The Hacker's Encyclopedia 1998/hackers_encyclopedia.iso/zines/n_z/teldig5.txt

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TELECOM DIGEST - Issue 14
*************************



Date: Fri, 12 May 89 12:05:40 PDT
From: "Sandy Libman - now on ATSE::" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Problem with Phonemate

>I have a PhoneMate 9750, their top-of-the-line two-line answering machine
>with a built-in telephone.  [...]  Oh, there is one drawback to this unit:
>it uses very expensive lithium batteries which have failed at least
>twice already.                       Bob Breum

I also have the Phonemate 9750 and am disgusted by the (lack of) design that
went into the way it handles power failures.

The machine takes $12 worth of batteries.  These batteries last one hour!

It seems to have the following reactions to a power outage:

1. If the batteries are good and there's a power glitch, everything happens
   as you would expect.  The machine acts as if nothing happened (power-wise).

2. If the batteries are hopelessly shot, or not even there, or good and you
   have a long (>one hour) power failure, then when the power comes back
   on, the machine rewinds the incoming message tape.  Yes, you noticed
   that.  It happily writes all over the messages that came in before the
   power failure.

3. If the batteries are marginal, and there's a power glitch, the machine
   puts both tapes into FF and runs them until they are banging at the end
   of the reels.  It then starts to smell like it's going to produce copious
   amounts of smoke and flame.

1 and 2 were confirmed by Phonemate's 800 number as "That's the way it
works."  3 was observed once, first-hand, and is the reason that I don't keep
any batteries in it.

-Sandy

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

From: Rick Watson <ut-emx![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: PhoneMate Answering Machine Problem
Date: 13 May 89 16:37:14 GMT
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas


> I have a PhoneMate 9750, their top-of-the-line two-line answering machine
> with a built-in telephone.  It has not had any problems during the more than
> a year that I have used it.  I would recommend it to anyone, although the
> built-in phone is pretty worthless; buy the similar model without the phone.
>
> Oh, there is one drawback to this unit:  it uses very expensive lithium
> batteries which have failed at least twice already.

While the 9750 has some nice features, it has a very low-security
touch-tone remote operation code.  Worse, I can always tell when
someone else's 9750 answers because of a distinctive answering
characteristic.

Also, the touch-tone decoder on my 9750 has drifted and had to be
re-adjusted.  I now supect that the timer that decides a caller
didn't leave a message has drifted becuase it won't save a
very short message.

I wouldn't recommend it.
--Rick

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

From: "Ross D. Snyder" <mit-amt![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: PhoneMate Answering Machine Problem
Date: 15 May 89 02:46:33 GMT
Organization: MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, MA


I also own a PhoneMate 9750 answering machine, which I have used for the last
three years.  Its behavior over that time has been peculiar in a number of
ways.  For the first six to twelve months, the VOX circuit seemed deaf and
impatient, but that problem "healed" over time.  While it was a problem,
I just instructed the people who usually called me to speak loudly and
quickly, which got around the problem.  The other problem I have had is
DTMF deafness, but it seems to vary over time.  Sometimes it is quite
sensitive, but other times (often only a few seconds later) it's completely
deaf.  I used to think it was the telco trunks, but after MIT's cutover to
our new 5ESS (with completely new cable plant) last fall, I ruled that out.
I opened up the PhoneMate and found four trimpots on the board.  I tried
adjusting them, but it did not seem to have any effect.  I never use the
built-in handset.  In fact, I have kept always kept the PhoneMate in a
Eear plastic bag to keep it looking new and operate it through the bag.
(I use only a 1970's vintage WECO 2500 set or my 1960's vintage WECO
3B speakerphone when I want to talk on the phone.)  I've always wondered
why PhoneMate used those expensive 6V photoflash batteries for backu8f
The batteries cost ~$12, and I only paid $60 for the machine.  I overcame the
problem by wiring up an external 8 AA-cell alkaline pack.  Overall, I have
been very pleased with the PhoneMate.  Sure a few analog levels aren't quite
right, but the uP software is good, as are the front panel controls.  The
thing I like most about the PhoneMate is that it either does exactly what you
want or (if it's deaf) does nothing (and retains all messages).  I've never
lost a message with it.  I also believe Code-A-Phone makes good machines, but
not as good as they used to (e.g. Ford Industries Code-A-Phone Model 200:
the "Chrysler" of answering machines).
-Ross



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

From: James Turner <xait!soleast![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: HELP!! With phone lines
Date: 12 May 89 15:08:53 GMT
Reply-To: James Turner <xait!soleast![e-mail]>
Organization: Solbourne Computers, Eastern Regional HQ


In article <[e-mail]> pixar!unicom!dv@ucbvax.
berkeley.edu (David W. Vezie) writes:

>X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 158, message 4 of 8

>I have a problem.  I have a lot of phone lines going into our
>computer room, and I have no idea what the some of numbers are.
>There was a number (760-7760) which would tell me what number
>I was calling from.  However, since the Pa Bell upgrade last
>February, that number hasn't worked.
>
>Can anyone tell me what the new number is?  I'm desperate!

For some reason, people seem to delight in searching for these
numbers, when there is a much simpler solution to their problem.

When I was working in NY, I had a similar problem (multiple lines
with unknown numbers). I simply hooked up a handset to the line
and dialed the closely kept secret telephone company number, "0".
When the operator came on the line, I explained that I needed
to know the number of the phone I was calling from. She read me
the number off the TSPS console. End of story.


[Moderator's Note: That may be the end of your story, but many telecom
participants, myself included, have found that normally the operator will
NOT say what number the call is coming from. The rule is they aren't
supposed to do it, for various security reasons.  PT]

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

From: [e-mail] (J. Deters)
Subject: Re: HELP!! With phone lines
Date: 12 May 89 14:50:45 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail] (J. Deters)
Organization: Terrapin Transit Authority

In article <[e-mail]> pixar!unicom!dv@ucbvax.
berkeley.edu (David W. Vezie) writes:

>I have a problem.  I have a lot of phone lines going into our
>computer room, and I have no idea what the some of numbers are.
>There was a number (760-7760) which would tell me what number
>I was calling from.  However, since the Pa Bell upgrade last
>February, that number hasn't worked.

In our area, (Minneapolis, St. Paul - 612, and in other areas I have
done work in, 511 is the standard readback number.

-j


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

From: Ron Natalie <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Education level needed to use a public telephone
Date: 12 May 89 20:23:15 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.


It hasn't been a good idea to dial 0 for the police or fire
for years, even stretching before deregulation.

Why don't you buy your kids a handheld cellular telephone.

-Ron

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

Date:     Tue, 9 May 89 14:58:52 EDT
From:     Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) <[e-mail]>
Subject:  computerized answering service

United Telephone is offering in some areas a "message phone" where
you can forward calls to (you would get a computerized answering
machine).  Information about this is available by calling 800-692-
7382.  (I got this number by calling time & weather service in
Carlisle, Pa. at 717-243-1313, and the toll-free number I got works
in Maryland.)

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

Date: Sat, 13 May 1989  17:07 MDT
From: "Frank J. Wancho" <[e-mail]>
Subject: "area code" data for Autovon numbers?

I'd like to mash a copy of the area code program to return locations
for Autovon prefixes (and vice-versa).  Does anyone have an online
copy of Autovon prefixes+locations I could grab for this purpose?

--Frank

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


From: Art Gentry <kcdev![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Loud hum on the Phone
Date: 9 May 89 14:00:41 GMT
Organization: AT&T Kansas City, MO.

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail].
indiana.edu (Jeff Russ) writes:

> My telephone recently started acting up.  When I pick up the phone I hear
> a loud hum.  I can still dial numbers and make connections but the hum
> is so loud that I can hardly hear anything.  The onhook voltage is 51 volts
> and the offhook voltage is 6 volts.  I have another phone on the same
> line and it does the same thing.  Does this look like a phone company
> problem and not a problem with my wiring at home?  The only things connected
> to the line are telephones that I bought from the phone company.  There
> was a thunder storm with lots of lightening before I noticed the problem.
> I'd appreciate any suggestions as to what to check before I call the phone
> company.

Sounds suspiciously like you have a blown ground protector.  This is a fuse
like device in the junction box, where the telco cable comes into the building.
It's purpose is to prevent excessive potential (like a lightening strike) from
entering the equipment.  Another possibility is a high ground on the cable,
this could be either inside or outside wiring.  Telco can rapidly test for a
ground and tell you if the problem is theirs or yours.  Odds are, since you
mentioned the storm, that the protection fuse has done its job and needs to be
replaced by the telco.

Art

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

From: Dave Levenson <westmark![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Area Codes - a few comments
Date: 14 May 89 12:50:03 GMT
Organization: Westmark, Inc., Warren, NJ, USA


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (VLD/VMB)
writes:

> ...But why can't numbers like 210-310-311-511 be used? [as area codes]

In NJ Bell territory, 311 produces a ring-no-answer.  I've been told
that it produces automatic number identification in a few central
offices, but I haven't heard which (anyone else in NJ know of any?).
I think most of the N10 codes are/were assigned to TWX, weren't they?

My copy of "Notes on the Intra-Lata Networks" (1984, Bellcore) lists
codes 211, 311, 511, and 711 as RESERVED.  This publication
extimates that by 1995, we will need Interchangeable NPA codes.
This refers to area codes of the NNX format, just like CO codes.
Before that time, ALL local switching systems must have been
modified to require 1+ dialing.  If anything, recent events indicate
that the 1995 estimate may be off.

I wonder how much difficulty would be caused if the USA and Canada
were to be assigned different country codes?  This would allow
re-assignment in the USA of area codes presently assigned in Canada
(and vice versa) and might push that 1995 date back a few years.

--
Dave Levenson
{uunet | rutgers | att}!westmark!dave
...the man in the mooney


[Moderator's Note: You may recall that numerical list of area codes published
several months ago in the Digest. In that list, *I* said that the N10 codes
were all assigned to Western Union (formerly AT&T) TWX. The response from
a couple people was that I was grossly in error....that those numbers were
just 'artifacts' with no relevance to the voice network. If that's so, then
why won't they be used for area codes, now that we need a few spares?  PT]

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


Date:           Sun, 14 MAY 89 14:37:19 BST
From:           [e-mail]
Subject:        Miscellaneous Comments From New Reader

A few comments on topics which came up in TELECOM Digest v9 i160 11 May 89
[ Please excuse me if I blunder - this is first digest I've received and I'm
  not "up" on some of your terminology. ]

---  comments on Sci.commtech
Bruce Klopfenstein <bgsuvax![e-mail]> :-
>> * new delivery technologies (direct broadcast satellites, digital
>>  video-on-demand, pay-per-view)
What is "digital video-on-demand" please ?  (different to pay-per-view?)

I'd like it to be moderated, and distributed via LISTSERVers, too.
It may be that it needs to be split further, but that'd be up to the
moderator to decide...  there are many subject areas there !

---  modem speeds vs carriers reliability survey
Brian Jay Gould <[e-mail]> :-
>>  has anyone ever attempted to chart data rate versus carrier?
>>  (for several modem types)
Since we get most things late, I don't know whether a recent issue of "Data
Communications" has covered this again. Past issues which had ratings of modems
/ carriers include carriers: Aug 87; modems: Sep 87, May 88 (fast), Oct 88.

Oh yes - there was also a *big* feature in Aug 86 - the areas they measured
may give you a head start on planning a questionnaire - though the data won't
be of interest now.  Why not get more money and do the survey for them, or did
they ask anyway ? :-)

---  01 for London  R.I.P. '90
Mark Brader <[e-mail]>  SoftQuad Inc., Toronto
>>  This is reflected in the title of a TV show over there: "01 For Lon$og".
A new one to me... maybe it is only shown on London TV.
BT (British Telecom) took out large adverts in some papers recently.
The ads show the current "exchange" part (01-XXX-1234) and how that will
translate in the new number system.   0x1-XXX-1234     +44 x1 XXX 1234
 x=8 for "Greater London", x=7 is "City" ( 4 mile radius ).

I'm really *dreading* next Spring (junk mail) but some firms are outside
London, thank goodness!  I'll be getting the list of codes keyed in fairly
soon.  If you want a copy, or feel I should post a copy, just let me know.
--- Peter.
 Peter Morgan,  network supporter!  | JANET: <[e-mail]>
  Brighton Poly. Computer Centre,   | world: <[e-mail]>
   Watts Building,   Lewes Road,    | Dialcom: 10074:MIK1108
    Brighton, BN2 4GJ, England.     | FIDO:  (use as last resort, please)
     +44 (273)  600900  x 2321      | <[e-mail]>

[Moderator's Note: Welcome to the Digest readership, Peter. I hope to hear
from you frequently.  PT]
------------------------------

Date:     Tue, 16 May 89 0:34:53 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Telemail, MCI, AT&T Mail Interconnection!

U.S. Sprint's subsidiary, Telenet has announced an interconnection agreement
between Telemail, Telenet's electronic mail product, MCI Mail, and AT&T
Mail.

The new arrangement, scheduled to be in effect later this summer, will allow
the 300,000 worldwide users of Telemail, the 100,000 users of MCI Mail and
the 50,000 users of AT&T Mail to conveniently send email messages to each
other.

The exact logistics have not yet been announced, but I wanted to get the
word to you as soon as I heard about it. When more details are available,
a message will be posted.


Patrick Townson


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

From: Daniel Senie <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Automated Operators
Date: 15 May 89 20:55:50 GMT
Organization: Stratus Computer, Inc., Marlboro, MA


In article <[e-mail]>, Kenneth_R_Jongsma@cup.
portal.com writes:
> Just received an insert in this month's bill from Michigan Bell
> (Ameritech). It seems that they are about to implement a form
> of the automated operator services some of the COCOTs have
> been using for collect and third party billing. According to
> the flyer, if you are making a 0+ call withing the LATA and
> do not enter a credit card number after the "bong", you may
> get connected to a computer asking you to touch a number
> corresponding to your billing request (collect or third
> party). You will then be asked to record your name. The called
> or billed number will then be called, a computer generated message
> will be played with your name inserted appropriately, and the
> receiver asked to touch a number corresponding to whether or
> not they accept charges.

What do they plan to do if the billed number does not have touch-tone?
Some of us are still in the dark ages and connected to step offices...

Daniel Senie               UUCP: harvard!ulowell!cloud9!dts
Stratus Computer, Inc.     ARPA: anvil!cloud9![e-mail]
55 Fairbanks Blvd.         CSRV: 74176,1347
Marlboro, MA 01752         TEL.: 508 - 460 - 2686


[Moderator's Note: We have something like this now in Chicago. You
dial zero plus the ten digit number to make a call on your card, even if
the call is in Chicago. After dialing those eleven digits, a gong rings,
and a condescending recorded voice tells us, "Enter your calling card
number, followed by a pound (#), or dial zero for an operator now!"
If you do neither, then a live operator cuts in after about twenty
seconds to handle the call manually. Phones known to be rotary dial are
automatically routed to the operator following the gong signal.  PT]

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

Organization: SMART HOUSE Limited Partnership
Subject: Miscellaneous Comments
Date: 15 May 89 10:02:38 EDT (Mon)
From: John Owens <[e-mail]>

I have some piecemeal responses to a number of things in the last few
TELECOM Digests, so I'll just lump them together in this one message.

> TELECOM Digest     Sat, 13 May 89 00:33:37 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 162
> From:     Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) <[e-mail]>
> Subject:  telephone carriers

> 1. Are codes like 10222 and 10288 supposed to work from residence and
>    business phones as well as pay ones?

Absolutely.  We just got equal access on our business lines here and
they were switched to MCI; I reprogrammed my auto-dialer to use 10288
before all my calling card calls.   If you're placing calling card
calls from a business or residence where you don't know the carrier,
always give the 10288 (or whichever) a try.

> 2. I just passed through the Lynchburg, Va. area, and used a pay phone
>    (ostensibly C&P) to place a 0+ call inter-LATA, and it went via ITI.

This reminds me of something I saw a few weeks ago in Waldorf, MD
(southern Maryland - C&P territory).  On the front of a 7-11 store
along U.S. 301N was the requisite row of payphones (4).  Above the
payphones was a large white banner with blue letters proclaiming

        C & P Public Phones Are Back!

I guess they had COCOTs and got complaints.....

> From: Sowa <[e-mail]>
> Subject: Re: Implementation of 911 Enhanced Service through PBX

> This is an interesting operation. How are you proposing
> sending more digits/extensions other then the phone
> numbers administered by your local operating company?

I understood the original posting to mean that the campus had DID
trunks to extensions on-campus, but that without outgoing ANI, all the
911 service would be able to tell was that the 911 call originated on
one of the university's outgoing trunks.  With ANI from the campus, a
regular directory number would be provided with no separate extension,
much as (as you mentioned) some PBXs do for billing origination purposes.

> An Enhanced 911 PSAP has an address database that must be maintained
> by someone, how or will the university keep the database informed of
> extension moves.

I imagine this will be one of those things that's going to be more
work than anyone planned....

> TELECOM Digest     Mon, 15 May 89 02:00:00 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 164
> From: julian macassey <ucla-an!denwa!bongo![e-mail]>
> Subject: Re: Jack specifications

> [Description of in-series alarm wiring.]  Usually, you put the
> alarm on the least used pair, often the last or your FAX line.

I'd suggest not putting it on a FAX or modem line.  For quite a few
months here we were having problems with both our FAX and modem
connections being terminated randomly.  For modem use, it was obvious
that no connection ever lasted for more than an hour.  It turned out
that all the lines involved were passed through alarm systems (at
least one for intrusion and one for fire) and the systems were
"testing the lines" hourly!  We decided to get dedicated lines for
them, since, in addition to this annoyance, we didn't want an incoming
call to potentially hold up the alarm.  (They weren't ground-start
lines.)


--
John Owens              [e-mail]          uunet!jetson!john
[phone]         [e-mail]

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

From: John Cowan <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Area Codes - a few comments
Date: 15 May 89 19:18:42 GMT
Reply-To: John Cowan <[e-mail]>
Organization: ESCC  New York City


>[Moderator's Note: Why 411-611-911 are not used as area codes is pretty
>obvious, since they equal Information, Repair Bureau, and Emergency in
>that order. But why can't numbers like 210-310-311-511 be used? Or numbers
>like 410-510-710? They at least resemble area codes and would not be so
>confusing to a phone user.  PT]


Historically, the N10 codes were used by TWX (otherwise Telex II); whether
this is still true, I don't know.  AT&T set up TWX to compete with Telex,
and used a hitherto-empty part of its name space to avoid interference.
Later, AT&T had to sell off TWX, but the N10 codes are still treated as
sacred.  The last time I checked into the matter, which was maybe 15 years
ago, my local telco (New Jersey Bell) treated some N10 codes as "invalid
exchange" and others as "invalid area code", kind of randomly.


[Moderator's Note: But some readers have maintained, very vigorously, that
since Western Union central offices are in no way connected with or wired
through Bell central offices, their use of those numbers have no longer
any bearing on area codes. I put those codes (410-510-610-710-810-910) in
the master list of numerical area codes message run several months
ago, and finally took them out. What is the definitive answer on this? Will
someone from Bellcore or some other authoritative source please reply? PT]

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

From: John Higdon <decvax!decwrl!apple!zygot![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Paying for directory assistance calls.
Date: 13 May 89 21:41:26 GMT
Organization: ATI Wares Team


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Roy
Smith) writes:

>       Anyway, I got my phone bill the other day.  The DA call was $0.60,
> under the heading "Directory Assistance, Canada and Area Code 809".  I've
> never been charged for DA before, even DA calls to Canada, so this was

Where on earth have you been all these years? AT&T has been charging
for DA for YEARS now. Initially it was $.50 and then later raised to
$.60. I didn't realize that it was *only* $.60 to the Virgin Islands.
What a deal!
--
        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
      [e-mail]       | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

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

From: "Ross D. Snyder" <mit-amt![e-mail]>
Subject: More TSPS ANI confusion
Date: 16 May 89 01:08:32 GMT
Organization: MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, MA


The other day a friend of mine was making an AT&T operator-assisted call,
and the person she wanted to reach was not there, so she told the person
who answered the called line to have the desired person call her back at
a different number than the one she was calling from.  The problem occurred
when, after she had said "...call me back at NPA-NXX-", the operator broke
the transmitted audio path from my friend and completed the number with
"XXXX" read from her TSPS console.  Of course, the last four digits the
operator read were not the last four digits that my friend intended to say.
After I thought about this situation, I started to get upset, realizing that
there is really no recourse for my friend other than making a DDD call
and giving the person the correct number.  The operator had already hit
"position release" and was off to continue to unknowingly confuse other
customers.
-Ross


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

Date: Mon, 15 May 89 09:44:38 -0400
From: David Marston <[e-mail]>
Subject: AT&T Card To Become A Credit Card?

On the 8:55 EDT 5/15/89 broadcast of "Today in Business" on the CBS Radio
Network, it was reported that AT&T is considering "converting" its 40,000,000
or so Calling Cards into full-blown credit cards. This was one of those
three-line stories that only mentioned the possibility of more flexible
calling, since a full-fledged credit card is accepted by some AOSes. I'm
sure that TELECOMmers can think of many other angles to this story. To get
you started: would they "convert" the cards with or without credit checks?
.................David Marston          decvax!dartvax!eleazar!marston
                                        [e-mail]

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

Date: Mon, 15 May 89 01:26:01 PDT
From: Linc Madison <[e-mail]>
Subject: Last of the area codes

I've been following the area code splits with some interest, since they
seem to be affecting just about every place I've ever lived.  As has
been noted, 909 and 917 are the only remaining "conventional" A/C's left
unused at present, and my area (Oakland/Berkeley, California) is slated
to get one in 1991, before "Time T."  Any idea what the last one will
be?  Maryland, perhaps?  Will 706 and 905 be reclaimed for use in US/
Canada, requiring "011" dialing for all calls to Mexico?

Another speculation: what areas will get new area codes in 1992 when
the telcos get to use NNX codes?  One area that comes to mind immediately
is Yukon/Northwest Territories.  For years upon years, the numerical
list of area codes in my phone book has shown "403: Alberta, 403: Yukon
Territory (Temporary), 403:Northwest Territories (Temporary), 404:
Georgia ..."  A/C 403 has been "temporary" for YT/NWT for an awfully
long time.

-- Linc Madison = [e-mail]
               or e118-ak@  "       "      "

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

Date: Mon, 15 May 89 06:30:27 PDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Other unused NPAs?

d i g i t a l
                   I N T E R O F F I C E   M E M O R A N D U M

                                        Date:      15-May-1989 09:17 EDT
                                        From:      Jim Gilpatrick
                                                   GILPATRICK.JIM
                                        Dept:      Software Services
                                        Tel No:    DTN 351-2263

TO:  Remote Addressee                     ( _DECWRL::"[e-mail]" )


Subject: Other unused NPAs?

 So we are running out of area codes.  How about reclaiming the 905 & 706
 codes by breaking the North-American Zone 1 hack that uses these codes for
 Mexico in violation of the CCITT rules?  Or would this be too inconvenient?
 If we could do it, it would give a total of 4 free NPA codes (706, 905, 909,
 917).

 Is there some good reason this cannot or will not be done?

                                                       --jim



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

Date: 15 May 89  8:57 -0700
From: laura halliday <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Area Codes - a few comments

Dave Levenson writes:

> I wonder how much difficulty would be caused if the USA and Canada
> were to be assigned different country codes?  This would allow
> re-assignment in the USA of area codes presently assigned in Canada
> (and vice versa) and might push that 1995 date back a few years.

Probably quite a bit...not only would you only liberate a handful
of area codes in the process, you would disrupt important lines
of communication. We Canadians tend to phone the U.S. more than
we phone other provinces - lines of communication are north-south
rather than east-west.

...laura

University of B.C., Vancouver, B.C., Canada

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

From: Eric Schnoebelen <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: NPA 903 assigned to NE Texas
Date: 14 May 89 20:37:35 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: John W. Bridges & Associates, Inc., Lewisville, Tx.


In article <[e-mail]> Anthony Argyriou
<[e-mail]> writes:
- X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 162, message 2 of 12

- [e-mail] (John R. Covert) writes:
- >X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 160, message 6 of 8

- >It was just announced that those portions of 214 outside Dallas will be
- >changed to 903 in the Fall of 1990.

-  How do they choose these numbers? Who chooses? Why did Dallas suburbs
- get 903? Is either 909 or 917 unsuitable there?

LP}        Well, I just talked to our tariff folks, and 903 is not being
assigned to the Dallas suburbs ( unless you consider Tyler a suburb of
Dallas :-) According to our tariff folks, it will be the Longview lata (
544 ) and probably portions of the Houston lata ( 560 ) and the Dallas
lata ( 552 ). Geographically, I have been told it will go from Tyler
east to the state line, and south from the state line to a someplace
south of Palestine.

        As to what area codes are suitable in this area, well Fort
Worth ( the unheard of half of Dallas/Ft. Worth ) is in the 817 area
code, as well as nearly everything else west of Dallas.  Even Waco on
the south, and Denton on the north are in area code 817.  That probably
makes 917 unsuitable..  About 909, I don't know.  Maybe Southwestern
Bell made it to Bellcore before Pacific Bell. :-)

--
Eric Schnoebelen,                       JBA Incorporated, Lewisville, Tx.
[e-mail]                         ...!killer!u-word!egs
        "...we have normality"..."Anything you still can't cope with is
therefore your own problem..."  -- Trisha McMillian, HHGG

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

From: Gerry Wheeler <mks![e-mail]>
Date: 15 May 89 17:38:47 GMT
Subject: Re: Area Codes - a few comments
Organization: Mortice Kern Systems, Waterloo, Ont.
Lines: 29

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (VLD/VMB)
writes:
> [Moderator's Note: ...
> ... But why can't numbers like 210-310-311-511 be used? Or numbers
> like 410-510-710? They at least resemble area codes and would not be so
> confusing to a phone user.  PT]

There have been several messages of late commenting on suitable area
codes, and I think this is the second time the moderator has made this
point.  As a non-insider, I would estimate that 99% of telephone users
have no preconceived notion of what an area code looks like.  It is
simply three digits.  Heck, I didn't know there were restrictions on
area code numbering until I started reading this group, and I used to
work for the phone company!

There were also previous messages about whether this area code or that
should be assigned right next to some other area code that was similar.
I don't think there is any difficulty with that from a user point of
view.  (I can't say whether there are technical reasons for avoiding
it.) After all, one seldom knows what area codes adjoin the desired one,
and if you misdial you get some wrong party -- it hardly matters if they
are 100 or 10000 miles away from the party you intended to dial.

Is there some inside reason why these points are important? I don't see
them affecting how the ordinary user sees the phone system.
--
     Gerry Wheeler                           Phone: [phone]
Mortice Kern Systems Inc.               UUCP: uunet!watmath!mks!wheels
   35 King St. North                             BIX: join mks
Waterloo, Ontario  N2J 2W9                  CompuServe: 73260,1043

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

Date: Mon, 15 May 89 01:32:36 PDT
From: Linc Madison <[e-mail]>
Subject: Using "800" LD access from COCOTS

ZfoF^Y>>From: [e-mail] (Jerry Glomph Black)
>Subject: Getting LD carriers from payphones
>X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 162, message 4 of 12
>
>Three notes from travels in past 2 weeks:
>
>3) What has failed in only the rarest of COCOT situations is to use
>   Sprint's LD service via the 800-877-8000 access.  A few of them shut
>   off the keypad's tone generator after the connection is made, but at
>   least an operator answers, and you can still complete your call,
>   with a $1 surcharge (still a lot better than AOS rates!)  I find
>   that the ATT charge-card phones (the silly ones with the CRT and
>   card-reader) usually shut off the keypad, but otherwise the BOS
>   phones are OK.  BUMSTENCH phones are usually OK as well.

Try telling the Sprint operator, "I'm calling from a pay phone and the
owner doesn't want me to use Sprint, so my keypad is turned off.  Can I
get the lower rate?"  If Sprint has *any* sense at all, they'll happily
give you the lower rate.

--Linc Madison = [e-mail]
              or e118-ak@   "       "     "

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

Subject: Re: 01 for London  R.I.P. '90
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Date: Mon, 15 May 89 17:13:06 +0100
From: Kevin Hopkins <[e-mail]>


I already  have the codes on-line and  a shell script  built  round them to
change  01 numbers to 071/081 numbers.   If Peter Morgan, or   anyone else,
wants the list and/or script please drop me a line.

                        Kev.


+--------------------------------------------+--------------------------------+
| [e-mail] | Kevin Hopkins,                 |
| or    ..!mcvax!ukc!nott-cs!K.Hopkins       | Department of Computer Science,|
| or in the UK: [e-mail]      | University of Nottingham,      |
| CHAT-LINE: [phone] x 3815           | Nottingham, ENGLAND, NG7 2RD   |
+--------------------------------------------+--------------------------------+


Date: Wed 17 May 89 02:57:55-EDT
Subject: Re: Modems and LD Carriers
From: "Robert Gutierrez / MCI ID: 367-9829" <[e-mail]>


From: westmark![e-mail] (Dave Levenson)
>In article <[e-mail])?-W.bj$lk/[e-mail]
>(Brian Jay Gould) writes:
> I have seen numerous comparisons by carriers, of their noise levels
>(dropping pins and such).  The modem manufacturers specify data rates based
>upon noise free lines.

> So...  has anyone ever attempted to chart data rate versus carrier?
> (for several modem types)

~r>We have used three different LD carriers in recent years.  Our
>experience is that each of these (SBS Skyline, MCI, and AT&T) shows
>significant variation between different calls to the same place,
>using the same carrier.  The variation in data transmission quality
>varies even more among calls placed over the same carrier to
>different destinations.  The variation between these carriers was no
>more than the variation between different calls using the same
>carrier.

I could not agree more.  Even at MCI, the circut quality could even depend
on the time of day you call. Scenaro: You call from San Francisco to New
York. If you called at 9pm, your call would travel over our backbone fiber
that runs between San Francisco and Washington DC, then via digital radio
to New York (over-simplification here), but it is possible that you try at
9AM instead, and all trunks are busy on that fiber route, then we have to
find an alternate route for you call to terminate in New York. So, lets see,
we send you to Los Angeles first, then Phoenix, Arizona, then Dallas, Texas,
then St. Louis, Missouri, then......you get the picture.  Then there is
unexpected problems that can contribute, like "backhoe fade"....:-)

>We also find plenty of noisey intra-lata calls.  If the local
>carrier cannot deliver a clean dial-up circuit across town, how can
>they be expected to provide a uniformly clean interface to any of
>the inter-lata carriers?   It doesn't matter much how good the toll
>carrier is if the local carrier is bad.  A given circuit is as good
>as its weakest link, isn't it?

Ahhh yes, the local carrier lines.  I have a problem in that regard. I
am on Portal (cup.portal.com) in Cupertino, California.  I call from
Hayward, California, so, it is intralata.  I am calling from a 1AESS to
a DMS-100, distance: 25 miles.  I would hope to think that there are
directs between HYWRCA11CG0 (Hayward C.O.) and SNJSCA12CG0 (San Jose C.O.
serving Cupertino). When I call Cupertino at 2400 baud, I always get a bunch
of curly characters at the beginning of the transmission, usually
going away after repeated <cr>'s (or, during retraining/equalization).
This usually points towards frame errors/slips on a T-1 carrier, a common
problem on the DMS-100, but I have also gotten this while calling through MCI
which we have direct circuts to that C.O., but not from work, where we
route through San Francisco instead (I think it's San Francisco 10 or 12
were on).  I searched my own calls from work, and they terminate directly
into SNJS/12, but I have no way of searching my intralata calls to see
if I hit the tandem on their end (Santa Clara) or my end (Oakland), and see
if one of the tandems is screwing this up.

Of course, trying to explain all this to repair (611), and they usually
say "huh?".

Let us know if you do proceed with the modem experiments, and the results
and problems you encounter.

     Robert Gutierrez
     MCI Telecommuncations
     Western Region Trouble Management Center
     Hayward, California.


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

From: Jeff Stearns <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: regular noise/interference over long distance credit card calls
Date: 19 May 89 00:41:08 GMT
Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA


In article <[e-mail]> Steve Dyer <dyer@
ursa-major.spdcc.com> writes:

> I was travelling on business last month and attepted to use my trusty Toshiba
> laptop which comes with a 1200 baud modem...  Whenever I dialed direct with
> the credit card, I would end up getting an incredibly regular noise pattern:
> what seemed like <DEL>{ once a >second--you could set your watch with it...

Steve,

Most phone calls are transmitted as a stream of digital data.  (Odd, ain't it;
the modem converts digital to analog so the central office can convert it
back to digital for transmission...)

This digital data stream passes from one network switch to another. The network
switches probably aren't synchronized to the same clock.  One switch is running
slightly faster than the other; thus the digital data stream is constantly and
steadily "slipping" as it passes from one to the other.  The scrambled bit
pattern often contains characters ~ or } or DEL (they're rich in 1-bits).

A quick workaround?  Route the call along a different path.  Using a different
LD carrier is very likely to accomplish this.
--
    Jeff Stearns        John Fluke Mfg. Co, Inc.               [phone]
    [e-mail]   {uw-beaver,microsoft,sun}!fluke!jeff

PS - Calling all users of the Vitalink TransLAN IV Ethernet bridge! Please
     drop me a line.

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


Date:     Sat, 20 May 89 10:26:29 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Illinois Bell Knocked Out For Four Hours!

Service to over 40,000 Illinois Bell subscribers in the northwest suburbs
of Chicago was disrupted for about four hours Thursday because of problems
with the computer in the switching center.

Phones were either dead or inoperative for incoming and outgoing calls between
9:30 a.m. and 1:40 p.m. because of a software glitch at the central office
in Hoffman Estates, IL. Most of the disruption occurred in Hoffman Estates,
Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, Hanover Park, and Streamwood, IL.

The exact nature of the problem was not discussed by the Bell spokesman who
reported that the outage had been corrected. Apparently the backup system
which is supposed to kick in also failed.

Patrick Townson


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

From: John Higdon <decvax!decwrl!apple!zygot![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: RJ21X and regulations
Date: 20 May 89 04:14:50 GMT
Organization: ATI Wares Team


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
(Ole J. Jacobsen) writes:
> Pacific Bell has quite a different idea about what an RJ21X should
> look like.  As the person responsible for our company's phone system,

It's not Pacific Bell, it's whoever comes out to do the work. There are
two types of installers: those that want to get the job done and those
that like to play like little Nazis. I have been involved with phone
systems ranging from 2 line key systems to multi-site PBXs and there
are as many interpretations concerning what the rules say as there are
installers in the field.

> I was recently served with a "Violation Notice" and given two weeks to
> wire our lines to the 66 block VIA the amphenol connector. The
> straight "them on one side --- us on the other" with bridging clips in
> between is NOT ALLOWED here.  I was told that if I did not correct the
> problem, service would be terminated. If you receive service by means
> of an RJ21X, the phone company wants to have the ability to disconnect
> all of your lines with one simple yank of the amphenol plug, wonderful.

If any repair person pulled the amphenol off any of my RJs in the
process of testing one line, he would be looking for a new job--I
guarantee it.


> inside a phone closet in the building). The reason is apparently that
> you are not supposed to have lines with different "class of service"
> on the same 66 block. When I explained that we already had a mixture

On one RJ21X block in Pac*Bell land I have the following:

8       Ground Start PBX incoming trunks
4       Ground Start PBX outgoing trunks
3       Sprint Pro-Wats Lines
1       Pac*Bell Metro 800 Line
1       Ground Start DISA access Line
2       Loop Start Modem Lines
1       PBX outgoing OPX

No one, but no one has ever given me the slightest comment about this.
If anyone ever does, he will be given certain directions concerning
impossible anatomical acts he can perform on himself.
--
        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
      [e-mail]       | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

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


Date: Fri May 19 09:50:35 1989
From: Robert J Woodhead <biar![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: RJ21X and regulations
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Robert J Woodhead)
Organization: Biar Games, Inc.

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Ole J. Jacobsen) writes:
>The straight "them on one side --- us on the other" with bridging clips in
>between is NOT ALLOWED here.

Ah yes, the bridging clips.  Here in Ithaca, the phone company installers
do "them on the left and you on the right", and twice in the last 6 months
one of those clips has popped out or shifted just enough to screw up a
connection.  Plus, would you believe it, for 4 phone lines on an internal
phone system plus a modem and fax line, I have a total of 4 of these boxes
of various sizes, plus 2 boxes of an older vintage; some installed by the
phone company, some by the phone system company.

One of these days I'm going to have to spend an afternoon and trace all the
damn wires and figure it all out.  I mean, at the current rate, if I get
another modem line I'll run out of wall space in my utility closet!

--
Robert J Woodhead, Biar Games, Inc.  !uunet!biar!trebor | [e-mail]
"The lamb will lie down with the lion, but the lamb won't get much sleep."
     -- Woody Allen.


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

From: Lars Poulsen <[e-mail]>
Subject: MCI FAX Network
Date: 19 May 89 23:14:24 GMT
Organization: Not Much


I just received a pretty, multi-colored brochure from MCI,
headlined "What a beautiful day for a revolution". The
revolution is that MCI now has "a dedicated FAX network". Is
this in the same sense that they have "dedicated customer
service", or do they really have a SEPARATE national
long-distance telephone network that exclusively carries FAX
traffic ?

It would seem to make no sense at all to maintain a dedicated
FAX network, when you already have a telephone network.

The brochures include a price list giving per-minute charges in
US mileage bands as well as internationally by country. I don't
have the MCI telephone price list hand; can I save this list and
use it as a price list for my MCI telephone calls ?
If the prices are different for phone and FAX, why ? If they are
lower than the phone prices, what's to stop me from pretending
my phone is a FAX ?

/ Lars Poulsen
ACC Customer Service
[e-mail]

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

Date:     Thu, 18 May 89 11:32:37 EDT
From:     Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) <[e-mail]>
Subject:  neighboring area codes

Delaware and Maryland are neighboring area codes which differ
by only one digit: 302 and 301 respectively.

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

From: William E Evans <pyuxd![e-mail]>
Subject: TV Interference from the telephone
Date: 19 May 89 18:33:05 GMT
Organization: Bell Communications Research


Can someone suggest a reason why we see television interference
whenever one of our telephones is picked up?  I can understand
there being interference when I use my modem; however, this
interference (zigzag lines in the TV picture) happens anytime
a telephone is picked up.

Is there an easy way to isolate and fix such a problem?

Thanks.

Bill Evans
Bellcore

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

Date: Sat, 20 May 89 22:33:38 EDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: DC area NXX code update



             CHESAPEAKE AND POTOMAC TELEPHONE COMPANY

                      NEW NXX CODE OPENINGS

                                       UPDATED THROUGH May 8, 1989

NPA   NXX   RATE AREA               SERVICE DATE      REMARKS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
703   706   Alexandria-Arlington    03/04/89
703   716   Alexandria-Arlington    03/04/89
703   914   Falls Church-McLean     03/04/89
804   337   Richmond                03/18/89
703   994   Pulaski                 03/18/89
703   776   Roanoke                 03/18/89
703   224   Roanoke                 03/19/89
703   204   Falls Church-McLean     04/29/89
703   846   Falls Church-McLean     04/15/89
804   832   Lynchburg               05/06/89
703   633   Radford                 05/06/89
804   235   Richmond                05/20/89
703   587   Bedford                 05/20/89
804   354   Richmond                04/25/89
703   712   Falls Church-McLean     05/14/89
703   818   Failfax-Vienna          06/04/89  Please note - code introduced
                                              6-4-88. Not all switches updated.
703   415   Alexandria-Arlington    06/02/89
804   383   Richmond                05/20/89  Opening being expedited
703   709   Fairfax-Vienna          07/14/89
703   516   Alexandria-Arlington    07/07/89
301   960   Baltimore               11/26/88
301   805   Bowie-Glendale          11/26/88
301   808   Capital Heights         11/26/88
301   507   Berwyn                  12/03/88
301   402   Bethesda                01/15/89
301   638   Bel Air                 01/15/89
301   414   Damascus                01/28/89
301   816   Kensington              02/12/89  Cancelled code 417 - Replaced
                                              with 816.
301   487   Myersville              03/19/89
301   608   Silver Spring           08/05/89
301   309   Rockville               08/12/89
301   312   Columbia                04/01/89
301   780   Essex                   04/15/89
301   931   Parkville               05/20/89
301   409   Berwyn                  05/28/89
301   996   Catonsville             08/01/89
301   979   Catonsville             08/01/89
301   331   Hagerstown              07/14/89
301   998   Pikesville              09/01/89
202   404   Washington              04/15/89
202   613   Washington              05/06/88
202   605   Washington              06/03/88
202   504   Washington              06/17/88
202   307   Washington              06/01/88  Date changed from 06/24/88
202   915   Washington              06/10/88
202   310   Washington              09/15/88
202   213   Washington              09/18/88
202   954   Washington              10/26/88
202   610   Washington              02/03/89
202   319   Washington              03/17/89
202   416   Washington              02/10/89
202   514   Washington              03/17/89
202   708   Washington              05/05/89
202   906   Washington              09/23/88  Code activated 9-23-88  Not all
                                              switches updated.
202   408   Washington              10/13/89
202   812   Washington              06/30/89
202   917   Washington              06/30/89
202   806   Washington              07/28/89
304   544   Huntington              10/17/87
304   627   Clarksburg              09/12/87
304   639   Wheeling Zone 1         02/15/88
301   633   Huntington Zone 1       02/05/88
304   281   Wheeling Zone 1         04/04/88
304   479   Weirton                 05/13/88
304   542   Charleston Zone 1       08/22/88
304   691   Huntington Zone 1       10/01/88
304   353   Charleston Zone 1       10/01/88
304   545   Charleston Zone 1       10/08/88
304   481   Parkersburg Zone 1      11/15/88
304   284   Morgantown              07/15/89


[this is the whole list (typo in the original included in 304 land).
 In the future, I will send new exchange opening announcements as
 I get them]

Doug

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


From: Bruce Klopfenstein <bgsuvax![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Illinois Bell Knocked Out For Four Hours!
Date: 21 May 89 11:02:25 GMT
Organization: Bowling Green State University B.G., Oh.


From article <[e-mail]>, by [e-mail].
edu (TELECOM Moderator):
> Service to over 40,000 Illinois Bell subscribers in the northwest suburbs
> of Chicago was disrupted for about four hours Thursday because of problems
> with the computer in the switching center.
>
[goes on to note other details including the failure of the backup syqtem]

Are the implications of this outage as serious as they appear to be on
the surface?  To a non-telephony insider, this appears to be about as big
a crisis as one could imagine.  Am I cynical in thinking that before this
happened, Illinois Bell would have said that this incident was impossible?
(Shades of Exxon?)


--
Dr. Bruce C. Klopfenstein      |  [e-mail]
Radio-TV-Film Department       |  [e-mail]
Bowling Green $tate University |  [e-mail]
Bowling Green, OH  43403       |  [phone]; 352-4818


[Moderator's Note: While the numbers seem large, forty thousand subscribers
out of four million plus in the northern Illinois area is one percent or
less of the total. I'll grant you, it certainly shows how vulnerable
we are to computer failures. Several months ago, we had a similar outage
in the CO next to me (Chicago-Irving) which lasted about five minutes.

And the latest joke about Exxon is a twist on the old folk song:
"What do you do with a drunken sailor?
Put him in charge of an Exxon tanker!"

See you tomorrow, IBT willing!   PT]

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

Date:     Mon, 22 May 89 0:33:21 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Subject:  International Reach Out Plans

Some discussion here about AT&T's Reach Out Plans recently prompted my contact
at AT&T to send me some detailed information about the three international
Reach Out Plans currently offered. As you will note, they differ from the
plan offered domestically in the United States in the time of day they are
in force, as well as how the charges are calculated.

REACH OUT UNITED KINGDOM

This plan offers 30 minutes of calling per month, for a flat rate of $22.00.
Additional half hours are also $22.00, and are pro-rated at 73 cents per
minute, which is less than the usual discount rates. Hours for calling are
1 PM to 6 PM, local time, meaning the call arrives in the UK between around
5 PM and 2 AM next day, depending on your exact time zone here. On Saturday
and Sunday, the hours are 7 AM to 6 PM both days, meaning calls can be
received there between around noon through 2 AM. There is a one time $10.00
sign up fee.


REACH OUT PHILIPPINES

This plan offers 30 minutes of calling per month, for a flat rate of $35.00
for the first half hour, and $33.50 for each additional half hour. Additional
half hours after the first are pro-rated to $1.12 per minute. Again, this
is substantially less than the normal rate or discount period rate for calls
to the Philippines. Plan hours are Monday through Friday from 2 AM to 11 AM,
meaning your call arrives there in the time frame of late afternoon through
early morning next day, depending on the originating US time zone. On weekends
the Philippines plan allows calls between 12:01 AM and 11 AM; then again
between 5 PM and midnight; and after a two hour break, can be resumed beginning
at 2 AM Monday morning. There is a $10 enrollment fee here also.


REACH OUT ISRAEL

This plan is the exception to the bulk, purchase by the half-hour plans.
Instead, there is a continuing $5 per month 'subscription charge' which
entitles you to purchase whatever time desired during plan hours at a much
less than normal or discount rate. Plan hours and rates are as follows --

Monday through Friday:  5 PM to midnight = 85 cents per minute
                        12:01 AM to 8 AM = $1.05 per minute

Saturday and Sunday:    same as above, but an additional window --
                        8 AM to 5 PM     = $1.20 per minute

There is no plan discount available 8 AM to 5 PM weekdays.


While the UK and Philippines plans do save you money once you amortize the
initial one time enrollment fee into your total charges, the Israel
plan -- which also has a $10 enrollment fee -- will only save you
money if your monthly billings are large enough to absorb the monthly
$5 subscription charge and still save money. Based on the few cents
per minute difference in the plan rates versus the least expensive economy
rates, you would need a couple hours per month of calls to Israel to make
it worth while to sign up.

Like all discount phone rates, the hours are bound to be somewhat inconvenient
for either the caller or the person called, with the exception of Saturday
and Sunday calls. And while for the UK plan, persons originating calls from
EST or CST zones would probably have the most compatibility in calling
at times convenient to the UK, the opposite is true of the Philippines plan,
where PST/MST zones would have the greatest flexibility at finding the other
end up, awake and available.

Regards Reach Out America, I've come to the conclusion that although we
in the midwest probably have the most convenient calling window based on
either direction of call other than calls straight 'up or down' within your
own time zone; the fact is we wind up paying more for calls. At 11-12 cents
a minute, calls have to be at least several hundred miles in distance before
the rates would be any higher anyway. Folks on the east, west or southern
coasts at least have the ability to make calls of greater distances.
It reminds of me of the rationale used by telemarketing companies
which locate in the middle west: we have the cheapest WATS rates of anywhere;
after all, you can only call a couple thousand miles one way, or a thousand
the other.

Anyway, to sign up for any of the three international Reach Out Plans listed
here, call AT&T at 1-800-222-0300.


Patrick Townson


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

From: Dave Levenson <westmark![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MCI FAX Network
Date: 21 May 89 14:12:53 GMT
Organization: Westmark, Inc., Warren, NJ, USA


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Lars
Poulsen) writes:

> It would seem to make no sense at all to maintain a dedicated
  ...
> use it as a price list for my MCI telephone calls ?
> If the prices are different for phone and FAX, why ? If they are
> lower than the phone prices, what's to stop me from pretending


The fax network is actually a non-real-time (i.e. store & forward)
fax delivery service..  It will accept your fax traffic using a fax
modem.  I don't think it will hear your voice!  By compressing a lot
of fax traffic into high-speed data packets, they can send it to a
dis-assembly system near the destination and then re-sent from a fax
modem to the recipient's fax machine.  This makes it less expensive
than voice, but not interchangeable.

--
Dave Levenson
{uunet | rutgers | att}!westmark!dave
  ...the man in the mooney


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

From: Dave Levenson <westmark![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Cellular Phone & 911
Date: 21 May 89 14:17:35 GMT
Organization: Westmark, Inc., Warren, NJ, USA


In article <[e-mail]>, stjhmc!stjhmc.fidonet.
org![e-mail] (David Dodell) writes:
> I was curious if Enhanced 911 can pick up the phone number when you are
> calling from a mobile phone (either cellular or IMTS)?   Or is this one of


Here in NJ, I have called my office (we have Caller*Id Service) from
the car.  No calling number is displayed (it says: Out of Area).
When I dial 911, who I get seems to depend upon where the car is.
If I'm driving in New Jersey, I reach the NJ State Police.  When I
call from New York City, I get the NYC 911 operator.  While they may
not get my mobile number, they do make some use of the mobile
telephone system's knowlege of where I'm calling from, probably
based upon which cell site is handling the call.

The above applies to Cellular, using MetroOne in the NYC area.  IMTS
and other cellular systems may be different.

--
Dave Levenson
{uunet | rutgers | att}!westmark!dave
...the man in the mooney


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

Date:     Tue, 23 May 89 0:19:16 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Pac Bell Gets Okay for 900 Audiotex Prefixes

Californians, not normally a prudish lot, raised so much cain with Pac Bell
and the California Public Utility Commission over the subject of 'dial-a-porn',
that the CPUC has given its blessings to Pac Bell's plan to segregate
allegedly harmful audiotex programs on the specially reserved, blockable
900-303 exchange, for which Pac Bell will *NOT* provide billing services.

The plan is intended to allow Pac Bell to disassociate itself from offensive
programming while simultaneously promoting other 900 services such as
sports scores and horoscope readings that are considered more legitimate.

Previously, Pac Bell subscribers wishing to block any audiotex programs
had to deny service to all programs. Under the new scheme, blocking will
be provided free of charge for any subscribers wishing to limit access to
the 900-303 prefix for sex lines; the 900-505 prefix for random conference
calls; or the 900-844 prefix for the more traditional recorded messages
and entertainment services.

Blocking will in fact be the *default condition* for 900-303 unless the
subscriber specifically requests having it turned on.

Under California's revised penal code, passed last year with support from
Pac Bell, 'harmful' programming is deemed as any matter which appeals to
prurient interests, represents sexual conduct which is patently offensive,
and lacks serious artistic and literary merit. As such, it closely
resembles the federal code for obscene speech.

A Pac Bell spokesman was blunt in his assessment of the matter: "Our goal
is to disconnect 'dial-a-porn'. But until/unless we have the legal authority
to do that, we've designed out 900 service to solve the problems some
consumers have had with 976.

Will this plan work? Maybe not. Several information providers, led by Sable
Commuications of Los Angeles, are challenging a federal statute for 'obscene'
and 'indecent' interstate programming which could well have a bearing
on the California law. Sable also notes they believe it is discriminatory
for Pac Bell to provide billing services for some IP's while declining to
do so for others of whom they disapprove.


Patrick Townson


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

From: Ron Natalie <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Cellular Phone & 911
Date: 23 May 89 13:12:28 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.


The more interesting question is which 911 operator you get
when you dial 911 from a cellular phone, since the cellular
coverage areas almost always span more than one 911-service
area.

My guess is that it's just handled by the MTS operator.

-Ron

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

=/From: Rob Warnock <amdcad!amdcad.AMD.COM![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Cellular Phone & 911
Date: 23 May 89 09:27:24 GMT
Reply-To: Rob Warnock <amdcad![e-mail]>
Organization: [Consultant] San Mateo, CA


westmark![e-mail] (Dave Levenson) writes:
+---------------
| org![e-mail] (David Dodell) writes:
| > I was curious if Enhanced 911 can pick up the phone number when you are
| > calling from a mobile phone (either cellular or IMTS)?
| ...When I dial 911, who I get seems to depend upon where the car is.
| If I'm driving in New Jersey, I reach the NJ State Police.  When I
| call from New York City, I get the NYC 911 operator.  While they may
| not get my mobile number, they do make some use of the mobile
| telephone system's knowlege of where I'm calling from, probably
| based upon which cell site is handling the call.
+---------------

In the Bay Area, the CA Highway Patrol apparently likes the help it's been
getting from drivers with cellular phones... so now *all* cellular 911 calls
go directly to the CHP. If it's not a CHP-servicable call they re-route you to
the "appropriate" authority. Oddly enough, they seemed to consider a three-car
accident I reported on US-101 ("The Bayshore Freeway") to be a "local" matter;
they transferred me to the Palo Alto police!

I don't know if they have ANI or not. They do ask for your name and cellular
number (they know it's cellular), but that may be just for prank detection.
[Does anybody know if they have access to cell site?]


Rob Warnock
Systems Architecture Consultant

UUCP:     {amdcad,fortune,sun}!redwood!rpw3
DDD:      [phone]
USPS:     627 26th Ave, San Mateo, CA  94403


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

From: [e-mail]
Date: Wed, 24 May 89 15:34:40 GMT
Subject: Automated Operators


The problem with automated operators, at least the ones I've played
around with is that after the question of whether or not they will
accept the call is asked of the called party,  the calling party can
generate the DTMF (or say "Yes" for voice recognition).  Simply
cutting off the calling party from the call is also not a good idea,
as sometimes the calling party is needed to generate additional info
or at least speak to be recognized.  Also, the voice recognition would
have to deal with foreign languages in (e.g.) heavily Spanish speaking
areas.  Anyway, this technology has a long ways to go.

--------
Paul Guthrie
chinet!nsacray!paul
Zippy says:
OKAY!!  Turn on the sound ONLY for TRYNEL CARPETING,
 FULLY-EQUIPPED R.V.'S and FLOATATION SYSTEMS!!


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

From: John Wheeler <techwood![e-mail]>
Subject: 404 area code now required dialing within 404
Date: 25 May 89 00:44:50 GMT
Reply-To: John Wheeler <techwood![e-mail]>
Organization: Turner Entertainment Networks Library; Atlanta


Semi-quoting page B1 of the Atlanta Constitution of May 24, 1989...

Population growth...will require callers in North Georgia to
dial the 404 area code after a <1> or <0> in addition to the
number when making long-distance calls within that area code.
Walter Sessoms, Southern Bell's vice president for Georgia,
said the phone company has run out of central office codes...
 ...The new system would permit the use of digits reserved for
area codes to be used as prefixes...Theoretically, the new
system would create about 1.5 million new numbers for 404...
Southern Bell has an application for a new area code pending,
but it will not be issued until all the new available
central (office) numbers are used up.
There is currently a total of almost 2 million access lines
in area code 404, about 1.5 million in the Atlanta calling
area...

--
                  Turner                                       John Wheeler
     E N T E R T A I N M E N T     ...!gatech!nanovx!techwood!johnw
                Networks
     Techwood Library * home of Superstation TBS * TNT * TBS Sports


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

From: "james.j.sowa" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Cellular Phone & E911
Date: 25 May 89 13:26:21 GMT
Reply-To: "james.j.sowa" <[e-mail]>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories


In article <[e-mail]> westmark![e-mail]
(Dave Levenson) writes:

>X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 173, message 5 of 7

>In article <[e-mail]>, stjhmc!stjhmc.fidonet.
>org![e-mail] (David Dodell) writes:
>> I was curious if Enhanced 911 can pick up the phone number when you are
>> calling from a mobile phone (either cellular or IMTS)?   Or is this one of

This is from memory and may have changed but probably
not to much.

First of all E911 means two things:
1) an ability to route the calling number to the proper
serving PSAP. This means if one house has Police A and Fire
A and the next house has Police B and Fire A the 911 call
would go to the primary answerer (maybe police) in this
case both calls go to poilce A at the PSAP when it is
determined it is a fire call all the PSAP attendant will do is
press a button labeled fire and the call will route
correctly to the proper Fire department .

This function is now being applied to cellular as the next
author states.

>Here in NJ, I have called my office (we have Caller*Id Service) from
>the car.  No calling number is displayed (it says: Out of Area).
>When I dial 911, who I get seems to depend upon where the car is.
>If I'm driving in New Jersey, I reach the NJ State Police.  When I
>call from New York City, I get the NYC 911 operator.  While they may
>not get my mobile number, they do make some use of the mobile
>telephone system's knowlege of where I'm calling from, probably
>based upon which cell site is handling the call.

>The above applies to Cellular, using MetroOne in the NYC area.  IMTS
>and other cellular systems may be different.

>Dave Levenson

Call routing should be done on serving antenna instead of
cell since it would be a finer geographcal area to define.

2) After having the ability to transmit the calling number
to the PSAP. The PSAP will then do a database lookup the
interpret the ANI DN into an address of telephone of the
calling party. This information aids in dispatch,
redialing, aiding callers who don't know their location.

It is an open item today as what to transmit to a PSAP from
a cellular phone and how much information is needed at the PSAP
- calling number? 10 digits
- serving cell?   x digits

Besides, if the DN to address translation is done at the
PSAP from their database, how could they have all the
mobile DNs from all over their area translated into their
database. (much less updated.) How would they translate roamers?


                                        Jim

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

Date: Thu, 25 May 89 12:54:43 EDT
From: [e-mail] (Scott Barman)
Subject: Southern Bell dialing changes in 404 area code
Organization: Digital Transmission Systems (a subsidiary of DCA), Duluth, GA


Southern Bell announced on Tuesday (5/23) that beginning October 2, all
long distance calls within the 404 area codes will require the caller to
dial the 404 after the 1 (i.e. 1-404-xxx-xxxx).  Southern Bell reports
that they are running out of central office exchages in the 404 area
becuase of an increase of 600,000 access lines (mostly in the Metro
Atlanta area).

It was reported that SB is doing this because it is a cheap, short term
solution and its a prelude to adding a new area code to the area (Metro
Atlanta will get its own area code).  Programming is in effect now that
will allow people to reprogram their auto-dialers and speed calling
numbers now.  Starting 10/2 calls will not go through and the caller
will get one of those wonderful (and usually ear-splitting loud)
recordings.

They are trying to put off the inevitable.  I understand that since I
was living in New York when they made Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten
Island area code 718.  Initially, it really can be confusing and
frustrating and I guess New York Tel. dropped a bundle in advertising.
--
scott barman
{gatech, emory}!dtscp1!scott


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

From: David Lewis <nvuxr![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Area Codes - a few comments
Date: 25 May 89 18:21:51 GMT
Organization: Bell Communications Research


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
(John Cowan) writes:
> >[Moderator's Note: Why 411-611-911 are not used as area codes is pretty
> >obvious, since they equal Information, Repair Bureau, and Emergency in
> >that order. But why can't numbers like 210-310-311-511 be used? Or numbers
> >like 410-510-710? They at least resemble area codes and would not be so
> >confusing to a phone user.  PT]


> Historically, the N10 codes were used by TWX (otherwise Telex II); whether
> this is still true, I don't know.  AT&T set up TWX to compete with Telex,
> and used a hitherto-empty part of its name space to avoid interference.
> Later, AT&T had to sell off TWX, but the N10 codes are still treated as
> sacred.  The last time I checked into the matter, which was maybe 15 years
> ago, my local telco (New Jersey Bell) treated some N10 codes as "invalid
> exchange" and others as "invalid area code", kind of randomly.


> [Moderator's Note: But some readers have maintained, very vigorously, that
> since Western Union central offices are in no way connected with or wired
> through Bell central offices, their use of those numbers have no longer
> any bearing on area codes. I put those codes (410-510-610-710-810-910) in
> the master list of numerical area codes message run several months
> ago, and finally took them out. What is the definitive answer on this? Will
> someone from Bellcore or some other authoritative source please reply? PT]


According to "Notes on the BOC Intra-LATA Networks -- 1986", Bellcore
TR-NPL-000275...

700, 800, 900, and 610 are SACs, or Service Access Codes, which are
currently assigned.  610, as stated elsewhere, is assigned in Canada for TWX
service and is not used in the BOCs; but, as numbering assignments are
according to the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), not the US
Numbering Plan, 610 is unavailable in the US.

The other N00 codes (200-600) have been reserved for use as SACs and
will not be assigned as NPAs.

N11 codes are reserved for special functions.

N10 codes (aha, he finally gets to it) are among the remaining legally
assignable NPA codes.  As of the publication of Notes, 19 codes of the
N0/1X format were unassigned.  These included the 5 reserved for SACs,
leaving the 7 available N10 codes plus 7 N0/1N codes.  I believe the N10
codes will be the last to be assigned as NPAs.

Disclaimer: This is taken from the reference; I don't work in Numbering
Plan Administration.  As far as I know, though, the TR represents the
most recent policy (although some NPAs have been assigned since then).

--
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
David G Lewis           "If this is paradise, I wish I had a lawnmower."
Bellcore                                                    201-758-4099
Navesink Research and Engineering Center         ...!bellcore!nvuxr!deej


[Moderator's Note: Thank you for providing this information. I consider
it an authoritative answer. Therefore, to those who have said otherwise,
we are NOT 'running out of area codes' (we still have 7+2=9 left of the
more or less conventional form). And I may be wrong, but I'll bet they
hold 909 open until after the other 8 have been assigned, and Telenet will
continue using it for switching calls in their network.  PT]

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

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Off-hook signal
Date: 25 May 89 20:47:03 GMT
Reply-To: Davin Milun <[e-mail]>
Organization: SUNY/Buffalo Computer Science


I'm sure t2$,g9[.Hz.H2ry simple, but I need a device (LED & resistor??)
to tell me when another extension on my phone line is in use? Can I just
put this together myself with an LED and resistor (if so, what resistance),
or else is there a cheap one I can purchase?

Mail replies, as posting seems unnecessary.

Thanx in advance.

Davin Milun    Internet:  [e-mail]
               uucp:      ..!{boulder,decvax,rutgers}!sunybcs!milun
               BITNET:    [e-mail]

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

From: intercon![e-mail]
Subject: Re: Cellular Phone & 911
Date: 25 May 89 23:36:56 GMT
Reply-To: intercon![e-mail]
Organization: InterCon Systems Corporation


I have had several occasions to use 911 from my cell phone.  On all of them I
might as well have not called.  It seems that, at least in the Metro DC area,
I always get Prince Georges County Police.  Even when I am in Virginia.  This
has caused no end of problems when I was trying to report a serious accident
on a little two lane highway that block both lanes.  I got routed to PG County
in Maryland who told me tough that I would have to get ahold of the proper VA
department, they didn't know who are even have a phone number for me to try.
Then I called the operator (a person who should know what the VA police's
number is) who ended up passing me off to PG County again.  After 20 minutes
of trying to be a good guy I gave up.  Went to a gas station and called it in
from there.  CellOne could do a better job of pointing calls in the correct
direction.  Oh well.


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

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