
In article <telecom14.469.1@eecs.nwu.edu> ndallen@io.org (Nigel Allen)
writes:

> The press release says that MFS intends to provide local and long
> distance service to medium and small business customers, but doesn't
> say anything about residential customers. 

> This will provoke the usual arguments about "cream-skimming" (that 
is,
> that MFS is interested only in serving the most profitable 
customers),

Problem is that the local telco owns the wires to people's houses.  So
how to connect directly to residences?  You'd have to run your own
wires, which probably can't be done since many poles have no more room
on them, which means putting in new poles, which is unpopular with the
local government OR ELSE figure out how to connect a telephone to a
cable system, and build the entire infrastructure (don't forget to
replace those unidirectional modems with bidirectional modems).

Basically, in order to provide telephone competition, we need to
nationalize the local loop, and force the dialtone providers to allow
people to connect to their wires.

Being an anarchist, I loathe the idea, but it's less bad than the idea
of forcing everyone to choose one telephone company.


russ <nelson@crynwr.com>    http://www.crynwr.com/crynwr/nelson.html
Crynwr Software   11 Grant St.   +1 315 268 1925 (9201 FAX)
Potsdam, NY 13676 

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

Date: Thu, 29 Dec 1994 19:02 EST
From: Stephen Goodman <0003945654@mcimail.com>
Subject: Its Here Again! FCC/Modem Tax


Pat,

This was sent to me on a local BBS (actually was sent as a broadcast
to all the BBS's users).  Thought I would pass it along.  I was not
aware this had come up again ... were you?


3945654@mcimail.com

  DATE: 6:29 am  Mon Dec 19, 1994        MSG #  : 96 of 100
  FROM: Kenn Webster                     AREA   : ITC Door Support
  TO  : All                              REFER #: None
  SUBJ: Your phone bill may go up        REPLiES: None
  STAT: SENT                             ORIGIN : 15 Dec 94  11:59:00
 
 
I am just posting this because i think you might be interested in
reading this.
 
Two years ago the FCC tried and (with your help and letters of
protest) failed to institute regulations that would impose additional
costs on modem users for data communications.  Now, they are at it
again. A new regulation that the FCC is quietly working on will
directly affect you as the user of a computer and modem. The FCC
proposes that users of modems should pay extra charges for use of the
public telephone network which carry their data. In addition, computer
network services such as CompuServ, Tymnet, & Telenet would also be
charged as much as $6.00 per hour per user for use of the public
telephone network. These charges would very likely be passed on to the
subscribers. The money is to be collected and given to the telephone
company in an effort to raise funds lost to deregulation.  Jim Eason
of KGO newstalk radio (San Francisco, CA) commented on the proposal
during his afternoon radio program during which, he said he learned of
the new regulation in an article in the New York Times. Jim took the
time to gather addresses which are given below.
 
Here's what you should do (NOW!):
 
1-Pass this information on. Capture the information which contains
the text you are reading now. Find other BBS's that are not carrying
this  information. Upload the ASCII text into public message on the
BBS, and  also upload the file itself so others can easily get a
copy to pass along.
 
2-Print out three copies of the letter which follows (or write your
down) and send a signed copy to each of the following:
 
Chairman of the FCC
1919 M Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
 
Chairman, Senate Communication Subcommittee
SH-227 Hart Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
 
Chairman, House Telecommunication Subcommittee
B-331 Rayburn Building
 
Here's the suggested text of the letter to send:
 
Dear Sir:
 
Please allow me to express my displeasure with the FCC proposal which
would authorize a surcharge for the use of modems on the telephone
network. This regulation is nothing less than an attempt to restrict
the free exchange of information among the growing number of computer
users. Calls placed using modems require no special telephone
equipment, and users of modems pay the phone company for use of the
network in the form of a monthly bill.

In short, a modem call is the same as a voice call and therefore
should not be subject to any additional regulation.
 
 
Sincerely,
 
It is important that you act now. The bureaucrats already have it in
their heads that modem users should subsidize the phone company and
are now listening to public comment. Please stand up and make it clear
that we will not stand for any government restriction on the free
exchange of information.
 
Please deal with this in a TIMELY manner. We can't wait and watch, or
we will
be walked over by government regulations that are trying to strangle
us. 

Thanks,

Synchronet ~ NATIONAL PROCESS SERVERS BBS (612) 928-0868


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: No, I was not aware that this had
come back again, and I strongly urge anyone reading this to be very
careful in investigating it *before you send off any letters to
anyone anywhere*.  It sounds like a replay of the same old crock
we went through two or three years ago .. or was it five years ago?
Come to think of it, is this the third or fourth time this thing
has sprung up?    PAT]
 
------------------------------

From: jesse@telematrix.com
Subject: New Telecom Server
Date: 29 Dec 1994 21:13:33 GMT
Organization: TZ-Link, a public-access online community in Nyack, NY.


Our company, Telematrix Communications, has recently opened a new site
on the World Wide Web called "telematrix.com." So far as we know, it's
the only site devoted entirely to telecommunications information and
we aim to become the main listening post and forum for people
interested in this field. Our target audience includes both
professionals and users of all sorts.

We are contacting you because we seek your input.  We would like to
know what telecommunications information or resources you want or need
that are not already readily available on the Internet. In addition,
we solicit your reaction to our site and suggestions for any
improvements.

At present, we have a free calendar of telecom events, new product
announcements, softwasre, practical "tips" on telecom cost savings,
newsletters, magazines and educational/training resources, plus much
more.

Telematrix.com can also be accessed by gopher, ftp and telnet.

Thank you for your interest.

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

From: lockie@tui.iconz.co.nz (Lockie Martin)
Subject: Pinouts on RJ11 Plugs on Modems
Date: 30 Dec 1994 08:17:50 GMT
Organization: Internet Company of New Zealand


Can any of you telco people out there tell me the pinouts for the RJ11
plugs that appear on the back of most modems?

|------|
| 1234 |
|      |
|      |
|-|  |-|

ie which line performs what function? Is 3 the ringer?
 

Thanks in advance,
 

Lockie Martin (lockie@tui.iconz.co.nz)

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

From: /G=Brad/S=Hicks/OU1=0205465@mhs-mc.attmail.com
Date: Thu, 29 Dec 1994 10:04:58 -0600
Subject: Brad's AT&T 9120 - Broken?


I have a roughly five month old AT&T 9120 digital cordless (900 MHz)
cordless phone.  I think it walks on water.  I love it.  I would buy
it again.  Except ...
 
Yesterday, something went wrong with it.  Now, the handset doesn't
work at all.  The charging light won't stay lit for more than a
second.  And when you press any key on the handset, the "Intercom"
light flashes slowly on and off.
 
Any idea what's wrong with it?  I can't find my manual; is there
something I can reset or some combination of buttons I can push to
bring it back to life?  And if not, is there anyone I can call at AT&T
for help or to complain?
 

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: In a second message just a few hours
after the first, Brad wrote again with this followup ...  PAT]

         
Oops.  I fixed my AT&T 9120 cordless phone; sorry for bothering y'all.
 
It turns out that while the handset was away from the base, one of my
guests unplugged the base (looking for a place to plug in a coffee
pot).  As a security feature, the first time an AT&T 9120 base station
is turned on it =demands= that the handset be in its cradle, so they
can resynchronize encryption keys.
 
I put the handset back in cradle, unplugged the powerline to the base
station, waited a few seconds, and then plugged it back in ... and 
voila!
 
That blinking "Intercom" light was =not= enough clue as to what was
wrong with the unit.  A gentle wrist-slap for AT&T for insufficient
user interface consideration.  (Me?  I would've put a low-res digital
recording in the firmware of the handset that would =at least= give an
audible error message.  Cost 'em what, another couple of bucks per
phone?)
 
 
J. Brad Hicks     Internet: mc!Brad_Hicks@mhs.attmail.com
X.400: c=US admd=ATTMail prmd=MasterCard sn=Hicks gn=Brad

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

From: jpoulin@nt.com
Subject: 19 Inch Network Relay Rack
Date: Thu, 29 Dec 1994 12:19:26
Organization: Northern Telecom


Hello to everybody,

I need help of a person who know a US or Canadien supplier (name and
phone#) for the following type of equipment: Standard 19 inch widths
open frame rack (network relay rack with universal EIA hole spacing)
certified for earthquake Zone 4 (california).


Thanks, 

Jocelyn

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

From: David_Goessling@fcbbs.ss.kpmg.com
Organization: Strategic Services of KPMG Peat Marwick
Date: Thu, 29 Dec 1994 11:18:38 EST
Subject: Mobile & Paging Internet Sources


Anyone have a good list of Internet sources regarding mobile 
communications,
particularly paging and SMR?

There is a great web site with many source pointers for mobile 
computing:
http://snapple.cs.washington.edu:600/mobile/mobile_www.html

But it doesn't deal much with paging, nothing fro SMR.

Any ideas?


DMG

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

From: jfh@crl.com (Jack Hamilton)
Subject: Re: '500' Numbers Finally Available
Date: 29 Dec 1994 23:08:40 -0800
Organization: CRL Dialup Internet Access  (415) 705-6060  [Login: 
guest]


I called AT&T today to discuss the 500 number service, and was told 
four
things which weren't mentioned in the original article here: 

- You must have AT&T as your long distance carrier.  

I can't think of why this would be.  Isn't the point of 500 service
that you're not tied to a particular number?

- Although you can use your PIN number to make long distance calls at 
a 
  fixed rate, there is a surcharge equivalent to the calling card fee 
if
  you call a number other than your home # or the # you are forwarded 
to. 
  So you won't save money by using this service instead of your 
calling 
  card. 

- They count the number of times per day you change the forwarding 
phone, 
  and if you exceed that number something happens (I don't know what). 

- The PIN is only 4 digits long.  I'd much prefer a variable length 
PIN. 
  
  
Does anyone have more details on the MCI or Ameritech programs?  Are
they basically similar?
 

Jack Hamilton  jfh@crl.com  KD6TTL  '92 K75RTA  co-moderator, 
sci.med.aids


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: The point is you are not tied to a 
particular
number -- not that you are not tied to a particular *carrier* ...   
PAT]

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

From: vthiruma@oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu (Venkat Thirumalai)
Subject: Questions About Fax/Voice Modems and Dual-Mode Modems
Organization: Ohio University CS Dept,. Athens
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 1994 01:12:43 GMT


Hi,

Could anyone reccommend/ clarify products for any of the following:

1. A fax / voice / data modem with software which handles voicemail,
faxes and faxbacks. (External preferably.)

 a. 14.4k one 

 b. 28.8 VFC  

 c. V.34

Hardware and software (windows based) can be from different vendors,
but a bundled package is preferred.

2. Any of the above modems, with Caller-ID information capability 
included.

(Would this capability be the same for ANI pickup, in case number 
being
rung is an 800 number?? If not which product for this??)

   B. Is it better to have caller-id cpability in a seperate unit??
How to tie it into a PC.?? ( Caller ID+ from Rochelle Comm.? )
  
3. Any modem with above cpabilities plus Dual-Mode (VoiceView) 
Technology
from Radish? If available are prices still in the stratosphere?

4. Any feedback on Spectrums Envoy or Office F/x modems? Do they 
handle
most of the above requirements?

Any suggestions/feedback is welcome.


Venkat   (614.592.5357)

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

From: sevans@bbn.com (Steve Evans)
Subject: TIA-Telecom Industry Association
Date: Thu, 29 Dec 1994 15:07:33
Organization: bbn


Does anyone have a better phone number for the TIA-Telecom Industry
Association?  The phone number is "disconnected" per the phone co.
Maybe they changed their name, or address, or both, or?  I think it
was valid within the last year. Thanks!


Telecom Industry Association
2500 Wilson Blvd   Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201
Tel: 703-907-7700   (NOT!)


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: What does directory assistance tell you
when you call 703-555-1212?   PAT]


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

End of TELECOM Digest V14 #476
******************************

                                                       
