NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #3/NN_1993_3.iso/spool/comp/dcom/telecom/13269

Internet Message Format | 1993-01-25 | 3.2 KB

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Date: Sun, 24 Jan 93 20:23 PST
From: [e-mail] (John Higdon)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: PacBell Intra-LATA Rate Ripoffs
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[e-mail] (Glenn McComb) writes:

> Hello!  I'm trying to find out how to dial from my (408) to (415) and
> (510) via my preferred carrier (MCI).  When I dial 10222 (MCI access)
> and then a 415 number, a recording tells me "it is not necessary to
> use your carrier" or something like that.

There are two ways around this. One is to find a carrier who will give
you "950" access and the other is to install direct trunks to your
carrier. The first is perfectly doable for even the small user; the
latter is something more and more businesses are doing to bypass
Pac*Bell and its usary rates.

> [Moderator's Note: I believe under the tariffs, your local telco, (in
> this case Pac Bell) has the right to keep that traffic for itself, and
> there is some question in my mind if MCI is lawfully allowed to handle
> intra-lata calls between 415/408/510.

The tariff is tricky. There is nothing in it to prevent you, the end
user, from making intraLATA calls over a long distance carrier. A long
distance carrier is merely prohibited from OFFERING the service to you.
Most of them are pretty good about this and even if you ask, the
carrier will deny any capability of carrying intraLATA calls. It is we
who are in the know who take advantage of the above two methods to
save big time on our short distance calls.

Pac*Bell has seen this handwriting on the wall for some time and
realizes that much revenue is leaking away through bypass. Its remedy
(on application to the CPUC) is to lower intraLATA rates to competitive
levels (making bypass look less attractive) and then screwing the truly
captive customers who cannot go anywhere else for service: the
residential and small business local exchange customers.

Frankly, I would like to see the current system maintained. Keep the
reasonable rates for residence and small business local service. Those
of us who know better will bypass Pac*Bell for intraLATA calls, and
just let those who don't know any better pay through the nose,
subsidizing the rest of us!

> AT&T also charges 12-13 cents per minute on interstate calls during
> off-peak hours, but they are not technically allowed to handle
> intra-lata calls either.  PAT]

AT&T Megacom subscribers pay around 9 to 10 cents per minute (or
whatever they can negotiate). And of course, that includes intraLATA
since the trunks come direct from AT&T. No self-respecting business of
any size uses Pac*Bell for intraLATA traffic anymore. All that are
left doing that are residence and very small business chumps.


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