Software Vault: The Diamond Collection/The Diamond Collection (Software Vault)(Digital Impact).ISO/cdr16/tc15_019.zip/TC15-019.TXT

Text File | 1995-01-22 | 24KB | 640 lines

TELECOM Digest     Tue, 10 Jan 95 03:42:00 CST    Volume 15 : Issue 19

Inside This Issue:                          Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: New Alert - 911 Access (Mike J. Sutter)
    Re: New Alert - 911 Access (Coast Guard Communications)
    Re: Is There a Telecom Group in Chicago? (Bernard Cerier)
    Re: Is There a Telecom Group in Chicago? (Randall Hayes)
    Re: Bell Atlantic Mobile Joins the PIN Crowd (Steve Cogorno)
    Re: Bell Atlantic Mobile Joins the PIN Crowd ([e-mail])
    Re: Chatter Heard on Scanner Leads to Criminal Charges
(Christopher
Zguris)
    Re: Chatter Heard on Scanner Leads to Criminal Charges (John
Higdon)
    Re: Chatter Heard on Scanner Leads to Criminal Charges (Tony
Pelliccio)
    Re: Chatter Heard on Scanner Leads to Criminal Charges (Bennett Z.
Kobb)
    Re: GSM in Canada? (Rupert Baines)
    Re: GSM in Canada? (John Leske)
    Re: Phone Card Reader Wanted (Kimmo Ketolainen)
    Re: Britain-Japan Fiber Cable (Kimmo Ketolainen)
    Re: Computer Caller-ID (Maurice Dykes)

TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not
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----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Mjsutter)
Subject: Re: New Alert - 911 Access
Date: 9 Jan 1995 21:50:33 -0500
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Mjsutter)


Jim Conran writes:

> In addition, the FCC should require all cellular phones to be
> equipped to access the strongest cellular base station signal when
911
> is called.  Finally, the FCC should make the 911 provision an issue
as
> it currently reconsiders cellular license renewal applications.

This is a good idea. However, it could be at odds with another good
idea which is that the cell ID that the caller is using be passed
through the cell switch to the tandem so tha the 911 database can use
the cell ID as an approximate location of the caller. In metro areas
the size of the cell would be very small indeed. Less that a year ago
a life would have most likely been saved in Rochester N.Y. if this
capability had been available.


Cheers,

mike

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

From: [e-mail] (USCG TELECOMMS)
Subject: Re: New Alert - 911 Access
Date: 9 Jan 1995 17:56:15 GMT
Organization: U.S. Coast Guard


I believe the closing date for comments in this FCC proceding is
January 9th.  The FCC proceding highlights some serious problems with
911 access from wireless systems, particularly satellite systems due
to be available shortly.

Coast Guard comments on this FCC proceding are available by Internet
also, through the Fedworld gateway: "telnet fedworld.gov", log on, and
enter "udd54" at the first menu.  Once on the CG NIS computer (you
have to log onto this also), find the file 911.TXT under Maritime
Communications, Coast Guard Communications.  Try downloading using
KERMIT.

(We plan to be up on WWW/gopher/ftp etc by this summer, by the way)


JoeH
                       COAST  GUARD  COMMUNICATIONS
         Telephone: [phone]         U.S. Coast Guard (G-TTM)
         Fax:       [phone]         Washington DC 20593
         Internet:      CGComms/[e-mail]

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

Date: Mon, 9 Jan 1995 12:56:14 -0500
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Is There a Telecom Group in Chicago?


Pat,

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] asks about
a telecommunications association in the Chicago area that has
meetings, seminars and get-togethers, a little newsletter, etc. etc.
for a hundred or two bucks a year.

CICA, Inc. is the oldest organization in the US.  It predates the ICA.
They have a monthly newsletter, meet monthly (usually at Marshall
Fields downtown) and have educational seminars.  Dues are less that
$50.

The Executive Secretary is:
Robert C. Hagglund
1905 W. Leland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60601
312-271-7088   Fax [phone]

President
Patti Wolff
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
230 S. laSalle Street
Chicago, IL 60604
312-322-8200  Fax [phone]

Through the newsletters you can be put in touch with specialized user
groups: Midwest ROLM Users Group, Midwest Meridian SL1 Users
Association, Centigram Voice Mail Users Association, etc.


Bernie Cerier
15520 Mill Creek Blvd. H-103
Mill Creek, WA 98012


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Thanks very much for passing this on.
PAT]

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

From: [e-mail]
Date: 9 Jan 95 16:35 CST
Subject: Re: Is There a Telecom Group in Chicago?


> I'm looking for a group (in Chicago) that has meetings, seminars,
and get-
> togethers, a little newsletter.....

The Chicago Industrial Communications Association ia a non-profit
organization which promotes the exchange of ideas and information
among telecom professionals.

They are a part of the Midwestern Telecommunications Conference, which
is a group of 13 midwestern telecom organizations (I belong to ITUG --
the Iowa Telecom User Group).

For information, contact Steve Willuweit at 708-291-2106 or John Gacek
at
312-663-3366.


Randy Hayes

[e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Steve Cogorno)
Subject: Re: Bell Atlantic Mobile Joins the PIN Crowd
Date: Mon, 9 Jan 1995 20:29:56 PST


Mark Robert Smith said:

>     LEADING CELLULAR CARRIERS JOIN FORCES TO PROTECT CUSTOMERS
>                  FROM BECOMING PHONE FRAUD VICTIMS

> The new effort combines a Personal Identification Number (PIN) code
> system recently pioneered by NYNEX Mobile Communications in New York
> City with a new Fraud Protection Zone technique developed by Bell
> Atlantic Mobile.

What happened to that fraud protection (was it made by TRW?) device
that examined the radio signal from the cell phone? Last I heard, it
was going to revolutionize the cellular industry and eliminate fraud.


Steve   [e-mail]

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

Date: Tue, 10 Jan 95 00:30:13 EST
From: [e-mail] (Phydeaux)
Subject: Re: Bell Atlantic Mobile Joins the PIN Crowd


This evening I was in the Bell Atlantic store in Union, NJ and I
overheard another customer asking about the PIN stuff.  He wanted to
know whether or not he would need a PIN.  The sales person told him
that that was "Only for customers whose phones have been cloned."
They would NOT assign a PIN unless you'd been cloned, because
customers who had already been cloned were "most at risk."  This
seemed to me to be a completely screwed up way of handling the
situation. I wonder if the sales person was quoting the old rules or
the new rules ...


reb  [e-mail]


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Or maybe you have to wonder if the
sales person knew what the rules were at all ... :)   PAT]

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

Date: Mon, 9 Jan 95 19:35 EST
From: Christopher Zguris <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Chatter Heard on Scanner Leads to Criminal Charges


[e-mail] (Gary Sanders) writes:

> You have been listening to to many cell phone sales guys. First,
many
> scanners don't need to be modified (although new ones may) to listen
to
> cell phones. They come out of the box with cellular. As for snippets
I
> would beg to differ, I know some one who is an active cell listner
> (-:)) and depending on your local cell configuration you will hear
> most of all phone calls that are placed. "my friend" listened to
> someone trying to explain how secure a cell phone is becuase its
> allways changing freq.  Was interesting considering the entire call
> was 15 minutes long and never changed cells/freq.

What recent scanners come with cellular enabled? _Recent_ equipment,
that is. Regarding snippets, I'm sure it _does_ depend on the layout
of the cells, but it _also_ depends on how fast the cellular phone is
moving. If it is moving fast -- as opposed to stationary -- it will
break up and move on to another cell/freq. If "your friend" is located
in a major suburban area, he probably won't pick up many complete
calls that last more than a minute or two. You've brought up _one_
instance of hearing an entire cell phone call. If that 15 minute call
is the best "your friend" has heard -- especially when you consider
some people talk on the phone for 30 or more minutes (hours on a
"regular" phone) -- I'd say that kinda proves my point!


Christopher Zguris  [e-mail]
(just another happy MCI customer)

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

Date: Mon, 9 Jan 1995 18:47:02 -0800
From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Chatter Heard on Scanner Leads to Criminal Charges


> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: You are wrong on a couple things,
however
> that is because of confusion over contradictory laws. Aside from
what
> the Electronic Commuications Privacy Act says, the Federal
Communications
> Commission addresses the question of radios which have been
modified.
> Illegal modification (i.e. modification by an unlicensed person)
voids
> your FCC authority to operate the radio. Furthermore, no *licensed*
> person is going to make illegal modifications to a radio and risk
having
> such handiwork be traced back to his bench, at the possible risk of
his
> loss of his license.

But this only applies to radios manufactured and offered for sale to
the public and does NOT cover modifications made by an individual for
his own use, or use by another. In fact, there is no prohibition of
any kind with regard to the construction of a radio from scratch by an
individual.  Patrick, I know you are old enough to have possibly built
the radios described in the various scouting handbooks. There was no
requirement that one build the radio exactly as described, nor was
there any requirement to have the completed device "certified" in any
way. There has been no change in the basic rules in this regard since
then that I am aware of.

Transmitters are another story. FCC rules require that all
transmitters
be maintained and adjusted by a properly licensed technician. As the
holder of such licenses since the 1960's, I am completely unaware of
any grades of license requirement to service any receive-only
equipment.
Furthermore, I am unaware of any "FCC authority" required to operate
any receive-only equipment. As scanners are incapable of transmission
(the local oscillator incidental radiation notwithstanding), their
possession, modification, or use are of absolutely no concern to the
FCC.

Using radio receivers in the commission of crimes is, of course,
another
matter. But after consulting the volumes of rules that I have handy, I
can
find no provision, nor specification of license grade, involved with
maintenance, repair, modification, or adjustment of a radio receiver.

What the Feds tell Radio Shack that it may or may not do is Radio
Shack's problem and does not extend to you and me. I have probably a
half-dozen scanners and service radios capable of receiving the
cellular band. Two of them have that capability because I gave it to
them. I don't think my FCC license is in any jeapardy. If I wanted to
buy another, I would go to Japan and pick one up, or have a friend
simply bring one with him on his return.  Customs does not seize them -
-
they only want to know what they cost!

Note that I am NOT claiming that I listen to cellular transmissions
(that would be illegal). My only claim is that I legally possess
radios capable of such activity and will probably continue to do so in
perpetuity.


John Higdon  |    P.O. Box 7648   |   [phone]     |       FAX:
[e-mail] | San Jose, CA 95150 | 10288 0 700 FOR-A-MOO | +1 408 264
4407

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

From: [e-mail] (Tony Pelliccio)
Subject: Re: Chatter Heard on Scanner Leads to Criminal Charges
Date: 10 Jan 1995 03:49:50 GMT
Organization: Brown University - Providence, RI USA


> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I don't know where you shop, but all
the
> Radio Shack units make a point of cutting out the cellular
frequencies.
> So do quite a few others, and they have for a few years now.   PAT]

Actually the AOR-2500 comes through with the cell band intact. Or at
least it did until the FCC attempted to clamp down on it. The nice
thing is the AOR-2500 is considered a communications receiver and not
a scanner and last I heard the whole thing was still tied up in
hearings.

Of course if you really want to follow a cell call just get a DDI and
hook it up to your PC. The interesting thing is that the company that
sells the DDI will only release software with ESN capability to law
enforcement people. Makes you wonder doesn't it?


Tony Pelliccio, KD1NR, VE ARRL/W5YI Tel. [phone]
Box 1908, Providence, RI 02912      Fax. [phone]

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

From: [e-mail] (Bennett Z. Kobb)
Subject: Re: Chatter Heard on Scanner Leads to Criminal Charges
Organization: New Signals Press
Date: Mon, 9 Jan 1995 13:23:35 GMT


The amendment to include cordless came in with the Digital Telephony
Bill, I believe. EFF did not object to the amendment but questioned
its propriety without public dialogue on the subject.

It may not be settled that random scanning, even of cellular spectrum,
violates the ECPA due to the high standard of culpability placed in
the law in the late stages. An excellent reference and opinion paper
on this is "Don't Touch That Dial: Radio Listening Under the
Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986," by Fred Jay Meyer, in
the New York University Law Review, V63 N2, May 1988.

I'm reminded of Rep. Carlos Moorhead's assurances that "ECPA is not
intended to penalize someone who just happens upon the frequency."


·

Bennett Kobb  [e-mail]
Editor and publisher   Spectrum Guide

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

From: [e-mail] (Rupes)
Subject: Re: GSM in Canada?
Date: 10 Jan 1995 01:49:27 -0500
Organization: Concentric Research Corporation


[e-mail] (D. Matte) writes:

> I have been doing some initial research on the development of the
PCS
> market in Canada.  Recently some of the players that have received
> licenses to test 1.9GHz systems have been touting GSM as the way to
go
> (Telezone & Microcell 1-2-1).  If GSM is implemented would it mean
> that users would not be able to make use of their terminals in the
> U.S. as GSM is not likely to be adopted by the U.S. on a large
scale?
> It would seem to me that having a system that is compatible with our
> largest trading partner would make for a more attractive service
> offering.

You are right -- being able to use the same system as the US would be
great.  The only problem is that the US is unlikely to the the same
system as the US ... <G>

For the PCS band (1.9GHz) there are seven 'standards' in the running.
So,
in principle, Canada might adaopt one -- and then be able to operate
in
only one in seven US areas ...

It won't be quite that bad, as each area will have several operators
(with different standards?), and only a few standards will be adopted,
but ...

To answer your original post, up-banded GSM (aka PCS1900) is one of
the
stronger contenders for PCS in the US, probably second in popularity
to
the IS95 (Qualcomm CDMA) variant.  The former has existing market,
safe
technology and volume advantages, the latter is more technologically
elegant and potentially cheaper.  (A friend describes tham as PC vs
Mac ...)


Rupert Baines

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

From: [e-mail] (John Leske)
Subject: Re: GSM in Canada?
Date: 10 Jan 1995 01:47:11 GMT
Organization: Centre for Telecommunications Information Networking
Reply-To: [e-mail]


In article [e-mail], [e-mail] (D. Matte) writes:

> I have been doing some initial research on the development of the
PCS
> market in Canada. [snip]

> If GSM is implemented would it mean that users would not be able to
> make use of their terminals in the U.S. as GSM is not likely to be
> adopted by the U.S. on a large scale?  It would seem to me that
having
> a system that is compatible with our largest trading partner would
> make for a more attractive service offering.

Hi Dan,

A few comments on your concerns regarding GSM.  Strictly speaking GSM
operates in the 800MHz band.  There is a varient called DCS1800,
(which curiously enough operates in the 1800MHz band) which is used as
a PCS system in the UK (Mercury 1to1, and Orange). Basically the only
difference is the operating frequency, with all that that implies
about cell size, transmission characteristics etc. GSM handsets do not
work with DCS1800 or vice-versa.

Since in the USA and Canada, 1.9GHz is the band available for PCS,
carriers are looking at a varient of GSM in this frequency. There are
carriers in both the USA and Canada considering this as a solution for
PCS. One major attraction of doing this is that all the network
details (protocols, charging, roaming, loading etc) have already been
sorted out in GSM. The manufacturers can adjust their equipment to the
new frequency and have an entire stable network up in months.

My current reading of news reports seem to indicate that a number of
different PCS systems will be installed, each in different areas
depending on who bought the license. SO there will be CDMA, TDMA and
other systems. None of these handsets will work with the AMPS network,
nor with each other (in the first instance anyway).


John Leske   Research Engineer
Centre for Telecommunications Information Networking
University of Adelaide

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

From: [e-mail] (Kimmo Ketolainen)
Subject: Re: Phone Card Reader Wanted
Organization: Turun yliopisto - University of Turku, Turku, Finland
Date: Mon, 9 Jan 1995 23:40:27 GMT


Keith Jason Uber <[e-mail]> wrote:

> 09I am looking for an article on building a Phone Card Reader
> that connects to a pc. I saw it two or three days ago when browsing
> gopher or WWW (I can't remember) and thought "That's cool ... but
> Australia doesn't use Smart-cards for their phones".
> The very next day, I met a German exchange student who gave me
> a German phonecard! Subsequently I've spent about four hours
searching
> through veronica, www etc with no luck.

The phonecard pages can be found with Lycos <http://lycos.cs.cmu.edu/>
by entering the keyword "phonecard". The article in question is behind
<ftp://www.funet.fi/pub/doc/telecom/phonecard/chips/>. The author of
this article is currently serving a year long sentence :) in the
French Army, and he'll be back on the net later this year.

> Any help or direction would be great ... I intend to modify it
> to use it as an electronic key to start my car!

Sorry Keith, but the chip in question is not rewritable, you can only
decrease its value (counter). In fact, none of the conventional chips
in phonecards are reusable.


Kimmo Ketolainen University of Turku            home [phone]
[e-mail]        shoe [phone]
      work [phone]

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

From: [e-mail] (Kimmo Ketolainen)
Subject: Re: Britain-Japan Fiber Cable
Organization: Turun yliopisto - University of Turku, Turku, Finland
Date: Mon, 9 Jan 1995 23:50:34 GMT


In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] wrote:

> An international circuit is two "half circuits" with the price at
> each end completely controlled by the carriers at each end, one or
> both of which is normally a monopoly PTT. Only US/Canada and US/UK
> circuits are priced at anything even reasonably related to cost.

Don't forget Finland -- three international carriers with quite
competitive charges. It may sound weird, but the telecomm market in
the country is already less monopolized than that of the US.



Kimmo Ketolainen University of Turku            home [phone]
[e-mail]        shoe [phone]
      work [phone]

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

From: [e-mail] (Maurice Dykes)
Subject: Re: Computer Caller-ID
Organization: Thinkage Ltd. Guest Account
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 1995 01:37:04 GMT


> Does anyone know of a software program that enables you to have your
> computer identify caller's phone numbers? I saw a movie called
Brainscan
> that had a computer, using caller id, identify the caller and tell
the
> person in an "igor" voice, which I perticularly liked, that "Bobby
is
> calling master". The idea was really interesting to me and I would
like
> to get something like it.

There is a shareware app called IdentaFone version 1.6 on
ftp.halcyon.com
in local/identafone. It does not support sound.

The verbage that's in the readme states:

Overview:

IdentaFone, in conjunction with Caller ID/Call Display service from
your phone company, will log incoming calls and perform database
lookups to place complete caller information at your fingertips before
the phone has rang twice. You can also configure it to show a large
barker screen that can be seen across the room or you can just have
the icon display the calling number. Includes a Speed Dialer for 32 of
your favourite numbers, dialer from the database or return call dialer
in log window.  You can launch a program or Windows macro when a
designated number calls. *NEW* if you have a numeric pager IdentaFone
will send the calling party's number to your pager.


Maurice Dykes
[e-mail]       [e-mail]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V15 #19
*****************************