

TELECOM Digest     Wed, 3 Nov 93 13:52:15 CST    Volume 13 : Issue 735

Inside This Issue:                       Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Fire Update, 11-2-93  3:04 PM PST (Steve Lichter)
    Fire Update, 11-2-93  5:34 PM and 6:34 PM PST (Steve Lichter)
    Fire Update, 11-3-93  1:32 AM (Faxes received by TELECOM Moderator)
    Re: Fires at Will (Rich Greenberg)
    Long Distance Provider Access Codes (Alan M. Foonberg)
    Non-Bell Local Loop (Carl Oppedahl)
    Great Lakes Long Distance (Bill Leeke)
    Remote Call Forwarding (Jon Zeeff)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 2 Nov 93 19:49:37-0500
From: /G=COE.PERS/S=J.MOSS/O=GTE/PRMD=GTEMAIL/ADMD=TELEMAIL/C=US/@sprint.com
Subject: Fire Update 11-2-93  3:04 PM PST 


Posted: Tue, Nov  2, 1993   3:04 PM PST              Msg: LGJD-5644-4852
From:   M.AMADOR
To:     GTCA, GTEL, CRISIS.COMM, R.J.PALMER, T.EDWARDS, P.MINER, 
        L.NIGG, M.FOSTER, D.FIASCO, T.WHITE, M.ESSTMAN, 
        T.ZIEGLER
Subj:   FIRE UPDATE - GTE CALIFORNIA                  
 
     This is another in the series of updates on the status of
     the catastrophic Southland Fires.
 
     STATUS AS OF 9:00 AM PST - November 2, 1993
 
     I.   CUSTOMER FACILITY IMPACTS:
 
          A.  NETWORK SERVICES
 
          There are no outages or network problems remaining in 
                    the impacted areas.
 
          B.  NETWORK PROVISIONING
 
                     INLAND VALLEYS DIVISION
 
          There are no reports for this Division.  They will be
          excluded from future updates unless the status changes.
 
                    CENTRAL VALLEYS DIVISION
 
          Only 6 known customers remain out of service as of this
          report.  They are in a remote area.  Cable providing
          service was underground but melted.  Temporary service
          will be restored by 10:00 AM PST today.  They have been
          using cellular phones provided by GTE in the interim.
 
          Canyon fiber optic and copper cable that was damaged
          will be replaced by next Saturday.  Customers have been
          advised we are working on the cable.
 
          The microwave facility installed on Wednesday has been
          removed.  The coin trailer in front of the Laguna CO
          will be removed today.  The other site will be
          contacted to establish how long it will remain.
 
          Most recent statistics are 393 homes destroyed, 191
          with heavy damage and 17 with moderate damage.
 
          Laguna is experiencing high winds as the Santa Ana
          conditions return to the area.  Fire Departments are
          very visible and there appears to be no cause for
          concern.
 
                                
                          OCEAN VALLEYS
 
          Carlisle Canyon is 70% restored.  Total restoration
          will be completed by late Wednesday or early Thursday.
 
          Yerba Buena - Contractors have begun placing cable.  
          9500' of 100 pair cable required placing.  Only 1000'
          feet remain to be done.  Tomorrow splicing and setting
          of terminals will begin.
 
          11,000' of 600 pair cable is being laid up into the
          remote areas.  They will begin splicing the initial
          footage tomorrow.  The time delay is due to the fact
          the cable runs for approximately 1 1/2 miles before it
          encounters any customers in a sub community called
          Yellow Hill.
 
          This area, like Laguna, has several sub communities.  
 
          Yellow Hill is the first sub community along the 600
          pair cable span.  Restorations will begin on Thursday.
 
          The Deer Creek area requires 18,000' of assorted cable. 
          The pole work here has been completed and inspected. 
          Lashing the poles will begin today and cable will be
          placed within 2 - 3 days.  It is estimated terminals
          will be cut in and restoration will begin on Thursday
          in this area.
 
          As a reminder, this is a very remote area with steep
          terrain.  Workers are placing poles in hard rock and on
          or near cliff type edges.  Some of the terrain is
          inaccessible by vehicle and cable and poles must be
          manually transported to the work site.   
 
          The most recent statistics for this area are a loss of
          66 structures.
 
          Customer impact remains 200 - 250
 
     II. EMPLOYEE ISSUES
 
          The high winds have returned and are blowing ashes and
          embers.  Visibility is down.  Work was delayed this
          morning as crews were provided with goggles and masks
          to ensure their safety while working. 
 
          The fire department is aware we are working in the area
          and is in communication with the Newbury Park Field
          Command Site. 
 
 
     III. COMMUNITY RESPONSES
 
          Arrangements have been made for the First Presbyterian
          Church to utilize the former service office in Laguna
          as a storage site.  The facility is empty.  The
          utilities have been turned back on and the necessary
          legal documents signed.
 
          No status was provided for the grant from the GTE
          Foundation.
 
 
     Today the Santa Ana conditions have returned to Southern
     California.  Fire Departments are in a proactive mode.  They
     are patrolling potential hazardous areas and are confident
     they can handle the situation.  As of this morning all of
     the fires are contained.  While Altadena and Thousand Oaks
     continue to have burn areas, they are included in the
     contained sites.
 
     During the conference call this morning, attendees in the
     Divisions reviewed how they tracked time and materials
     during the initial response prior to the establishment of
     the open ended work orders.
 
     The determination was made to discontinue the conference
     meetings.  Divisions will report status daily via telemail
     to ensure the response effort is completed.  
 
     The Emergency Operating Center remains closed; but is on
     stand by until the Santa Ana conditions cease.
 
     Any questions regarding the information in this telemail are
     to be directed to M. Amador at 805/372-7512.
 
 
     M. AMADOR
     Administrator - Emergency Preparedness
 
Posted: Tue, Nov  2, 1993   3:29 PM PST              Msg: AGJD-5644-5527
From:   B.J.BARBER
To:     gtca, gtel
CC:     l.higson
Subj:   FIRE BULLETIN 11/02/93
 
                The following is an all-employee bulletin
 
November 2, 1993
 
                Fires continue to burn in Southern California
 
GTE's Emergency Operations Center was reactivated in Thousand Oaks at
1:15 p.m. on Tuesday after two more fires hit the Southern California
area this afternoon, charring parts of the Calabasas and
Banning/Beaumont areas.
 
In Calabasas, the fire is moving south west toward Malibu.  So far, no
GTE facilities have been affected, however, the Malibu yard has been
evacuated as a precautionary measure.  The fire skipped over Saddle
Peak, a major microwave site for the Los Angeles area.  The fire is
moving 12 miles an hour.  Several homes have been lost and two
injuries have been reported.  Evacuation centers have been set up at
Calabasas High School, Pacific Palisades High School, Agoura High
School and the Malibu Community Center.  Schools in the Calabasas,
Agoura and surrounding areas have been evacuated.  Three arson
suspects are being sought for starting the fire.
 
Fire also is raging through the Banning/Beaumont area, heading south
west.  So far, 3,000 areas have been burned and parts of Highland
Springs, Cherry Valley and Beaumont have been evacuated.  No GTE
facilities have been affected.  The concern is with the winds which
are due to peak this afternoon.
 
As of this morning, all GTE Laguna Beach customers were back in
service.  About 200 customers in the Carlisle Canyon and Yerba Buena
areas, near Thousand Oaks, are still out of service due to extensive
fire-related cable damage which is still being repaired.

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

Well, as I took this off our main system the news is showing a Coast
Guard Cutter is off the beach at Malibu which has the fire right down
to the highway, they don't know if it is to help with evacuation or
fighting fire by pumping ocean water on to the fire. We have three
offices right in the fire area and I believe I saw one on the news, no
reports of any damage but if it keeps coming we may have some major
damage.  The fire is coming down to the center of Malibu where the
civic center and shopping area are.


Steven H. Lichter    GTECalif COEI

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

Date: 2 Nov 93 23:46:24-0500
From: /G=COE.PERS/S=J.MOSS/O=GTE/PRMD=GTEMAIL/ADMD=TELEMAIL/C=US/@sprint.com
Subject: Fire Update  11-2-93  5:44 PM and 6:34 PM PST 


Posted: Tue, Nov  2, 1993   5:44 PM PST              Msg: NGJD-5644-8102
From:   M.AMADOR
To:     GTCA, GTEL, CRISIS.COMM, R.J.PALMER, T.EDWARDS, P.MINER, 
        L.NIGG, M.FOSTER, D.FIASCO, T.WHITE, M.ESSTMAN, 
        T.ZIEGLER
Subj:   FIRE UPDATE - GTE CALIFORNIA                  
     This is another in the series of updates on the catastrophic
     fire situation in Southern California.  The Conference
     Status Calls have been reinstated and will occur every four
     hours or as required.
 
     The Emergency Operating Center in Thousand Oaks has been re-
     activated and will remain operational 24 hours a day until
     further notice.  The telephone number there is 805/372-8400.
 
     These updates will be distributed after the conference calls
     conclude.
 
     Mid - morning on Tuesday November 2, 1993 PST, fires erupted 
     in the Calabasas/Topanga area and in the Banning/Beaumont
     area.  Because of the high winds, the fires quickly spread
     and remain out of control.
 
     STATUS AS OF 4:00 PM PST:
 
     NETWORK SERVICES
 
                          OCEAN VALLEYS
 
     The Malibu CO is processing calls and is on generator power. 
     The CO has been evacuated except for one technician who is
     installing the 25 lines requested by LA County EOC.  50%
     Dynamic Service Control is in effect.
 
     A DMS Urban unit serving 384 lines is off line and the 
     status is unknown.  We are unable to access the damage.
 
     Saddle Peak survived the fire.  The fire passed over the
     peak.  The fire, smoke and Halon discharge alarms went of
     and the unit is on generator power but processing traffic.
 
                         CENTRAL VALLEYS
 
     Incoming calls to Beaumont CO are choked.
     2 MUX's out of Banning are on standby power.
 
     NETWORK PROVISIONING
 
                          OCEAN VALLEYS
 
     Malibu yard has been evacuated to the Zuma CO.  Fire
     officials have been alerted to the 12,000 gallon underground
     tank.
 
     A command center is being established at Pepperdine
     University.  A coin trailer is in transit from Carlisle
     Canyon to the college incident command.
 
     Employees from Yerba Buena left that area early as the road
     at PCH and Yerba Buena was closed.  They were evacuated as a
     precautionary measure only.
 
     Conference calls attendees agreed a Customer Disaster Center
     should be established as soon as possible at the yard to
     assist GTE customers.
 
                         INLAND VALLEYS
 
     All MUX's and RSU's are ok.  There is sure to be damage to
     plant but we are unable to survey the situation this early.
 
     
     II.  EMPLOYEE ISSUES:
 
     The Central Valleys Division is not impacted by the recent
     fires but is confronting labor issues associated to using
     Contract labor to assist in restoration of services in
     Laguna.
 
     Safety is the first consideration of employees working in
     the impacted areas.
 
     III.  CUSTOMER ISSUES:
 
     Call volumes to service centers remain at normal.
 
     GOPAK units and cellular phones have been offered to LA,
     Ventura and San Bernardino County response agencies.
 
     Command centers have been established at Pepperdine Univ. in
     Malibu, Cabazon in the desert area, and Beaumont Police
     Department.
 
     Coin trailers have been readied and one is in route to the
     command center at Pepperdine.
 
     A Customer Disaster Center will be established at the Malibu
     Yard as soon as possible.
 
     Controls are in place to assist in routing of calls.  The
     network remains very congested.
 
     MISCELLANEOUS:
 
     The work order process for tracking time and materials
     associated to the disaster response was reviewed and
     guideline for establishing new work orders for the new areas
     provided.
 
     Jeff Chodos from supply assured attendees he has made
     arrangements with out of state contacts and feels sure he
     can get any supplies required quickly.
 
     Susan Clay asked him to research getting a DMS Urban Unit in
     the event the one in Malibu has been burned.
 
 
     The next Status Conference Call is scheduled for 8:00 PM
     PDT.  An update will be prepared and distributed after the
     conference conclusion.
 
 
     Any questions regarding the material in this telemail are to
     be directed to M. Amador in the Emergency Operating Center
     at 805/372-8400.
 
 
     M. AMADOR
     Administrator - Emergency Preparedness
 
Posted: Tue, Nov  2, 1993   6:34 PM PST              Msg: NGJD-5644-8452
From:   M.AMADOR
To:     GTCA, GTEL, CRISIS.COMM, R.J.PALMER, J.CHODOS
Subj:   FIRE UPDATE - GTE CALIFORNIA                  
In response to the recent outbreak of fires in Calabases and
Banning areas, the EOC has again activated. 
 
Updates will be provided as information becomes available.
 
CALABASAS
 
                             Roads:
 
PCH at Las Posas to Sunset closed.
PCH North at McClure Tunnel to 1 mi north of county line closed.
Mullholand closed to Decker Canyon.
Mullholand at Topanga closed
Topanga Canyon Hwy 1 - Local residents only.
Kanan Rd is only way out
Residents leaving Malibu area can travel PCH southbound only.
Malibu Canyon Rd. closed.
Sweetwater Mesa Rd. closed
 
                           Statistics:
 
6,000 + acres 
30-50 homes damaged
1 fatality
 
                       Evacuation Centers:
 
Calabasas                          22855     Mullholand Dr.
Pacific Palisades High School      
Agoura High School
Malibu Community Center
 
                             Notes:
 
Pacific Palisades, Malibu and Zuma switches are running OK. 
Network Management requested, at 1630 hrs, ATT withhold 25% of
incoming traffic.
 
BANNING
 
                             Roads:
 
Wilson Rd closed
Oak Glen Rd. and  Wildwood Rd.
Cherry Ave offramp closed at I-10
Cherry Valley closed
 
                           Statistics:
 
 
                       Evacuation Centers:
 
New Beaumont High School           100  Westward St.
National Guard Armory                   Nicolette
 
                             Notes:
 
Beaumont and Banning switches are both running OK.
 
RANCHO BERNARDO (SAN DIEGO COUNTY)
 
No info at this time.
 
Please watch TELEMAIL for updates.
 
Any questions, call the EOC at 805 372-8400
 
 
                             Notes:
 
Pacific Palisades, Malibu and Zuma switches are running OK. 
Network Management requested, at 1630 hrs, ATT withhold 25% of
incoming traffic
 
                       Evacuation Centers:
 
New Beaumont High School           100  Westward St.
National Guard Armory                   Nicolette
 
                             Notes:
 
Beaumont and Banning switches are both running OK.
 
RANCHO BERNARDO (SAN DIEGO COUNTY)
 
No info at this time.
 
Please watch TELEMAIL for updates.
 
Any questions, call the EOC at 805 372-8400
 
                ---------------------

This will be it for a bit as I have to go out to Banning.  Use what
you want. Also the death reported in Malibu we are told was false.


Steven H. Lichter    GTECalif COEI

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

From: TELECOM Moderator <telecom@eecs.nwu.edu>
Subject: Fire Update 11-3-93  1:32 AM
Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1993  12:30:00 CST


My fax machine has been bringing fire updates from GTE throughout the
night whenever new developments occur.  Steve has been providing much
the same information as I am getting on the fax, but here are some
additional details since he was last in contact:

Malibu CO is operating on emergency generator. The office is staffed
by two persons there to handle emergencies. AT&T has been asked to
withhold 25 percent of the traffic. Pacific Palisades is operating
normally, but again, inbound LD traffic is being choked off at about
75 percent of what is offered.  Topanga CO has been left unattended
because of the impossibility of getting employees out of the area
should the fire approach it. Saddle Peak remains on backup power and
unattended. It is believed there is no damage. The fuel supply is
adequate to operate the site for several days unattended if necessary.

Contel has contacted GTE and offered personnel and other assistance
as needed in the restoration efforts.

      ----  above notes excerpted from several faxes ----

This series of fires in California has attracted world-wide attention.
Tuesday was also an election day in many areas of the USA, and our
television coverage here Tuesday was split between election news and
the fire. All the stations here had continuous coverage of it all day
and well into the night. Some of the fire scenes were just incredible.

GTE is responding in a magnificent way to the disaster, and is to be
commended for the coordination of their efforts. I am sure when Steve
gets someplace where he can connect with the network again, he will
have more details for us.  The shocker to me was how it was thought
the worst was over, only to have Malibu flare up as well. 

More fire update news as it arrives.  :(  (unfortunatly ...).


PAT

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

From: richgr@netcom.com (Rich Greenberg)
Subject: Re: Fires at Will
Organization: Netcom Online Communications Services (408-241-9760 login: guest)
Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1993 16:04:29 GMT


In article <telecom13.734.2@eecs.nwu.edu> by sichermn@csulb.edu (Jeff
Sicherman), our Esteemed Moderator noted:

> the fires or not.  What is going on in southern California? I mean,
> *everyone* knows California has fires every year; it is in the
> nature of things there. But this past week ... jeeze ... it seems
> much more extreme than in my past memory.   PAT]

Its the worst fires in several years.  The last ones of this magnitude
were about ten or eleven years ago.

And in spite of a voice to the contrary, the factors described by Mr.
McMillan are major contributing factors.  People don't seem to be able
to learn from history ...

The latest flareup of the Calabassas/Malibu fire yesterday morning was
visible from my office window. (Near LAX).


Rich Greenberg            Work: ETi Solutions, Oceanside & L.A. CA 310-348-7677
N6LRT   TinselTown, USA   Play: richgr@netcom.com                  310-649-0238
I speak for myself only.       Canines: Chinook & Husky


[Moderator's Note: This is not a good time to take sides and discuss the
'conservatives versus the liberals', or Orange County in general versus
the citizens of Laguna Beach in particular. My personal belief is that
frequently 'liberals' live in the way they wish the world *could be*
while 'conservatives' tend to have a more realistic view of the way
things *actually are*.  I classify myself as the latter on most issues.

Messages from a few people this morning were the first knowledge I had
that Laguna Beach is mostly a gay community. I guess it isn't the kind
of thing which would have occurred to me to ask. We're told the fires
thus far have probably been the work of arsonists, and if that is the
case, then one's political or sexual orientation could hardly have made
any difference. If the fire in LB got as bad as it did due to some
(non-sexual) facet in the lifestyle of the citizens there, i.e. how they
collect/dispose of leaves, deal with wild brush growing in the mountains,   
or otherwise attempt to semi-manage nature, then my sympathies go out
to them. No one deserves what they have gone through. The notion of
'Gods punishment for gays', as Shapiro accused McMillin of implying is
a foolish one, and McMillin did not have that in mind, nor did I when
running his article. But this is far from the beaten path; let us talk
telecom some more today.   PAT]

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

From: foonberg@aero.org (Alan M. Foonberg)
Subject: Long Distance Provider Access Codes
Date: 3 Nov 1993 12:25:54 GMT
Organization: The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA


Can someone tell me where I might find a list of the 10-xxx long
distance provider access codes?


Thanks,


Alan Foonberg    foonberg@aero.org


[Moderator's Note: Sure ... in the Telecom Archives, in the sub-directory
dealing with carriers. We have a complete list of 10xxx codes there. If
you can do anonymous ftp, do it to lcs.mit.edu, and 'cd telecom-archives'.
If not, then use the Telecom Archives Email Information Service. You send
a note to tel-archives@lcs.mit.edu with lines in the text saying:
REPLY yourname@site
HELP
INDEX
END

That will get you a help file and index to start you using the service. 
Review the help file and index, then order the files you want.   PAT]

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

From: oppedahl@panix.com (Carl Oppedahl)
Subject: Non-Bell Local Loop
Date: 3 Nov 1993 10:27:10 -0500
Organization: Oppedahl & Larson


The October 11, 1993 issue of {Network World} (page 27) talks of MFS
Communications, Inc. which has supposedly launched a local and
long-distance package for small and midsize businesses in New York
City.

Supposedly the service offers no-toll local calling and flat-rate long
distance at 14 cents per minute.

The article does not give contact information for MFS.

I wonder if it is a subsidiary of Metropolitan Fiber, the company that
is running fiber in competition with New York Telephone?


Carl Oppedahl AA2KW  (patent lawyer)
1992 Commerce Street #309
Yorktown Heights, NY  10598-4412
voice 212-777-1330  


[Moderator's Note: Yes it is; same company, same difference. But 14
cents a minute is not necessarily a bargain for calls.    PAT]

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

From: bailey@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Bill Leeke)
Subject: Great Lakes Long Distance
Date: 2 Nov 1993 21:31:41 GMT
Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston IL USA


I just received a mailing from Great Lakes Long Distance. They promise
calls 10% to 21% cheaper than the standard direct dial rate. The funny
thing is you don't have to change your long distance carrier. Just use
an access code simular to the ATT operator code. (10923) + number.


Bill

[Note to Pat: Is there any chance we could have lunch next time I'm in
Chicago. You sound like an interesting person. I found so few in my
time at Northwestern.]

"Beaten paths are for beaten men."

bailey@casbah.acns.nwu.edu


[Moderator's Note: Anyone who wants to buy me lunch is a friend of 
mine and will certainly receive my respectful attention for a couple
hours!  <wink> ... call my social secretary to set up the time. Thanks
for your note about Great Lakes. I never heard of them. If anyone 
wants to try it out and report back, please do.  PAT]

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

From: jon@montego.umcc.umich.edu (Jon Zeeff)
Subject: Remote Call Forwarding
Date: 3 Nov 1993 10:23:08 -0500
Organization: UMCC, Ann Arbor, MI, USA


Other than the devices made by: 

Technel
Palmdale, California
Phone: 805-722-4679

And
LOGOS, 800-442-4887

Are there any other solutions for remote call forwarding where I need
to remotely change, on a rapid and frequent basis, where a phone
forwards to?  The phone company won't do it rapidly and I'm off-site.
I'd really like something where I would call, enter a password and
phone number, and it would connect me to the entered number.

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #735
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