TELECOM Digest Fri, 13 May 94 09:03:00 CDT Volume 14 : Issue 220 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Networking Alternatives For Third/Other World (William M. Eldridge) Cell One NY/NJ: New Feature (Stan Schwartz) Rates in Alaska and Hawaii (Bob Schwartz) Wireless Data Services (Pete Farmer) Re: Book Review: Police Call & Beyond Police Call (Al Cohan) USPS and Smart Cards (Steve Cogorno) Dealing with Obscene Callers in the 90's (Mike Durkin) Responses From Telcos (was: CO/NY DC and Boston) (Doug Reuben) Directory Assistance Companies (josephh888@aol.com) Verifone Junior Programming Hints Summary (Ry Jones) Cell Fone Kloned ... Theft (Ry Jones) Communication Networks (FDDI-ATM) Course (Richard Tsina) BCE Plans Satellite Broadcast Service (Toronto Star via Dave Leibold) Canadian Carrier ACC - First Quarter News (ACC/CNW via Dave Leibold) Handy Money Saving Cellular Tip (John R. Levine) TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of public service systems and networks including Compuserve and GEnie. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Subscriptions are available at no charge to qualified organizations and individual readers. Write and tell us how you qualify: * telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu * The Digest is edited, published and compilation-copyrighted by Patrick Townson of Skokie, Illinois USA. You can reach us by postal mail, fax or phone at: 9457-D Niles Center Road Skokie, IL USA 60076 Phone: 708-329-0571 Fax: 708-329-0572 ** Article submission address only: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu ** Our archives are located at lcs.mit.edu and are available by using anonymous ftp. The archives can also be accessed using our email information service. For a copy of a helpful file explaining how to use the information service, just ask. ************************************************************************* * TELECOM Digest is partially funded by a grant from the * * International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland * * under the aegis of its Telecom Information Exchange Services (TIES) * * project. Views expressed herein should not be construed as represent-* * ing views of the ITU. * ************************************************************************* Additionally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such as yourself who provide funding in amounts deemed appropriate. Your help is important and appreciated. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: bill@LIFESCI.UCLA.EDU (William M. Eldridge) Subject: Networking Alternatives For Third/Other World Date: 12 May 1994 19:52:25 -0700 Organization: UCLA Cognitive Science Research Program I'm interested in devoting part of our Web/Gopher/Ftp archive here to issues in Networking in the Third/Lesser Developed World. I'll be heading to Macedonia in October to work on their network, and I realize the issues are quite a bit different between Europe and Africa, but I would like to create a one-stop archive (as well as a mailing list) that people can go to for information on such things as satellite feeds, packet radio nets, turning 286's into useful network devices, telephony alternatives, and so on, to allow useful services where budgets are quite tight and telecoms aren't always modern. To start with, I'd heard there was an American group set up to deal with East European networking, but I was never able to find out any actual information (like name and contact) for this group. If you could provide me with any information or connect me with people interested in these matters, I'd be greatly obliged. Also, if you're interested in receiving info as it comes in, send in your e-mail address and I'll make up a list (please include the word "3rd" in the title for easy sorting). Thanks, Bill Eldridge bill@lifesci.ucla.edu 310-206-3960 (3987 fax) ------------------------------ From: stans@panix.com (Stan Schwartz) Subject: Cell One NY/NJ: New Feature Date: 13 May 1994 00:33:22 -0400 Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and Unix, NYC I was just down at a local Cell One dealer where a friend works, and he gave me one of the brochures for "Voice Dialing". From any cell phone (connected to CO NY/NJ, of course) you can store up to 20 names and call them from the system's memory, or you can say the digits into the phone one-by-one. You hit # to enter the Voice Dialing menu, and after that all the cellular functions are accessable by voice. The system continuously checks the last 20 samples of your voice to adjust to changes in voice (their example is if you have a cold), equipment, and atmospheric conditions. The charges? Here is the structure effective sometime in June: (In addition to regular monthly access and airtime) Voice Dialing (Stand-alone) $6.95/month Voice Mail (Stand-alone) $6.95/month Voice Mail Plus(Stand-alone) $9.95/month Voice Dialing + Voice Mail $9.95/month Voice Dialing + Voice Mail Plus $12.95/month The first month is free on all of these. Any questions, call CO NY/NJ at 1-800-242-7327 (but I like to call 611 from my cell phone and run up the free airtime while waiting on hold). Stan ------------------------------ Subject: Rates in Alaska and Hawaii From: bob@bci.nbn.com (Bob Schwartz) Date: Thu, 12 May 94 17:27:17 PDT Organization: Bill Correctors, Inc., Marin County, California Recently, I heard that Alaska has only two equal access carriers. AT&T, MCI, and Sprint are not equal access carriers there. Could it be true? Other than wondering why $$$ makes it so (if it is so), it follows that rates must be pretty high for LATA calls. Is the whole state one LATA? Also, I'd like to know what are the day rates for calling the lower 48. Are the rates for Interstate calling banded? Final question about Alaska: are there *problems for Alaskans calling into mainland 800 numbers? If so are these problems caused by poor carrier interaction or by mainland companies that don't *accept* such high priced calls? The fellow that I heard this from was looking for sales people to offer .17/minutes to Alaskans for intra state/LATA calling. Is this of interest to readers in Alaska or is it old and tired news? The inter- state rate he quoted was .21/minute. Interested? Let me know and I'll give him your voice number. The same applies to Interstate calls (inter island calls in Hawaii however, I'm sure the *usual* carriers do operate in Hawaii. Regards, Bob Schwartz bob@bci.nbn.com Bill Correctors, Inc. +1 415 488 9000 Marin County, California ------------------------------ From: petef@well.com (Pete Farmer) Subject: Wireless data services Date: Thu, 12 May 1994 17:46:52 -0800 Organization: Tetherless Access Ltd. I've noticed that there's been very little posted to this list regarding wireless *data* services. Anyone know why? There are some very interesting developments in the wireless arena, both for short, bursty text messaging (a la RAM or Ardis) and for higher bandwidth, IP connectivity within metropolitan areas. Am I simply looking in the wrong place, or is the interest level not very high, or is there a need to establish a new group regarding wireless data services? Peter J. Farmer Internet: petef@well.com Vice President, Marketing Voice: 415-321-5968 Tetherless Access Ltd. Fax: 415-321-5048 [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Those messages are welcome here, but I do not seem to get very many of them. I'm not certain if any other newsgroup is currently handling the topic or not. PAT] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 May 94 12:11 EST From: Al Cohan <0004526627@mcimail.com> Subject: Re: Book Review: Police Call & Beyond Police Call Pat, Gene Hughes was not only a neighbor of mine when I was in Jr. High School, but he is now also a relative of mine. At a recent family get together, Gene and I had a long talk about his publications. Although he likes getting mail, frequently he is inundated with angry purchasers of his book claiming: I bought your book and our local police department is [enter local city] isn't listed. True, up to 50% of *many* local agencies either ignore the FCC renewal requests or forget to renew the license! What is the FCC going to do to a Fire Department, red tag their transmitters? No, but Gene does go on to explain that his copyrighted work (compiliation, I suppose) is obtain from official records and if no license exists, then no listing exists -- or in some editions he prints frequencies previously listed and thought to be in use! So what does the FCC do about compliance with state, local, agencies? They now have a program for something Gene called "preference licensing" or something to that effect. What *can* and in some cases actually happens is that if a license is not renewed and a neighboring entity files on the frequencies of the expried license, the FCC gives the frequencies to the new licensee, rejecting the subsequent late renewal application from the former agency! DO you have any idea what it costs to do a frequency seach, co-ordination and re-programming (and retuning duplexers) for a major public agency? I do, and it don't come cheap. If any of your readers buy the current Police Call series and don't find their local agencies listed, I suggest they call the local agency and ask them "When does your FCC license expire"? I'll bet there will be a lot of red faces -- and save the agency a lot of aggravation. [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Good point you raise about the lack of cooperation/compliance between a local emergency agency and the FCC. I've always noticed that Police Call carries that very disclaimer in the front of the book. Mr. Hughes says that a lot of agencies do not comply -- have no current license -- and therefore may not be listed. I hope when you talk to him next you'll mention how useful I have found his new publication, and that I hope it will be arranged by frequency in subsequent editions just like the original. Mention to him also that his partnership with Tandy/Radio Shack for the sale of the books seems to be a good one also. Radio Shack scanner customers love the books. PAT] ------------------------------ From: cogorno@netcom.com (Steve Cogorno) Subject: USPS & Smart Cards Date: Thu, 12 May 1994 10:28:33 PDT Does anyone have an idea as to why the USPS and IRS (or whomever is proposing this) wants to use "Smart Cards"? WHy wouldn't the just use mag-stipe cards? The installed based of mag-stripe readers (at ATMs, supermarkets, schools, etc.) is already in place. Why change to these new cards? Are the Smart Cards supposed to actually "hold" the data? I think that is potentially dangerous. What if I lose the card? Is there a backup? Besides, isn't the point having a network to centralize data into one repository (or at least a distributed, but constantly accessible repository)? Steve cogorno@netcom.com #608 Merrill * 200 McLaughlin Drive * Santa Cruz, CA 95064-1015 [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Well, as someone mentioned yesterday, this whole thing may be just a big crock anyway. It seems it went from idle conversation at a social gathering to the point of "President is ready to sign order" in a very short period of time. Yeah, what if you lose the card? Wouldn't that make a great time for the finder? PAT] ------------------------------ From: durkin@eisner.decus.org (Mike Durkin) Subject: Dealing with Obscene Callers in the 90's Date: 12 May 94 15:27:43 -0400 Organization: DECUServe Hello, My wife received three obscene phone calls last week and in contacting the phone company to follow-up on any possible future invasions of this sort, the operator referred me to the Anonymous Call Group at my local RBOC. She also stated tracing the call via IQ services, *57, would get the call originator's number to show up on my billing information, but that it takes five calls in a row to get any action. I am in Southeastern Pennsylvania and I thought it best to check this information out prior to launching any further actions. I don't think PA has yet lifted the ANI/CID restrictions? I did check the Telecom Archives, but was unable to find any documents on prank calls and locating/prosecuting the culprit. Any pointers/advice? Thanks, Mike Durkin Intracorp 1205 Westlakes Drive Berwyn, PA 19312 (610) 889-2883 - Voice (610) 889-2899 - Fax [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: We've covered this in various past issues of the Digest (which are in the Archives) but off hand I could not tell you which issues to look for without going to look myself. If some readers have a specific reference to which back issues had those things maybe they will pass them along. Yes, there is a lot you can do to end this type of nuisance, and telcos will cooperate if you agree to prosecute. PAT] ------------------------------ From: dreuben@netcom.com (Cid Technologies) Subject: Responses From Telcos (was: CO/NY DC & Boston) Date: Thu, 12 May 1994 13:52:36 PDT In response to my (usually) long post about Cell One/NY's extended roaming rates and how NYNEX needs to catch up, Pat wrote: > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Doug, you have written to the Digest on > many occassions over the past few years on cellular systems and their > various shortcomings. Do any of the cell companies *ever* respond to > your articles here, or your inquiries of them and make the desired > changes? Have any of them ever corrected their problems after you gave > them notice? PAT] Well, it depends what you mean by respond -- I get all sorts of responses; just recently a guy wrote back to me and said something to the effect of "I didn't understand a word of what you said, but it sounded very interesting to me, thanks!". But yes, many of the cell co's which I post about do eventually directly respond. A recent post about NYNEX brought a response regarding the lack of a "Do Not Disturb" (sorry, Ericsson :) ) code the on BAMS AT&T switches in DC for NYNEX customers. As noted in yesterday's posting, this situation has not been resolved as of yet, but at the very least the post seems to have served as a reminder that there is a problem which needs to be addressed. A post about four years ago regarding CO/NY's problems with its roaming partners drew a swift and effective response -- in a few weeks all of the problems were cleared up, and I got to know a few people there who I can talk to whenever something else comes up. (And I know I've said this before, but it bears repeating: CO/NY and most other McCaw systems are probably the most responsive, concerned, polite, and friendly cellular companies to deal with, and manifest a *genuine* desire to listen to customer complaints and promptly address them). More recently, a non-cellular complaint responding to a question about Cable&Wireless' service drew a number of responses from C&W, and ANI -> CID delivery suddenly started working again in some areas. (Hey guys, can you do West Hartford, CT, 203-233 too? It used to work there as well ... thanks! ;) ) A post about PageMart cutting back on the number of digits drew a LOT of responses (thanks!). Some guy was even considerate enough to do a breakdown of the costs associated with transmission of 15 digits vs. 24 digits, and I got two calls from managers at PageMart about the post saying basically that 22 (or 24?) digit service had been restored. So in general, yeah, I do get responses from the companies which I criticize. In some cases, the response is a direct message or call from a representative in the top levels of the firm. At other times, I get a e-mail message or a phone call from someone who works at the company, sees that I have a problem, and tries to work it out with me (ie, a tech person or someone at that level of corporate operations. And finally, there are cases where I post something, and "mysteriously" the problem gets resolved - no phone calls, no messages, it just suddenly starts working again right after the post goes out over the net. (I like these the best -- no need to send "Thank You" notes or make followup calls! :) ) I don't mean to sound like I am trying to use the Digest as my personal "Telcom-problem-server", where I deposit messages so that the telcos and cellular companies can read them. I'd like to think (and forgive me if this sounds too lofty) that it raises the level of awareness to these issues, even by a fraction of a degree. Many of these problems won't be solved unless enough customers notice it and complain about it. It is also frequently the case that a cell company will not even be aware that a problem exists. The dynamics of roaming in all of the newly emerging call-delivery regimes can change so frequently that it becomes potentially difficult if not impossible for a roaming and/or networking department at a cell company to keep up with all the issues that develop. Clearly, most of the posts that I type up stem from a certain disfunction or lacking which affects me, but I think that most of these problems may at some time also affect other customers, and that is probably why I do get responses. I must add that I am continually amazed at the well, "power" that the net has in terms of distributing the right information to the right people, which I think more than anything is why a lot of these issues that I mention are eventually addressed. One important (and probably obvious) point: If you do post a complaint or raise an issue which you would like addressed, leave your phone number. Many of the people who read these at whatever telco are getting a faxed or hard-copy version of your post and have no way of responding to you directly via e-mail, or may not even know how to. I recently "discovered" this, and have subsequently been getting more responses in a more timely manner than before. Doug CID Technologies (203) 499-5221 [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: More and more people from telcos and cell companies are 'coming aboard' on the mailing list for the Digest. There is not a day goes by I do not add at least three or four -- usually more -- names to the mailing list of people involved with some telco or another. Its good to know that when problems are discovered someone is out there paying attention. PAT] ------------------------------ From: josephh888@aol.com (JosephH888) Subject: Directory Assistance Companies Date: 12 May 1994 16:56:02 -0400 Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) We are interested in knowing about companies that can lower our more than $5,000 monthly in directory assistance charges. Please post response here or e-mail direct to JosephH888@aol.com or 74124,2401 on Compuserve or fax to 609-953-7233. Personal business fax, so no cover page or name required. Thanks. ------------------------------ From: Ry Jones Subject: Verifone Junior Programming Hints Summary Date: Thu, 12 May 94 10:53:36 PDT Many people replied with useful information on reprogramming a Verifone. Here's a quick summary of what I did and where I am today: Verifone of Beaverton has yet to mail me any information. I pulled the battery and -poof- the memory was dead, but it still says memory positions 79 and 78 are and I cannot reprogram it because it asks for a PASSWORD? when I hit OPTION-STORE. It no longer has a merchant ID and won't read cards. It defaulted from AMEX VISA TRU-VALUE CHECK MASTERCARD to CREDIT CARD, CREDIT CARD, CHECK, PRIVATE CARD, PRIVATE CARD. Does anyone KNOW the default password, or how to reset it? This is a VERIFONE-JUNIOR version 2.05 (Displayed on boot and on a sticker on the ROM). It has a Z80 and 32K of ROM, 32K of RAM. Email me and I'll summarize the results. Ry ------------------------------ From: Ry Jones Subject: Cell Fone Kloned ... Theft Date: Thu, 12 May 94 11:24:24 PDT My cell fone was kloned in Chicago a few years ago with many thousands of dollars of calls to Columbia, etc. GTE took the charges off, no problem, but they required I send them a copy of the bill (!) and a letter stating that I didn't make the calls. No funny fone stuff. This past month, a cell fone of my pal's was cloned and used for nefarious purposes. Cell One (in 206, I'm from 812) took the charges off AFTER the phone was returned to be re-programmed at an authorized Cell One Dealer. Weird. ------------------------------ From: course@garnet.berkeley.edu Subject: Communication Networks (FDDI-ATM) Course Date: 12 May 1994 19:10:28 GMT Organization: University of California, Berkeley U.C. BERKELEY Continuing Education in Engineering Announces a short course on Communication Networks: COMMUNICATION NETWORKS: FROM FDDI TO ATM (August 9-10, 1994) This course provides an overview of the operating principles and design guidelines for communication networks, and includes a description of the popular current networks and a discussion of major industry trends. Topics include: History and Operating Principles, Open System Interconnection, Overview of High-Speed Networks, Physical Layer, Switching, Trends in Data Networks (FDDI, DQDB, Frame Relay, SMDS), Trends in Telecommunication Networks (SONET, Fiber to the home, ISDN, Intelligent Networks, ATM) , Topological Design of Networks, Control of ATM Networks. Comprehensive course notes will be provided. Lecturers: PRAVIN VARAIYA, Ph.D., Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of California, Berkeley. At Berkeley he works on stochastic systems, communication networks, power systems and urban economics. He is the author of "Stochastic Systems: Estimation, Identification, and Adaptive Control" (Prentice-Hall, 1986) and coeditor of "Discrete Event Systems: Models and Applications" (Springer, 1988). He is a fellow of the IEEE. JEAN WALRAND, Ph.D., Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of "An Introduction to Queuing Networks" (Prentice-Hall, 1988) and "Communication Networks: A First Course" (Irwin/Aksen, 1991). For more information (brochure with complete course descriptions, outlines,instructor bios, etc.,) send your postal address to: Richard Tsina U.C. Berkeley Extension Continuing Education in Engineering 2223 Fulton St. Berkeley, CA 94720 Tel: (510) 642-4151 Fax: (510) 643-8683 email: course@garnet.berkeley.edu ------------------------------ From: Dave.Leibold@f730.n250.z1.fidonet.org (Dave Leibold) Date: 13 May 94 23:37:54 -0500 Subject: BCE Plans Satellite Broadcast Service Organization: FidoNet Nameserver/Gateway {The Toronto Star} this week reports of a new Canadian broadcast satellite service proposal. BCE, the parent company of Bell Canada and Northern Telecom, announced a proposed $60 million/four-year investment in a multi-channel satellite broadcast service. Plans are to get the service started April '95, eventually offering up to 100 Canadian and U.S. channels. This is intended as competition to Directv, whose operations are expected to start up in Canada later in 1994. BCE is teaming up with Canadian Satellite Communications (Cancom) and WIC (Western International Communications). Cancom already runs its Oak-encrypted (soon to be compression-encrypted) superstation package; WIC operates various stations such as CHCH Hamilton (on the existing Cancom package). Needless to say, cable industry representatives have not reacted favourably to this "death star" service. ------------------------------ From: Dave.Leibold@f730.n250.z1.fidonet.org (Dave Leibold) Date: 12 May 94 21:29:12 -0500 Subject: Canadian Carrier ACC - First Quarter News Organization: FidoNet Nameserver/Gateway [from an ACC press release via CNW] ACC TELENTERPRISES LTD. REPORTS RECORD QUARTERLY REVENUES AND PROFITS TORONTO, May 10 /CNW/ - ACC TelEnterprises Ltd. ("ACC") today announced its results for the first quarter of 1994. For the three months ended March 31, 1994 ACC reported record quarterly income of $305,317 or $.05 per share compared to $133,768 or $.03 per share for the same period last year. First quarter 1994 revenue was $25.3 million, up 38% from $18.3 million a year ago. The Company's volume of business as measured by billable minues increased 64.7% to 112 million minutes for the quarter, up from 68 million minutes in the first quarter of 1993. Stated Robert C. Watson, President and Chief Executive Officer, "We are pleased with these results and with the ability to differentiate ACC from other resellers through sound financial management and a commitment to profitability." The Company experienced strong growth in toll minutes from both commercial and residential customers. Commercial toll minutes have grown 40% over the first quarter of last year. Residential toll minutes grew to 17% of total minutes from less than 1% of total minutes in the first quarter of 1993. Growth in residential tolls is attributable to the success of the Company's university and affinity programs. The Company currently has exclusive, multiyear marketing agreements with seven universities, two colleges and two major service associations. Gross margin after network costs improved to 32.2% compared to 28.4% in the first quarter of last year. This reflects the implementation of the first phase of equal access, as well as increased network efficiencies resulting from continued growth in customers, as the Company has expanded into Albert and Manitobe and continued to increase its residential customer base. Depreciation and amortization expense doubled to $1.4 million from $.7 million in the first quarter of 1993 due to the change in useful life of dialers to two years, the increase in amortization associated with the acquisition of the ISM customer base in July 1993 and the acquisition of two agents in the first quarter of 1994. Selling, General and Administrative costs increased to 23.1% of revenue from 21.6% a year ago. This increase is mainly due to increases in payroll and other costs related to expanding the business in new markets and administering the growth in billable minutes. Watson further stated, "The results reflected continued strong sales growth even in the face of pricing pressures. While our primary goal is to build market share, we are equally focused on customer service and financial performance. Companies focussed on delivering a quality product while meeting the customers' needs will be the winners." The Company is making ready for equal access and the related conversion costs. The Company believes the costs to convert existing customers to an equal access network could be (dependent on CRTC actions) approximately $500,000 over the next two quarters. Stated Watson, "Equal access, coupled with the opportunity to offer new products, like 1-800 service, will allow us new avenues to provide value added service to our customers, but the associated start-up costs will place pressure on Second Quarter and Third Quarter earnings". ACC TelEnterprises Ltd., a Canadian company headquartered in Toronto, provides worldwide long distance voice and data service to business, residential and university customers in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba and Alberta. The Company operates in 32 metropolitan centres and currently has an annualized revenue run rate in excess of $100 million. ACC TelEnterprises Ltd. is traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Montreal Exchange under the symbol "ACL". [detailed financial data omitted; available through the CNW fax service] For further information: Robert C. Watson, President and Chief Executive Officer, ACC TelEnterprises Ltd., Etobicoke, Ontario, (416) 236-3636 ------------------------------ From: johnl@iecc.com (John R Levine) Subject: Handy Money Saving Cellular Tip Date: Fri, 13 May 94 2:29:59 EDT I was scrutinizing my cellular bill this evening and noted this fascinating (well, sort of fascinating fact): My long distance carrier is Sprint, which bills directly, not through my cell carrier NYNEX. For about three quarters of the LD calls, Sprint billed the call as a minute shorter than NYNEX did. I presume that this is because NYNEX starts the clock as soon as I hit Send, while Sprint doesn't start until the call supervises. On the other hand, for roamer calls with the LD charges billed through NYNEX, the LD and cellular times are the same. If you use an LD carrier who bills through your cell carrier (notably AT&T), the LD times are all the same as the cellular times, meaning that you're paying for LD minutes you didn't actually use. Another advantage of separate LD billing is that you can get the various silly discount plans, e.g. I have Sprint's Most plan. The number I call the most is my own home number (while roaming in New York and Connecticut, primarily), which also has Sprint service, so the LD minutes are 40% cheaper than they would be otherwise. Regards, John Levine, comp.compilers moderator johnl@iecc.com, jlevine@delphi.com, 1037498@mcimail.com ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V14 #220 ****************************** -------------------------------------------------------------------------------