A Beginner's Guide to the Internet/INTERNET.ISO/text/telediag/tc13-120.txt

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TELECOM Digest     Sun, 21 Feb 93 09:02:00 CST    Volume 13 : Issue 120

Index To This Issue:                      Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Bell's Application to Amend 411/555-1212 Assist Calls (Adele Ponty)
    Script Files PcPlus (Chet Pager)
    C&P Service Notes (Joe Bergstein)
    Automatic Disconnect on Mexico City Exchanges? (Don Franki)
    Telco Book and Equipment Advice Needed (Ed Ramsey)
    Need Graphic Network Tool (Bruce Sullivan)
    More Telecom Fora? (Olof Lundberg)
    Caller-ID and DTMF Chips For Sale (John Schuch)
    Sources For FAX Back Equipment Wanted (Jeff Brown)
    Need Switch/Relay to Interrupt a Leased Line (Phil Green)
    301-303 Revisited (Carl Moore)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Adele Ponty <[e-mail]>
Subject: Bell's Application to Amend 411/555-1212 Assist Calls
Organization: UTCC Public Access
Date: Sat, 20 Feb 1993 13:43:17 -0500


On Tuesday February 9th, 1993, I posted news regarding Bell's
application to amend LDA (local 411 directory assistance) and LDDA
(555-1212 long distance directory assistance) otherwise known as the
CRTC Telecom Public Notice 93-14.

As I stated then, my main concern over this application was Bell's
request to eliminate free directory assistance for the print
handicapped, seniors, the disabled and anyone using long distance
directory assistance.  (Little wonder why Bell did not publically
announce their application, unlike what they did recently in the
{Toronto Star} with their application for the community calling plan).
The CRTC made a press release public on January 29th, informing the
public that they had until March 1st to challenge Bell's application
for dialing assistance ammendments.

Nigel Allen's response to my posting on February 11th included a 1-800
number for Bell Public Affairs.  Thinking that I would call this
number (1-800-668-2355) to discuss the issues concerning essential
services for the disabled which include dialing assistance, I called
out of curiosity, even though I knew that any official statements
coming from Bell's Public Affairs would be unsatisfactory.

To my surprise, the Bell employee I spoke to claimed no knowledge
whatsoever of the application to alter the tariffs on directory
assistance.  Had I not already spoken with the CRTC, I might have been
led to believe that the whole issue was simply misinformation. Only
after a lot of persistence inflicted on a second Bell employee, was I
then referred to the director of Special Needs at Bell Canada, Shayna
Maislin.

Ms. Maislin informed me that an in-depth study conducted by Bell
Canada concluded that telemarketers, with the co-operation of exempt
individuals who held directory-assistance exemption cards, were
soaking Bell for thousands of dollars. Ms. Maislin claims that the
exemptions were being abused by the disabled employees of
telemarketers who work from their homes and who make excessive numbers
of long distance directory assistance calls.

Ms.Maislin could not comment however on my question regarding how
these individuals could place a 411 or 555-1212 call for a number if
the name needed for the search was on a list, equally unaccessable for
them.  (I think that Bell has drawn an erroneous conclusion here from
a survey that suggests that since both telemarketers/listmakers and
the disabled make an above average number of directory assisted calls,
then therefore the two groups must have something to do with each
other. Interestingly, Angus Reed of Angus Telemanagement Group gave an
entirely different statement on CBC Radio regarding Bell's motivation
for this application, claiming that it is based on revenues lost to
long distance competitors).

When I was then told by Ms. Maislin that the Canadian National
Institute for the Blind had agreed to decline from challenging the
amendments, I decided to call the CNIB myself.

The CNIB Public Affairs department first told me that the matter was
"confidential" and that they could not discuss it with me.  So I
decided to speak with the CRTC analyst handling the file, a Mr. Robert
Noakes. Mr. Noakes read to me the statements included in Bell's
application submission, that claimed that a consumer panel set up by
Bell and composed of reps from small, medium and large businesses, the
disabled, seniors and low income customers among others, had been
consulted with.

Bell's application stated that nine specific groups including
the CNIB, the United Senior Citizens of Ontario, among others
 ... had been consulted and basically had no objections to the tariff
changes.  Mr.Noakes pointed out that Bell wanted to offer 25 free LDA
and LDDA calls per month from the exempt individual's home phone (less
than one call per day). For many including Alzheimer's patients and
the totally blind this could mean real hardship. The "average" caller
makes 20 LDA and LDDA calls per month.

Meanwhile, access to all new listings not in the book would carry a
charge, while the charge per locally assisted call would drop from 60
cents to 50 cents, (despite the $88 million dollar loss Bell claims
for the service). How are they going to pay for the service next
year?

Just when I thought I had heard enough, a Mr. Jim Sanders called me
from the CNIB to tell me that he was the appointed liason between the
government and Bell Canada. When I asked him if he had been part of
the consumer panel that conferred with Bell Canada on their
application, Mr. Sanders told me that he had only been contacted a
week ago by Ms. Maislin. (Bell's application was filed last
September). When I then asked him what the CNIB's position was on the
elimination of unlimited directory assistance, he told me that the
CNIB was adamently opposed. I then referred to the letter on file with
the CRTC regarding the statement of approval given to Bell by the
public groups. Mr. Sanders said it was obviously unfounded and a
potential source of embarrassment for Bell Canada. The question is
now, how many of the other groups mentioned on Bell's application were
consulted with and when?  Which of these groups will actually show up
at the CRTC hearings to dispute Bell's claim?

When you couple the above events with the fact that Bell never made
this application public (it leaked to the press only a month ago), you
get this appalling picture of a corporation that will do anything, it
seems, to retain its position as the most profitable organization in
Canada. If the most profitable organization says that they cannot
afford to provide "essential" services for the needy, then who can,
and who will?  Bell Canada is setting a dangerous precedent for other
greedy groups to follow, including the government. And aside from
this, where is the incentive for Bell to maintain current listings in
print if they are allowed to charge all of us for access to new
listings not in the book? Obviously, unpublished numbers generate more
profits.

The main point I wanted to make here is that Bell Canada Public
Affairs appears to be actively dissuading the public into believing
that they have no designs to eliminate directory assistance for anyone
while deliberately misleading the CRTC into believing that they have
the public's approval to trim services.  With tactics like Bell's, who
needs lawyers?

If anyone is interested in a copy of the CRTC Public Notice then I can
FAX it to you.  The deadline for written challenges from the public is
March 1st.


INTERNET:  [e-mail]
    UUCP:  [e-mail]  (bbs)
           [e-mail]  (alternate)
BELL: [phone]   FAX:[phone]

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

From: [e-mail] (Chet Pager)
Subject: Script Files and PcPlus
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Sat, 20 Feb 93 16:38:17 GMT


1) Unfortunately, my Unix system doesn't support zmodem or even
xmodem.  I have found kermit to be painfully, stupidly slow.  My modem
handles up to 2400 baud, but I generally use 1200 because there are
much fewer errors/noise, and kermit doesn't have to re-send so many
packets.  But I'm wondering, would a simple ascii screen-dump be
faster?  I always thought the protocals and compression meant greater
speed alongside the error correction, but maybe not ...

    (Any way to speed up kermit? 1byte cheksum 94 packet size
as-is.  Why is it so slow, anyway??)


2) Anybody use procomm pcplus?  The older version, 1.something?  I'm
trying to write a script file to:

    a) Automatically dial a number and invoke a script from the
DOS command line prompt; even better if I could tell it pulse or tone
from this point as well.

    b) log on and all that, with some sort of flexibility to skip
or repeat steps, because the asp file I have now keeps getting
confused (even a wait for fiveDk"Kc(T\/o,Nb']duB?;qRc>mmand which, if [string] is
received during those five seconds it will go to [label], and if
[string2] is received it will go to [label2] and if neither is
received it will continue...

    c) SEND (using kermit or ascii protocal) *.* from a certain
directory, and then RECEIVE a file from unix.

>    d) If I decide to use ascii screen dumps, I need to find some way
for procomm to, "for each file in [directory]", not only send the file but
give unix some commands using that filename as a variable, eg
"mail [filename]" SEND [filename] "^D"

Well, if anyone knows 1) or is bored and would like to enlighten me on 2)

(I also use bitcom or comit sometimes), please do!  but I don't read news,

So please EMAIL responses to [e-mail].

Thanks a lot.

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

From: [e-mail] (Joe Bergstein)
Date: Sat, 20 Feb 1993 22:16:05 -0500
Subject: C&P Service Notes


Paul Robinson wrote in msg. on 2/18:

> Which reminds me: I humorously mentioned about what would happen
> if I wanted a T1 line (or fractional one).  He pointed out that AT&T
> would have to put it in; C&P doesn't do T1 wiring!  I'd order the POP
> at the central office, but someone else would have to supply the drop.

Your C&P installer was incorrect.  C&P certainly does install T-1s.
They install entire intra-LATA T-1s, and also the local loop portion
of inter-LATA T-1s.  If you ever needed an inter-LATA T-1 or FT-1,
from AT&T they would arrange for C&P to install the run from the AT&T
POP through C&P land to your local CO and to your house.  And if you
ever had enough lines, and could justify the cost of a T-1 mux, it is
possible to get T-1 to connect to the CO switch for local line access.
However, since most of the outlying areas from CO's are already served
by fiber runs to SLC huts, ordering up a T-1 for local line access
really doesn't buy much.

> [Moderator's Note: Congratulations on getting the job done right!  PAT]

Bell Atlantic has embarked on a Quality Improvement program since
1989.  They are using the Philip Crosby quality improvement process.
C&P Telephone now offers "Service When You Want IT (sm)".  That means
that when a residential customer orders service, TELCO (C&P) no longer
_tells_ you when they'll show up (i.e. the old interval). They will
show up when _you_ want them.  That means if you call one morning at 9
AM, and ask for installation that afternoon at 3:30, they'll do it! If
you ask them to show up Saturday morning at 6:30 AM, they'll do it!
Their motto is "Quality is meeting customer requirements".

Over the past several years they've reduced the interval for T-1
installation from 45 business days, to two weeks (as of last summer),
to about three days right now.  In fact, if a business orders a T-1
for a building already equipped with a fiber termination, you can
sometimes get the T-1 installed in the same day!  How's that for
service!  What a refreshing change from the old "Ma Bell"!

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

From: radian![e-mail](Dan Franki)
Subject: Automatic Disconnect on Mexico City Exchanges?
Date: Sun, 21 Feb 1993 15:25:41 GMT
Organization: Radian Corp.


We are temporarily operating a network router over dial-up lines in
Mexico City.  The link goes down every few hours and is often
difficult to reestablish without changing to another phone line.  The
link is only used for a few minutes each hour but the intent is
maintain the connection continuously.

The question arises, do some switching systems automatically
disconnect a line after a few hours?  All the lines are pulse dialed
and as far as I know there is nothing in the way of digital switches
involved.  I can't feature a bunch of stepping relays having enough
savy to decide that a conversation is boring (or pointless) and end
it.

I do not know the make or model of the switches involved so it is easy
to imagine all sorts of 'features' that might make the system tolerant
of other problems.  Any one know one way or the other?


Dan Franki     Radian Corporation    512-454-4797    [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Ed Ramsey)
Subject: Telco Book and Equipment Advice Needed
Organization: Center for Environmental and Regulatory Info Sys, Purdue Univ.
Date: Sat, 20 Feb 1993 20:59:43 GMT


I am looking for a good introductory and troubleshooting text on phone
communications and modem operations.  I want something that will help
me use basic measurements such as signal strength, ring voltages,
etc..  in tracking down line noise problems and in isolating marginal
modems.

I want to understand telephone system issues so I can talk
intelligently with our local phone office and modem suppliers
concerning large inbound long distance modem pool rotaries and
problems we are having concerning line noise, etc ...

I would also like information on appropriate (but cheap) test
equipment to use in tracking down these problems.


Thanks,


Ed Ramsey [e-mail] 317/494-0442 FAX/494-9727
CERIS (Center for Environmental and Regulatory Information Systems)
Network Services Manager/UNIX Systems Administrator

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

Date: Sun, 21 Feb 93 01:56 GMT
From: Bruce Sullivan <[e-mail]>
Subject: Need Graphic Network Tool


I am looking for graphical tool to 'manage' and document my network
equipment, circuits, contacts, etc. I'm currently working with a
system (though that's a gracious term for it) that pre-dates my
existence at this organization by several years (In other words, I
take no blame). It consists of a flat file into which are 'drawn'
multiple diagrams, each representing the end-to-end connectivity for a
particular location.  Here's an example:

  ______________________          _________________        ___________
 !   CENTRAL SITE       !        ! REMOTE SITE  A  !      ! SITE B    !

  !\                  -              _                              /!
  ! \                !F!            ! !                            / !
  !  \  ____________ !L! WXX-12345  !D! ____________ C6E123456789 /  !
  !   \ \   745    / !M!  (WILTEL)  !D! \   745    /  (MCI)      /   !
  !740 \ \ NODE   /  !5!      !     !M!  \ NODE   /     !       / 740!
  !     \ \ 201  /   !0!      !     !1!   \ 202  /      !      /     !
  !NODE  \_2    3____!/!____________!0!____1    3_____________/  NODE!
  !      /  \  /     !1! 1.544 MBPS !0!     \  /  !128 KBPS  !\      !
  ! 5   /    \/      !5!            !0!      \/   !          ! \  7  !
  !    /             !0!            ! !           !          !  \    !
  !   /              !_!            !_!           !          !   \   !
  !  /             US WEST        US WEST         !          !    \  !_
  ! /              FUJITSU        DDM1000         !          !     \ ! !
  !/                FIBER         T3 MUX          !          !      \! !
                     MUX                24HCGS123456  64HCGS123456     !
                                          (US WEST)    (US WEST)  ___  !
                                         LOCAL LOOP   LOCAL LOOP !___!-+
                                                                MUX DIAL

 Makes your head hurt, doesn't it?

This one is actually a fairly simple diagram. Others could include
Front-end-processors, matrix switch, modems or DSU/CSUs, right down to
the end devices (IBM controllers, typically).  As you can imagine,
I've hated this for a long time. However, we're making a big move in
the direction of a client/server based application, along with LANS,
routers, et al.  I'm attempting to make the point that our old
approach simply won't cut it any more.

However, I haven't seen anything that will do what I need. It must be
more than a paint or draw program such as Corel and the others.  I or
several others need to be able to update it easily, and it would be
nice if it took a database approach to things so that I could do
reporting, etc, off of it.

I'd appreciate it if anyone on C.D.T has any information on or
experience with products such as this that they could share with me.

 You can email me directly. I can post the results if there's
interest.


Thanks,

Bruce Sullivan
MCI Mail: 4544760 ([e-mail])
CI$:72747,2737 ([e-mail])

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

Reply-To: [e-mail] (Olof Lundberg)
Date: Sat, 20 Feb 1993 17:6.8.12
Subject: More Telecom Fora?
From: [e-mail] (Olof Lundberg)


Pat,

In Digest #115 you refer to an unmoderated telecom forum.  Being just
recently plugged in to The Internet World it prompts me to ask whether
you have a list of other telecom/wireless-related sources on Internet?


Olof Lundberg                   Internet:       [e-mail]

Inmarsat                        CIS User ID:    73330,212
40 Melton St
London NW1 2EQ, England
Office phone: [phone]    Home phone:     [phone]
Office fax  : [phone]    Home fax  :     [phone]


[Moderator's Note: Readers, please write Olof with your advice.  PAT]

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

From: mcdphx![e-mail] (John Schuch)
Subject: Caller ID & DTMF Chips For Sale
Organization: Motorola Computer Group, Tempe, Az.
Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1993 13:13:03 GMT


If anyone is interested in buying single or small quantities of either
Caller ID Receiver chips, or DTMF decoder chips, E-mail me and I'll
send you the details.


John R. Schuch  -  Motorola Computer Group  -  Manufacturing Engineering
N7XVS - [e-mail] - [phone] - CompuServe: 70733.3330

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

From: [e-mail] (Jeff Brown)
Subject: Sources for FAX Back Equipment?
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
Date: 21 Feb 1993 01:55 EST


I'm looking for sources of FAX-Back equipment.  I'm interested in
various levels of sophistication, from PC based to stand-alone units.
Any pointers appreciated.  Thanks.


Jeff Brown   [e-mail]

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

Date: Sun, 21 Feb 93 09:30:46 MST
From: Philip Green <[e-mail]>
Subject: Need Switch/Relay to Interrupt a Leased Line
Organization: National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro NM


I need a switch or relay that will interrupt a four-wire leased line.
I need to be able to remotely force a modem into its dial backup
state.


Thanks,

Phil Green  [e-mail]  NRAO    505.835.7294

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

Date: Sun, 21 Feb 93 9:51:39 EST
From: Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) <[e-mail]>
Subject: 301-303 Revisited


301-303 has now appeared on my phone bill as BERWYN, MD, so it's in
301 and not in 410.

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #120
******************************