TELECOM Digest Wed, 22 Jun 94 15:51:30 CDT Volume 14 : Issue 298 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson FCC Callback Ruling (Leroy Casterline) Groups Hail New Bill For Public Space on NII (People For American Way) Pointers to Information on Cable Modem Details (Michael S. Pontecorvo) Hockey Broadcast Circuit (Fred Ennis) Anyone Have a Good PBX Disaster Recovery Plan? (rkprkp@aol.com) Long Dialup String (Randall Pascua) WWW Site For Used/New Telecom and WAN Equipment Dealers (Henry Minsky) Cellular to Cellular Calling (Shawn Gordhamer) WilTel Shows CID to/from CT (Doug Reuben) 17.5 Cent/Min No-Surcharge Travel Service (Doug Reuben) New Phone Circuits Book (David C. LeDoux) ISDN Application Survey (Stuart Brainerd) Anybody Know Status of Speedway.net? Any Alternatives? (Tom Olin) FormFlow Supports MicroSoft Exchange (Jack Bzoza) 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: casterli@csn.org (Leroy Casterline) Subject: FCC Callback Ruling Date: Wed, 22 Jun 1994 13:18:48 -0600 Organization: Cahill Casterline Limited Reply-To: casterli@csn.org Pat, Sorry it took me so long to post this. I was hoping to OCR it from a fax, but no such luck. I typed it in, so any errors are mine ... Leroy Report No. CC-572 Common Carrier Action April 22, 1994 FCC AUTHORIZES THREE APPLICANTS TO PROVIDE RESOLD INTERNATIONAL SWITCHED VOICE SERVICE The Commission has granted the applications of VIA USA, Ltd. (Viatel), Telegroup, Inc., and Discount Call International Co. (DCI), to resell the public switched services of other U.S. carriers, over the objection of AT&T. Viatel is a Colorado corporation that sought authority to offer resold, tariffed international switched voice and facsimile service between the United States and various international points. Telegroup, an Iowa corporation, sought authority to offer resold international switched voice and data service between the United States and various international points. DCI, a Florida corporation, sought authority to operate a "typical telephone dialback operation" between points in the United States and various South American and Central American countries. AT&T, in its petition to deny, alleged that the applicants intended to engage in a "call turn-around" or "call-back" service. AT&T opposed the applications to the extent that the applicants proposed to use the resold services to provide call-back services using a "code-calling" configuration. AT&T stated that a reseller using "code-calling" instructs its customers in foreign locations to dial a U.S. telephone number, hang up after a pre-arranged number of rings, but before the call is completed, and wait for the reseller (usually through a conferencing unit) to return a call to the predesignated foreign telephone number, providing U.S. dial tone to the foreign customer. The connection between the calling and the called party is established via a U.S-originated switched service call to the called location. The customer does not pay the foreign carrier for the initial uncompleted call. After reviewing the applications and pleadings, the Commission found that the public convenience and necessity will be served by granting the applications to resell the international switched voice services of various U.S. common carriers. Moreover, the Commission could not find, based on the record, that uncompleted call signalling ("code-calling") constituted an unreasonable practice under Section 201(b) of the Communications Act. The Commission has long recognized that increased competition in the international marketplace benefits U.S. ratepayers, and has routinely granted applications for Section 214 authorizations for the resale of international switched voice services to further that goal. The Commission believes the proposed services would provide similar benefits associated with increased competition, in line with its statutory mandate to establish a rapid, efficient, nation- wide, and worldwide wire and radio communications service. The Commission noted that use of the resold services for international call-back activity could place significant downward pressure on foreign collection rates, to the ultimate benefit of U.S. ratepayers and industry. The commission disagreed with AT&T that uncompleted call signalling constituted an unreasonable practice under Section 201 of the Act, or otherwise was not in the public interest. The Commission reemphasized, however, that resellers of U.S. switched voice services are common carriers and continue to be subject to obligations of common carriers, including those in Sections 201(b) and 214. AT&T alleged that this activity imposed costs on its ratepayers through use of its facilities without compensation. However, the Commission agreed with the applicants that AT&T had presented no evidence that uncompleted call signalling occurred often enough or made sufficient use of the network to impede revenue-producing use of the network by AT&T or to otherwise impose costs on AT&T or its ratepayers. The Commission noted that AT&T and its foreign correspondents have the ability to address uncompleted call signalling practices that are imposing costs on them. In response to concerns expressed by AT&T and by certain foreign carriers about the effect of uncompleted call signalling on principles of international comity, the Commission required that the applicants provide service in a manner that is consistent with the laws of countries in which they operate. However, the Commission recognized that the legality of the proposed activities under foreign law is a matter for foreign authorities and courts to decide. Action by the Commission April 12, 1994, by Order, Authorization and Certificate (FCC 94-96). Chairman Hundt, Commissioners Quello and Barrett. -FCC- News Media contact: Patricia A. Chew at (202) 632-5050. Common Carrier Bureau contact: Adam L. Kupetsky at (202) 632-1305. ------------------------------ From: NetSurfer Date: Tue, 21 Jun 1994 06:59:26 HST Subject: Groups Hail New Bill For Public Space on NII (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sun, 19 Jun 1994 22:20:30 -0700 From: email list server To: cpsr-announce@sunnyside.com Subject: Groups Hail New Bill For Public Space on NII This is a press release put out by People for the American Way and the Media Access Project last week. Additional information, including a copy of the legislation, will be put online shortly. June 15, 1994 PUBLIC INTEREST GROUPS HAIL INTRODUCTION OF BILL TO PROVIDE "PUBLIC LANE" ON THE INFORMATION "SUPERHIGHWAY" PEOPLE FOR CALLS BILL "VITAL" TO DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH-TECH DEMOCRACY MEDIA ACCESS PROJECT SAYS NON-PROFITS NEED TO GET ON NOW, NOT IN FIVE OR TEN YEARS Public interest groups expressed enthusiastic support for S. 2195, legislation introduced today by Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) to ensure that there will be space on the "information superhighway" for schools, libraries, public broadcasters, and non-profit organizations which promote local artistic, political and social speech. Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman Inouye's bill guarantees access on the "superhighway" for non-commercial and governmental uses. "Without this protection, we may not get anything besides home shopping and movies on demand," said Leslie Harris, Director of Public Policy for the People For the American Way Action Fund (PFAWAF). "Senator Inouye's bill creates an electronic `public square' where diverse political, artistic and cultural expression can flourish. It is vital to ensuring that the interests of the public are not left behind on the information `superhighway.'" Andrew Jay Schwartzman, Executive Director of the Media Access Project (MAP), underscored the short-term impact of Senator Inouye's proposal. "We hope -- and expect -- that some day the new technologies will provide so much capacity at such low prices that there will be no need to reserve space for public use. The bill directs the Federal Communications Commission to phase out the `public right of way' if and when that happens." But, he added, "It is critical that local government and non-profit groups have access to the new technologies right away. We need to begin using the technologies as they evolve; it will be too late to do this five or ten years from now." Potential uses of this capacity are innumerable, according to PFAWAF and MAP. Among them are distance learning (in which master teachers can work with students locally and nationwide) and interactive information services such as the video health referral system established by the Chicago Chapter of the Black Nurses Association. Similarly, performing arts groups could distribute their works on these systems using an upgraded version of the currently operative Arts Wire. PFAWAF and MAP are especially enthusiastic about the Los Angeles-based Democracy Network, an on-line interactive multimedia political communication prototype which could help reduce the cost of running for public office by creating high-tech voter information services, in which all qualified candidates could respond to citizen inquiries, "post" biographical information, video clips of their speeches and position statements, and the public can participate on video bulletin and issue boards. People For the American Way Action Fund is a 300,000-member nonpartisan constitutional liberties organization. Media Access Project is a twenty-one year old non-profit public interest telecommunications law firm which seeks to promote the public's First Amendment rights to speak and be heard. ----------- As Senator Inouye stated when introducing the bill, "nearly 100 educational, public broadcasting, library, civil rights, labor, local government, and disability rights organizations and others have expressed their support for the principles outlined in this legislation." This coalition is asking organizations and individuals to write the Senate in support of S. 2195. Sample letters to Senator Inouye, Senator Hollings, and your individual Senators will also put placed online shortly. Anthony E. Wright cme@access.digex.net Coordinator, Future of Media Project Center for Media Education ------------------------------ From: ponte@crl.com (Michael S. Pontecorvo) Subject: Pointers to Information on Cable Modem Details Date: 21 Jun 1994 18:47:32 -0700 Organization: CRL Dialup Internet Access (415) 705-6060 [login: guest] I am looking for information on cable modems. How the technology works, baud rates, error recovery, etc. Any pointers would be helpful. Thanks in advance, Mike Pontecorvo ponte@crl.com [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: What is a 'cable modem'? PAT] ------------------------------ Subject: Hockey Broadcast Circuit From: fred@page6.pinetree.org (Fred Ennis) Date: Tue, 21 Jun 1994 23:28:34 -0400 Organization: Page 6, Ottawa, Ontario +1 613-723-5711 Hi! I was talking with the Chief Engineer of CFRA Radio where I do an afternoon talk show, and I promised I'd raise the question with the experts here in TELECOM Digest. What is the most economical way of delivering broadcast quality (5 Khz or better bandwidth, mono only) sound from other NHL cities back to our studios in Ottawa. Bear in mind that installation costs are a killer unless it is something that can be used by ALL NHL broadcasters to do their away games and it can then simply be a matter of the home team installing the facilities for all visiting broadcasters. Options could include leased line to satellite uplink, ISDN, switched 56, Rood/Comrex/other systems using two dial up POTS lines, etc. Email is welcome, or post here to let others join in the solving of this problem. Thanks in advance! Fred Ennis, fred@page6.pinetree.org ------------------------------ From: rkprkp@aol.com Subject: Anyone Have a Good PBX Disaster Recovery Plan? Date: 22 Jun 1994 01:28:02 -0400 Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) I am interested in seeing if anyone out there has developed a disaster recovery plan that they would be interested in sharing for their PBX system. I'm interested in plans that address switch failure, cable cuts, site disasters, carrier failures, etc. Any plan that addresses any or all of the above would be welcome. I know each situation is a little different, but I'd love to see a copy of some. E-mail me if you have anything to share. Thanks. ------------------------------ From: randallp@delphi.com (Randall Pascua) Subject: Long Dialup String Date: 22 Jun 1994 08:35:05 GMT Organization: Delphi Internet Services Corporation Hello all, I don't know if this is the correct area to post my question, but here goes ... I'm trying to have my modem dialup a long string of numbers (to no avail). Here's what I want my modem to dial: 9,18005555555,1,55555555555,1,5555555555 (explanation) 9, <- is to get an outside line from a hotel - followed by a pause 18005555555, <- is to call up my calling card service followed by a pause 1, <- is a menu selection on my calling card service followed by a pause 55555555555, <- is my personal password in the service followed by a pause 1, <- is another menu selection on the service followed by a pause 5555555555 <- is the actual area code and phone number that I wish to reach via my calling card service A bunch of humbug I know -- BUT if I do daytime calls via my calling card service -- then I get a discount ($). I'm sure you've seen the advertis- ments on tv. Anyway -- I wanted to have my modem dial this long string but it always replies: ERROR Must be because a modem's dialup procedure will only handle so many characters and numbers. So I've figured this out: put most of the info in my telephone profile "0" (non-volatile ram in my modem) then put the rest in profile "1". (example) at&z0=9,18005555555,1,55555555555,1, at&z1=5555555555 I then type: at&v which then shows me the two telephone profiles stored in my modems' nvram: &Z0=9,18005555555,1,55555555555,1, &Z1=5555555555 NOW! my question is: can I just do some sort of "at" commands that will dial both numbers consecutively? Or is there a better solution to this? Whew! Thanks, Please send email reply to: randallp@delphi.com ------------------------------ From: hqm@ai.mit.edu (Henry Minsky) Subject: WWW Site For Used/New Telecom and WAN Equipment Dealers Date: 22 Jun 94 05:06:32 Organization: MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory I have started a WWW listing of used and new telecom/internetworking equipment dealers, specifically dealing in useful stuff for configuring a PC running BSDI BSD.386 un*x for wide area networking. The list is made up of some places I have had reasonable experiences with, and many places I have not dealt with, but were recommended by various sources on the net. I don't have any relation to any of these folks, and as always, caveat emptor ... The list is at: http://www.ai.mit.edu/datawave/hardware.html There is an automatic entry form, if you want to add your favorite source to the list (and you are running a relatively new Mosaic or other WWW client). Henry ------------------------------ From: shawnlg@netcom.com (Shawn Gordhamer) Subject: Cellular to Cellular Calling Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest) Date: Wed, 22 Jun 1994 20:00:51 GMT When one cellular phone calls another on the same system, is the equipment smart enough to _not_ use the telephone network? As the number of cellular-type phones increase in proportion to the number of landline phones, will there be less of a dependence on the local landline network? I've heard that soon, non landline phones will have about the same cost as landline ones. If this is true, then I would think many people will switch to portable phones and leave the landline network altogether. Shawn Gordhamer shawnlg@netcom.com Rochester, Minnesota USA ------------------------------ From: dreuben@netcom.com (Cid Technologies) Subject: WilTel Shows CID to/from CT Date: Wed, 22 Jun 1994 13:08:05 PDT I've noticed that WilTel LD (usually 10555) is now transporting CID between NY and CT offices which are SS7 equipped. WilTel seems to be supporting blocking - if you *67 to block the ID, the call shows up on the receiving end as "PRIVATE". (I think) I've heard of other cases noted here on the Digest where this is not the case - ie, *67 does NOT make a difference, and your ID is shown no matter what. Does this apply to offices where *67 is simply NOT available, ie, where the local telco hasn't implemented CID yet and CID's customer controlled feature codes, like blocking? Or is this more of a case where WilTel (or MCI or any of the other carriers who are starting to allow CID transmission) randomly chooses to ignore the "privacy bit" (can they strip it?) causing the remote Telco to display the full CID number? Doug dreuben@netcom.com ------------------------------ From: dreuben@netcom.com (Cid Technologies) Subject: 17.5 Cent/Min No-Surcharge Travel Service Date: Wed, 22 Jun 1994 14:06:18 PDT I was just browsing through the pages of the {Consumer Reports Travel Letter} June issue, and noted an article about a Calling Card company called "Alliance Travel Network". The article was quite brief, but it seemed to indicate that ATN was offering a Calling Card service charging 17.5 cents per minute DAY rate, which is pretty good compared to the 23 cents which I am paying now. There is no surcharge associated with this service, and they didn't mention any monthly fees. (Although maybe there are - I'll see when I get their literature.) You access the service via an 800 number, and they offer Canadian and international calling as well. I don't know if they offer six-second billing as does ConTelCom (WilTel reseller with the 23 cent calling card), but if they did, a quick check to my pager for 15 seconds daytime would run like six cents! Compare that with a similar call placed over AT&T, Sprint, or MCI's calling card "services", which would cost around $1, DAY rate. With rates as low as ConTelCom's or ATN's (assuming no monthly minimum), AT&T et. al. are beginning to look like AOSs! Why pay $1 when you can pay six cents (or to be fair, for a full one minute of LD 17.5 cents)? Anyhow, ATN's number is: 800-477-9692. They will mail you some literature about their company if you call. Doug CID Technologies (203) 499-5221 ------------------------------ From: ledoux@netcom.com (David C. LeDoux) Subject: New Phone Circuits Book Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest) Date: Wed, 22 Jun 1994 01:29:38 GMT I just bought a new book which might interest some readers. It is called "Ready-to-Build Telephone Enhancements", by Delton T. Horn, Tab Books, 1994, ISBN 0-8306-4359-1, $16.95, and contains home-brew electronics projects like remote ringers, hold buttons, DTMF generators and detectors, telephone amplifiers, ring detectors, off-hook indicators, and a couple of circuits to test phones and phone lines. Several of these have been requested in the past by readers of the Telecom Digest and the other Usenet telecom groups, I believe. The book also contains a couple of chapters of info on how telephones work. David C. LeDoux ledoux@netcom.com ------------------------------ From: swbrain@mcs.com (Stuart Brainerd) Subject: ISDN Application Survey Date: Wed, 22 Jun 1994 20:51:59 CST Organization: Synapse Consulting To all interested in helping out on an ISDN applications survey, I am posting this message for Ms. Anderson. The survey was quick and she actually shared with me some of her findings. Interesting. Such as the number of people who have tried using ISDN and got so frustrated they gave up completely; and that most people are either fanatic about ISDN or are very down on it. ________________________________ Attention ISDN users. I would like your participation in a study of ISDN usage. Please contact me with phone number and best day/time to call. Thank you. Sandy Anderson INTERNET:73241.3477@Compuserve.Com ------------------------------ From: tro@partech.com (Tom Olin) Date: Wed, 22 Jun 1994 14:23:51 +0500 Subject: Anybody Know Status of Speedway.net? Any Alternatives? Speedway.net has been unreachable for the past several days by both Internet and by dial-up. They announced that they would be moving to a new location sometime in early June, but they never announced any specific information about the move, such as when they would be going down or when they expected to be back up. I'd like to have some confirmation that they will indeed be coming back on-line sometime soon. If anybody knows anything about their status, please reply via e-mail. I'm also interested in finding any Internet service providers similar to Speedway, for situations such as this. speedway provides a full range of Internet services, including shell access, full Usenet feed, PPP/SLIP connections, etc. The key items for me are PPP and the fact that the service is free except for the long-distance phone call via AT&T. speedway makes its money by getting a cut of the LD charges from AT&T, and AT&T happens to be my only option for LD service. If anybody knows of other providers who offer PPP, a charging method like speedway's, and the usual other Internet goodies, please reply. I am not affiliated with Speedway in any way other than as a usually satisfied customer -- except when they disappear for days at a time without leaving a note! Tom Olin PAR Technology Corporation Voice: +1 315 738 0600 Ext 638 tro@partech.com New Hartford, NY Fax: +1 315 738 8304 ------------------------------ From: Jack Bzoza Subject: FormFlow Supports MicroSoft Exchange Date: Wed, 22 Jun 94 10:07:00 PDT Delrina FormFlow to Support Microsoft Exchange Premier Forms Application Software Will Integrate with Microsoft+s New Messaging and Information Platform SEATTLE, WA and TORONTO, ONT - June 21, 1994 - Delrina Corporation (NASDAQ:DENAF, TSE:DC) today announced plans to integrate the powerful forms application creation environment of Delrina FormFlow with Microsoft+s new messaging and information platform. Microsoft Exchange is part of a family of products that offers a new generation of enterprise computing and information sharing. Microsoft Exchange enables group collaboration across functional, organizational, and geographical boundaries, and automates business processes. Delrina FormFlow enables people with little or no programming experience to quickly create sophisticated forms applications with conditional logic and deploy them across their organization using their LAN-based e-mail systems. FormFlow+s integrated Intelligent forms Language enables professional developers to get +under the hood+ and design highly complex applications when necessary. By tightly supporting Microsoft+s public/private folders, data replication, and the forms registry in Microsoft Exchange, FormFlow users can now track their forms applications across wide area networks. This combination provides all that customers will need for entering the evolving electronic commerce marketplace providing critical capabilities for both intra-company and inter-company structured information sharing. +Electronic forms are a key enabling technology for client-server solutions supporting the flow of structured information,+ said Rob Shurtleff, General Manager Workgroup Solutions Product Unit. +Delrina+s support for Microsoft Exchange delivers an enterprise-wide forms solution.+ +Delrina FormFlow provides a first-class solution to companies looking to organize and route forms-oriented information through their enterprise,+ said Albert Behr, Director Forms Marketing at Delrina. +Combined with Microsoft Exchange, FormFlow offers the first viable alternative to Lotus Notes for sharing and managing structured information - and one that is completely platform, operating system, and messaging system independent.+ Ranked by the editors of PC Magazine as the premier forms-based application creation environment for automating workflow (Editors Choice, June 1994) and the best forms processing software by the editors of PC Magazine and InfoWorld (PC Magazine Editors+ Choice, March 1994; Infoworld, May 1994), Delrina FormFlow brings front-end forms creation with conditional routing to Microsoft Exchange. Delrina FormFlow leverages a company+s current investment in technology by allowing: DOS, Windows, Macintosh, and UNIX hardware; the most popular e-mail systems, including MAPI, VIM, MHS, AOCE, SMTP, LAN-based, and public e-mail; and, the most popular desktop/SQL databases, and ODBC; to be combined in forms-based applications. Delrina develops, markets and supports PC-based software products and services for the PC fax and data communications, electronic forms processing, and consumer content markets. Founded in 1988, Delrina employs more than 500 people with headquarters in Toronto, Ontario and offices in San Jose, CA; Washington, DC; Kirkland, WA; the United Kingdom; France; and Germany. ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V14 #298 ******************************