulbs, toilet "blue" things, etc.  Of course,
everybody just ripped open the packages and used them, and the bill
would show up a few weeks later, for some outrageous amount.  I
remember a case of 100 of the toilet blue things that were later
billed at $4 each!  Invariably, when called, the companies would say
that they spoke to a particular person (who indeed lived there) and
that they had approved the purchase.  When checking with that person,
they would report that the person had called wanting to "confirm the
address for your supplies order."

Also, we had a semi-public pay telephone.  We would get the Yellow
Pages advertising scam every now and then.  Basically, it was
something marketed as a "confirmation of your Yellow Pages listing."
Basically, they had taken our listing out of the real LEC Yellow Pages
(which we got for free for paying for the semi-public payphone), and
implied that you were just "confirming" it for next year.  The fine
print on the back revealed that what you were really doing is
confirming your order in some no-name book for $35 a year.  They prey
on the fact that many people believe that the trademark "Yellow Pages"
can only be used by the real telephone company.  Of course, all of the
competing books are "Yellow Pages" as well, complete with the "walking
fingers" logo.  Either the term and the logo are in the public domain,
or they can be licensed from somewhere by anyone.  It fools a lot of
people in thinking that they are renewing their real Yellow Pages
listing.

> Give me a break and go back to arguing if The Breakup was Good or
> Evil, whether Steve will surplant John, or if the Pacific Northwest
> gets enough rain (both Steve and John will have insight, I'm sure).

I'm glad you asked, Ehud.  Actually, it's been quite nice up here in
the great Northwest this past week.  Today's forecast is for clear
sunny skies with a high around 88.  Until this week, however, we've
had only two days of sunshine the whole summer.  The drought is not
nearly as bad as it was last year.  Then, we had water rationing, with
no landscaping watering allowed all summer (a much tighter restriction
than in most areas in California, which is famous for summertime
droughts, where the most they do is restrict you to every-other day
watering).  But not this year.  It's been raining quite a bit,
actually.  Again, thank you for your concern.


Steve Forrette, [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (David Breneman)
Subject: Re: Beware of "Toner-Phoners"!
Date: 4 Aug 93 19:34:36 GMT
Organization: Digital Systems International, Redmond WA


Stephen Friedl ([e-mail]) wrote:

> On Friday he showed me the latest scam: he got a "commission
> statement" plus a check for about $12 that itemized earnings from four
> phones (which my customer did not operate).  The obvious scam here is
> that the back of the check had an endorsement qualifier that said that
> depositing this check was authorization to change LD carriers.

> While my libertarian principles might say that vigilance is the price
> of liberty and every company has an obligation to be careful when
> doing business, these payslime really push it.  How obnoxious.

> My customer is furious about this check thing and is going to investigate
> legal action; it dances around the edges of fraud.

At a firm I used to work for, US Sprint on several occasions sent in
checks for $25.00, made out to the firm, with fine print saying that
endorsement of the check was authorization to switch carriers.  Twice,
these checks made it as far as Accounts Receivable, and it was only
when the AP clerk couldn't find any remittance advice and attempted to
match the check amount with open balances in the "customer"'s (US
Sprint's) account that the fraud was discovered.  At the first
incidence, I called and complained.  The second incidence coincided
with a visit from a Sprint representative.  I showed him the "check"
and complained vigorously.  He said he was unaware of the practice
(plausible) and called back a couple days later saying that this
"campaign" was aimed as "different businesses" and we'd received the
"promotional offer" by mistake.

When we received a *third* such check a month later (this one was
caught before it made it to AP) I resolved that I would never allow
any firm or person over whom I had any control or persuasion to ever
use US Sprint as their long distance carrier.  I too am a Libertarian
and a card-carrying Ayn Rand Capitalist, and my philosphy is, make
these unethical practices known, and The Market will take care of
these slime.  May they be strangled in their sleep by Adam Smith's
Invisible Hand :-)


David Breneman                          Email: [e-mail]
System Administrator,
Software Engineering Services
Digital Systems International, Inc.     Voice: 206 881-7544  Fax: [phone]

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

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: MCI Makes Buses?
Organization: University of Victoria
Date:  4 Aug 93 17:27:32 GMT


> [Moderator's Note: Let us consider the initials MCC. On the one hand,
> it is the abbreviation for the federal Bureau of Prisons Metropolitan
> Correctional Centers, the prisons located in downtown Chicago, San
> Diego, and a few other places. On the other hand, it is also a very
> accepted abbreviation for the Metropolitan Community Church. :)

Being of English background, and not necessarily a Cricket fan, MCC of
course means Marelybone Cricket Club, the governing body for cricket.


[Moderator's Note: So we were told, a couple issues back.  PAT]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #541
******************************










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From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #542

TELECOM Digest     Thu, 5 Aug 93 02:37:45 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 542

Inside This Issue:                       Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Voice Recognition and Third Party Billing (Harold Hallikainen)
    Re: Lead in the Industry (Mark A. Cnota)
    Re: T1s Versus Regular Lines For a FreeNet? (Harold Hallikainen)
    Re: Dark Fibre (Anthony E. Siegman)
    Re: No, They Are Not Toll Numbers (Marshall Levin)
    Re: Area-Code Splits and State Capitols (Tony Pelliccio)
    Re: CCITT, ITU-T or TSS? (Ken Rossen)
    Re: Borneo Malaysia Phones (Jon Allen)
    Re: Used Cell Phone $ (Laurence Chiu)
    Re: Zoom Hotshot (*67) Problem (Ken Jongsma)
    Re: Sources For Restoring Vintage Phone? (Daniel MacKay)
    Re: Need Sources/Info For Cheap Voicemail (David Appleton)
    Re: Relative Time (was Re: Reflections on Hacker Sentencing) (Rob Boudrie)
    Re: Computer System Liability (Mike King)

                     ----------------------
TELECOM Digest is an e-journal devoted mostly -- but not exclusively --
to discussions on voice telephony. The Digest is a not-for-profit
public service published frequently by Patrick Townson Associates. PTA
markets a no-surcharge telephone calling card and a no monthly fee 800
service.  In addition, we are resellers of AT&T's Software Defined
Network. For a detailed discussion of our services, write and ask for
the file 'products'.

The Digest is delivered at no charge by email to qualified subscribers on
any electronic mail service connected to the Internet. To join the mail-
ing list, write and tell us how you qualify: [e-mail].
 All article submissions MUST be sent to our email address: telecom@eecs.
nwu.edu -- NOT as replies to comp.dcom.telecom.

Back issues and numerous other telephone-related files of interest are
available from the Telecom Archives, using anonymous ftp lcs.mit.edu.
Login anonymous, then 'cd telecom-archives'. At the present time, the
Digest is also ported to Usenet at the request of many readers there,
where it is known as 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Use of the Digest does not
require the use of our products and services. The two are separate.
All articles are the responsibility of the individual authors. Organi-
zations listed, if any, are for identification purposes only. The
Digest is compilation-copyrighted, 1993. **DO NOT** cross-post articles
between the Digest and other Usenet or alt newsgroups. Do not compile
mailing lists from the net-addresses appearing herein.  Send tithes and
love offerings to PO Box 1570, Chicago, IL 60690. :)  Phone: [phone].

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

From: [e-mail] (Harold Hallikainen)
Subject: Re: Voice Recognition and Third Party Billing
Organization: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Date: Wed, 04 Aug 1993 02:13:13 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
writes:

> After the Boing and the ATT announcement, I just waited, and instead
> of an operator, another announcement said, "This is ATT.  Please say:
> Collect, Calling Card, Third Number, Person to Person, or Operator,
> now."

> I said "Third Number" in my clearest and most distinct voice and the
> announcement then said, "Using Touch Tones, please enter the area code
> and number you wish to bill this call to, now".  And my call completed
> as normal.

    Is there any advantage to using voice recognition for the type
of billing when the person has to key in a number anyway?  It seems
that it would be far simpler to just give a menu of choices and wait
for a DTMF back with the choice.  I've also heard system that first
thing ask you to hit a key if you have a DTMF phone.  If not, they
immediately switch you to an operator, instead of giving you all these
choices you don't have on a rotary phone then timing out.  Anyway,
voice recognition is real neat and fancy, but does it really have an
advantage in this application?


Harold Hallikainen              [e-mail]
Hallikainen & Friends, Inc.     [e-mail]
141 Suburban Road, Bldg E4      phone [phone] fax [phone]
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-7590  telex 4932775 HFI UI

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

From: [e-mail] (Mark A. Cnota)
Subject: Re: Lead in the Industry
Organization: Ripco Communications Incorporated
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1993 21:58:36 GMT


In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:

> With all the concern over health hazards these days, I'd like to know
> how many teleco's still use lead sheathed cables and lead sleeves
> (closures). I routinely have to work with the stuff as a cable
> splicer.

I work on the engineering side of OSP in Ameritech (Illinois Bell) and
as far as I know our splicers are converting underground lead sleeves
to waffle cases whenever feasible. Besides the obvious health issues,
it seems like none of the new guys are learning how to work with lead
at all. If our engineering prints call for working with lead cables,
they include a note cautioning of lead oxide exposure, but I don't
know if this is actually supposed to serve as some kind of disclaimer
in regards to some OSHA regulations.


Mark A. Cnota   [e-mail]   [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Harold Hallikainen)
Subject: Re: T1s Versus Regular Lines For a FreeNet?
Organization: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Date: Wed, 04 Aug 1993 02:43:10 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
writes:

> [e-mail] (woody) writes:

> The Motorola / UDS "DAS 925" V.32bis MDP modem is exactly what you
> want.  You plug 24 of these little babies into a rack, attach T-1
> interface card, and out the back comes up to 24 standard RS-232 serial
> ports suitable for attachment to the terminal server or multi-port
> serial box for Toronto Freenet.

    Why is it necessary to have 24 little boxes converting the T1
to 24 RS232 lines?  That then requires 24 serial ports on the
computer.  It seems that there should be a "box" that directly takes
the T1, DSP demodulates it and converts it to a SINGLE data stream
that then connects to the computer.  The computer can then take this
datastream apart in software (if fast enough), or in hardware, if not.
The single data stream might use something like X.PC to identify which
data goes where.  For that matter, I'd expect to see some FANCY DSP
board that plugs into a PC that directly accepts a T1 and looks like
24 16550 chips to the PC bus.  The board would use DSP to do all the
modem standards plus accept switched 56 and ISDN data calls.


Harold Hallikainen              [e-mail]
Hallikainen & Friends, Inc.     [e-mail]
141 Suburban Road, Bldg E4      phone [phone] fax [phone]
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-7590  telex 4932775 HFI UI

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

From: Anthony E. Siegman <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Dark Fibre
Organization: Stanford University
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 03:40:14 GMT


   Just for the record, there are also "dark solitons" that propagate
on fibers (and AT&T Bell Labs has done pioneering research on them).

  A soliton is a short pulse of light that propagates in a fiber for
infinite distance without changing in shape or increasing in width,
even in a dispersive fiber, held together by a balance between
dispersive spreading and a certain kind of nonlinear pulse compression
effect.

   A dark soliton is a "dark space" in an otherwise continuously
illuminated fiber which has the same propagation properties, provided
the dispersion in the fiber is of opposite sign.  Most common glass
fibers will propagate dark solitons at wavelengths in the visible and
out to a little beyond one micron, and bright solitions at longer
wavelengths.  Bright solitons may be used in real fiber systems some
day, but are not being used as yet (I don't think); dark solitons are
unlikely to find practical use.

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

From: [e-mail] (Marshall Levin)
Subject: Re: No, They Are Not Toll Numbers
Organization: University of Denver, Dept. of Math & Comp. Sci.
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 03:48:24 GMT


[e-mail] (Paul Robinson) writes:

> to be placed via AT&T; if you called it via another carrier, the
> caller got a recording telling the caller to dial 10288 first.  The
> recording was the *real* number; AT&T terminated the calls to the
> number in question someplace else (the chat line equipment), and paid
> the provider the 2c per minute termination fee for each call made over
> AT&T.

> to be connected via AT&T.  If you were to dial the number 1 503 520
> 2222 by any means except AT&T (either local in the 503 area code, or
> dialing it over MCI), you'd get a busy signal.  If you dial via 10288
> or your long distance company is AT&T, you'd get a modem carrier.
> AT&T pays them the 2c per minute connection fee that would have to be
> paid to the local company; means no difference to them.

Ugh!  This sounds terribly unethical!  What ever happened to equal
access?  What ever happened to being able to choose any carrier to
provide the connection between two areas, with the understanding that
any carrier could connect you to the local phone number?  Is this even
legal!?


[Moderator's Note: It is perfectly legal for the recipient of a call
to refuse to *accept* connections from carriers other than X. Equal
access means you have the right to place calls to telephones *which
wish to accept your calls* over any carrier you choose. I say I won't
talk to you if you call via MCI or Sprint and will only talk to you if
you call me via AT&T (as an example). How do I prevent other carriers
from ringing my phone? Well, I don't actually, but I either leave the
phone off the hook all the time or I answer with a recorded message
saying I refuse to talk to you since you did not call on AT&T. Then I
go to AT&T and we arrange that whenever AT&T sees a call to my number
coming through their switch, they intercept it and send it out to me
on a direct line, or T1, or similiar from their switch, bypassing the
local telco completely.  So you call me on AT&T, they grab the call
and hand it over directly.  You call me on MCI/Sprint/others and they
hand the call to the local telco in my community which in turn tries
to connect to my phone only to get a message telling you I won't
accept your calls because, etc.

Now, why would I do this? Because I am a smart person and realize my
inbound traffic is creating a lot of money for long distance carriers
along the way. I go to the carriers and say which of you will give me
a kickback for forcing all my traffic over to you?  AT&T offers me two
pennies each time I get a call as their way of saying thanks for the
business I generate by doing whatever I do to induce thousands of
computerists, excited men, or whoever to call me each day.  Equal
access merely guarentees you can dial outbound calls via the carrier
you wish; it does not require call recipients to ever accept your
calls.  PAT]

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

From: [e-mail]
Date: Wed, 04 Aug 93 22:08:41 EDT
Subject: Re: Area-Code Splits and State Capitols


[e-mail] (Tony Pelliccio) Wrote:

>> One State, One Rate ... a plan that has been shot down by our Public
>> Utilities Commission several times because in reality, it's the
>> Utility's Utility Commission.

TELECOM Moderator noted:

> [Moderator's Note: How many miles wide and long is RI?  PAT]

Rhode Island is approximately 35 x 45 miles. I forgot to mention,
Acquidneck Island (Which is Newport and Jamestown) can't call BEYOND
the island without incurring a toll. Also, there's south county which
has an even worse calling area than Pawtucket. We get raped by New
England Telephone on a regular basis, for example, I'll compare costs
between RI 401 and MA 508 for basic services:

                MA      RI      Diff
Call Waiting    2.58    3.85    1.27
Call Forward    2.57    3.85    1.28
Three-Way       3.15    4.55    1.40
Speed-Call 8    2.10    3.05     .95
Speed-Call 30   4.12    6.10    1.98

Unlimited Service for a 508 telephone ranges from $8.90 to $14.18 a
month. In 401 it runs $12.37 to $16.64. Of course, in MA they DO stick
to the 11 mile toll limit so that might have something to do with it.

In addition, from a Providence exchange I can also call:
(508) 252 (Rehoboth, MA)
(508) 379 (North Swansea, MA)
(508) 761 (Attleboro, MA)

Without getting nailed for a toll call, but yet Pawtucket can call (508)
761 ONLY. Strange ...


Tony Pelliccio, KD1NR, Control Op 441.750+, ARRL VE
system @ garlic.sbs.com                Soon W5YI VE

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

Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 19:00:17 -0400
From: [e-mail] (Ken Rossen)
Subject: Re: CCITT, ITU-T or TSS?


Here's one data point:

In ISO/IEC we work collaboratively with the relevant group in ITU on
the Directory standard (X.500).  The output documents from our recent
joint meeting (an interim meeting for the ITU folks), the group was
referred to in output documents as "ITU-TS" (where "TS" is
"Telecommunication Standards" and the second "S" for "Sector" is
implied).

Also, the output documents did in fact replace "CCITT Recommendation"
with "ITU-TS Recommendation" even for older docs (viz., the "ITU-TS
X.500 Series of Recommendations"{and "ISO/IEC 9594-9 | X.525"), but I
saw some variation on that point.

I would probably refer to the group as "ITU-TS" in anything new I was
writing, and refer to the docs (old and new) as ITU-TS
Recommendations, but not rush to change old bibliographies in standing
documents until I'm sure the terminology takes.


[e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Jon Allen)
Subject: Re: Borneo Malaysia Phones
Organization: AT&T IMS - Piscataway, NJ (USA)
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1993 14:22:09 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Wm
Randolph Franklin) writes:

> Smartfon is a 100m range cordless phone, which you use near to a
> posted transmitter.  It's smaller than a cellular phone, which I think
> may also be available.

If this is the same as the System used in Singapore, then you can make
only outgoing calls.  All over Singapore are the little signs <CALL
ZONE> where you can use your phone to dial out.  Since many people in
Singapore carry Cell Phones, I would guess these short range phones
are marketed to those folks who cannot afford the Cell Phones (the
short range phones were very cheap).  Very interesting concept -- I
had not heard of it being used anywhere else.

Another interesting feature in Singapore is the integration of the phone
and paging systems.  From most phones, you dial a pager and just press
the star key twice (**).  This transmits the number of the phone you
are calling from to the pager.  Very handy -- sorta like pager Caller-ID.


Jon Allen

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

Subject: Re: Used Cell Phone $
From: uttsbbs![e-mail] (Laurence Chiu)
Date: 4 Aug 93 22:23:00 GMT
Organization: The Transfer Station BBS, Danville, CA - 510-837-4610/837-5591
Reply-To: uttsbbs![e-mail] (Laurence Chiu)


In a article, Harold Hallikainen said:

> In article <[e-mail]> Steve Edwards
> <[e-mail]> writes:

>> I live in California where bundling cell phones and activation is
>> illegal.  Thus, the price for a used cell phone is usually in the $200
>> to $400 range.

>> In states that allow bundling and the price of a new phone may only be
>> $50 or even free, what do used cell phones sell for?

> I saw an ad for a cell phone for something like $99.95 in this
> morning's {LA Times}.  No activation required (since it's in CA).
> Pretty amazing!

Well I have heard radio adverts for cell phones that could be rented
for as little as 99c/month (minimum of 6 months rental period -
cellular connetion extra of course). This is in the SF Bay Area. That
sounds like an amazing rate also since it gives you a fairly cheap
entry in the technology to see if you like it. I don't know what kind
of phone but I suspect perhaps a Motorola "brick" style.


Laurence Chiu
The Transfer Station BBS [phone] & 837-5591 (V.32bis both lines)
Danville, California, USA. 1.5 GIG Files & FREE public Internet Access

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

Date: Wed, 04 Aug 1993 08:34:11 EDT
From: Ken Jongsma <[e-mail]>
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Zoom Hotshot (*67) Problem


I wrote (regarding the Hot Shot dialer):

> The problem: the unit apparently interferes with my modem. Calls at
> 14.4 will no longer connect to any other site, including the Practical
> Peripherals BBS. Calls at 9600 or slower seem to be OK.

Jeff Hupp suggests:

>    Try this.  Plug the unit into the 'phone' jack on the modem.

>    The modem should disconnect the unit from the line when it
> goes off hook (mine does). This will have the effect of the unit bing
> there only if the modem is not making a call.  You, of course, will
> need to program your modem to send *67.

This is what I did and it does indeed solve the problem. In fact, the
modem does not cut off the Hot Shot until it detects carrier, so I
did not have to change any dialing strings.

One other interesting fact: If I dial before the Hot Shot sends *67,
the Hot Shot will not step in and dial. So if I want to send my number
for some reason, all I need do is start dialing before the automatic
*67. Very nice.

Thanks for the suggestion.


Kenneth R Jongsma            [e-mail]
Smiths Industries       [e-mail]
Grand Rapids, Michigan            [phone]

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

From: [e-mail] (Daniel MacKay)
Subject: Re: Sources For Restoring Vintage Phone?
Organization: NSTN Network Operations Centre, Nova Scotia, Canada
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1993 14:28:13 GMT


In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Ed Greenberg)
writes:

I've bought some phone, radio, and wire recorder gear from the Antique
Electronic Supply Co, in Tempe, Arizona, 602-820-5411.  They're fun to
deal with, ship quick, and have a beautiful catalog.


Daniel MacKay    [e-mail]
Homo habilis    Nova Scotia, Canada

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

From: [e-mail] (David Appleton)
Subject: Re: Need Sources/Info For Cheap Voicemail
Organization: Technet, Singapore
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1993 15:07:43 GMT


Dub Dublin,HOU281 2303,CTN-596-3199, ([e-mail]) wrote:

> I need to find information about, and sources of *inexpensive* voice
> mail systems.  I need a fair amount of programmability (new voice
> information service), so I'm assuming a PC-based system is my best
> bet.  If it's real cheap, I'll go single-line for now, until I pick up
> some more customers, but I think I'm really going to need a multi-line
> system soon.  It's VERY important that the system be able to execute
> arbitrary commands in the OS as a result of a user menu choice.
> Faxback would be a very desirable plus, but needn't be part of the
> voicemail system, since if it meets the previous criterion, I can do
> it external to the voicemail system.

> I need info/sources/prices ASAP if I'm going to get this project going.

Try Talking Technologies Inc. Their BigmOuth card has an API
(available separately) so you can write DOS programs to use it. For
the less adventurous, you can write a menu access structure that can
call dos programs. This way you can write SMALL programs to call the
API for the custom stuff and return to the menu structure for the
simple stuff like the announcements and menus.

The also have the powerline which is a two line system with up to
eight cards in a PC with an API for that.

    I believe they also have script file stuff.

As for phone number, etc. Sorry ! -- but they are in Silicon Valley I
think. Check in the small ads in {Dr Dobbs} and {Computer Language}.


Dave Appleton      E-mail :[e-mail]
Proteq Technologies
26 Ayer Rajah Crescent #07-01     Tel : [phone]
Singapore 1750                    Fax : [phone]

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

From: [e-mail] (Rob Boudrie)
Subject: Re: Relative Time (was Re: Reflections on Hacker Sentencing)
Organization: Center For High Perf. Computing of WPI; Marlboro Ma
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1993 17:04:15 GMT


>> Time is extremely relative as I found out when I spent five years at
>> Fort Sill, Oklahoma between January 1963 and April 1963. It is safe to

Wasn't it W.C. Fields who said something like "Ahhh yes, Philadelphia
 -- I spent a week there one night".

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

Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 16:37:32 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Mike King)
Subject: Re: Computer System Liability


In TELECOM Digest, V13 #532, Pat noted:

> [Moderator's Note: You are absolutely correct. In the middle 1970's,
> when First National Bank of Chicago mailroom employees were stealing
> cash money which arrived in the mail at their remittance box in the
> post office in error instead of my box, where it belonged, getting the
> post office or FNB to do anything about it at all was nearly impossible

> 60690 post office as well. I'll print an account of the whole sordid
> affair if anyone is interested. But yes, big companies do violate the
> laws all the time with impunity.  You try it!  PAT]

I'm always interested to hear when the little guy has a victory, of
any size, over big business.  Do tell!


Mike King * Software Sourcerer * Fairchild Space * +1 301.428.5384
[e-mail] or [e-mail]  *  (usual disclaimers)


[Moderator's Note: Maybe I will tomorrow or the day after.   PAT]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #542
******************************










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From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #543

TELECOM Digest     Thu, 5 Aug 93 03:50:20 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 543

Inside This Issue:                       Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Busy Signal Strangeness (was Re: Revisit ..) (Jack Decker)
    Re: Radar Detectors (was Re: New AM Band Violates ...) (Cliff Sharp)
    Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced (Alex Griffiths)
    Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced (Roy M. Silvernail)
    Re: ETSI Address Needed (Robert Shaw)
    Re: Networks in Sarejevo? (Harold Hallikainen)
    Re: 800 ANI Number Changes Behaviour (Shawn Gordhamer)
    Re: Standard Practice For Wiring House (Brett Elliott)
    Re: Area 205 to Split (Carl Moore)
    Re: Motorola Iridium (Juan Parra)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Wed, 04 Aug 93 04:37:45 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Jack Decker)
Subject: Re: Busy Signal Strangeness (was Re: Revisit ..)


In message <[e-mail]>, Jack.Winslade@axolotl.
omahug.org (Jack Winslade) wrote:

> Years ago this possibly related anomaly happened to me a few times and
> I've never really understood why this was so.  I would call a busy
> (real case of line busy) number and would get a couple busy-back tones
> from the far CO, with loud clicks at the onset of each tone which
> almost sounded like line reversal or supervision.  The far end busy
> would then switch to a local busy (I did verify that it came from MY
> switch) and apparently free up the trunk.

> These were all LD calls through the old AT&T network back in the old
> days.

> I haven't noticed this since the breakup.  The last time I remember it
> happening was the night of the NYC blackout in the late 70's.  I
> phoned my brother who was on a #5 xbar.  I was on a #1 ESS in downtown
> Omaha.  His line WAS busy -- he verified that when I finally got
> through, but every few attempts would result in this switched busy
> signal.  The call would progress normally.  I could hear the hiss of
> the analog LD circuit followed by the reverberant 'clunk' at the far
> end office, followed by a couple bursts of the loud raucous
> BAW-BAW-BAW busy tone, then followed by a switch to the gentle
> tweet-tweet-tweet busy tone of the local ESS.  The tone was more of a
> clickBAWclunk-clickBAWclunk click tweet-tweet-tweet.

I can't really explain why this happened in your case, but I do know
that GTE North in Michigan has always used a "supervising busy" signal
as a test number (generally the exchange prefix + 9999) on their
step-by-step exchanges.  Any place you can find a GTE step exchange
still in existance in Michigan, you'll probably find this test number
(three GTE stepper exchanges that I believe still exist in Michigan
are Holton, Ravenna, and Coopersville, all in area code 616, and the
821, 853 and 837 exchanges respectively.  I'll guess that at least two
of those three are still SxS, and maybe all three still are, but all
should be converted within the next few years).

These numbers do indeed supervise during the buzzing part of the busy
tone.  Some of you may recall the old GTE three-slot coin phones that
collected the money as soon as the party answered (using the polarity
reversal on the line to indicate supervision).  Some of those were
postpay phones (you weren't supposed to actually put in any money
UNTIL the party answered) and as a kid, it was real fun to dial one of
those test numbers from one of those postpay coin phones, because the
internal coin drop mechanism in the phone would operate in time with
the buzzing of the busy signal.  I don't know what kind of coin
collection mechanism they had in those old GTE phones, but when it got
to operating in time with that supervising busy signal it could create
a rhythm that would vibrate the entire phone booth.  It was sort of a
poor kid's pinball machine!  :-)

In the old days, when you called one of these numbers long distance,
every time it supervised it would cause a whole bunch of switches down
the switch train to kick in, and then when it released the switches
would revert back to their normal state.  Anyone who knows about the
2600 Hz in-band signalling would understand what was happening.
Anyway, if you called one of these and it had to pass though a
sufficient number of toll switches, you wouldn't hear the buzz of the
busy signal at all, just a chirp of 2600 Hz every second or so and a
LOT of clicks as toll switches up the line tried desperately to keep
up with the changing supervision state.  The funny part was that (at
least in those days) you never got billed for calls to those numbers
 ... I guess the supervised "on" time was never long enough to start
the billing mechanism.  I would not guarantee that is still the case,
however.

The one nice thing about being on GTE in those days (one of the FEW
nice things) was that, because of the polarity reversal mentioned
above, virtually any phone customer could get answer supervision
indication on local calls. What would happen is that the polarity of
the line would reverse when the call was answered, and stay reversed
as long as the called party was off-hook.  I've often thought this
ought to be required behaviour for new telephone switches, since it
would aid telephone users in keeping track of actual phone usage (and
also, the dreaded COCOT operators wouldn't have to resort to kludgey
and inaccurate methods of determining whether a call was answered).
Mind you, I wouldn't want to be back on a GTE step exchange for
anything (they were NOT real reliable!).

Anyway, the supervising busy signal definitely did (and still does)
exist, although I've personally never heard it used on anything but
the test numbers.  I wonder if maybe it was some sort of "overflow"
busy ... something that would kick in during periods of high trunk
usage and casuse the AT&T network to release the trunk and generate a
local busy signal instead?  It would be interesting to know the true
details about this one, although I can say that when dialing one of
these numbers from within Michigan, I never personally heard the
equipment drop back to a locally-generated busy... but then the last
time I tried it would have probably been in the late '60's/early 70's.


Jack Decker | [e-mail] or [e-mail]

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

From: Cliff Sharp <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Radar Detectors (was Re: New AM Band Violates ...)
Date: 04 Aug 93 23:07:13 GMT
Organization: Telco Systems Network Access Corp


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (David
Cornejo) writes:

: Before I left Virginia two years ago, this policy of immediate seizure
: had been abandoned (maybe it's been reinstated?)  Having had the
: experience of a Herndon, Virginia police officer confiscate my radar
: detector the procedure went as follows: First the officer asked me to
: turn the unit on (to verify that it was capable of being powered),
: after he had removed it he called in another police officer to verify
: that it was functional. I was informed at the time that it was being
: confiscated and that at such time as I was acquitted or had paid the
: fine I could reclaim it.

   I'm just itching for someone to do that to me.  Since I'm flat
broke and not working, I can afford the litigation.

   Basic premise: The Communications Act of 1934 and the Comm Act of
1986 specifically grant all control of radio communications equipment
to the Federal government, and an amendment to the Constitution (and
case law) provides that that preempts the power of the states to
regulate it.  Also, since I'm a ham and I carry my 2M equipment with
me everywhere, the car becomes a licensed station; a provision of the
Act provides that vandalism of a licensed station of ANY kind is a
Federal crime.  (I don't know if a court would find that theft of part
of the equipment constituted vandalism, though.  Theft is not
specifically covered to my knowledge.) So ...

   First, I'd explain the license; then I'd explain the Communications
Acts; then I'd ask him for his Federal enforcement credentials, and
when he couldn't produce them, inform him that it would be a violation
of Federal law for me to give it to them, that if they took it it
would constitute theft, and the license placed that theft under
Federal jurisdiction.  They'd take it anyway, but I'd be in court to
file charges immediately, have the Federal Marshals searching their
police station for the detector, and charge them and the entire chain
of command up to the legislature of the State with conspiracy to
commit theft of radio equipment from a licensed station.

   In case it's important to anyone, the X-band portion of the radar
detector does receive a portion of the 10.0-10.5 GHz amateur radio
band and can thus be considered to constitute a part of the station.

   [RUMOR mode ON] I understand the threat of such action spurred
Michigan to get rid of their prohibition on radar detectors.  [RUMOR
mode OFF]

> (P.S. If you're ever in Herndon, don't mess with the cops, one once
> gave me a 10mph over ticket while his partner stood off my front
> bumper and pointedly unsnapped his holster. I guess they were afraid I
> would try and shoot my way out of a $50 fine.)

   That would also come up in the Federal proceedings.  I believe
there's also coverage in the Comm acts about threatening a licensed
station with weapons.  Something about terrorism, but it applies.

   This might or might not work, but it would cost them dearly in any
event to find themselves in Federal District Court and the publicity
would kill them.

   Lest all this sound silly or fruitless, let me mention that I
recently won a speeding case by proving that the officer didn't know
whether he had a valid FCC license to operate the radar gun under 47
CFR 90, and could not produce a copy of a valid license (which, if it
existed, would have been right down the hall); and that he didn't have
a copy of such license prominently posted at the transmitting station
location (read: his patrol car).  (In actual point of fact, I
indicated 29 in a 30 zone, was charged with 36, and found that my
speedometer was reading 2 mph high, so I was actually doing 27; so I
don't feel the least remorse about it.  Also, the cop refused to get
out and look at my speedometer when it was indicating 12 MPH at a full
stop.)  It's a safe bet; FCC has recently taken enforcement action
against a number of police jurisdictions for operating radar with an
expired license.


Cliff Sharp    [e-mail]   OR  [e-mail]
  WA9PDM                  Use whichever one works


[Moderator's Note: First, try that explanation around here and a lot
of Chicago police would be upside your head in a minute. Second, for
all your knowledge of FCC regs, how come you failed to mention the one
which specifically says you are forbidden to act upon or profit from
transmissions you happen to overhear which are not intended for you?
What you hear on WGN-Channel 9 is intended for you to act upon and
benefit from, i.e. the sponsor's messages. Radio transmissions in the
frequency range where RADAR (it is an acronym for something, I forget
what right now) are *not* broadcasts. They are transmissions by
(presumably) licensed radio operators and/or their employees (the
police). They are not for your ears.

How do you act upon or benefit from what you overhear on RADAR?  You
slow your car down don't you? You act in your own best interest to
avoid a ticket, don't you?  That amounts to acknowledging that you
overheard something on the radio, which is illegal to do. You can't
tell me that anyone listens to RADAR just because they are interested
in the transmissions in the way a person listens to a scanner out of
curiosity about what is going on.  You listen to (or observe) your
RADAR unit for one reason only: to act upon and benefit from what you
happen to hear (or see, if it has a blinking light). That, on its face
is a violation of FCC regs, the same as to listen to other types of
two-way radio transmissions then benefit from them is illegal. You
also seem somehow to think that a local police officer cannot detain
or arrest you for violations of federal law. They certainly can; they
can take cases to the US Attorney just as easily as they can take
cases to the local prosecutor. Most cops would tell you that you have
a smart mouth. PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Alex Griffiths)
Subject: Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced
Date: 5 Aug 1993 00:19:52 -0700
Organization: Fujitsu Open Systems Solutions, Inc.


> [Moderator's Note: Maybe I am missing something here. Every UUCP-style
> account I have ever seen requires that the host have a daemon-user by
> the login name of 'uusomething'. When 'something' calls in, there is
> not only the password sequence, but a remote identification, handshaking,
> window openings, etc. For 'something' to get its mail or news, there
> have to be things similar to a .newsrc file in place, no? Otherwise
> how does the host know who to give mail to and who has received which
> news, etc?  I know (or am pretty sure) that UUNET has an anonymous
> FTP-like thing running on a 900 number, but anonymous UUCP? How does
> that work? How could the host possibly know how to hand out mail and
> news under the circumstances?   PAT]

Uunet does have anonymous uucp service available, as do a number of
other sites.  While this is not too common any more, due to the
availability of ftp, it is possible.  In Uunet's case you call
1-900-GOT-SRCS and login with the username uucp and no password, after
that you can request files using the uuxfer program.  I'm not sure how
much Uunet charges for the service but I do remember that the entire
X11 sources would cost about $250 at 9600 baud, if anyone can remember
how big they are then it would be fairly simple to work out how much
the per minute charges would be.  I do recall that they have Sprint
service and Sprint policy only allows thirty minutes of connect time
so something as big as X11 would require batched transfers.

Of-course, since there is no system identification, outside the
username, in the uucp protocol, it is not possible to receive mail,
although sending mail should be alright.  In fact, the only problem
with receiving mail is that the system being called would simply try
to deliver it to the first system that connected.  uucp actually
transfers mail in the same way files are moved, if a system has mail
waiting it simply queues it as a normal file transfer where the file
is the message and it is to be placed in the standard mail spool
directory, usually /usr/spool/mqueue.  The uux program runs
periodically and puts the file in the spool directory, the mailer,
frequently sendmail, also runs periodically and picks up the mail just
as if it had been generated locally.  The mailer examines the mail and
sees who it should go to, if it is local it puts it in the users mail
file, if not it passes it appropriately, usually via SMTP over TCP/IP
or via uucp again.  Because of all this, during anonymous uucp the
caller can schedule a mail file to be delivered just like any other
file, although the callee cannot do the reverse since because it
doesn't know if the caller is the correct recipient.

Experienced uucp'ers will notice that the above is somewhat
simplified, somewhat unsuccessfully, for brevity (references to rmail
and the like removed) and it implies the use of Unix systems, running
uucp on VMS or pc's (ick) would be slightly different.


Cheers,

Darren Alex Griffiths    Fujitsu Open Systems Solutions Inc
[e-mail]  [phone] x139

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

Subject: Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced
From: [e-mail] (Roy M. Silvernail)
Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1993 01:44:49 CST
Organization: The Villa CyberSpace, executive headquarters


In comp.dcom.telecom, [e-mail] writes:

> No, actually, I'm under the impression that UUNET offers 900 service
> to their anonymous UUCP, so there IS NO pre-arranged deal. This is for
> doing file requests for public software.

and PAT replies:

> [Moderator's Note: Maybe I am missing something here. Every UUCP-style
> account I have ever seen requires that the host have a daemon-user by
> the login name of 'uusomething'.

> How could the host possibly know how to hand out mail and
> news under the circumstances?   PAT]

The key, of course, is anonymous UUCP.
                                 ^^^^

News and mail aren't passed over this link.  It exists only to give
anonymous callers access to the UUNET archives.  I heard a figure of
somewhere around $150 to download X11R4 with a Telebit. (That could
be way off, too ... I bet someone here knows the exact costs, assuming
the service is still available.)


Roy M. Silvernail |+|  [e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: I guess the error in my thinking here is thinking
of UUCP as *only* for mail and news, and FTP for other movements
between sites. If UUCP is only for mail and news, then an anonymous
connection would be pretty useless.   PAT]

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

From: Robert Shaw <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: ETSI Address Needed
Date: 4 Aug 93 17:41:05 +0100


> Do you know if ETSI - European Telecommunication Standart Institute is
> on Internet ?

They don't have direct Internet connectivity today but it is
supposedly in the works.  However, you can reach ETSI via X.400 mail
(e.g., gatewayed from Internet RFC822 mail).  They are on the French
public X.400 network (ATLAS).  The address is of the form:

S=name; P=etsi; A=atlas; C=fr

So, for example, the X.400 address of Henri Hendrickx at ETSI is:

S=Hendrickx; P=etsi; A=atlas; C=fr

Hope this helps (and please don't bombard Henri with mail),


Bob Shaw   Information Systems Department
International Telecommunication Union, Geneva

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

From: [e-mail] (Harold Hallikainen)
Subject: Re: Networks in Sarejevo?
Organization: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Date: Wed, 04 Aug 1993 21:45:25 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(William M. Eldridge) writes:

> I'm currently researching similiar options for Macedonia, and could
> really use some advice from someone who's doing this already.  Perhaps
> some basic scenarios to start:

>  - what's the cheapest way to provide one user with a 9600 or 19200
> bps Usenet connection?

>  - what options are available for something like a T1 line?

>  - what kind of satellite connections/technology would be applicable
> for say a university? a country?

>  - are there any wireless technologies that are reasonable
> alternatives to running cable for a site with basically no existing
> network infrastructure?

> Of course answers for Europe (and Easter/Southeastern Europe
> especially) will be quite different, considering state of
> telecommunications and size of budgets available.

    Every time I talk with my friend Bill Sepmeier at National
Supervisory Network, I'm amazed at how cheap he can set up a
nationwide data network over VSAT satellite.  The latest price I heard
was something like $1,200 per month to distribute stereo digitized
audio over the US.  This is making it real cheap to start radio
networks.  They also offer two way "switched" data circuits thru the
satellites.  Of course, this is US, but MAYBE similar stuff is
available internationally.  If you want to talk with Bill, he can be
reached at [e-mail] or phone [phone]
8728.


Harold Hallikainen              [e-mail]
Hallikainen & Friends, Inc.     [e-mail]
141 Suburban Road, Bldg E4      phone [phone] fax [phone]
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-7590  telex 4932775 HFI UI

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

From: [e-mail] (Shawn Gordhamer)
Subject: Re: 800 ANI Number Changes Behaviour
Organization: a2i network
Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1993 01:45:37 GMT


In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (woody) writes:

> The 800 235 1414 number that gave out caller number readback along
> with an ad for 900-STOPPER and a privacy publication, had a different
> message tonight.  Just Thursday, the old Joker was up to his ANI
> tricks. On Friday afternoon, the 800 number got an unusual fast busy
> condition for a while. Now, Friday night, the number just has a
> message identifying as "Private Line", advertising 900-STOPPER and
> recommending a new 800 number for "caller ID".

How does 1-900-STOPPER work?  Do they really guarantee that the call
cannot be traced?  What if there were a court order?  Do they get
around this by not keeping records of their incoming call times and
where they are routed to?


Shawn Gordhamer   Rochester, Minnesota USA   [e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: We have touched on this before. He outputs calls
using *67 to avoid ID'ing them. If he is a common carrier, he keeps
records of his inbound/outbound traffic and produces it in response to
subpoena, and he is held harmless for the actions of his customers. If
he is not a common carrier, he may or may not keep records giving him
recourse to his customers in the event of some legal problem. If he
has no records or refuses to submit them, then the recipient of a
telephone call from his system who was victimized in some way as a
result simply assumes that Stopper made the call.  Merely saying 'I do
not keep records,' does not relieve you of your acts under the law. If
you knew, or should have known your equipment is being used for
criminal activity, you have an obligation to try and stop it.  The
Stopper guy gets sued now and then because he won't produce records.
How the cases are resolved, I do not know. I suspect he has to pay the
victims. He can probably afford it; he is an attorney as well as the
proprietor of 'Stopper'.  PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Brett Elliott)
Subject: Re: Standard Practice For Wiring House
Organization: Calif State Univ/Electronic Information Services
Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1993 02:55:13 GMT


 From what I have been told, a customer can have five lines on one
pair and the protector box on the side of the house could release the
signal to analog.  I don't know if this is true; the technician was
kind of vague.  He did explaine SLC-96s, but I don't think this
applies.


[e-mail]|

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

Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 16:03:47 EDT
From: Carl Moore <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Area 205 to Split


Maybe something like 334 avoids confusion with a "traditional" area
code?  I am in 410 and saw two advertisements and received one
wrong-number phone call (after full cutover) which used 410 when 401
(Rhode Island) was intended.

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

From: [e-mail] (Juan Parra)
Subject: Re: Motorola Iridium
Date: 4 Aug 1993 15:28:45 -0500
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway


Does anybody know about Muidiri Investments BVI Ltd?  This company is
suposed to be a big investor in the Motorola Iridium project.


Regards,

Juan Parra

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #543
******************************










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From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #544

TELECOM Digest     Sat, 7 Aug 93 16:09:45 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 544

Inside This Issue:                       Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Ohio Bell ISDN Costs (Ken Hester)
    800 Number Portability and "Fresh Look" (David G. Lewis)
    Q-Blazer (Telebit) and WWIV -- Ring Baud (Tim Clinkenpeel)
    TN93 Conference and Trade Show, Paris, Sept. 14-17 (Nigel Allen)
    Choosing LD Service (Paul Houle)
    950 Calling Cards (Dan Srebnick)
    Caller-ID Software Wanted (Steve Taylor)
    Norstar Meridian DR3 Phone System (Jill Pomeroy)
    1911 Telephone Advertisements ([e-mail])
    Sprint/Call-Net Deal in Canada (David Leibold)
    No, Not THAT White House (David Leibold)
    FCS on SDLC/HDLC/X25 (Benjamin Ben-Ami)
    *69 Saves the Day (Charles McGuinness)
    Reliability of ATM Networks  (S.)
    Handsets For the Hearing Impaired ([e-mail])
    T1, Internet Access (Mark Earle)
    NT Options? (Ian Eisenberg)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 07 Aug 93 14:58 GMT
From: [e-mail] (CSC, CSC Partners,APD)
Subject: Ohio Bell ISDN Costs


In <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Ken Hester), I wrote about my experiences with Ohio Bell's ISDN
Direct service.  Many of you have requested I post the charges for OBT
and AT&T.  The information below is based on my bills, documentation,
and phone calls to the corresponding providers.

***OHIO BELL   (intra-LATA charges)

Monthly Charges:

ISDN CKT SW VOICE B CHANNEL     3.00
ISDN CKT SW DATA ON B CHANNEL   8.00
2B1Q 1 WIRE U INTERFACE         7.10
ISDN DIRECT LINE               11.75
ACCESS CHARGE PER FCC ORDER     3.50
9-1-1 SERVICE CHARGE             .12
                            ---------
TOTAL                         $33.47 * see note

Measured Service per call:
8AM to 9PM      FULL RATE
9PM to 8AM      50% DISCOUNT

Rate Mileage      First minute    ea. add. min.
   0-10            $0.040          $0.010
   11-22           $0.045          $0.015
   23 and over     $0.050          $0.020

*NOTE: My two analog lines cost $35.64 @ month with call waiting on
one line; my ISDN line has more voice features including call waiting.

 ***AT&T  (inter-LATA charges)

I am not posting AT&T voice call rates as they are the same as a
non-ISDN line.

Data calls on AT&T are carried by their ACCUNET service, which are
distance-sensitive measured rates.  They are roughly $0.25 the first
minute and $0.15 each additional minute, YMMV! :-)

56-124 Miles
First 30 sec.   0.1465
ea. add. 6 sec. 0.0133

125-292 Miles
First 30 sec.   0.1565
ea. add. 6 sec. 0.0153

293-430 Miles
First 30 sec.   0.1660
ea. add. 6 sec. 0.0172

431-925 Miles
First 30 sec.   0.1775
ea. add. 6 sec. 0.0195

926-1910 Miles
First 30 sec.   0.1815
ea. add. 6 sec. 0.0203

I recommend that anyone needing further detail of costs contact the
appropriate provider.  ISDN BRI service costs vary widely among the
LECs.  Some LECs still target ISDN BRI for business users only and
they price their service at significantly higher rates.  The best deal
on ISDN BRI today can be had in the State of Tennessee.  Their PUC has
shown remarkable wisdom in promoting the widespread use of ISDN.


Ken Hester  CSC Partners, A Company of Computer Sciences Corporation
Internet: [e-mail]
IMHO, all opinions expressed are mine and CSC can borrow them if they ask.

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

From: [e-mail] (david.g.lewis)
Subject: 800 Number Portability and "Fresh Look"
Organization: AT&T
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 14:09:33 GMT


The following is taken from the AT&T "newswire" -- press releases and
such.

AT&T ANNOUNCES *** AT&T today said more than 95% of its 531 largest
business customers have voted to continue using AT&T long- distance
services, even though the federal government provided them an
opportunity to void their contracts during a 90-day "fresh look"
period just ended.  The eligible customers had to decide by July 29 if
they wanted to cancel AT&T agreements without a termination charge.
AT&T said it successfully protected more than $2.5 billion in annual
revenues, while signing new or expanded agreements with those same
customers worth more than $500 million for more services over longer
terms.  The value of new or expanded agreements greatly exceeds the
potential $90 million in annual revenues lost from those few customers
who voided contracts.  While nearly all eligible customers chose to
maintain or increase their business with AT&T, the company said it
also made additional gains against its competitors by winning new
customer contracts valued at more than $300 million.

ADP and CSX Transportation are among several signing new contracts
with AT&T for communications services -- including some services
previously provided by other long-distance companies.  The companies
that had been eligible to leave AT&T are generally among America's
largest businesses.  In making today's announcement, AT&T cited an
impressive roster of companies agreeing to remain its customers,
including Airborne Express, Atlantic Richfield, Avis, Black and
Decker, Cargill, Colonial Penn Insurance, Delta Air Lines, Federal
Express, General Electric, Honeywell, Metropolitan Life Insurance,
Monsanto, Northwest Airlines, Olin Corporation, PaineWebber and
Primerica.  "The overall results -- retaining 505 out of 531 contracts
 -- speak volumes about customer satisfaction with AT&T," said Joseph
Nacchio, president of AT&T's Business Communications Services unit.


David G Lewis                              AT&T Bell Laboratories
[e-mail] or !att!goofy!deej     Switching & ISDN Implementation

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

From: [e-mail] (tim clinkenpeel)
Subject: Q-Blazer (Telebit) and WWIV -- Ring Baud
Date: 7 Aug 1993 08:53:55 -0600
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
Reply-To: [e-mail]


I'm testing out a Q-blazer modem on my BBS, presently running WWIV.
I've played around with it quite a bit, but I'm stumped as to why the
BBS is getting connection speed results of "Ring" (rather than
something like "2400"). This has several adverse effects.

Is anyone else out there with the same configuration with some
insights?  or without the same configuration, but still with some
insights?


Thanks,

call the Lizard's Den bbs (801) IT'S-YODA - usenet, nethack, XiX, pc/amiga
tim clinkenpeel: aberrant analytical skeptical agnostic idealist.
            -- i exclusively represent myself --

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

Date: Sat, 7 Aug 93 14:30 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Nigel Allen)
Subject: TN93 Conference and Trade Show, Paris, Sept. 14-17
Organization: Internex Online - Toronto, Canada [phone]


TN93, a conference and trade show dealing with networks and
telecommunications, will take place in Paris September 14 to 17.

For more information, contact:
 Blenheim/TN93, 22-24, rue du President Wilson,
 92532 Levallois-Perret Cedex, France,
 or fax [phone]
 or Minitel 3616 Salons*TN

I am not involved with TN93, and I don't know if the conference
organizers have an Internet address.


Nigel Allen, Toronto, Ontario, Canada   [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Paul Houle)
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Date: Sat, 07 Aug 1993 13:39:00
Subject: Choosing LD service


        I am planning to get myself a real phone line soon [in
contrast to a dorm line], and I'm trying to decide which dial 1+
carrier I should get first.

        You see, I don't care about price, quality, and all those
things because I know about 10XXX+ dialing.  What I want to do is make
money by switching my long distance service, so I want to know which
carrier I should subscribe to to maximize my chance of getting a check
from another carrier to switch my service over.  The impression I have
is that AT&T seems to send checks out to MCI subscribers, since this
happened to a friend of mine whose landlord broke his lease, kicked
him out, and changed the service on that line to MCI.  [Don't ask how
we know that] He got a letter from AT&T offering him $70 to slam that
number, so he happily cashed it.

        What other hints can people in Telecom-land give to poor
college students like myself who want to suffer being slammed for
cash?  What can I do to increase my probability of being offered money
for being slammed and what can I do to increase the amount I get?  Is
it true that one man can get slammed often and hard enough to pay for
his local phone service?  How do I get my piece of the pie?


* Origin: NETIS [phone]/432-0922 (HST/V32) (1:132/189)

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

From: [e-mail]
Date: Fri, 06 Aug 93 20:00:34
Subject: 950 Calling Cards


I work in a facility served by an ESS CO Centrex.  The telephone
company has a toll restriction on most lines.  Unfortunately, this
seems to restrict outgoing 800 calls as well as the ability to dial a
0+ call.  I'm looking for a carrier that offers 950 access on their
calling cards.  I am not restricted from dialing 950-xxxx calls.


Dan Srebnick   Email: [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Steve Taylor)
Subject: Caller-ID Software Wanted
Organization: Grand Valley State University, Allendale MI
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 21:35:39 GMT


Hi everybody,

I am interested in computer software that displays incoming telephone
numbers on my computer screen.  Caller-ID was just introduced in my
area and I'm interested in a package to utilize it.  I have received
many posts as to hardware like Supra's modem that displays it, but I'm
interested in software.  Thanks for your help.


Steve Taylor            [e-mail]
SNM Consulting Inc.     [e-mail]   (NeXT)
Grandville, MI  49418   [e-mail]            (Mail)

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

From: [e-mail] (Jill Pomeroy)
Subject: Norstar Meridian DR3 Phone System
Organization: Mortice Kern Systems Inc., Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 19:59:07 GMT


Due to a recent revision of our phone system, my company is in a
position to sell a Norstar DR3 system.  This system was purchased one
year ago and is therefore in VERY good condition.  This system was
"de-installed" by Bell Canada which means that the proper measures of
care were taken with the equipment upon removal.

The specs below will indicate the maximum capacity of sets and lines
supported.

The purchase of this system would be a great benefit to a business
that requires state-of-the-art communications at a cost significantly
below market value.


EQUIPMENT LIST:

Equipment        Total        Capacity
KSU Processor          1        8 lines, 24 sets
DR3E              1
2 Port Exp Cartridge      1        2 Modules - Trunk/Station
6 Port Exp Cartridge      1        6 Modules - Trunk/Station
Station Module          1        16 sets/connections
7310 Phones (grey)       27
7310 Phones (cream)      7
7324 Console Phone      1


System Capacity: 8 Lines, 40 sets

Those with serious interest can contact me at [phone], or email
to [e-mail].


Jill D. Pomeroy    [e-mail]
MORTICE KERN SYSTEMS INC. [phone]
Direct Dial: [phone]

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

Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 22:00:51 EDT
Reply-To: [e-mail]
From: [e-mail]
Subject: 1911 Telephone Advertisements


Here's some entertaining ads from The Southern New England Telephone
Company, from 1911:

IF IT IS ON THE MAP WE CAN REACH IT FIRST  BY TOLL LINE

The telephone not only gets you where you wish to go but brings you
back as well, at a one-way charge for the round trip. It is the only
means by which, for all practical purposes, you can be in two places
at the same time.

EVERY BELL TELEPHONE IS THE CENTER OF THE SYSTEM

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

TELEPHONE FACTS

Thirty-three years ago the first Commercial Telephone Exchange in the
World was opened in New Haven with Fifty-six Subscribers. To-day there
are Six Million Telephones in the National Bell System and Eighty-six
Thousand Stations in Connecticut alone.

Thirty-three years ago it was considered almost a miracle that the
human voice could be carried by wire to different points in the same
community. To-day you can not only send your voice to any telephone
station in Connecticut but to millions in adjoining States as well.

Yesterday Telephone Service was a Possibility. To-day it is a
Necessity.

Have you a Telephone in Your Home?

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

THE VOICE FROM HOME

Will dispel the loneliness of one absent from the family circle, and
make the day brighter. The cost of a telephone message across
Connecticut is nominal, compared with the satisfaction of a personal
talk and the first-hand knowledge that all are well and happy.

With every telephone the center of the system, it is as easy to travel
to the most distant point in the State, or adjoining States, as it is
to reach the person just around the corner  BY TELEPHONE.

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

uunet!quack!gilly!dave
Dave Fischer - Nature's Perfect Food
[e-mail]

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

Date: Sat, 7 Aug 93 10:39 EDT
From: [e-mail] (woody)
Subject: Sprint/Call-Net Deal in Canada


The papers and radio stations (the latter tending to "rip 'n read"
their news from the former) in Toronto are abuzz about Sprint's plans
to buy a 25% interest in Call-Net Enterprises. Call-Net is one of the
"facilities-based" carriers in Canada that was successful in opening
up public long distance competition last year (Unitel was the other
competing facilities-based carrier).

Call-Net is mostly a resale company, though it does have a few of its
own routes in B.C. and some links to the U.S. from Toronto and Saint
John NB. The U.S. links are dormant pending CRTC approval. Call-Net
also intends to set up more of its own fibre optic networks.

Now, the big three U.S. carriers have interesting parallel
arrangements in Canada:

Call-Net / Sprint
Unitel   / AT&T   (AT&T has 20% ownership)
Stentor (Bell Canada, BC Tel, et al) / MCI

The recently-approved Bill C-62 Telecommunications Act stipulates a
limit of 20% foreign ownership in a Canadian carrier. Call-Net and
Sprint apparently believe that the 25% stake can be maintained because
this represents non-voting (and perhaps contrued as non-controlling)
shares in Call-Net. The section of the Act [18(3)] deals with the
ownership question and states:

"(3) For the purposes of subsection (1) [carriers must be Canadian-
owned], a corporation is Canadian-owned and controlled if at least
eighty per cent of prescribed interests in the corporation are owned
and controlled by Canadians in the prescribed manner."

Of course, there is a "grandfather clause" [18(2)] that would allow GTE to
maintain its substantial (> 20%) stake in BC Tel.

The Sprint/Call-Net arrangement means that Call-Net could use Sprint
software, trademarks, facilities, etc. One might expect Candice Bergen
to pop up on Canadian television soon. No doubt Bell Canada and other
Stentor member companies will have something to say on the deal


David Leibold

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

Date: Sat, 7 Aug 93 10:46 EDT
From: [e-mail] (woody)
Subject: No, Not THAT White House


The Canadian Press and CFRB Radio report that WDIV television in
Detroit botched up a display of the White House's phone number,
following President Clinton's Tuesday speech. Instead of showing area
code 202, the station used 204 NPA which sent the calls to Winnipeg,
Manitoba instead. Needless to say, it was a phun evening at the
Winnipeg home of Ray Stodgell, whose daughter answered many of the
presidential calls (perhaps the callers thought she was Chelsea
Clinton). Many callers, not familiar with the area code charts in the
phone book, were apparently convinced they got the President.


David Leibold

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

From: [e-mail] (Benjamin Ben-Ami)
Subject: FCS on SDLC/HDLC/X25
Organization: Technion, Israel Institute of Technology
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 12:58:22 GMT


Hi,

Does anyone know how the FCS (Frame Check Sequence) in the SDLC/HDLC/X25
is calculated?

Any addidtional information about the structure of the frame or where
I can get one will be appreciated.


Benny  [e-mail]

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

From: marks![e-mail] (Charles McGuinness)
Subject: *69 Saves the Day
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 93 11:07:21 EDT


Last Saturday, two men abducted a young lady at the Yaohan Plaza
shopping center in Edgewater, New Jersey, took her to a local hotal,
and repeatedly raped her. The rapists then forced her to call her
parents to tell them that everything was OK.

The parents, however, could tell that everything was not OK.  Using
the *69 call return feature, they called back, getting the hotel
switchboard (and therefore finding out where she was).  They went to
the hotel and freed her, chasing off the rapists, who are now being
sought by the police.

I suspect I know what a Moderator's note might say about all this, and
I have to say I agree.


[Moderator's Note: I agree also with what you suspect I would say.  PAT]

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

Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 11:39:00 +0000
From: Stephane (S.) Proulx <[e-mail]>
Subject: Reliability of ATM Networks


Two weeks ago, the DesJardins ATM network was unreachable for some
reason. DesJardins is the largest "bank" in Quebec. (it is not really
a bank but rather a co-op) Needless to mention that automatic banking
services had become a crucial part of our daily living during the past
few years.

An outage like the one experienced last weekend has a huge impact on a
lot of people, and can even have some critical consequences in some
cases. For example, I "discovered" the outage when I tried to pay for
my grocery with the Direct Payment service, and I came home with a lot
of frustration, but without food.

Who rules the reliability of the ATM networks?

Here in Canada, the performances of the telcos are severely monitored
by the CRTC and no one can imagine the consequences of an outage like
the one I described above on the telephone network.  In these days and
ages, ATM network has become an essential service for which we pay
important administration fees, and is in that sense not that much
different from the telephone network.


Stephane Proulx   Bell Northern Research
Disclaimer: Speaking for myself.

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

From: Alan Frisbie <[e-mail]>
Subject: Handsets For the Hearing Impaired
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Handsets for the hearing impaired
Date: 7 Aug 93 10:20:17 PDT
Organization: Flying Disk Systems, Inc.


I am looking for the following:

1) Amplifying telephone handsets for the hearing impaired.
   In this particular case the person's loss is about
   50 db from 500 to 8000 Hz, with much less loss at
   the low and high end.   Just wrong for phone use.   :-)

   The phones I want to use this with are the Code-a-Phone
   8425 & 8440 and the Southwestern Bell FT38 "Freedom
   Phone".

2) Complete multi-line (2-4) phones with all the "usual
   features", plus the above.

I tried the local consumer electronics stores (Fry's, L.A.Tronics,
etc.), but the best I could find is a strap-on amplifier cup.  This
problem with this is that it must be removed every time you hang up
the phone, making rapid answering difficult.


Alan E. Frisbie             [e-mail]
Flying Disk Systems, Inc.
4759 Round Top Drive        [phone] (voice)
Los Angeles, CA 90065       [phone] (FAX)

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

Date: 07 Aug 93 13:58:46 EDT
From: MARK EARLE <[e-mail]>
Subject: T1, Internet Access


Maybe I'm calling/emailing the wrong folks, but so far no direct,
simple answers have come forth.  Objective: Find out the costs to set
up a service which would offer dial up access to Internet facilities.
We envision something similiar to netcom.com. Callers dial with
"standard" modems over plain old telephone service.  They get a unix
shell, can use ftp, readnews, run or compile programs, etc.

The 'Unix' part is easy to cost out. The unknowns are: How do I get an
"internet" connection? Where? Via what media? What does it cost, who
do I contact, etc? I presume for serious stuff (50-500 simultaneous
callers) T1 is indicated.

Best way to get an initial batch of 50 lines and then have
expandability. Centrex, T1, and other things are mentioned. I can't
imagine 50 or 500 RJ-11's and that many external modems laying around.
Surely "something" exists that essentially takes t1 from the phone
company and gives me seperate sync or async lines that the unix system
can deal with.

Comments? Help? Pointers? Advice? All welcome. The local phone company
has no clues, at least, the portions I've talked to. It may be I need
to know the right words to get the right people :-)

I'm in Corpus Christi, TX if that makes any difference.  Replies to
the Digest OK, or possibly, to my email and I'll summarize. Thanks!

On this one, the email should be [e-mail].


Mark Earle

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

From: [e-mail] (Ian Eisenberg)
Subject: NT Options?
Date: 7 Aug 1993 11:35:10 -0700
Organization: (CYBERSPACE) Public Internet 206.286.1600


I am familiar with Northern Telecom OPtion 11 Meridians.  Does anyone
know the difference between an option11 and an option 21.  ALso do the
station side lines have a positive disconnect signal.  I need either
CPC or a reversal of battery.  Like for using it with a dialogic
voicemail system.  What about release 17 software?

Please reply to [e-mail].

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #544
******************************










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From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #545

TELECOM Digest     Sat, 7 Aug 93 17:13:00 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 545

Inside This Issue:                       Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    L.A. Cellular Telephone Complaint (Mark Rudholm)
    NXX Report: July 1993 (David Esan)
    Leftover Drops (Joe Johnston)
    Internet Chargeback (Bob Schwartz)
    UnDirectory DTMF Recognition Low-Quality? (Brian Hess)
    Looking For Teltone M980 to Finish Hallo, met de mac Project (Groenendijk)
    Call Tracker Device Wanted (Hindra Irawan)
    New Competitor in Local Dial Tone (Paul Robinson)
    Free French Phone Information From Publiphone (Jean-Bernard Condat)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sat, 7 Aug 93 17:54:33 PDT
From: [e-mail] (Mark Rudholm)
Subject: L.A. Cellular Telephone Complaint


Pat, this is a copy of the disconnection letter I sent to L.A.
Cellular and I thought that your readers might find it interesting.

Mark


[Moderator's Note: I did, and I think others will also.   PAT]


         ------------Begin Included Text----------------

Mark D. Rudholm
301 S. Windsor Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA  90020-4711

TO:     Los Angeles Cellular Telephone Company
        ATTN: Customer Relations Dept.
        PO Box 6028
        Cerritos, California  90701-6028

CC:     Clear Talk - Letters to the Editor
        PO Box 6028
        Cerritos, California  90702

CC:     Telecom Digest
        [e-mail]
        Usenet: comp.dcom.telecom


August 5, 1993

To Whom it May Concern:

I have been an L.A. Cellular customer for a year and a half and have
decided that I will no longer be doing business with LACTC.  The
"Clear Talk" customer newsletter I received invited me to share my
thoughts with the company and I thought my reasons for leaving might
be relevant.  The initial signs of trouble came quite early.  When I
purchased my phone (a handheld model) I was told that activation would
likely occur within a couple of hours and definitely by the end of the
day.  It was a Friday so I was pleased to know that I would have
service for the weekend.

After about a week of no service, the retailer was finally informed by
the relevant LACTC department that the number they initially assigned
me was that of a suspended account.  So I had to make an additional
trip to the retailer to have my phone re-programmed.  In my opinion,
there is no excuse for such an error.  But alas, my phone worked and I
was happy for the moment.

My contentment proved short-lived.  Five months after establishing
service, I moved from Venice to Hancock Park.  I called "Customer
Care" one month prior to my moving date.  I gave them my moving date
and even explained that I should get one more bill to my old address
and then all future bills should go to my new address.  After moving I
realized that I was not getting my bills.  I called "Customer Care" to
inquire.  It seems that they had no record of my new address.  I
requested that duplicate bills be sent to my new address -twice.  Both
times the bill was sent to the old address.

My next complaint came while I was on a motorcycle trip to San
Francisco.  While passing through San Luis Obispo, I found that LACTC
does not have a roaming agreement with the one carrier in that area.
When I arrived in San Francisco, I found that some of my account's
features were unavailable.  After a conference call with a Cellular
One SF service representative and an LACTC representative, I realized
the level of relative incompetence of the LACTC rep.  I decided I'd
just do without, again.  When I call "Customer Care," I consistently
encounter personnel who know less about your system than I do.  I
usually end up telling them how features work -- or at least, how they
are supposed to work rather than the other way around.

I was never able to get service changes effected within a reasonable
time frame, especially if a weekend was involved.  Service representa-
tives' time frame commitments were never met.  I was pleased to find
that "Customer Care" is now available 24 hours daily but then I
realized that since no other departments are in operation, and since
it invariably takes several departments to get anything done, the
advantage is usually reduced to having a human tell me to call back
inside normal business hours rather than getting the same instructions
from a recording.  I also find it inconvenient that your 800 number
doesn't answer at all after normal business hours.  After casually
discussing these gripes with friends who were also LACTC customers or
customers in other markets who had roamed on LACTC I heard some even
more disturbing accounts.

One LACTC customer told me that during a road trip he took across the
country his service was mysteriously deactivated.  When he called
"Customer Care" to clear up the problem, he was told that they thought
the phone had been stolen because they saw it moving across the
country!  This made no sense to me (or him) since I didn't understand
why a moving phone would be any more likely to be a stolen phone than
a relatively stationary one.  I always thought that the whole point of
a cellphone was mobility.  In any case, "Customer Care" could provide
him with no reasonable explanation.  This as it turned out, wasn't the
biggest problem.

Apparently, when service is activated on the LACTC system, or
re-activated as in this case, that phone cannot roam in other markets
until after making at least one call on the LACTC system.  So there he
was three thousand miles from Los Angeles, unable to roam anywhere
without first returning to Los Angeles to reset his account.  There is
no excuse for that at all, under any circumstances.  He too, had to do
without.

Another account was from a Seattle resident who, while roaming on
LACTC several months after the 310 area code was created, found that
he could not call any 310-xxx-xxxx number.  "Customer Care" told him
that this was because Pacific Bell(the landline telco) hadn't given
LACTC any 310 prefixes yet!  He tried to explain that he could call
206-xxx-xxxx without any problem even though LACTC has no 206 numbers.
The rep was simply technically inept and couldn't refer the call to
someone who wasn't.  Fortunately, since it was still within the
permissive dialing period, he was able to call into 310 by using the
213 code.

Another complaint I had was with billing.  After an extended vacation,
I inadvertently missed one billing cycle.  I returned from my vacation
to find a notice in my mailbox from LACTC that my account was to be
disconnected within five days and a threat to damage my credit rating.
A rather heavy-handed response for a single 30-day-late on an
established account in good standing.  I called to ask if that was the
normal response for this kind of thing and was treated rather rudely.
I thought it rather ironic that LACTC should treat a minor mistake
made in good faith so harshly after all the ineptitude I had put up
with from LACTC.  I, in contrast, acted immediately to rectify my
error.

I stayed with LACTC for as long as I did for one reason only. I prefer
the Ericsson system over the Motorola MTX that this market's other
carrier uses.  But finally I decided that I was through doing without
and got a Pac Tel account on my phone's second NAM.

While on business in the Portland, Oregon area, I purchased a new
handheld phone second hand from a friend.  Knowing full well that I
would not be able to roam even if I could get LACTC to activate the
phone, I called Pac Tel for help.  Not only did they add the new
equipment to my account over the phone, they also put me on the phone
with a technician who actually walked me through the programming
sequence for my new phone (a Motorola Micro-Tac.)

Not only that, but I was able to roam immediately!  I was impressed
with the quality of service they gave me.  I was quite fed up with a
telecommunications service company that created problems and elated to
find one that actually does what I pay it to do -- solve problems.  I
requested that my LACTC account be suspended so that I could avoid
paying the monthly access fee while I was preparing to sell my old
phone.  Curiously, I got billed for two incomplete calls made during
the period the service was suspended!  I know of no other market where
users have to pay for incomplete calls.  Most markets give callers an
airtime allowance with the basic service charge and some even have
flat rates for all off-peak usage.  Also, most markets don't charge
per-minute for forwarded calls and don't charge double air-time for
call-waiting.

I was surprised to see the back page of Clear Talk prominently
displaying an announcement that the freeway call boxes use LACTC as
their carrier.  I was surprised because after the embarrassing
incident where someone cloned a call box to place thousands of calls
was reported in the {L.A. Times}, I would think that LACTC would want
to downplay its involvement.  I was amazed to find out that the
ESN/phone number from a call box could call any number just like a
regular cellphone account.  It doesn't take a genius to realize that
call requests from those ESNs to any number other than the CHP should
not be honored by the switch.  The kind of technical and
administrative ineptitude that made that theft of service possible
seems to be characteristic of LACTC.  Consider this letter a formal
request to completely discontinue account #13010228 (213-713-9544.)


Sincerely,

Mark D. Rudholm

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

From: [e-mail] (David Esan)
Subject: NXX Report: July 1993
Date: 7 Aug 93 13:30:34 GMT
Organization: Moscom Corporation, Pittsford NY


Once a quarter I USED to receive the BellCore V&H tape.  Using this
information I could total the number of exchanges in each area code.
The twenty most populous area codes are listed below.  After the
written text of this article I have included the count for each of the
area codes.

This is no longer our procedure.  The information in FCC #10 is now
detailed enough that we no longer need to order the tape from BellCore
and are using FCC #10 for our V&H information.  There will be some
changes during the changeover, FCC #10 is more current, and some
exchanges due for addition and included in the tape may not yet be in
FCC #10.  For that reason I have deleted the quarterly growth
statistics, and you will note that some NPAs have grown negatively.

We have used pages issued prior to July 2, 1993.  I am not responsible
for the information supplied in FCC #10.

I have not included the following in my counts of exchanges:

  - NXX's that are not dialable by a standard user (ie nxx's that begin
    with a 1 or 0).

  - Mexican exchanges in the 52? series of area codes.  I've got them,
    you can dial them with 011, but they're not really NPAs.

  - Exchanges that are non-dialable in the 88? series of area codes.  I've
    got those also, but you can't dial them, so I'm not including them.

    Numbers that begin with 88 are nondialable stations in the US, Canada and
    Mexico.  They are ranches in the middle of the Nevada or Texas desert,
    or isolated outpost of civilization (always wanted to use that phrase) in
    the tundra of Canada.  I find place names like the Bar J Ranch, Double B
    Ranch, and JD Dye, Texas, Amargosa, Corncreek and Reese Valley, NV, and
    Chick Lake, Redknife and Taglu, NT.  I gather they are ringdown stations,
    or radio-telephone stations.  [It has been noted in c.d.t. that at least
    two of these numbers are for a bordello on the NV-CA border.]

    905 in suburban Toronto, and 810 in suburban Detroit have not appeared yet.

The fields are:
                        ------------ rank last in October, 1992
          213: 736 (1, 7)
  area code --^^^  ^^^     ^------- number of new exchanges
                    |-------------- total number of exchanges

212: 705 ( 2,  0)  416: 682 ( 6,  2)    708: 647 (11,  3)   216: 585 (16,  2)
512: 703 ( 1, -7)  714: 674 ( 7,  6)    713: 635 (12, -1)   503: 583 (17,  2)
205: 694 ( 3,  1)  215: 667 ( 8, -2)    703: 621 (13,  6)   303: 575 (18,  1)
919: 691 ( 4,  0)  602: 654 ( 9,  3)    403: 611 (14,  1)   809: 574 (24, 18)
313: 689 ( 5,  1)  206: 653 (10,  4)    604: 592 (15,  1)   803: 574 (19,  1)


1. 512 - split is completed.  Major deletion is underway.
2. 212 - split in progress.  Number should be reduced by split, and the
     movement of the Bronx to 718.
3. 205 - split is planned.  Number should be reduced by split.
4. 919 - split is planned.  Number should be reduced by split.
5. 313 - split is planned.  Number should be reduced by split.
6. 416 - split is planned.  Number should be reduced by split.
7. 714 - split in progress.  Number should be reduced by split.
8. 215 - split is planned.  Number should be reduced by split.

Given all of that, the NPA that is largest and is not splitting nor
has plans (at this time) to split, is 602 in Arizona.

The 3 smallest NPA's were and remain (Although 917 has moved from last
to third from last):

917: 124 - The new NYC NPA (+20 new exchanges)
906: 117 - Michigan's Upper Peninsula  (no change)
807: 105 - Western Ontario (No change)

All the NPAs and the number of nxx's in each are listed below:

212: 705  612: 567  816: 481  716: 403    908: 354  706: 300  806: 260
512: 703  404: 565  513: 476  616: 402    912: 351  613: 300  608: 256
205: 694  615: 562  317: 464  508: 399    510: 350  218: 300  509: 253
919: 691  214: 557  916: 459  219: 380    207: 349  208: 299  603: 244
313: 689  501: 554  306: 453  316: 378    304: 345  918: 298  901: 234
416: 682  813: 552  201: 449  209: 373    419: 344  712: 286  308: 212
714: 674  314: 552  412: 445  914: 370    318: 344  202: 286  417: 206
215: 667  203: 548  913: 443  502: 370    408: 340  903: 283  707: 197
602: 654  305: 543  614: 437  217: 370    319: 339  812: 283  506: 183
206: 653  619: 539  515: 436  704: 369    517: 338  808: 281  802: 181
708: 647  904: 536  818: 423  213: 369    618: 337  909: 280  719: 179
713: 635  405: 533  407: 422  418: 367    505: 333  606: 279  607: 176
703: 621  817: 527  402: 422  406: 365    715: 321  518: 275  307: 171
403: 611  804: 515  601: 421  701: 362    702: 320  507: 275  401: 141
604: 592  718: 501  210: 419  801: 361    819: 314  902: 274  413: 135
216: 585  717: 501  415: 417  504: 357    815: 314  705: 274  302: 129
503: 583  414: 501  410: 417  605: 356    915: 313  315: 268  917: 124
303: 575  514: 500  617: 414  519: 355    805: 311  814: 267  906: 117
809: 574  312: 497  907: 406  301: 355    609: 304  309: 264  807: 105
803: 574  310: 482  516: 406  204: 355    409: 304  709: 261  ---  ---


David Esan      [e-mail]

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

Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 16:39:32 -0400
From: [e-mail] (Joe Johnston)
Subject: Leftover Drops


In two of the three houses I have lived in during the past three
years, I have been able to plug a phone into a modular jack and use
someone else's phone line.  In one case I called the business office
and was told I would have to pay a service charge to have the
offending line removed.  In the other case they came out and
disconnected the line from my house.  These had been second lines of
previous occupants and the telco did not bother to remove the drops
when the line was given to someone else.

This would seem to make privacy a bit chancy.  Anybody else had this
experience?


Joe  Johnston
Alcatel Network Systems, Inc. --- Raleigh, NC --- [phone]
                                              FAX [phone]
Email: [e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: A few years ago in the Digest we had the story of a
woman living in Lockport, IL who purchased a house from its previous
owner who operated a telephone answering service on the premises; in
a spare room in fact which this lady wanted to make into a bedroom. A
big terminal block in there had a couple hundred pairs terminated on
it serving people and businesses all over the neighborhood. All of the
pairs were live. She wanted Illinois Bell to remove this thing and
they told her it would cost *her* a couple thousand dollars to relocate
all the pairs to outside her home (on the side of her house or somewhere
like that. IBT refused to move their lines out of her bedroom until
she paid the $2000, and to add a little urgency to the matter IBT
insisted they had easement rights to their terminal box at any time;
said easement having been given to them by the former owner with the
telephone answering service, meaning they could enter her bedroom at
any hour in the conduct of their business and repair of lines, etc.

If the average telephone user in large inner city urban areas like
Chicago knew how unsecure the pairs are, they would become too
paranoid to talk on the phone at all. Go into any older highrise
building in Chicago, go to the basement, and connect to hundreds of
lines by just picking the pair you want. Many people have reported to
me that they had only one phone in their home, yet the modular jack
would have the usual second (black/yellow) pair in the box. When they
went on that line they got dial tone. One guy said he used ring-back
on that line and waited for an answer. The lady who answered was
across the alley and several doors down the street. Yet get calls on
your bill not your own and IBT insists you 'must have' made the call
since it is direct dial!  PAT]

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

Subject: Internet Chargeback
From: [e-mail] (Bob Schwartz)
Date: Sat, 07 Aug 93 11:27:57 PDT
Organization: Bill Correctors, Inc., Marin County, California


Are any corporate Internet users aware of any ways for implementing
chargeback costs for Internet billing with multi protocol networks?
I'm talking about interdepartmental expense allocation for useage and
hardware but mostly useage. Please reply privately.

Internet: [e-mail]   Voice: 415-488-9000, Fax: [phone].


Thank you,

Bob Schwartz                                       [e-mail]
Bill Correctors, Inc.   [phone]   Marin County, California

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

Date: Sat, 7 Aug 93 15:58:39 -0500
From: [e-mail] (Brian Hess)
Subject: UnDirectory DTMF Recognition Low-Quality?


Does anybody know what kind of boards that "UnDirectory" 900 service
is using?

I tried it and couldn't get it to recognize my DTMFs.  It would get
four of ten, five or six of ten if I pressed slowly and waited
carefully between each, complain, then hang up.  I'll let them have
their $1 (or $2), and I don't suspect them of actually *trying* to rip
me off by having bad DTMF recognizers, but could someone who knows
tell me whose PC boards they are using, so I can avoid using that
brand myself?

(I'm *assuming* that they are using PC boards, since it's a Votrax
doing the speech, and would be vastly more expensive to do any other
way.  By the way, the Natural Microsystems PC boards I've played with
always recognize perfectly, even on noisy lines, which this was not.)

Jeez, bad enough it *talks* in Swedish, but it *hears* with an accent
too!  ;-)


Brian Hess    Active Ingredients, Inc.    [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Jilles Groenendijk)
Subject: Looking For Teltone M980 to Finish 'Hallo, met de mac' Project
Organization: Nedlloyd Computer Services
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 06:30:47 GMT


The Dutch ELRAD magazine released the c't MacAnswer project, I ordered
the software and the print. But when trying to get all the components
I got stuck on a specific IC. The shops in Holland can not supply it.
They told me its a German chip, which can not be ordered in Holland.

It's the Teltone M980 (8pins DIL) IC.  It is a candansdetector which
analyses analog signals in the 315-640 Hz range.

Is there anybody out the who can help me get this component?


Jilles Groenendijk    [e-mail]
Nedlloyd Computer Services
P.O. Box 2454  3000 CL Rotterdam (The Netherlands)
+31 10 - 4007310

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

From: [e-mail] (Hindra Irawan)
Subject: Call Tracker Device
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 09:20:49 GMT


Does anybody know of a device that would do the following:

  - record the number called (tone and/or pulse dialing);
  - record the time and day of the call made;
  - record the duration of the call;
  - dump the data collected to a PC or Mac;
  - capable of handling multiple lines.

The reason I asked this is because in the country where I am going
(Indonesia) there are no such thing as itemized phone bill. I need to
use this as an analysis tool. Hopefully so that I can work on my own
as telecom consultant.

If you have information on where to get such device and how much,
please send it to my email address ([e-mail]).


Thank you in advance!

Hindra     [e-mail]

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

Date: Sat, 7 Aug 93 05:59 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: New Competitor in Local Dial Tone


A recent article in the {Washington Times} announced that MFS, Inc.
has filed a proposal to be allowed to connect directly into C&P
Telephone's equipment for the express purpose of being able to provide
alternative dial tone to business customers in the Maryland suburbs
of, and Washington DC.

MFS currently provides service to customers who are close enough to
its equipment to connect directly, such as businesses that transmit
large amounts of computer data.  This proposal would allow MFS to
provide service to any business in the Maryland suburbs that wants an
alternative to C&P Telephone.

The phone company (C&P Telephone of Maryland) is not exactly pleased
with this development, to put it mildly.  C&P's main complaints --
which may be justified -- are that it is required to provide
residential phone service to anyone (residential service loses money
according to C&P), and if MFS wants to provide service, it should have
to either be subject to the same standards as C&P, or C&P should have
some of the restrictions placed on it lifted.

Hearings by the Maryland Public Service Commission on this filing will
not occur until next year at the earliest according to a spokesperson
for the Commission.

They are not identified in the article, but I think MFS, Inc. is
commonly known in the area as Metropolitan Fiber Systems, Inc.


Paul Robinson - [e-mail]
"Since these opinions come from the owner of this account, no
disclaimer is necessary."

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

From: [e-mail] (Jean-Bernard Condat)
Date: Sat,  7 Aug 1993 12:01:56 GMT
Subject: Free French Phone Information From Publiphone


     In France, you can easily find a phone number without any paper
phone book.  Circa 8 millions Minitel give you the opportunity to ask
freely in the huge France Telecom's database.

     But, if you don't like to have this free Minitel near your phone,
to find the new phone number of your mother will be extremely time
counsouming.  Dial 12 and wait between 3 and 30 minutes for having
an always-tired girl that perhaps can give you the right phone number.

     But on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, it's extremely difficult to
find a Minitel.  France Telecom give you the opportunity to have the
information without paying five French telecommunications unit (circa
FF 3.65) and provides an excellent and efficient vocal service: dial 12
from a publiphone and you will directly be in contact with this
service.

     In this publiphone, you cannot ask for telegram service (3656),
for free clock (3699) ... and all the international phone numbers you
dial (beginning by 19- ...) are secretely store for state statistics
and use by policy. Public and private phones don't have the same rights :-)


                         Jean-Bernard Condat
                          General Secretary
     Chaos Computer Club France, B.P. 155, 93404 St-Ouen Cedex, France
          Private Address: P.O. 8005, 69351 Lyon Cedex 08, France
               Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
         InterNet:  [e-mail]   or  [e-mail]

***For a free subscription to _Chaos Digest_, send a message to:
   [e-mail]
   with a mail header or first line containing the following information:
   X-Mn-Admin: join CHAOS_DIGEST
   and you will put freely on the ChaosD mailing list. Don't hesitate!  **

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #545
******************************










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From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #546

TELECOM Digest     Sat, 7 Aug 93 18:04:45 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 546

Inside This Issue:                       Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Telecomm and Info Bill Passed in Congress (FINS via Vigdor Schreibman)
    An Experience With the AT&T Language Line (Tony Harminc)
    Uunet via 900 (was Re: Victory ...) (Jack Winslade)
    ISDN For Professors and Students (Edupage via J. Philip Miller)
    Panasonic VA-41210 Parts (Greg Kemnitz)
    Writing VoiceMail Program: Any Suggestions? (Tom Rusnock)
    PacBell Song (Randy Gellens)
    Looking For Information and Experience With LCI (Barry Raveendran Greene)
    215/610 and Other Upcoming Splits -- Some Details (Carl Moore)
    Dialogic Equipment Vendors (David Turock)
    Why do I Often Get "Off-Hook" Telco Message on Answering Machine? (E Zotti)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sat, 7 Aug 93 11:10:04 EDT
From: Vigdor Schreibman <[e-mail]>
Subject: Telecomm and Info Bill Passed in Congress


Date:         Mon, 2 Aug 1993 16:47:05 CDT
Sender:       Project Gutenberg Email List <[e-mail]>
From:         Vigdor Schreibman - FINS <[e-mail]>

        *   US House of Representatives Passes HR 1757
        *   Authorized Appropriations For NREN/NII Slashed


CLOSING THE "VALUES-GAP": NREN Takeover Moves Ahead Unopposed

By Vigdor Schreibman

    The "National Information Infrastructure Act of 1993," [HR 1757],
was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, last Monday, July 26,
1993.  The bill cements in place public policy established by the
National Science Foundation, [NSF 93-52, May 6, 1993], to privatize
the National Research and Education Network (NREN) Program.  These
measures would authorize a takeover of the NREN by private industry to
serve its own interests guided by the morality of the market place and
the ethic of profit maximization.

    As originally proposed by Rep. Rick Boucher [D-VA], and reported
favorably by the Subcommittee on Science, he chairs, June 17, 1993,
the NII bill authorized appropriations of $95,000,000 to the NSF, and
$354,000,000 to the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA), to pay for network access for schools and
libraries including connections, equipment, and training during FY
1994-1996.  Industry groups would receive public subsidies under H.R
1757, as reported, for their activities in support of computing and
networking research, and applications in the fields of education,
health care, and digital libraries amounting to some $910 million
dollars during FY 1994-1998.  [HRept 103-73, p. 15].

    Taking a utilitarian view of the alternatives, the bill was
endorsed by a number of "third sector" leadership institutions,
including: the American Council on Education; EDUCOM; Computer
Research Association; National Association of State Universities and
Land-Grant Colleges; Association of American Universities; American
Council on Education; Association of Research Libraries, and the
American Library Association.

    Several "third sector" leaders issued statements denouncing the
opposition of Regional Bell Operating Companies to public subsidy of
the NREN, and the move to privatize the NREN/Internet. Curtis Hardyck,
Executive Director of the Pacific Neighborhood Consortium (a
multi-national group from 16 countries around and within the Pacific
Rim, representing 33 institutions of higher education and national
libraries), sent a letter to Vice President Al Gore, June 23, stating:

     The argument that the Federal subsidy is unwarranted government
     interference seems to me to be specious.  We have a great deal
     of evidence of the accomplishments of universities with the
     Internet subsidy, but there is no evidence that this level of
     accomplishment could continue if this subsidy were to be given
     the telephone companies. Providing funds for universities to pay
     increased telephone rates is in effect providing federal
     subsidies for telephone companies.

    Public support is currently costing about $18 million a year for
the NSFnet backbone and mid-level network services, amounting to about
one- thousandth the cost of the whole billion dollar program.  Traffic
on the NREN is designed not to compete with private industry.  The
Acceptable Use Policy (AUP), now in effect, requires that "authorized
use of the NSFnet backbone be limited to services (public or private,
for free or fee) that enhance R&E traffic."  These measures provide a
low cost strategy to achieve the essential collaborative NREN mission.

        A crucial aspect of the mission of the NREN, involves change
as a dynamic constant, requiring maximum customization of all the
elements of network architecture and the exercise of independent
control by the NREN community over the components serving their needs.
Terrence P. McGarty, of the MIT Department of Electrical Engineering
and Computer Science, has observed that the likely evolution of such
heterogeneous networks are at the opposite pole from the homogeneous
characteristics of private and commercial networks, which merely
provide a common denominator capability focused on perceived market
niche.  Moreover, private enterprise has no serious interest in
serving the public goods, which comprise the NREN mission; they desire
to exercise oligopoly control over R&E traffic and convert the NREN
community into a consumer market for commercial products!

    Nevertheless, the promise of funds urgently desired by schools and
library groups for access to the Internet, proved too powerful a lure.
 From a narrow utilitarian standpoint, concerns about privatization
are viewed as secondary "to efforts to extend networking access to
schools and public libraries," according to Marc Rotenberg, director
of Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility, in an exchange of
messages with FINS over the Internet last week.  Ironically, immediately
following "third sector" endorsement of the NII, authorized appropria-
tions to the NTIA for those purposes amounting to $354,000,000 were
struck from the bill by the full House Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology. [HRept 103-173].  It is this pared down measure which
was approved by the House last Monday.

    James Wilson, science consultant to the House Subcommittee on
Science, told FINS last week that the NTIA authorization was struck
from the bill for "jurisdictional reasons."  Legislation in support of
the overall responsibilities of NTIA has been proposed by the House
Committee on Energy and Commerce pursuant to H.R. 2639, the
"Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure and Public
Broadcasting Facilities Assistance Act of 1993."  This bill would
authorize $51 million for FY 1994, but does not authorize the
additional $300 million for FY 1995-1996, as originally provided in
H.R. 1757.  Jim Waslewski, Congressional Liaison of NTIA, told FINS in
a phone interview, July 28, 1993, "there are no plans to seek any
additional authorization at this time, beyond the budgeted amount of
$51 million."

                          ----------

Federal Information News Syndicate, Vigdor Schreibman, Editor & Publisher,
18 - 9th Street NE #206, Washington, DC 20002-6042.  Copyright 1993 FINS.
Back issues of FINS may be retrieved by UCSF Gopher. Send for information.
E-mail [e-mail]; Fax/Voice [phone].

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

Date: Sat, 07 Aug 93 22:50:00 EDT
From: Tony Harminc <[e-mail]>
Subject: An Experience With the AT&T Language Line


Several weeks ago I phoned the AT&T Language Line and asked for some
details about their service.  The marketing rep told me about their
140 languages available 24 hours/day, and offered to mail me some
detailed information.  This duly arrived -- including a handy
wallet-sized card with the 800 number and the statement "AT&T Language
Line Services -- where you have immediate access to trained
interpreters in over 140 languages".

Reality proved to be somewhat different.

On Monday 2 July at about 4 PM EDT I called and asked for a Slovak
interpreter.  The attendant took my billing information.  (There are
two parts -- the interpretation charge at US$3.50/minute goes on a
credit card, and the cost of the overseas phone call can be billed to
an AT&T calling card only, or third number billed to any phone number.
I asked about the rate for the overseas call, but all she could tell
me was that it would be the AT&T operator assisted rate -- not the rate
itself.  I did have the option of dialing the call myself and using my
three way calling to connect us, but I'm glad I didn't.)  This all
took a surprising amount of time -- a little under ten minutes.  The
attendant was friendly but could have used some training specific to
the Language Line.  Although I had asked for a Slovak interpreter,
when I gave her the number I wanted to call as +42 7 nnnnnn she said
"oh yes - Czechoslovakia".  This is a country that ceased to exist on
January 1st this year.  And she wanted my State and ZIP code - "uh -
do you have ZIP codes up there in Canada ?" - not the sort of
professionalism I had expected from AT&T.

But now the crunch: she said there would be a delay of about a minute
while she connected me to the interpreter.  After about two minutes,
she returned and said she was having difficulty locating a Slovak
interpreter, but would keep trying.  After another few minutes on hold
(with very distracting multilingual advertising playing all the time),
she said they were unable to find a Slovak interpreter at that time.

I said OK -- the call isn't really urgent, but it's annoying because I
had family members standing around the phone, a tape hooked up, and so
on, so could I book the call when an interpreter will be available
(say tomorrow)?  No you can't, was the answer.  Slovak is not a
"scheduled" language, so we book only emergency calls!  What does that
mean?  Well I eventually talked with a supervisor who explained that
they have an (unspecified) number of interpreters all around the US,
most of whom have other jobs, and who check in with the Language Line
when they are available for work.  There is evidently no attempt made
to arrange any particular coverage.  In emergency situations they will
attempt to reach someone (pagers?)  but it's not clear with what
success.  And I never did get an explanation of what it means to book
an emergency call.

My problem with all this is not that AT&T doesn't have a room full of
Slovak interpreters sitting around twiddling their thumbs waiting for
my call.  Slovak is certainly not a major world language.  But it is
on AT&T's list of 140, and they make no distinction in their promotional
material between (say) Spanish and Slovak.  It is claimed that they
are all available "24 hours a day, 7 days a week", when this is
clearly not the case.

Another thing to think about is that, regardless of language, the
process of taking billing information takes at least several minutes,
including obtaining a credit card number, phone number and mailing
address, and then verifying the information.  This makes it pretty
hard to take seriously AT&T's suggestion that you can just phone the
handy number on the card and be in instant touch with the interpreter.
Presumably callers who have signed up for one of the frequent user
plans would get throught faster.

An AT&T customer service rep called me back about 6 PM (unsolicited)
and apologised for what had happened.  She really had no solution
other than that they would treat my call as an emergency if I wanted
(which I didn't).  So I am disappointed.  I suppose I should have
known the idea of instant interpretation at the end of an 800 number
was too good to be true.  But AT&T should not advertise what it can't
deliver.


Tony Harminc

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

Date: Fri, 06 Aug 93 11:42:26 CST
From: [e-mail] (Jack Winslade)
Subject: Uunet via 900 (was Re: Victory ...)
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: DRBBS Technical BBS, Omaha


In a message dated 01-AUG-93, Chris Ambler -- Phish writes:

>> [Moderator's Note: They've got to send a message to your modem immed-
>> iatly on connection which describes the cost for the call, advise the
>> caller to disconnect if not willing to pay and ring the <CTL-G> Bell

> And how does UUCP do this? When dialing an information provider with a
> protocolled communications package, the human usually has little to no
> interaction. In fact, once carrier is detected, there's nothing to be
> seen or heard (especially with anonymous UUCP). Anything sent before
> the UUCP protocol initiates is thrown away as garbage.

> [Moderator's Note: You are correct where UUCP transmissions are
> concerned but I don't think UUCP is the sort of casual connection
> being discussed here. For UUCP there has to be a pre-arranged deal;

The point of Uunet's 900 UUCP service is so that it does NOT have to
be a pre-arranged deal and that anyone (non-Uunet subscribers) can
call in and request files from Uunet's massive archives.

Their UUCP is set up so that it will accept connections from any uucp
system regardless of system name, thus making it anonymous as far as
the UUCP session is concerned.

This does take some conscious effort on the part of the user, as
he/she has to add Uunet's 900 number to the L.sys/Systems file, and
set up the call one way or another.  Someone trolling for modems on
the 900 AC (yeah, right !!) may stumble on it, or someone trying
1-900-GET-LAID may misdial and catch it, though.  Maybe they will add
the appropriate notice at login, so that anyone stumbling on it will
know immediately and will have the opportunity to disconnect.

As far as I am concerned this is one of the very few 900 services that
actually is worth something.  It costs something like $.40 per minute.
If I remember the discussion correctly when this was started, this was
about the lowest price that could be charged for 900 service, and is
just slightly above the break-even point for Uunet.  At the time it
was set up it was through Sprint, and supposedly it was good
connections for PEP and v.32 modems.  The number also is some kind of
an acronym but I forget what.

It must be at least moderately successful.  It's been 3+ years or so
since it went in.


Good day,    JSW   DRBBS, Omaha  (1:285/666.0)

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

From: [e-mail] (J. Philip Miller)
Subject: ISDN For Professors and Students
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 11:18:37 -0500


as quoted in EDUPAGE 7/27/93

   AMERITECH OFFERS COLLEGES ISDN SERVICE. Ameritech and Combinet
   Inc., a computer networking company, are offering ISDN service to
   college faculty and students in five Midwestern states. The
   service is intended to provide high-speed networking for faculty
   and students at off-campus locations, and will cost $30 per
   month. One-time charges include $700 for hardware and software
   and $150 for an ISDN phone line installation. (Chronicle of
   Higher Education 7/28/93 A18)

Does anyone know which states and more details?


J. Philip Miller, Professor, Division of Biostatistics, Box 8067
   Washington University Medical School, St. Louis MO 63110
    [e-mail] - [phone] [362-2693(FAX)]

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

From: [e-mail] (Greg Kemnitz)
Subject: Panasonic VA-41210 Parts
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: K & K Systems
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 06:13:46 GMT


I accidentally ended up with a spare CPU-1 and CPU-2 board for a
Panasonic VA-41210 Key Telephone system.  I had ordered a spares kit
for my VA-614, and the supplier decided that these should be included
as well.  When I finally looked what was in the kit and determined
that these were not for my system, it was too late to return them.  Is
there any market for these?


Greg Kemnitz / K and K Systems / PO Box 47804 / Plymouth, MN 55447-0804
Internet: [e-mail]  / Voice: [phone] / Fax: [phone]
Alternate Internet: [e-mail]   /   ICBM:  44 59 20 N, 93 28 22 W

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

Date: Sat, 07 Aug 1993 14:23:08 -0400 (EDT)
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Writing VoiceMail Program: Any Suggestions?
Organization: Penn State University


I've taken on the task of writing a full-blown VoiceMail System for a
Natural MicroSystems VBX VoiceMail card.  I'm using NMS's VScript
language (a pretty simple language, but I'm managing to work around
it's shortfalls) and the card is a 4-port DID (Direct Inward Dialing)
card.

I'd like some input as to what kind of features are used the most,
what kind of "quirks" to avoid, etc.  I'd appreciate E-mail
([e-mail]) responses, but whatever you deem appropriate
will be fine.  Here's what I have so far:

The system will have two or three lines (for now) for incoming calls.
Groups of phone numbers will be rented ("DID" for those of you who
already know) from the phone company and routed to the two or three
incoming lines.  So a VoiceMail customer will have "Conditional Call
Forwarding" routed to their own personal voicemail access number (If
there's no answer at their house/business, the call gets forwarded to
our system, and the phone is answered with their own greeting message,
etc. etc.).

Features like "Message Forwarding" (If an urgent message is left in
your mailbox, our computer will call you at work, in the car, etc. to
deliver it), and Mailbox Menuing (Company XYZ has a "Main Menu" that
says "Press [1] for product information, [2] to leave a message, etc.)
are already in the works.

I need suggestions (from both experienced voicemail users AND
non-voicemail users) as to what features you would like to see, what
you would be willing to pay (per month) as a residential or business
voicemail customer (we're going to shoot for low prices), and any
"quirks" that you've seen in other voicemail systems that you didn't
like (so I can avoid them).  Any comments will be greatly appreciated!


Thanks,

Tom Rusnock  [e-mail] (This project is not affiliated
(717)-675-5025                     with Penn State University)

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

From: [e-mail]
Date: 07 AUG 93 00:31
Subject: PacBell Song


Does anyone know what that song is that PacBell uses in their
"Tomorrow Will Be Better" commercials?  (The one that starts out with
that bong tone).  A friend of mine says I used to have it, and I think
he'd right, but I've gone through all my CDs and can't find it.


Randy Gellens              [e-mail]|
A Series System Software   [if mail bounces, please|
Unisys Corporation         forward bounce msg to|
Mission Viejo, CA          [e-mail]]|
Opinions are personal;   facts are suspect;   I speak only for myself|

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

From: [e-mail] (Barry Raveendran Greene)
Subject: Looking For Information and Experience With LCI
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Barry Raveendran Greene)
Organization: JHU/Applied Physics Laboratory
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 21:00:48 GMT


Hello,

Does anyone have any experience with LCI?  I have a firend who is
thinking about useing some of LCI's services and he would like to know
if anyone has any personal experience with LCI.


Thanks,

Barry Raveendran Greene   Internet: [e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: LCI is the fourth largest long distance carrier in
the USA, coming behind only AT&T, MCI and Sprint in that order. Their
corporate offices are in Virginia. They are also the carrier handling
calls for the Orange Card, the affinity calling card program offered
to readers of this newsgroup and Digest. Their service is good.  PAT]

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

Date: Sat, 7 Aug 93 9:45:31 EDT
From: Carl Moore <[e-mail]>
Subject: 215/610 and Other Upcoming Splits -- Some Details


I saw a 1993-1994 Harrisburg-Hershey directory with some notes about
the upcoming splits.  It does not, however, mention 910 in N.C.

For Michigan, it lists Flint in 810 and Detroit in 313.

For Pennsylvania:

Allentown, Bethlehem, Chester, Easton, Lansdowne, Paoli, Reading,
Upper Darby, Valley Forge, West Chester in 610; Philadelphia,
Levittown, Quakertown in 215.

Here is a review of upcoming splits; and when they begin (not when full
cutover is done).

416/905 Ontario, 4 Oct 1993 (full cutover Mar 1994, postponed from
        10 Jan 1994)
919/910 North Carolina, 14 Nov 1993 (full cutover 13 Feb 1994)
313/810 Michigan, 1 Dec 1993 (full cutover 10 Aug 1994)
215/610 Pennsylvania, 1994
205/334 Alabama, 1995 (the first NNX area code to be announced, on
        July 22, 1993)

The update to history.of.area.splits is necessary because each of the
old area codes programmed for N0X/N1X prefixes, and in the notes about
such programming, there is a note about upcoming split which will have
to be changed to present tense.

Example:

416, Ontario, 3 Mar 1990
(1+NPA+7D on all toll calls)
(to become 416/905)

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

From: [e-mail] (David Turock)
Subject: Dialogic Equipment Vendors Wanted
Date: 7 Aug 93 12:26:29 GMT


Does anyone know of vendors that buy and sell used Dialogic equipment?
I have a lot of older revision boards that I need to upgrade.
(Apologies in advance if this is in a FAQ; if so, could I trouble
someone to send it?)

Thanks in advance,

David Turock    [e-mail]
201-829-4299 (Voice)    908-846-3608 (Fax)

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

From: [e-mail] (Edward Zotti)
Subject: Why do I Often Get "Off-Hook" Telco Message on Answering Machine?
Date: 7 Aug 93 15:00:28 GMT
Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston, IL  USA


Why is that occasionally a telephone answering machine records the
telco's off-hook message, i.e., "if you would like to make a call,
please hang up, and try again," etc.?  The best guess I have heard so
far is that somebody calls you, hangs up before the answering machine
finishes playing the outgoing message, and the answering machine isn't
smart enough to hang up and so stays off hook until the recording
comes on.  But I'm having trouble replicating this and wonder if I
have to hang up at a certain critical point during the message (that
is, when I call my own machine). Replies by e-mail appreciated.


Ed


[Moderator's Note: The caller has to hang up sort of in the middle of
the ring the machine is going to answer on. The caller has to be off
the line in time for the CO to reset things so that when the answering
machine picks up, the CO thinks you want to make a call. It presents
dial tone to your outgoing answering machine message, and the dial tone
times out about the time your outgoing message finishes playing and
the incoming recording starts. The CO times out, gets tired of waiting
and asks do you want to make a call or not ... which your answering
machine hears as a voice on the line and does what it is supposed to
do by recording what it hears being said.  PAT]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #546
******************************










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From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #547

TELECOM Digest     Sat, 7 Aug 93 19:15:15 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 547

Inside This Issue:                       Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Caller-ID Across LATAs? (Steven H. Lichter)
    Re: Caller-ID Across LATAs? (Ken Hester)
    Re: Caller-ID Across LATAs? (Carl Moore)
    Re: Caller-ID (Miscellaneous Topics) (Michael Schuster)
    Re: ANI From Across the Pond (Laurence Chiu)
    Re: ANI From Across the Pond (Richard Thomsen)
    Re: Valid Card Declared Invalid? (Brett Frankenberger)
    Re: Valid Card Declared Invalid? (Mike King)
    Re: Valid Card Declared Invalid? (Steve Forrette)
    Re: Is This Legal? (Donald R. Sailer)
    Re: Is This Legal? (Marshall Levin)
    Re: Is This Legal? (Bonnie J. Johnson)
    Re: Cordless Headset Telephone (
    Re: Cordless Headset Telephone (Allen Leibowitz)
    Re: Cordless Headset Telephone (Mike King)
    Re: Central Office Tours? (Brett Elliott)
    Re: Central Office Tours? (Steven H. Lichter)

                     ----------------------
TELECOM Digest is an e-journal devoted mostly -- but not exclusively --
to discussions on voice telephony. The Digest is a not-for-profit
public service published frequently by Patrick Townson Associates. PTA
markets a no-surcharge telephone calling card and a no monthly fee 800
service.  In addition, we are resellers of AT&T's Software Defined
Network. For a detailed discussion of our services, write and ask for
the file 'products'.

The Digest is delivered at no charge by email to qualified subscribers on
any electronic mail service connected to the Internet. To join the mail-
ing list, write and tell us how you qualify: [e-mail].
 All article submissions MUST be sent to our email address: telecom@eecs.
nwu.edu -- NOT as replies to comp.dcom.telecom.

Back issues and numerous other telephone-related files of interest are
available from the Telecom Archives, using anonymous ftp lcs.mit.edu.
Login anonymous, then 'cd telecom-archives'. At the present time, the
Digest is also ported to Usenet at the request of many readers there,
where it is known as 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Use of the Digest does not
require the use of our products and services. The two are separate.
All articles are the responsibility of the individual authors. Organi-
zations listed, if any, are for identification purposes only. The
Digest is compilation-copyrighted, 1993. **DO NOT** cross-post articles
between the Digest and other Usenet or alt newsgroups. Do not compile
mailing lists from the net-addresses appearing herein.  Send tithes and
love offerings to PO Box 1570, Chicago, IL 60690. :)  Phone: [phone].

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

From: [e-mail] (Steven H. Lichter)
Subject: Re: Caller-ID Across LATAs?
Date: 7 Aug 1993 09:01:14 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)


Looking into the user's guide for the GTD5 it says that Caller ID (not
in California) will only work within the CO unless SS7 signaling has
be installed.  We have that between our offices and are waiting to set
it up to the PacBell offices. Then if and when we get Caller ID it
should work. I also noted that before the PUC put the ban on it should
you have a Caller ID box it could have worked and in some cases may
still work for out of state calls once the network is in place.


Steven H. Licher    GTECalif COEI

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

From: [e-mail] (khester )
Date: 7 Aug 93 11:06:12 GMT
Subject: Re: Caller-ID Across LATAs?


In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Carl Oppedahl)
writes:

> If no single local telco was handling your call, then I think the
> theory you offer, namely SS7, is the only possible correct answer.
> But the thing is, the big three long-distance carriers have had SS7
> for more than a year now (they need it for 800 portability, for
> example) and so it is difficult to know what recent change would have
> suddenly put the out-of-state call onto your caller ID screen.

If the BOC had recently implemented Network Interconnect, that would
explain why he's getting out-of-state calling party number.  Network
Interconnect ties the BOC's CCS7 net to the IXC's CCS7 net and allows
the BOC to offer new services such as end-to-end 64KB clear channel
ISDN, international credit card validation, expanded features on
domestic calling cards and faster setup for long distance calls.


Ken Hester
CSC Partners, A Company of Computer Sciences Corporation
Internet: [e-mail]
Voice: [phone] or +1 513 961 ISDN

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

Date: Sat, 7 Aug 93 9:50:00 EDT
From: Carl Moore <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Caller-ID Across LATAs?


215 doesn't even touch 201 anymore, because of area code 908.
Frenchtown, NJ was the closest place up the Delaware River which was
in 201 (now 908).

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

From: [e-mail] (Michael Schuster)
Subject: Re: Caller-ID (Miscellaneous Topics)
Date: 7 Aug 1993 20:52:11 -0400
Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and Unix, NYC


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Carl Page) writes:

> Herb writes:

>>    Note that this Caller ID Display unit has crummy display (low
>>    contrast) and an inferior user interface.  The ONLY reason I
>>    use it is for the "Privacy Block" feature.

I've noticed this too.  Figuring that there =must= be a way to fix it
(like properly biasing the LCD panel) I opened it up and started
jumpering around the resistors and contrast pot going to the panel.
But I can't get any more contrast out of the thing. Has anyone figured
out how?


Mike Schuster  [e-mail] | [e-mail]
[e-mail] | GEnie: MSCHUSTER

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

Subject: Re: ANI From Across the Pond
From: uttsbbs![e-mail] (Laurence Chiu)
Date: 7 Aug 93 20:20:00 GMT
Organization: The Transfer Station BBS, Danville, CA - 510-837-4610/837-5591
Reply-To: uttsbbs![e-mail] (Laurence Chiu)


In an article, Haakon Styri said:

> Recently some posters (among them the Moderator) asked about what
> happens with ANI if a call originating in Europe terminates in North
> America. I belive I've posted one reply, but I didn't state anything
> about "why not."  After asking a few people that might know I returned
> with a simple answer: the CCITT have decided it should be like that.
> And, even if it's technically possible you'd probably find that a few
> countries would still object due to privacy and data protection
> regulations. I agree it would be nice to have. BTW, I'd like to know
> one thing about the use of ANI in the US. Have the network operators
> (or whatever you call them) agreed to not use the ANI they get from
> their competition to do traffic analysis in order to identify
> potential costomers?

Correct me if I am wrong, but wouldn't ANI from abroad (or something
similar to that) be necessary for the Moderator's new Telepassport (is
that what it's called?) service. Or does AT&T do something else?


Laurence Chiu
The Transfer Station BBS [phone] & 837-5591 (V.32bis both lines)
Danville, California, USA. 1.5 GIG Files & FREE public Internet Access


[Moderator's Note: It is called Telepassport and on calls from within
the USA to our 800 number, we get ANI in real time and act on it when
answering on our end. From other countries, we use call-back by assigning
each customer a unique number to call us on in a DID setup.  PAT]

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

Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 09:09:14 -0600
From: [e-mail] (Richard Thomsen)
Subject: Re: ANI From Across the Pond


In article: 39677 of comp.dcom.telecom [e-mail]
(Christian Weisgerber) writes:

> From the above paragraphs I understand that ANI is not delivered from
> Europe to the U.S.

If this is true, how does your Telepassport program work?  I
understood that a European caller would call a number and let it ring
twice, without answering.  Then you would call back.  If it did not
get ANI, how would it call back the right number?


Richard Thomsen     Los Alamos National Laboratory   [e-mail]
In case you did not realize, I speak only for myself.


[Moderator's Note: See the message before this. We assign each
customer a unqiue DID number. When that number rings, we translate it
and call back.   PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Brett Frankenberger)
Subject: Re: Valid Card Declared Invalid?
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 13:09:04 GMT


[e-mail] (Marshall Levin) writes:

> Just to test if it would work, from a payphone I dialed
> 10222-0-xxx-xxx-xxxx, waited for the "MCI bong" and then dialed my
> card number.  It asked me to dial a valid card number (my card is
> valid :)

> Then I dialed 1-800-674-7000, waited for the tone, dialed my card
> number, waited for the tone, dialed xxx-xxx-xxxx and it did work.
> Obviously the card is valid -- why did this problem occur, and why
> does the recrording declare a valid card invalid?

> [Moderator's Note: Because cards other than AT&T or local telco have
> to be dialed via their 950 or 1-800 gateway rather than through their
> 10xxx gateway. Stuff going through 10xxx is checked or validated by
> the local telco I think. Did you try MCI's 800 or 950 number and get
> the same results?   PAT]

Stuff going through 10xxx is not verified by the local telco (Once you
get the MCI bong, it's MCI's call).  Some LD companies, for whatever
reason, elect to only accept LEC cards on their 10XXX access.  But
it't strictly up to them.  I believe AT&T will accept its card or an
LEC card on their 10288.


Brett  ([e-mail])  (formerly [e-mail])


[Moderator's Note: Oh? Stuff going through 10xxx is not validated by
the local telco?  Then how come when I wanted to change the PIN on my
AT&T Calling Card and had to ask twice to get it done, the second time
the rep at AT&T said "I will send a FAX to Illinois Bell right now and
ask what is the delay in processing this," ??  And how come she later
said IBT had lost the original order to do it?  I believe that anything
dialed via 10xxx is first examined -- in its entirety -- by the local
telco, and then is handled, passed to a carrier, treated or whatever.
How come whenever I want to change calling plans or do anything with
my AT&T account the answer is always it will be done whenever Illinois
Bell gets around to it, etc.?   PAT]

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

Date: Sat, 7 Aug 93 12:57:42 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Mike King)
Subject: Re: Valid Card Declared Invalid?


In TELECOM Digest, V13 #536,  [e-mail] (Marshall Levin) wrote:

> Just to test if it would work, from a payphone I dialed
> 10222-0-xxx-xxx-xxxx, waited for the "MCI bong" and then dialed my
> card number.  It asked me to dial a valid card number (my card is
> valid :)

> Then I dialed 1-800-674-7000, waited for the tone, dialed my card
> number, waited for the tone, dialed xxx-xxx-xxxx and it did work.
> Obviously the card is valid -- why did this problem occur, and why
> does the recrording declare a valid card invalid?

and Pat replied:

> [Moderator's Note: Because cards other than AT&T or local telco have
> to be dialed via their 950 or 1-800 gateway rather than through their
> 10xxx gateway. Stuff going through 10xxx is checked or validated by
> the local telco I think. Did you try MCI's 800 or 950 number and get
> the same results?   PAT]

Not necessarily.  My Sprint card can be used just like an AT&T card.
I can dial 10333-0-10D (or 7D, where permitted), wait for the Sprint
jingle (no bong), enter my card number, and get connected.  If the
phone I'm using blocks 10xxx, or I'm in an area that doesn't allow
intra-LATA competition, I can dial 1-800-877-8000, dial the number I'm
calling at the first tone, enter my card number after the second tone,
and get connected.  Either method works.

It all depends on the individual carrier's setup.  10333-0 access for
Sprint FonCard calls was added to the Sprint network in Spring of '92.
Prior to that, dialing 10333-0+10D would obtain a Sprint operator for
calls such as 3rd-number billing and collect, but they could not
accept card numbers.

I haven't experimented to see if LEC cards are accepted by Sprint
10333-0 access.


Mike King * Software Sourcerer * Fairchild Space * +1 301.428.5384
[e-mail] or [e-mail]  *  (usual disclaimers)

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

From: [e-mail] (Steve Forrette)
Subject: Re: Valid Card Declared Invalid?
Date: 7 Aug 1993 18:25:15 GMT
Organization: Walker Richer & Quinn, Inc.
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Steve Forrette)



> [Moderator's Note: Because cards other than AT&T or local telco have
> to be dialed via their 950 or 1-800 gateway rather than through their
> 10xxx gateway. Stuff going through 10xxx is checked or validated by
> the local telco I think. Did you try MCI's 800 or 950 number and get
> the same results?   PAT]

This is not really the case.  When a caller dials 10xxx+0+, the call
is handed off to the IXC for them to do whatever they like with it.
It just so happens that MCI doesn't accept their own cards through
this mechanism.  Both Sprint and AT&T will accept their respective
cards, as well as LEC-issued cards.  Of course, if the caller enters a
LEC card, the IXC will query the LEC database for validation.  It's
just that Sprint and AT&T are smart enough to use their own validation
database if one of their cards is entered, and the LEC database
otherwise.  MCI only uses the LEC database.


Steve Forrette, [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (DONALD R SAILER)
Subject: Re: Is This Legal?
Date: 7 Aug 1993 20:42:47 GMT
Organization: UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS - AMHERST


In <[e-mail]> Alan writes:

> But I'm also sure you're aware that when a university decides to set
> up shop as an aggregator and (possibly) a telephone service reseller
> that they must first have in place a tariff, among other various and
> sundry legal requirements (like tax authority and tax collection
> mechanisms, etc.).  If USC wants to force the writer to give up
> regulated telephone service in order to take USC's telephone service,
> I'm sure that USC wouldn't mind the writer requesting a copy of their
> latest tariff, and certificate of authority, from their state utility
> regulatory commission. ;)

The USC can charge whatever they want to for a call on whatever
carrier they wish as long as they permit folks access to other
carriers with calling cards (10-XXX-0-etc.). In this case they are
just like a hotel (also covered by the FCC aggregator rule). Unless
California has an additional law or rule governing this type of
service, USC does not have to file a tariff (they are not considered a
common carrier).


Randy Sailer   University of Massachusetts   [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Marshall Levin)
Subject: Re: Is This Legal?
Reply-To: [e-mail], telecom
Organization: University of Denver, Dept. of Math & Comp. Sci.
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 93 03:02:07 GMT


Bonnie J Johnson <[e-mail]> writes:

> I wouldn't bet my next pay check on this (because it's already spent)
> but I would imagine Gang's monthly line charge will be the same or
> LESS than what he paid thru Pac Bell.  Also if he is worried about
> his International carrier being changed TELL HIM TO REMEMBER EQUAL
> ACCESS!!  Schools are now considered aggregators and MUST provide
> access to all the major carriers.  He can shop around for the lowest
> rate if he likes and then call the campus telecomm office to determine
> the dialing plan to get his carrier of choice.  Equal access is the
> law -- no way to get around this one.

Hold on a second.  My college does not allow students to select a
carrier.  All calls must go through AT&T.  It is impossible (due to
the way the phone system is set up) to dial a 10xxx or 0-xxx-xxx-xxx
type call.  (Of course, if you have a calling card from another
carrier you can dial their 800 number).  Students do not have
individual numbers but merely extensions -- the college has only one
main number.  Calls are not billed to a particular number, but
students must dial 8-1-access_code-{wait for dialtone}-xxx-xxx-xxxx
and calls are billed with an internal billing system.  Is this
illegal?  Must the school provide equal access even though these are
not real phone numbers or lines which can be dialed directly from
outside?  If this is in fact illegal, how can I make the school let me
choose the carrier on a per-call basis (a la 10xxx)?  Apparently the
equipment just doesn't allow 1+ or 0+ calls.

Agh!  Can anyone help?


Marshall

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

Date: Sat, 07 Aug 93 15:58:35 EDT
From: Bonnie J Johnson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Is This Legal?


Someone asked for a copy of the FCC regulations requiring equal
access.  My copy has been fax'ed to death but I will mail out copies
to those of you who are interested, if you provide me personally with
your direct mailing address.

BTW, if Atri has all those great features such as voicemail, call
waiting, and so on, I doubt the telco could use the excuse "of costing
too much".  There is a provision in the ruling for those higher ed
instutions who have older switches-but it sounds to me like you are
served by a smart switch.  "Have to do a software upgrade" doesn't cut
it!

With all due respect to Boards of Regents and Boards of Trustees, the
FCC is just a hair above this group!

If I were to recommend anything to the telecom department, it would be
to rebid their LD contract and get a better deal.  As far as them
being responsible for unpaid LD calls, I would make arrangements to
hold the grades of any offender -- I can't imagine a University or
telecom department being responsible for any students unpaid bills!!!


later,

bj

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

From: [e-mail]
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 93 13:23:06 GMT
Subject: Re: Cordless Headset Telephone
Organization: AT&T


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Greg Economides) writes:

> A few months ago I received a catalog from _some_ company which was
> filled with various kinds of telephones and telephone accessories.
> There was some pretty cool stuff in it.  Well, I tossed the catalog,
> figuring that I had all that I needed and wanted of this kind of
> stuff.

I just received a catalog this week called Hello Direct (800-444-3556).
It had a number office telephone related items.  Several corded
headsets and a unique looking coordless headset phone.  No bulky box
on your belt. The entire wireless headset set on your head on only
weights 7oz with battery. 900mhz 32 channel, 50ft range.

The catalog also have various cordless phone,office phones, handset
amplifiers, personal pay phone and cellular products. One item that I
had not seen before was a answering machine that can redial you at
your pager number if you get a call.


Gary W. Sanders (N8EMR)  [e-mail]
AT&T Bell Labs           614-860-5965

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

From: [e-mail] (Allen Leibowitz)
Subject: Re: Cordless Headset Telephone
Date: 7 Aug 1993 17:05:41 GMT
Organization: Warner-Lambert Parke-Davis Research


Greg Economides ([e-mail]) wrote:

> A few months ago I received a catalog from _some_ company which was
> filled with various kinds of telephones and telephone accessories.

It was probably Hello Direct.  800-HI-HELLO


Allen Leibowitz   Parke-Davis/Warner-Lambert    <[e-mail]>
Ann Arbor, MI  48104  USA   +1 313.998.3314

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

Date: Sat, 7 Aug 93 17:05:00 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Mike King)
Subject: Re: Cordless Headset Telephone


It's a good chance it was the Hello Direct catalog.  They have all
kinds of goodies in their monthly catalog, including what you're
describing.  Call 800-HI-HELLO.  For our non-US readers, sorry, I
don't have a regular toll number.


Mike King * Software Sourcerer * Fairchild Space * +1 301.428.5384
[e-mail] or [e-mail]  *  (usual disclaimers)


[Moderator's Note: This is as good a time as any to mention that I
strongly recommend Hello Direct as a supplier for small business
places and even residential service. They have a very big stock of
items in their inventory, and their catalog alone is always fun to
read. Get on their mailing list and see for yourself. I do not think
they will ship or sell outside the USA.  Not certain of this.   PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Brett Elliott)
Subject: Re: Central Office Tours?
Organization: Calif State Univ/Electronic Information Services
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 02:33:30 GMT


[e-mail] (Scott McClure) writes:

>     I called PacBell today to see if they still gave tours of
> CO's.  After bouncing around several different offices, the response
> was "oh, we don't give tours anymore."

>     When did this start (or stop, in this case)?  Is this normal
> for telcos these days, just PacBell, or just PacBell here in San Diego?

Unfortunately, now a days PacBell doesnt like to give out tours.  I
guess you could raise a stink if you mentioned you pay for PacBell's
service, etc. etc.


[e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: Just because you pay for service only means they
have to provide it, not give tours. I don't think they would respond
to that kind of pressure, and they could easily say that because of
the times we live in -- terrorist attacks, etc -- it is not in their
best interest to open their facilities to the public.   PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Steven H. Lichter)
Subject: Re: Central Office Tours?
Date: 7 Aug 1993 08:53:16 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)


The last time I can remember PacBell having tours was some years ago
when electronic switching was just getting installed. I'm sure you
could get into one of their offices if you were to contact a division
staff office or their main office in San Ramon. I know GTE gives tours
to groups at times, but not like it was years ago. But then there are
not a lot of people left that can take the time to work these things
and try and answer some pretty dumb questions.


Steven H. Lichter   GTECalif COEI

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #547
******************************










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Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 20:47:16 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #548

TELECOM Digest     Sat, 7 Aug 93 20:47:15 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 548

Inside This Issue:                       Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced (Monty Solomon)
    Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced (Gregory G. Woodbury)
    Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced (Steven L. Johnson)
    Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced (Willard Dawson)
    Re: 800 Alternatives and Billing (Mike King)
    Re: 800 Alternatives and Billing (Brett Frankenberger)
    Re: T1s Versus Regular Lines For a FreeNet? (Dale Farmer)
    Re: T1s Versus Regular Lines For a FreeNet? (Macy Hallock)
    Re: T1 Test Equipment For Delay (Bud Couch)
    Re: MCI Makes Buses? (Paul S. Sawyer)
    Re: MCI Makes Buses? (Andrew Finkenstadt)
    Re: Reflections on Hacker Sentencing (Anonymous-2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 04:22:20 -0400
From: Monty Solomon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced


> I know (or am pretty sure) that UUNET has an anonymous
> FTP-like thing running on a 900 number, but anonymous UUCP? How does
> that work? How could the host possibly know how to hand out mail and
> news under the circumstances?   PAT]

      Anonymous Access to UUNET's Source Archives

             1-900-GOT-SRCS

   UUNET now provides access to its extensive collection of UNIX
related sources to non-subscribers. By calling 1-900-468-7727 and
using the login "uucp" with no password, anyone may uucp any of
UUNET's on line source collection.  Callers will be charged 50 cents
per minute.  The charges will appear on their next telephone bill. Due
to Sprint policy UUNET can charge you for only 30 minutes per call.
UUNET cannot allow sites to transfer any more files on this connection
after 30 minutes have elapsed.  The 900 number is for US domestic use
only.  International callers are not able to access this service.
There are also some areas of the United States which block the use of
900 numbers. The service will not be available in those areas.

   The file uunet!~/info/archive-help contains instructions.

The file uunet!~/ls-lR.Z contains a complete list of the files
available and is updated daily. Files ending in Z need to be
uncompressed before being used. The file uunet!~/compress.tar is a tar
archive containing the C sources for the uncompress program.

   This service provides a cost effective way of obtaining current
releases of sources without having to maintain accounts with UUNET or
some other service. All modems connected to the 900 number are Telebit
T2500 modems. These modems support all standard modem speeds including
PEP, V.32 (9600), V.22bis (2400), Bell 212a (1200), and Bell 103
(300). Using PEP or V.32, a 2.9 megabyte file such as the GNU C
compiler would cost $20 in con- nect charges.  The entire 40 megabyte
X Window system V11 R5 would cost only $267 in connect time. These
costs are less than the official tape distribution fees and they are
available now via modem.


          UUNET Technologies, Inc.
        3110 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 570
           Falls Church, VA 22042
           [phone] (voice)
           [phone] (fax)
            [e-mail]
                              921028

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

From: [e-mail] (Gregory G. Woodbury)
Subject: Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced
Organization: Wolves Den UNIX
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 05:37:58 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
writes:

> When a computer calls a computer, there is no human involved in the
> process to see a message.

> [Moderator's Note: See the message before this. Give me one example of
> a 'computer to computer unattended' transmission now which goes via
> 900 numbers. Yes, there are computer to computer connections via 900
> but at least the originating end has a human being watching a screen
> calling a BBS, etc.

UUnet Technologies  1-900-GOT-SRCS anonymous UUCP file service.

Given that one knows the layout of the Archives, one can request the
files with a simple command and let the computers take care of doing
the transfer at the best (least costly?) time for them to do so.


Gregory G. Woodbury @ The Wolves Den UNIX, Durham NC  <Standard disclaimers>
UUCP: ...dukcds!wolves!ggw   ...duke!wolves!ggw           [use the maps!]
Domain: [e-mail]  [e-mail]
[This site is *not* affiliated with Duke University.  (Idiots!) ]


[Moderator's Note: 'given that one knows the layout of the Archives ...'
And how does one find out the layout ... why, you contact uunet and
find out ... so again, we have at least semi-pre-arrangements in place.
Totally blind dialing to a 900 number via modem is very unlikely.  PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Steven L. Johnson)
Subject: Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced
Organization: JvNCnet
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 20:24:52 GMT


[e-mail] (Chris Ambler) writes:

> No, actually, I'm under the impression that UUNET offers 900 service
> to their anonymous UUCP, so there IS NO pre-arranged deal. This is for
> doing file requests for public software.

Before I got "real internet" access including FTP, I used the 900
anonymous UUCP service to retrieve some files.  It's convenient and
works well.

> [Moderator's Note: Maybe I am missing something here.
> I know (or am pretty sure) that UUNET has an anonymous
> FTP-like thing running on a 900 number, but anonymous UUCP? How does
> that work? How could the host possibly know how to hand out mail and
> news under the circumstances?   PAT]

Mail and news are not available via anonymous uucp for exactly the
reasons you mention.  The FTP-like thing running on the 900 number is
anonymous uucp.


Steve

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

Subject: Re: Victory For 900 Users: FTC Rules Announced
From: [e-mail] (Willard Dawson)
Date: Sat, 07 Aug 93 07:49:02 EDT
Organization: Willard's House BBS, Atlanta, GA -- [phone]


[e-mail] (Alex Griffiths) writes:

> Experienced uucp'ers will notice that the above is somewhat
> simplified, somewhat unsuccessfully, for brevity (references to rmail
> and the like removed) and it implies the use of Unix systems, running
> uucp on VMS or pc's (ick) would be slightly different.

Yes, absolutely.  I've actually USED the 900 service line from UUNET,
from my instance of Waffle on a PC.  The charges were at $1/minute.
For small stuff that I want "right now," it's a very useful thing to
have about.  My only other alternatives are to use a mail server (like
[e-mail]) or to have a friend ftp the stuff, as I myself
do not live on the Internet (oh, the horror).

The setup for Waffle is pretty simple.

In my ~/uucp/systems file:

uunet Any g dialUUNET touunet 19004687727 uucp [e-mail]

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

In my ~/uucp/dialers file:

dialUUNET Default 38400 "" ATZ OK-\d\dATZ-OK ATM0 OK ATX6DT\T CONNECT \m\c

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

In my ~/uucp/scripts file:

touunet       in:--in:--in: \L

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

Of course, it helps greatly to know in advance where the files you
want to "download" are located. :-) Like, you need to have previously
obtained the "lslR.Z" file from the root (relative to the $HOME for
nuucp) on uunet.

I've actually gotten "CONNECT 14400" when dialing with my fast modem,
but throughput speeds were (of course) never up to that standard.
Sometimes the system response was very good.  On other occasions, it
has been very "jerky," with long pauses that drop the throughput
considerably.

(Contentions that "uucp runs without human intervention" are quite
laughable in the PC context ...)

Doing all this by hand using a PC lets me observe the performance of
the session, and terminate it if I feel that it's not going quite as
quickly as it should be.  (... all from observing my modem status
lights... long pauses are a general indication that the throughput is
gonna be way low...)


[e-mail] (Willard Dawson)
gatech!kd4nc!vdbsan!willard!dawson   emory!uumind!willard!dawson
Willard's House BBS, Atlanta, GA -- [phone]


[Moderator's Note: I would say it is *imperative* to know how the
archives is laid out. Under UUCP you don't have control of your
computer during the session; the keyboard is locked out. If your
script has an error or you do not know *exactly* the file name or
which directory to look in you are out of luck. 900 anonymous uucp
could be pretty expensive and time consuming!   PAT]

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

Date: Sat, 7 Aug 93 13:15:25 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Mike King)
Subject: Re: 800 Alternatives and Billing


In TELECOM Digest, V13 #536, [e-mail] (Bruce Albrecht)
wrote:

> Back in my youth, some friends of mine somehow discovered that a 800
> number for our school's timesharing system could be dialed as a local
> call with some prefix and the last four digits of the 800 number.  We

> number without going through LD?  Also, when we called the local
> number, was anything billed back to the 800 user?

And Pat replied:

> [Moderator's Note: When you did that, the 800 user got billed for the
> call and you got billed as well (or made a 'free local call' but still
> caused the 800 number to get charged.  Now days, many 800 numbers

Pat, how could the 800 carrier even know the call was placed?  If I
have an 800 number through PTA that we've set to ring my office
number, how would PTA detect that a neighbor dialed 428-5384?

Even back in the days when Ma controlled all 800 numbers, how could a
local call (or a long-distance call, for that matter) be associated back
to an 800 number?


Mike King * Software Sourcerer * Fairchild Space * +1 301.428.5384
[e-mail] or [e-mail]  *  (usual disclaimers)


[Moderator's Note: Back in the days when AT&T controlled all 800
numbers (well, let's say in the 1970's - 1980's) 800 numbers did not
work like they do now. Now, your carrier gets the number dialed,
translates it to a regular number and dials it back out. In other
times, your 800 number was a number unto itself with a physical wire
pair which came to you and an instrument upon which you spoke. It was
a separate and distinct thing. Now you get 800 on your regular line;
then you had to have a separate instrument and wires. On the phone
sitting there (which usually had a flat plastic piece across where the
dial would go -- like an old manual service line -- since you could
not dial out on it anyway; picking it up you'd hear battery but no
dialtone) a little number sticker actually referred to it as 800-xxx-xxxx.

Now how did AT&T get that to you? Well, they used a local telco loop
like now. Remember, we had x-bar and step service in those days. Telco
would get the call from AT&T, translate it themselves into whatever
pair it was supposed to go on and send it. The line to you from telco
was typically just a regular number but with one-way incoming service,
and telco did NOT tell you what that number was. So far as you were
concerned it was 800-xxx-xxxx. Period.

Telco supervised for an answer and started the clock running, then
handed this information back to AT&T who 'just assumed' if telco got a
call for that line it 'must be' an In-WATS call. So if someone happened
to stumble onto the seven digit number assigned to service the In-WATS
line, when they dialed it, telco started the clock running. Things are
different now because the carrier itself supervises the connection and
does not rely on telco to say that someone went off hook on your end.

In the old system, if you knew the seven digit number assigned to handle
the incoming WATS call it was strictly against the tariff to dial that
number since doing so caused two people to pay for one phone call; both
the recipient (when telco supervised and started his clock) and the
person placing the call, since his telco started charging him as well.
Where before AT&T handled the In-WATS call to the telco and said 'here
is a call, who is it locally? Translate it and deal with it ...' now
the carriers do the translations and simply hand telco a call to be
completed to an already defined (by the LD carrier) number before the
local telco even sees it.  Am I correct for once, someone?  PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Brett Frankenberger)
Subject: Re: 800 Alternatives and Billing
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 13:15:54 GMT


> [Moderator's Note: When you did that, the 800 user got billed for the
> call and you got billed as well (or made a 'free local call' but still
> caused the 800 number to get charged.  Now days, many 800 numbers
> are just set to ring a regular seven digit number, but there are still
> a few cases around where the 800 number is on a dedicated pair to the
> customer premises in which case many of them are dialable if you know
> the number assigned for the purpose.   PAT]

Huh?  You mean if I get one your 800 numbers that forwards to my POTS
number, I will then get charged for calls to my POTS number?  Not
likely :) ... The school mentioned in the message just doesn't have
enough need to justify a dedicated line (usually a T1) to his IXC, so
he has his IXC set up the 800 number to forward to a POTS number ...
Bruce just found out that POTS number ... the call should be free to
the school (and free to Bruce assuming he has free local calling).


Brett  ([e-mail])  (formerly [e-mail])


[Moderator's Note: Maybe my original comment should have been to
clarify what the correspondent meant by 'in my youth'.  I answered it
by thinking of my own youth -- well, middle age really -- and the fact
that 800 numbers were terminated quite differently than they are now
in most cases. See the above message. Then the call was passed to a
dedicated line with the assumption being anytime this line is in use
an 800 call is in progress. Now, no such assumption is made by telco.
Where before AT&T handed telco a call and said this is In-WATS, take
it, translate it and deal with it; put it somewhere, now the carrier
comes to telco with a call -- that's all telco sees now is a call
arriving from somewhere to the number the LD carrier says to give it
to. No assumptions now about what types of calls 'must be' on a line
if the line is in use.  See the difference?    PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Dale Farmer)
Subject: Re: T1s Versus Regular Lines For a FreeNet?
Date: 7 Aug 1993 14:58:11 GMT
Organization: Express Access Online Communications, Greenbelt, MD USA


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
writes:

>     Why is it necessary to have 24 little boxes converting the T1
> to 24 RS232 lines?  That then requires 24 serial ports on the
> computer.  It seems that there should be a "box" that directly takes
> the T1, DSP demodulates it and converts it to a SINGLE data stream
> that then connects to the computer.  The computer can then take this
> datastream apart in software (if fast enough), or in hardware, if not.

    Yes there is, US Robotics makes it under the name total
control wide area network hub.  On one side you plug in your two T-1
lines on the other side you plug in your Ethernet cable. (other
interfaces are under development) Gives you 48 modems and it will also
take the ANI signals and route the call to a given virtual dial-in
port so you can treat calls from different parties appropriately.

    All in a box that is 48x47x17 inches (about 1/2 of a rack
cabinet).

    I have no knowledge of anybody else who makes a comparable all
in one box.  Your mileage may vary.


Dale Farmer

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

From: redpoll!fmsystm!fmsys![e-mail]
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 93 21:13 EDT
Subject: Re: T1s Versus Regular Lines For a FreeNet?
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: F M Systems/Telemax  Medina, Ohio USA


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Harold Hallikainen) writes:

> Why is it necessary to have 24 little boxes converting the T1
> to 24 RS232 lines?

Sounds like you want either the units made by Primary Access or USR's
new modem system ...


Macy Hallock N8OBG Voice= +1.216.723.3030 Fax= +1.216.723.3223 [e-mail]
Telemax Inc. and F M Systems Inc.   152 Highland Drive   Medina, Ohio 44256 USA
------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Bud Couch)
Subject: Re: T1 Test Equipment For Delay
Organization: ADC Kentrox Industries, Inc.
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 17:33:21 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> telenet![e-mail]
writes:

> I'm looking for some test equipment that could simulate propogation
> delays on T1 lines.  (Actually, I'm interested in T1 for now, but T3
> in the near future).  Basically I guess I'd like a box that could
> store data for a configurable period of time (msec-second range) and
> then retransmit it as though it had just suffered a long propagation

Tellabs 4540 T1 Digital Delay. It's a plug-in, so you'll need the
associated shelf and power supplies.

     708-969-8800


Bud Couch - ADC Kentrox   [e-mail] (192.228.32.43)
insert legalistic bs disclaimer here

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

From: [e-mail] (Paul S. Sawyer)
Subject: Re: MCI Makes Buses?
Date: 7 Aug 1993 17:53:04 GMT
Organization: UNH Telecommunications and Network Services


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (David
Wolff) writes:

> Reminds me of a story.  The good citizens of Walpole MA asked that the
> name of MCI Walpole be changed, since their town's name was becoming
> so closely connected to the maximum security prison there.  Much
> discussion followed, but by far the funniest suggestion was ... Sprint
> Walpole!

Wouldn't this be "slamming" a "slammer"?


Paul S. Sawyer    - University of New Hampshire CIS -  [e-mail]
Telecommunications and Network Services                VOX: [phone]
50 College Road                                        FAX: [phone]
Durham, New Hampshire  03824-3523

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

From: [e-mail] (Andrew Finkenstadt)
Subject: Re: MCI Makes Buses?
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Vista-Chrome, Inc.
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 19:47:40 GMT


In <[e-mail]> our Moderator wrote:

> [Moderator's Note: Before long, this is going to get as confusing for
> me as the 'ATM' abbreviation!   :)  PAT]

ATM: Adobe Type Manager?  Automated Teller Machine?  Asynchronous
Transfer Mode?  Andy's True Music (a local store)?  Yes, there is room
for acro-fusion. (Short for acronym confusion.)


Andrew Finkenstadt  |  andy@{homes.com,vistachrome.com,genie.geis.com}
Systems Analyst     |  Vista-Chrome, Homes & Land Publishing Corporation
                    |  1600 Capital Circle SW, Tallahassee Florida 32310
[phone]     |  GEnie Postmaster, Unix & Internet RoundTables Sysop

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

Subject: Re: Reflections on Hacker Sentencing
From: Anonymous-2 <[e-mail]>
Date: Sat, 07 Aug 93 20:59:05 EDT
Organization: Not Relevant


Pat,

I felt a need to respond to this.  As I am now gainfully employed --
albeit at a rather security-paranoid company -- I too wish to remain
anonymous should you elect to publish this in the Digest.

Therefore, please delete any identifying info.


Anonymous ([e-mail]) writes:

> Although some readers may not understand the analogy, hacking (or,
> technically, "cracking"), to the average high-school kid, is similar
> to joyriding (something that doesn't happen much anymore, except in
> inner cities). It's a kid's way of getting a "high" -- a kind of "let
> me see if I can do THIS" idea. Sure, I knew it was wrong ... everyone
> involved in it did. But the teenage feeling of invincibility prevents
> one from thinking about it. Until you get caught.

I'm not sure if I agree with the joyriding analogy, particularly when
applied to hackers as a culture.  I suspect that, for you, it may be
appropriate, in that I'm not sure if your motivation lay in the
proverbial 'exploring systems' as much as it did in trying to impress
your friends.  However, the point about teen invincibility is
important, and in the presence of such a need to impress, directly
contributed to your present dilemma.

If my suspicions are correct, I won't shed any tears for you.  If you
have truely 'redeemed' yourself, you may initially encounter
difficulty in finding a job.  But once you are established and have
the opportunity to grow professionally, you won't have much of a
problem moving on.

> I'm glad I got caught, because if I didn't, I'd be doing worse, real
> criminal-type things now. Something more damaging than phreaking a
> phone call to Cali or being part of an Alliance Teleconference.  I'd
> probably be stealing real cash, or merchandise, or who knows what
> else; but it'd be something that I'd deserve to go to jail for.

If such is the case, I am glad that you were caught.  However, I
really don't believe that you're eventual maturity would allow you to
overlook the obvious risk inherent in such activities, especially when
compared to the money that you can legitimately make in the
marketplace.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but let's keep in mind that --
with the notable exception of Kevin Mitnick -- none of the greater
'hacker burnings' of the last few years have involved anyone
attempting to either achieve outright monetary gain, or to commit
willful destruction of property.

Not to mention that many of the teen hackers of yore are now prominent
in the evolution of the software/hardware industries.

Furthermore, in a post where you attempt to describe young hackers in
generalized terms, I resent the implication that you're speaking for
others in stating that you'd be doing "something that I deserved to go
to jail for".

Finally, not to pick nits, but the term "hacker" is solidly entrenched
in the minds of the media (and, hence, the public) as -- at best -- a
word for which the meaning must be derived from context.  I've been
called a hacker for over ten years.  At some point along the line, the
context shifted, such that the Kiwanis now suggest membership :-/

Educating the public is a task that requires enormous patience,
relative consistency in approach, and a great deal of time.  Given
such extraordinary demands (as evidenced during your day in court), as
well as the vast number of opportunities and dangers inherent in the
"civiIization of cyberspace" I find the energies expended on attempts
to substitute the term "cracker" for the pejorative use of "hacker" to
be not only futile -- given that you can't even get the people educated
in the computer cultures to agree on such a distinction -- but of an
extremely low priority.


[Moderator's Note: Thank you, Anonymous and Anonymous-2 for your
comments. I generally do not like anonymous articles so will probably
close the thread at this point unless anyone else has something to add
to the discussion.  PAT]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #548
******************************










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From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #549

TELECOM Digest     Sat, 7 Aug 93 21:27:15 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 549

Inside This Issue:                       Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Borneo Malaysia Phones (Juha Veijalainen)
    Re: Borneo Malaysia Phones (Jonathan Haruni)
    Re: Networks in Sarejevo? (Frederick Roeber)
    Re: CT2 Phones in Hong Kong (Brendan Jones)
    Re: Calls From Prison (Robert S. Helfman)
    Re: Modem/Data Tax - Technically Possible (Bruce Sullivan)
    Re: Modem/Data Tax - Technically Possible (Frederick Roeber)
    Re: Modem/Data Tax - Technically Possible (Christopher Zguris)
    Re: Modem/Data Tax - Technically Possible (Mike King)
    Re: Flow Control With Unixware (Gary Breuckman)
    Re: Maximum Number of Phone Lines to a Residence? (Gary Breuckman)
    Re: CCITT, ITU-T or TSS? (Fernando Lagrana)
    Misprogrammed Foreign Phones: Where to Report? (Jim Gottlieb)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Date: 07 AUG 93 08:00
Subject: Re: Borneo Malaysia Phones


[e-mail] (Jon Allen) wrote:

> In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Wm
> Randolph Franklin) writes:

>> Smartfon is a 100m range cordless phone, which you use near to a
>> posted transmitter.  It's smaller than a cellular phone, which I think
>> may also be available.

> If this is the same as the System used in Singapore, then you can make
> only outgoing calls.  All over Singapore are the little signs <CALL ZONE>

> Very interesting concept -- I had not heard it being used anywhere else.

These CT2 phones are used quite widely around the world, only the
service name varies, usually it is a variation of 'Telepoint'.  In
Europe I know that at least England, France and Finland have telepoint
services.

In Finland the Finnish Telecom markets only Motorola CT2 phone (called
Silverlink 2000).  It is essentially a cordless phone using
frequencies around 864 MHz.  40 channels, digital communication at
38400 bps range from 300 - 50 metres.  Telepoint service allows only
outgoing calls; if you have bought your own base station, you can use
it at home as a normal cordless phone.

I've heard that some countries also have public telepoint service that
allows incoming calls.  I don't know how this is accomplished;
Telepoint certainly is not a normal cellular phone: handheld units are
not constantly monitoring cells, cell switching is not supported etc.


Juha Veijalainen    4ge system analyst, tel. [phone]
Unisys Finland    Internet: [e-mail]
Mielipiteet omiani ** Opinions are PERSONAL, facts are suspect

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

From: Jonathan Haruni <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Borneo Malaysia Phones
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Micrognosis International, London
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 15:01:57 GMT


Jon Allen ([e-mail]) wrote:

> If this is the same as the System used in Singapore, then you can make
> only outgoing calls.  All over Singapore are the little signs <CALL
> ZONE> where you can use your phone to dial out.  Since many people in
> Singapore carry Cell Phones, I would guess these short range phones
> are marketed to those folks who cannot afford the Cell Phones (the
> short range phones were very cheap).  Very interesting concept -- I
> had not heard of it being used anywhere else.

The system exists in the UK where it is called the "Rabbit" phone, and
in France, where it has another name I cannot remember, and I suspect
in many other places.  As you guessed, it is much cheaper than a
cellular phone -- you buy a handset, pay a small monthly fee, and then
for roughly the same price as a coin phone, you can make outgoing
calls only, but you have to be near a base station.  These are
scattered around in train stations, restaurant chains, along busy
roads, and many other places.  You don't get incoming calls or, of
course, roaming.  Unlike existing cellulars, the radio connection is
digital and (they claim) much clearer.  You can also buy a base
station which plugs into your home phone line just like any cordless
phone, and then your Rabbit acts as a normal cordless phone.  If you
want, you can just buy the phone and base station without paying the
monthly fee, and you have a highly featured digital cordless phone,
though for double the price of a typical regular cordless.

I don't know how popular the system is.  I haven't seen many people
with a Rabbit.  There is a lot of competition, too: The existence of
the Rabbit network has spurned some new pricing options from the
cellular companies aimed at the sort of people who would buy Rabbits,
and the phone companies are planting lots of new coinless payphones in
places where it would not be practical to collect coins, like subway
stations.


Jonathan Haruni

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

From: [e-mail] (Frederick Roeber)
Subject: Re: Networks in Sarejevo?
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: CERN -- European Organization for Nuclear Research
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 18:09:02 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> Bruce Taylor <[e-mail]>
writes:

> I was just asked to give ideas on how to establish email or network
> connectivity into Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.  The idea is to create a
> portable set of equipment that could support a few users with e-mail,
> or perhaps several users with full internet connectivity.

> Does anyone know what is currently available (read as "remaining")
> in the way of communications infrastructure there?

RIPE has information about the number of hosts in various European and
near-European countries, see ftp://ftp.ripe.net/ripe/hostcount for
lots of information.  ftp://ftp.ripe.net/ripe/hostcount/RIPE-hostcount
has the various counts, and ftp://ftp.ripe.net/ripe/hostcount/Ccodes
is a convenient list of the country codes.

The YU information points to a couple nodes, the main one seeming to
be klepec.yunac.yu.  This was reachable from dxcern.cern.ch.  There
are not yet any registered hosts in Bosnia-Hercegovina (country code
BA).

<a href="http://info.cern.ch/roeber/fgmr.html"><i>Frederick.</i></a>

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

From: [e-mail] (Brendan Jones)
Subject: Re: CT2 Phones in Hong Kong
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 17:55:40 +1000 (EST)


In article <[e-mail]> Wayne Sung <sung@concert.
net> wrote:

> Last year when I was in Hong Kong I saw advertisements for a forthcoming
> CT2 phone system.  I saw phones from Motorola and Casio. One other brand
> of phone had the service company's logo on them so I couldn't tell who
> made them.

The two other manufacturers you haven't mentioned are Shaye and GPT
(GEC Plessey Telecommunications, UK), offered by Chevalier Telepoint,
the second largest CT2 operator in Hong Kong after Hutchison.

All CT2 handset manufacturers also offer a domestic base station so that you
can use your handset as a cordless phone at home.

> [re small cells]
> However, there is a note in the Motorola unit handbook which advises
> against movement once a call is established.

If you move out of the cell you're in, the call drops out (no
handoff).  The cells are typically only about 50 m in radius in very
built up areas, such as in Central on Hong Kong Island, but can be as
big as 200 m or so in open areas.

> The phones run on three AAA batteries or a rechargable pack. The
> antenna is retractable.

The Shaye handset has two internal antennas - a printed circuit
antenna in the flip-mouthpiece and a pigtail antenna at the head of
the handset.  One is for transmitting and the other is for receiving,
but I can't remember which is which.

> In public use there is an extra twist -- these phones are not able to
> receive incoming calls so it won't matter if the antenna is down (or the
> unit powered off for that matter).  The companies have developed a system
> to effectively allow incoming calls. You buy a beeper as well as the phone,
> and someone trying to reach you calls a 'meet-me' number which activates
> your beeper.

The Telstra CT2 trial in Brisbane, Australia, has a direct incoming
call system.  Users wishing to receive calls must manually 'register'
their presence in the cell, and the network can then direct incoming
calls to them.

Your handset can be directly called as long as you stay within that
cell -- useful if you're at a restaurant or shopping centre (ie
somewhere where you are going to be for a few hours).

> Voice quality on the phones is quite good, perhaps better than my Tropez,
> even though it is supposed to be compressed (I don't know that for a fact).

It's not compressed.  It's straight 32 kb/s ADPCM (G.721).  However,
these phones use TDD (Time Division Duplexing) at a 500 Hz rate.  The
speech packets are stored up and spat out at a little over twice the
ADPCM rate (72 kb/s) leaving the rest of the frame to receive the
return data, ie these phones create a full duplex channel on a single
RF frequency with a 2 ms roundtrip speech delay.

> The store clerks were not able to tell me what frequency band these
> units worked in. However, I just saw a Northern Telecom article which
> mentioned the 860 MHz area for their CT2 offering, which is meant to
> be a wireless pbx application.

CT2 has 40 RF Channels, with Channel 1 at 864.15 MHz and a 100 kHz
spacing (ie Channel 40 is at 868.05 MHz).  This standard is used in
all countries that have or are trialling CT2, except Australia, which
uses the band 861.05 MHz to 864.95 MHz just to be difficult :-)

Commercial CT2 networks are operating in Singapore, Hong Kong, the
Netherlands, and the UK, and being trialled in many other countries in
Europe and South-East Asia.


Brendan Jones (PhD Student) | Email: [e-mail]
Electronics Department      | Voice: [phone]
School of MPC&E             | Fax  : [phone]
Macquarie University        | Snail: +NSW 2109 AUSTRALIA

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

From: [e-mail] (Robert S. Helfman)
Subject: Re: Calls From Prison
Date: 7 Aug 1993 17:18:42 GMT
Organization: The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Paul Buder) writes:

> Sometimes I get an automated operator in Oregon and sometimes not.  I
> know someone who spent time in the Washington County Jail.  The AOS
> identified itself as Gateway Technologies (bleh -- can you believe that
> name?) and it showed up on the phone bill as from Operator Assistance
> Network.  When she was moved to the state prison in Salem all calls
> came from US West.  They were automated once in a while but usually I
> heard a live operator say "This is US West. [...] is calling collect
> from a correctional facility.  The call may be monitored.  Will you
> accept the charges?

When I was receiving collect calls from a friend incarcerated at
Tehachapi (a men's medium-to-high security facility about 120 miles
from L.A.), the calls came through MCI. No indicating was given that
the calls were from a correctional facility: "This is the MCI Operator
with a collect call from Michael. Will anyone accept?"  (This was
1989-1992, when he was released. There was potential for monitoring
but it was almost never done, according to my friend.)

Ditto for calls coming from a prison fire camp at Buena Vista (fifty
miles or so from Redding, CA). Same wording, but it's AT&T. (1992 to
present). The calls from the fire camp are not monitored at all.  He
can't call any other way but collect. I now have an AT&T 700- number
but he can't use it, unfortunately.  It would be a lot cheaper than
operator-assisted collect.

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

Date: Sat, 7 Aug 93 20:13 GMT
From: Bruce Sullivan <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Modem/Data Tax - Technically Possible


In TELECOM Digest V13 #[e-mail] (danny burstein) writes:

> Just as a side note: Technically, it -is- possible for the telcos (at
> least the IXCs, and probaly the LECs as well) to differentiate between
> voice and data calls.

> And yes, they do it. How do I know? Our company has an MCI account (don't
> know the specific name) which groups together lots of different location
> phone lines.  WHen we get the bill each month, each call is coded with
> things like "dfx" or "ifx", standing for domestic fax call and
> international fax call. (Afraid I don't remember the coding for voice)

> So yes, they can, and do, make the distinction.

Obviously, you have some type of billing or other business arrangement
with your IXC for certain services. That is why it is broken out as
such.  To assume from this skimpy evidence that ANY telco can tell
AFTER THE FACT what kind of call it was -- fax, modem, or voice -- is
a great leap of faith. In some business arrangements -- such as yours
 -- are set up that way for business reasons (billing convenience?
marketing ploy? Who knows? There's not enough info here to determine).
Hoever, in the PSTN, they're just phone calls -- more or less -- on a
voice channel.

Now, before you all run off and flame me with YOUR PARTICULAR
exception, I didn't say there's no way to tell, ever. I take greater
issue with the "do" statement than the "can" statement. MCI, AT&T, et
al, are unlikely to know or care, unless it's some part of a pre-
existing business (usually) arrangement. I wouldn't expect them to
have any idea which calls from my home came from a modem, fax, or a
phone.

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

From: [e-mail] (Frederick Roeber)
Subject: Re: Modem/Data Tax - Technically Possible
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: CERN -- European Organization for Nuclear Research
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 13:55:52 GMT


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (danny
burstein) writes:

> Just as a side note: Technically, it -is- possible for the telcos (at
> least the IXCs, and probaly the LECs as well) to differentiate between
> voice and data calls.

Well, yes.  Your fax or modem is taking a slow digital signal (say,
9600) and converting it to an analog signal.  The phone company is
hardly going to take this analog signal, re-digitize it up to 56k and
waste an entire voice channel on it.  It's much more economical for
telco to demodulate it back to the original 9600 signal, wrap it up
with a few others, and put them all on one 56k line.

And charge you the same, of couse ;-).


<a href="http://info.cern.ch/roeber/fgmr.html"><i>Frederick.</i></a>

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

Date: Sat, 7 Aug 93 14:46 GMT
From: Christopher Zguris <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Modem/Data Tax - Technically Possible


I have service from MCI and I know they offer to code fax lines as fax
lines on the bill -- but they rely on me telling them which lines are
carrying data.  I have two or three lines that carry data and/or fax
(one is dedicated to fax) and the bill has never indicated they "knew"
which lines were data/fax. Does anyone have any better evidence that
they can, and do, tell the difference?


Christopher Zguris  [e-mail]

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

Date: Sat, 7 Aug 93 16:58:28 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Mike King)
Subject: Re: Modem/Data Tax - Technically Possible


Do your fax calls use the same lines as your voice calls?

I reviewed a proposal from MCI a couple of years ago, and among the
things they offered was a fax service that supposedly got special
handling for outgoing faxes.

If we provided them with the numbers of our fax lines, they could
provide options like automatic store and forward, special discounts
for faxes made after hours, multiple fax destinations with one phone
call by the local fax, etc.

Since our fax machines went through our PBX, we didn't want to
dedicate any outgoing trunks to fax usage.  We didn't join the plan.


Mike King * Software Sourcerer * Fairchild Space * +1 301.428.5384
[e-mail] or [e-mail]  *  (usual disclaimers)

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

From: [e-mail] (Gary Breuckman)
Subject: Re: Flow Control With Unixware
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 13:07:21 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Steve
Forrette) writes:

> In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (David Mason) writes:

>> Finally, while I am here and this is sort of applicable, does anyone
>> know of any inexpensive device/card/whatever that would allow us to
>> reset the systems remotely? Sometimes one of them will die and it
>> isn't possible to come here quickly to reboot, so I'd like to be able
>> to do it remotely. Even something as simple as something that hooked
>> to a phone line and put the power off for a minute then on when
>> triggered properly would be good.

> I just got such a system set up for my voice response server last
> week.  I considered rigging something up myself as a last resort, but
> I preferred an off-the-shelf solution, and I found one at Radio Shack.
> It's part of their Plug-N-Power AC carrier remote control system (also
> marketed as BSR or X-10 by others).

> The remote device works rather well.  You set a security code, from
> one to three digits.  I have it set up on my modem line, which
> normally only places outgoing calls.  When I call that line, it
> answers after six or seven rings, and prompts with three beeps.  I
> enter the security code, then one or more commands.  I can have up to
> ten remotes, and can turn each one off or on individually.

I've also seen a box marketed especially for computers, that allows
the computer to be off, and will power it up when a call comes in.  It
monitors the modem connection, and will turn the power off again after
the user disconnects and a time delay elapses.  So, if the computer
hangs, you just need to disconnect and stay off for the time delay
period.  May not work too well for systems with multiple users, or if
you would rather leave the system powered up all the time.  The cost
of this particular switch was just under $200.


[e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Gary Breuckman)
Subject: Re: Maximum Number of Phone Lines to a Residence?
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 13:16:33 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Karl L. Swartz) writes:

> [e-mail] posted:

>>> Busy forwarding is pretty much what I wanted,
>>> although it's not as perfectly robust as a hunt group ...

> What's the difference?  Is there some additional delay involved in
> busy forwarding or what?

We use 'forward on busy/no answer' on our data lines, rather than a
hunt group.  We have it set to forward after the third ring, which in
addition to providing the usual 'hunting' on busy, also takes care of
the problems you have when a modem or port goes off into never-never
land and stops answering calls, or a circuit goes open between us and
the telco.


[e-mail]

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

Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 14:57:13 +0200
From: [e-mail] (Fernando A. Lagrana)
Organization: International Telecommunication Union
Subject: Re: CCITT, ITU-T or TSS?


In order to help you (the telecom community) to navigate through the
new terms and acronyms used in the standardization process since March
1st '93, please note the information below and the following table of
correspondence, as finally adopted by last ITU's Council during its
June '93 session:

The CCITT has been replaced by the Telecommunication Standardization
Sector of the ITU. The correspondent acronym is ITU-T (and not ITU-TS
or TSS!!!).

The CCITT Specialized Secretariat has been replaced by the
Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB).

The CCITT Plenary Assembly has been replaced by the World
Telecommunication Standardization Conference (WTSC).

The Recommendations (now developed by the ITU-T), are referenced as
ITU-T Recommendations. By example, CCITT Recommendation X.500
becomes Recommendation ITU-T X.500.

See the Table below for more examples:

The CCITT                          The ITU-T
CCITT PA                           WTSC
CCITT Study Groups                 ITU-T study groups
CCITT Study Group VII              ITU-T Study Group 7
CCITT Resolution No. 1             WTSC Resolution No. 1
CCITT Recommendations              ITU-T Recommendations
CCITT X-series Recommendations     ITU-T X-series Recommendations
CCITT Recommendation X.400         Recommendation ITU-T X.400
CCITT Secretariat                  TSB
Director of the CCITT              Director of the TSB
CCITT Circular No. 1               TSB Circular 1
CCITT Collective-letter No. 1/VI   TSB Collective-letter 1/6


As Ken Rossen writes in TELECOM Digest #542, the acronym ITU-TS has
been used during a few months (march to june), but is now out of date.

Finally, these terms and acronyms apply also retroactively, but for
reference purpose only (the texts already in force will not be
changed).


Fernando Lagrana
Telecommunication Standardization Bureau
Editor, Catalogue of ITU-T Recommendations
[e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Jim Gottlieb)
Subject: Misprogrammed Foreign Phones: Where to Report?
Date: 7 Aug 1993 21:19:31 -0700
Organization: Info Connections, West Los Angeles


Recently, I was in Indonesia with another Digest reader.  Like many
countries, Indonesia has replaced most traditional public telephones
with the stored-value-card variety.

I must say I have never liked the idea of payphones with too much
intelligence.  I trust the network much more than I trust information
stored in a particular instrument.  And these public phones in
Indonesia have too much smarts for their own good.

I have no idea why, but these phones have internal knowledge of the
world's country codes and even of the USA's area codes.  But the
information is way out of date!

An attempt to call any area code that has been introduced in the last
few years is blocked right at the phone.  And no one told these phones
about the pseudo country code used for USA Direct.  AT&T tells you to
dial 00-80-110.  This is rejected because the phone has never heard of
country code 80.  I found myself yelling to the phone, "Just send the
digits to the phone line!  It will know what to do with them!"

So not only couldn't I call back to my office directly (we're in a
"new" area code), I couldn't place the call via USA Direct either.

Who should I report this to?  I considered calling repair service while
over there, but decided that communicating this to them (I don't speak
Bahasa) could possibly be more difficult than explaining CO matters to
GTE repair.  Maybe I should try AT&T LD Repair (800-222-3000).  I
wonder how much influence they have in these matters.


Jim Gottlieb
E-Mail: [e-mail]    In Japan: [e-mail]
V-Mail: [phone]   Fax: [phone]   Voice: 824-5454


[Moderator's Note: Didn't the phone itself have any notice or sign
on it indicating who maintained it or owned it locally?  PAT]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #549
******************************










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Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 22:46:33 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: TELECOM Digest V13 #550

TELECOM Digest     Sat, 7 Aug 93 22:46:30 CDT    Volume 13 : Issue 550

Inside This Issue:                       Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: ANI 800 Number Changes Behavior (Len Elam)
    Re: Cordless Headset 'Telephone' (Lee Sweet)
    Re: Telco Rates (Dave Niebuhr)
    Re: Continuing Saga (Dave Carpentier)
    Re: Pay-Phone Wanted -- Where to Get? (Christopher Zguris)
    Re: Psychological Effect of "Busy" Signal (Ben Cox)
    Re: ATT Dedicated Lines (David G. Lewis)
    Re: Who/What Determines Caller-ID? (Steven L. Spak)
    Re: Newton MessagePad Now Available From Apple (Martin McCormick)
    Re: How Does One Get Tariffs on the Cheap? (Graham Toal)
    Re: Dark Fibre (Alex Griffiths)
    Re: Busy Signal Strangeness (was Re: Revisit ..) (Mike King)
    Re: Zoom Hotshot (*67) Problem (Dave Ptasnik)
    Re: Phone Number -> Name/Address (France) (Jean-Bernard Condat)
    Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching? (Lynne Gregg)
    Re: Big Rivers (Brad Hicks)
    Re: Truevoice Requesting Telephone Number (John Castaldi)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Len E. Elam - x32970)
Subject: Re: 800 ANI Number Changes Behaviour
Organization: Lockheed Fort Worth Company
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 16:41:18 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (woody) writes:

> The 800 235 1414 number that gave out caller number readback along
> with an ad for 900-STOPPER and a privacy publication, had a different
> message tonight.  Just Thursday, the old Joker was up to his ANI
> tricks. On Friday afternoon, the 800 number got an unusual fast busy
> condition for a while. Now, Friday night, the number just has a
> message identifying as "Private Line", advertising 900-STOPPER and
> recommending a new 800 number for "caller ID".

> The new number is 800 852.9932. This gives out a short burst of
> 950.xxxx carrier tone, then reads back the calling number. Nothing
> else seems to happen on that call.

I listened to "Full Disclosure Live" on Sunday night, and the host
said that their 800 number was such a success that they decided to
change it to give out a AT&T ANI Readback 800 number.  It kinda makes
sense, since the reason they made it available in the first place was
for people to try out their 900 service.


Who Am I?:  Len E. Elam
Email:      [e-mail]   or   [e-mail]
Disclaimer: I speak only for myself.

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

From: decrsc![e-mail] (Lee Sweet)
Subject: Re: Cordless Headset 'Telephone'
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 10:31:12 EDT


I assume that what was wanted here was a normal telephone headset that
uses wireless technology to eliminate the cord between the base and
'head part'.  Hello Direct makes one;I just ordered one, so I can't
give any details of pro/con.  Unfortunately, they are quoting 4-5
weeks back-order!  (Their wired headsets are usually delivered the
*next* day!)  If you want to contact them, call 800-HI-HELLO.  BTW,
the price is $399, but it does use 900 MHz, so should be pretty good.
I'll post some comments after I get mine.

(Does anyone have comments on the punch-through effectiveness of
900MHz vs. 49Mhz?  I'll be using this one in a Computer-rich
environment, and have had problems with a portable phone that used
49Mhz.)

As with most of these telecom outlets, you have to be a little
selective about what you buy: they also sell the common junk like $5
sprays to 'sterilize' handsets ...

(No connection with Hello Direct, just a satisfied customer.)


Lee Sweet                   Internet *lists* - [e-mail]
Chief Systems Consultant   Internet *e-mail* - [e-mail]
Datatel, Inc.                          Phone - 703-968-4661
4375 Fair Lakes Court                    FAX - 703-968-4625
Fairfax, VA 22033           (Opinions are my own, and only my own!)

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

Date: Sat, 7 Aug 93 07:18:15 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Dave Niebuhr)
Subject: Re: Telco Rates


In TELECOM Digest V13 #531 [e-mail] writes:

> Not a very fair calling plan if you ask me. Matter of fact, intra
> state tolls run as follows:

> Day           Evening        Night
> 1st  Addl     1st  Addl      1st  Addl
> .37  .18      .24  .12       .15  .07

And I thought my rates were high (NYTel in NYNEX land)!

My rates are (local calling region only):

 Day           Evening        Night
 1st  Addl     1st  Addl      1st  Addl
 .106  .022    40% Discount   65% Discount

Other regions are:

West Suffolk (I'm closer to it than the easternmost point of my
calling region: .133/.042 minus discounts if applicable;

Nassau County (Still closer than the easternmost point): .171/.064
minus discounts;

Unfortunately, I don't have the figures for NYC or Lower Westchester
handy.

I seem to recall that for me to approach the one-minute charge for
Rhode Island, I'd have to call to Lower Westchester County which is in
my LATA.

One side note: When my daughter calls her boyfriend (that's a war in
itself) and he's not home, the charge is usually $.080 yet NYTel keeps
telling me that they charge by the minute as soon as the phone on the
other end is taken offhook.  What me tell them?  Naaaah.  It's their
software and everyone knows that their software is perfect (or at
least it was until NYTel lost a rate battle with me earlier this
year).


Dave Niebuhr      Internet: [e-mail] / Bitnet: niebuhr@bnl
Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton, LI, NY 11973  (516)-282-3093
Senior Technical Specialist: Scientific Computer Facility

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

From: [e-mail]
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 19:05:25 -0400
Subject: Re: Continuing Saga


Since they've replaced (in effect) the lines all the way from the CO
to your protector, one would have to assume that your poor signal is
due to either a) the house wiring - perhaps have another line run from
the protector to your jack, preferably via an alternate route, since
there is the possibility of ac induction and all that. b) the
protector itself -- when they swapped the lines, the might have left
the modem on the original protector ... or c) the CO equipment from the
MDF (frame) to the switch.

And yes, it's sad but true that the telco's don't believe that our
modems should operate satisfactorily on 'voice' lines above 2400bps. I
suppose you could tell them that you are operating at 2400 "baud" and
not 14400 "bps", since (I hope I'm not out to lunch here) high speed
modems do indeed operate signalling at 2400 baud. Phase/freq coding in
the 2400 signal gives us the high speeds we so dearly love (and we
refer to this as "bps", or the effective throughput).

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

Date: Sat, 7 Aug 93 14:46 GMT
From: Christopher Zguris <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Pay-Phone Wanted -- Where to Get?


  The last time I checked, the AT&T SOURCEBOOK had them. You can find
out there phone number from any AT&T phone center. the SOURCEBOOK
should give you all the info over the phone, so you won't need the
catalog. The phones that have are the full-size (AT&T! Duh!) pay
phones, I think they also offer rate updates etc for a fee. Hope this
helps!


Christopher Zguris    [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Ben Cox)
Subject: Re: Psychological Effect of "Busy" Signal
Organization: Ancient Illuminated Bavarian Sears
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 93 17:24:54 GMT


[e-mail] writes:

> So, does replacing busy with a worded announcement or other tones
> really solve anything?  No.

Agreed.  In fact, a voice can be more disturbing than a buzzer.
Possibly one of the most chilling recorded telephone conversations,
with which nearly everyone my age is familiar, involves a voice, not a
tone.  Witness:

    "Hello?"

    "This is the United States calling; collect call for a
     Mrs. Floyd from a Mr. Floyd."

    --CLICK--

    "I'm sorry, they hung up.  It seems to be a man answering."

Surely this is at least as annoying as getting "bzzt bzzt bzzt,"
despite the fact that this is not just a recording of a person's
voice, but a live operator.     :-)


Ben Cox   [e-mail] (std. disclaimer applies)

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

From: [e-mail] (david.g.lewis)
Subject: Re: ATT Dedicated Lines
Organization: AT&T
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 17:30:01 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> Bruce Sullivan
<[e-mail]> writes:

>> A friend asked me who to talk to at AT&T about leasing a
>> dedicated 56kb line to Latin America.

>> Does anyone have any contact info for the department at AT&T that
>> provides this service?

> AT&T Small Business Systems and Fax:        [phone]
>      Large Business Communications Systems: 1.800.247.1212

> Or, try your local Business Marketing Sales Office.

Actually, the above are the premises equipment side of the house; my
"AT&T Easy to do Business With" guide says to call the Commercial
Market Sales Center at:

1.800.222.0400

For information on, among other things, "DATAPHONE(R) Digital Service,
a private line digital transmission offering".


David G Lewis                              AT&T Bell Laboratories
[e-mail] or !att!goofy!deej     Switching & ISDN Implementation

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

From: [e-mail] (Steven L. Spak)
Subject: Who/What Determines Caller-ID?
Organization: George Washington University
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 19:27:38 GMT


The "name" given is in most cases the billing name.  It's possible to
control the "name" by messing with either of the following:

1) The Centrex group in the local switch
2) The telco SCP database
3) Your ISDN PBX (if you've got one)


Steven Spak    [e-mail]   Transmission Engineer
Tel: [phone]   Fax: [phone]

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

From: [e-mail] (Martin McCormick)
Subject: Re: Newton MessagePad Now Available From Apple
Organization: Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 20:19:23 GMT


    After hearing about the Newton and a couple of other similar
devices, I was quite impressed with the amount of computing power
stuffed in to those little boxes.  The Newton has as much memory on
board as the original PC/XT.

    As a blind person, these systems in their present
configuration are rather useless, but what if somebody came out with a
computer that let you totally down-load a different operating system
than the one it came with.

    If you think of one of these systems as a collection of I/O
and storage devices, then what you have is a good platform on which to
build what you need for your own work.

    The ironic thing is that a portable device like this would
probably be quite useful for a blind person for one major reason. It
can store a lot of information.  Braille is quite bulky when a lot of
text is involved.  The paper is card stock and it takes about three
pages of Braille to contain as much information as one page of
ink-print.

    It might even be possible to place some sort of mechanical
overlay on the writing tablet which would simulate a keyboard.

    Add a tiny speech synthesizer for the output and the I/O
problems are taken care of.

    If this all sounds a little stupid, you should see the prices
of a couple of note takers which have been designed by small companies
for the blind market.  They do work, but cost a small fortune.

    Mass-market devices are always cheaper than specialized
equipment.  The trick, in a case like this is, to come out with
something useful for less than the specialized device would have cost.


Martin McCormick WB5AGZ   Stillwater, OK
O.S.U. Computer Center Data Communications Group

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

From: [e-mail] (Graham Toal)
Subject: Re: How Does One Get Tariffs on the Cheap?
Organization: An Teallach
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 20:22:40 +0000


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:

> I am interested in researching all the data networking options
> available from my RBOC and I was wondering if there is a way to find
> all the tariffs cheaply.

> [Moderator's Note: The tariffs go on and on for page after page ... I
> don't think you really want *all* the tariffs ... but even if you do,
> getting them cheap will still cost a bundle because there are so many
> of them.   PAT]

Those very nice chappies at British Telecom send you the whole
thousand-odd pages plus regular updates for free.

Of course you have to be Sherlock bleedin' Holmes to find out how to
order the damn thing in the first place ...

(BT always deny all knowledge of the document -- the 'BT Price List' --
finding ways of getting them to admit to its existence has kept the
readers of uk.telecom amused for the last year ... we finally had
enough of their obstructionism and reported them to the regulatory
body Oftel, who are now taking a close interest ...)


Graham
Personal mail to [e-mail] (I read it in the evenings)
Business mail to [e-mail] (Be careful with the spelling!)
Faxes to An Teallach Limited: 031 662 4678  Voice: 031 668 1550 x212

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

From: [e-mail] (Alex Griffiths)
Subject: Re: Dark Fibre
Date: 7 Aug 1993 13:53:00 -0700
Organization: Fujitsu Open Systems Solutions, Inc.


Anthony E. Siegman <[e-mail]> writes:

> A dark soliton is a "dark space" in an otherwise continuously
> illuminated fiber which has the same propagation properties, provided
> the dispersion in the fiber is of opposite sign.  Most common glass
> fibers will propagate dark solitons at wavelengths in the visible and
> out to a little beyond one micron, and bright solitions at longer
> wavelengths.  Bright solitons may be used in real fiber systems some
> day, but are not being used as yet (I don't think); dark solitons are
> unlikely to find practical use.

Light solitons are being used in some tests already.  I can't remember
the exact numbers but there is one long test (between Illinois and
Boston I think) that runs at 600+ Mgb/sec, I'll try to find the
article in my files.  I also heard of another test Bell Labs is
running that goes up to 2Gb/sec.  This is single channel over one
fiber, not many muxed channels, of-course.  The whole idea is pretty
neat.  My physics is *very* rusty, but the as I understand it the
solitons are overlayed in a wave form on top of the photon stream, the
wave has the effect of "pushing" the individual photons back into the
stream if they bump into each other and get out of places.  This means
the fiber corrects data as it travels and allows for much higher
bandwidth transmission.


Cheers,

Darren Alex Griffiths    Fujitsu Open Systems Solutions
[e-mail]             [phone] x139

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

Date: Sat, 7 Aug 93 17:53:55 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Mike King)
Subject: Re: Busy Signal Strangeness (was Re: Revisit ..)


After hearing various stories about strange busy signals, I thought
I'd add mine to the list:

I used to dial CI$ in downtown Washington, DC (202-338-3303, since
replaced), from the MD suburbs.  I'm on either a 5E or DMS-100, while
the CI$ number is on a 1A.  SS7 covers most of DC and suburban area.

Normally, when calling CI$ I would hear <click>-RING (ringback at the
destination), then <click>-<carrier> if I got through, but I would hear
no click before a busy signal, which sounds appropriate for SS7.

One night while trying to dial, I heard the 120 ipm "All Circuits
Busy" indicator, but before the modem recognized the signal, all of a
sudden, I heard <click>-<carrier>!  I got a normal connection, and
proceeded to check my mail, etc.

The 120 ipm signal sounded like it was local, so I'm confused as to why
the other end answered the call.  I would have thought the call would
have been abandoned by C&P after detection of all circuits busy.  Just
an anomoly in the network?


Mike King * Software Sourcerer * Fairchild Space * +1 301.428.5384
[e-mail] or [e-mail]  *  (usual disclaimers)

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

From: [e-mail] (Dave Ptasnik)
Subject: Re: Zoom Hotshot (*67) Problem
Date: 7 Aug 1993 23:25:08 GMT
Organization: University of Washington


Ken Jongsma <[e-mail]> writes:

> Based on recent discussion here, I went out and bought a Zoom Hotshot
> Dialer from the local Graybar office. It was less than $50 and was
> very straight forward to set up.

> I set it to send a *67 one second after hearing a dialtone the first
> time on every call and it works like a champ.

> The problem: the unit apparently interferes with my modem. Calls at
> 14.4 will no longer connect to any other site, including the Practical
> Peripherals BBS. Calls at 9600 or slower seem to be OK.

The Hotshot works two ways, line powered and fed from a power supply.
If you are using it line powered, it might be sucking some juice off
of your connection, lowering your S/N ratio, and dropping the speed.
If you are trying it with external power, it might be introducing a
little 60 cycle hum, same result.  Try it both ways.


All of the above is nothing more than the personal opinion of -

Dave Ptasnik     [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Jean-Bernard Condat)
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 10:18:05 GMT
Subject: Re: Phone Number -> Name/Address (France)


In France, you can easily ask the complete name and address of a given
phone number in some cases:

     (1)  The phone number you give is freely available in one of all
          France Telecom phonebooks and don't have any restrictions,
          like secret services phone numbers, red-list-phone numbers,
          special emergency phone numbers, etc.

     (2)  You ask your question from a private and/or business line
          that can be charge of FF 15,18 + French taxes (FF 18 with
          all taxes).

     Normally, France Telecom services phone you back 20 minutes after
you question with the answer.  The research fees are bill on a special
line of the montjly phone bill.

     International request don't be possible at this time.


                         Jean-Bernard Condat
                          General Secretary
     Chaos Computer Club France, B.P. 155, 93404 St-Ouen Cedex, France
          Private Address: P.O. 8005, 69351 Lyon Cedex 08, France
               Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
         InterNet:  [e-mail]   or  [e-mail]

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

From: Lynne Gregg <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: When Will General Computing Conquer Telecom Switching?
Date: Sat, 07 Aug 93 11:00:00 PDT


Viruses are not necessarily exclusive to PC's.  The argument that a
computer could not be used as a switch (based on the argument that
computers in general are subject to viruses) is not a valid one.

Most modern telecommunication switches ARE computers.

My two cents,


Lynne

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

From: mc/G=Brad/S=Hicks/OU=[e-mail]
Date: 7 Aug 93 22:08:41 GMT
Subject: Re: Big Rivers


You're off by a bit on the deliberate levee breaks, Pat.  All of that
is going on down in Praire Du Rocher, Illinois, just south of here.
Basically, if they had done nothing, then by Friday morning they would
have completely lost the oldest town in Illinois.

So, over the Army Corps of Engineer's objections, the town fathers had
demolition experts blow three huge holes in their levee.  Why?
Because an upstream levee was already breached and the pressure of the
Mississippi at that point was threatening Praire Du Rocher's levees --
FROM BEHIND.  By blowing three big holes, they created a "drain" which
saved the inner levee around the town.

Yesterday they were talking about blowing out a few more levees so
it'll drain faster.  The new holes would, in fact, drain some of that
water into areas that are currently "dry", namely badly soaked
farmland.  Hey, this time somebody has to get soaked, and they get to
pick: crops already mostly ruined by too much rain, or a town where
just about every building is on the National Register of Historic
Places.  It's not my decision to make, but if I were them, I'd take a
dim view of the carping of some high-and-dry city boy in Chicago
(=especially= in Chicago, that's a sensitive subject in southwestern
Illinois).

As for my "odd view" of my "suffering neighbors," according to this
morning's Post Dispatch the southsiders really are chasing away
African Americans who have volunteered to help them sandbag, because
they don't want any "niggers" down there on the south side.  Well
then, if they're so well off they can turn away help, then they don't
need my concern.  And what's it to me if a bunch of white-trash
racists lose everything, or even drown?

ObTelecom: Remember the thread a while back on why CO's are build the
way they are?  I'll be SWBT is really, really happy that almost none
of their switching gear is on the ground floor anywhere.  As of this
morning's paper, they've still lost only one switch.  (Lots of wiring,
but only one switch.  Can't be helped when up to a third of some
counties has been hit with a million gallon per second "natural
backhoe.")

P.S. Speaking of artifical levee breaks, though, the conspiracy
theorist in me finds it VERY suspicious that every levee break so far
has "just happened" to have a television news helicopter right
overhead at the time.  Would the Fourth Estate stoop to sabotage to
get great film footage?  Nah, couldn't happen ...


J. Brad Hicks     Internet: mc![e-mail]
X.400: c=US admd=ATTMail prmd=MasterCard sn=Hicks gn=Brad


[Moderator's Note: You bet it could happen! The newspapers frequently
decide what the story will be for the day then work to implement it
in the way they want to see it go.   PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (John Castaldi)
Subject: Re: Truevoice Requesting my Telephone Number
Organization: Rowan College of New Jersey
Date: Sat, 07 Aug 1993 14:40:25 GMT


I gave them 1-800-666-ORGY.  Hope they like it.


[Moderator's Note: Cute. When I called, I gave them *your* number. I
hope you like all those telemarketers they send your way!  :)   PAT]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #550
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