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  From: Adam H. Kerman <ahk@chinet.chinet.com>
  To  : 
  Date: Fri, 5 Dec 1997 11:52:53 -0600 (CST)

Re: TPC-RP: Weekly Sinkhole Report

>From: Noel Bell <EJNBell@POBox.com>
>Date: Thu, 4 Dec 1997 23:38:27 +0000

>Perhaps someone could tell me why, as Demon cover all of UK, that 
>there are always lots of +44 numbers in the sinkhole report?

The report doesn't distinguish between improperly dialled numbers and faxes
attempted to locations outside the scope of coverage of cells. Take a look at
World Zone 1 (United States, Canada, miscellaneous Carribean and Pacific
locations). You will note several invalid NPAs, particularly those beginning
with "0".

I suppose it is hopeless to expect that such distinctions could be made. It's
relatively straightforward to parse country codes, and keep up with changes.
How many can there possibly be each year: 2 or 3?

But, it would be next to impossible to keep up with changes in numbering plans
in every single country. It's easy to do in World Zone 1: Subscribe to changes
to the North American Numbering Plan, announced regularly in the Local Exchange
and Routing Guide. That'll tell you every single valid Central Office Code
(NPA-NXX). That would merely cost $3,000 a year.

Even though this exists, how many times have you been unable to dial a number
from behind a PBX or even on an ordinary telephone line, and your call won't go
through? That's caused by professionals screwing up the translation tables.

But, how many countries in the rest of the world are so good at publicizing
their numbering plan changes? How many such documents are published in English?
And, how much room does Mr. Arlington Hewes still have in his office?


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