TELECOM Digest Fri, 12 Aug 94 09:11:00 CDT Volume 14 : Issue 346 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Internet '94 Conference/Expo (Leona Nichols) UCLA Short Courses in Communications Engineering (William R. Goodin) Personal ACD vs. Telemarketers? (Laurence R. Brothers) Pcomm SPARC10 Binaries Sought (Craig Chakford) PTL (Phone The LifeLine) Club (Dave Leibold) Europe: Unlimited Residential Service (quioqy@satelnet.com) CPUC and Cellular Phone Rebates (Again) (John Antypas) Blocking 800-Number Charge-Backs (Will Martin) Another Year of It (TELECOM Digest Editor) 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 11 Aug 94 09:46:39 PDT From: Leona Nichols Subject: Internet '94 Conference/Expo A TeleStrategies Event co-chaired by the Commercial Internet eXchange (CIX) TeleStrategies' Internet Conference and Expo '94 Monday October 10 - Wednesday October 12 Sheraton Crystal City, Arlington VA Conference Track (Tue October 11 - Wed October 12):Publishing, Marketing and Advertising on the Internet Pre-Conference Tutorial (Mon October 10): Understanding Internet Technologies For Non-Engineers And Strategic Planners Demonstration Track (Mon October 10 - Wed October 12):Online Demonstrations Of Internet Services, Products And Access Technologies Workshop Track (Tue October 11 - Wed October 12):How To Do Business On The Internet Exhibitions (Mon October 10 - Wed October 12) CONFERENCE TRACK - Tuesday, October 11, 1994 Publishing , Marketing and Advertising on the Internet 8:00-9:00 Registration 9:00-10:00 - INTERNET: THE OUTLOOK FOR COMMERCIALIZATION AND GROWTH John Curran, Product Manager, BBN Technology Services Bill Washburn, Executive Director, Commercial Internet Exchange (CIX) 10:00-10:15 Coffee Break 10:15-12:00 - NEWSPAPER AND BOOK PUBLISHING ON THE INTERNET Jeff Crigler, Director, Market Development, Network Advanced Services Division, IBM Laura Fillmore, President, Online Bookstore William S. Johnson, Publisher, Palo Alto Weekly 12:00-2:00 Hosted Lunch and Exhibits 2:00-2:45 - INTERNET USERS: WHO ARE THEY? Magdalena Yesil, Partner, Management Forum 2:45-3:15 - INTERNET BILLING Gary Desler, Senior Vice President, Network Solutions 3:15-3:30 Coffee Break 3:30-5:30 - CREATING BUSINESS MODELS FOR THE INTERNET Gordon Cook, President, Cook Network Consultants Chris Locke, President, MecklerWeb Corporation Cathy Medich, Executive Director, CommerceNet Robert Raisch, President, The Internet Company 5:30-6:30 Reception and Exhibits CONFERENCE TRACK - Wednesday, October 12, 1994 Publishing , Marketing and Advertising on the Internet 8:30-10:00 - HOW TO MARKET AND ADVERTISE EFFECTIVELY Andrew Frank, Director, Software Development, Ogilvy & Mather Direct Erica Gruen, Senior Vice President, Television, Information and New Media, Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Worldwide Judith Axler Turner, a head of the working group on advertising for the Coalition for Networked Information 10:00-10:30 Coffee Break and Exhibits 10:30-12:00 - COPYRIGHT AND LICENSING ISSUES Kathlene Krag, Assistant Director, Copyright and New Technology Association of American Publishers, Inc. Steve Metalitz, Vice President and General Counsel Information Industry Association Martha Whittaker, General Manager, The UnCover Company 12:00-12:30 - VIDEO VIA THE INTERNET Ed Moura, Vice President, Marketing and Sales Hybrid Networks, Inc. 12:30-2:00 Hosted Lunch and Exhibits 2:00-3:30 - INFORMATION SERVICES AND THE INTERNET Brad Templeton, President, ClariNet Communications Richard Vancil, Vice President, Marketing, INDIVIDUAL, Inc. Representative, America Online 3:30-3:45 Coffee Break 3:45-5:00 - INTERNET PUBLISHING AND MARKETING TOOLS Bruce Caslow, Systems Engineer, Mesa Technologies John Kolman, Vice President, NOTIS Systems, Inc. Kevin Oliveau, Engineer, WAIS, Inc. Pre-Conference Tutorial UNDERSTANDING INTERNET TECHNOLOGIES FOR NON-ENGINEERS AND STRATEGIC PLANNERS Monday, October 10, 1994 - 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Presented By: John Curran, BBN Technology Services; Bruce Antleman, Information Express; Bruce Caslow, Mesa Technologies; and Stephen Crocker, Trusted Information Systems, Inc. This one-day tutorial is for the non-engineer, strategic planner, entrepreneur or anyone who has to understand the Internet in order to make business decisions about emerging commercial opportunities. This tutorial covers not only Internet technologies, economics and leading-edge opportunities, but also looks at operational issues such as security, addressing and network management from a business development perspective. 1. INTERNET OVERVIEW: What is the Internet? Who controls it? How do you get connected? What can you do with it? Who pays for it? Who are the players domestically and internationally? What is the role of the NII and NREN? Why are the RBOCs, cable TV companies, IXCs and PDA vendors interested in Internet? Why all the attention to commercializa- tion? How is the Internet likely to evolve over the next few years? 2. INTERNET ACCESS, NAVIGATION AND APPLICATIONS: How to find, share and sell information on the Internet. The basic application tools and navigation/search systems (FTP, Telnet, Archie, Gopher, Mosaic, World Wide Web, WAIS, etc.). Access service providers (CIX, PSI, Sprint and others). Access options (dial-up, dedicated, frame relay, cable TV and wireless).New entrepreneurial developments. 3. INTERNET TECHNOLOGIES: Role of TCP/IP. MAC vs. PC products. LAN access (SLIP, PPP, frame relay, etc.) and WAN and ATM developments. IPX, DECNET and APPLETALK. Leading edge vendors and where their products are headed. IP addressing. How to obtain addresses (Class A,B,and C). CIDR, Internet DNS and how to register. Setting up an E-mail server, bulletin board and directory service. 4. INTERNET SECURITY AND MANAGEMENT: Security concerns, policies and procedures. Defeating password sniffing. Firewalls and available firewall toolkits. Encryption, authentication and Clipper Chip issues. Other operational concerns related to doing business on the Internet. Guidelines for managing a commercial Internet service. SNMP management tools and products. WORKSHOP TRACK - Tuesday, October 11, 1994 HOW TO DO BUSINESS ON THE INTERNET 9:00-10:15 - GETTING CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET Howard McQueen, President, CD Consultants 10:15-10:45 Coffee Break 10:45-12:00 - CREATING A BUSINESS PRESENCE ON THE INTERNET Duffy Mazan, Partner, Electric Press, Inc. 12:00-2:00 Lunch and Exhibits 2:00-3:15 - MOSAIC Bruce Caslow, Systems Engineer, Mesa Technologies 3:15-3:30 Break 3:30-5:00 - BUSINESS USES OF THE INTERNET Al Dhir, President, Internet Access Group, Inc. 5:00-6:30 Reception and Exhibits WORKSHOP TRACK - Wednesday, October 12, 1994 HOW TO DO BUSINESS ON THE INTERNET 9:00-10:15 - SECURITY: SINGLE SIGN ON Tom McHale, Director of Marketing and Product Development for North America, ICL, Inc. 10:15-10:45 Coffee Break 10:45-12:00 - CORPORATE AND BUSINESS TRAINING OVER THE INTERNET Speaker to be announced 12:00-2:00 Lunch and Exhibits 2:00-3:15 - NETIQUETTE: HOW TO DO BUSINESS ON THE INTERNET WITHOUT GETTING "FLAMED" Paul Kainen, President, Kainen Technology Services ONLINE INTERNET DEMONSTRATION TRACK Monday, October 10, 1994 2:00-5:00 p.m. Track A: DEMYSTIFYING THE INTERNET Paul Kainen, President, Kainen Technology Services Track B: DEMONSTRATIONS BY WAIS, Inc. and Performance Systems International 5:00-6:30 Reception and Exhibits ONLINE INTERNET DEMONSTRATION TRACK Tuesday, October 11, 1994 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Track A: DEMYSTIFYING THE INTERNET Bruce Caslow, Systems Engineer, Mesa Technologies Track B: DEMONSTRATIONS BY:Semaphore Communications - Internet security products - CD Consultants 12:00-2:00 Lunch and Exhibits 2:00-5:00 Track A: DEMONSTRATIONS BY Spry, Inc. - "Internet in a Box" Online Bookstore Track B: DEMONSTRATIONS BY MecklerWeb Corporation and "Palo Alto Weekly," the first general circulation newspaper on the Internet 5:00-6:30 Reception and Exhibits ONLINE INTERNET DEMONSTRATION TRACK Wednesday, October 12, 1994 9:00-12:00 Track A: DEMONSTRATIONS BY America Online - demo of their current information services and NOTIS Systems, Inc. - demo of new, easy-to-use publishing tool for the Internet Track B: DEMONSTRATION BY Hybrid Networks, Inc. and Mesa Technologies - MOSAIC at 56 KBPS 12:00-2:00 Lunch and Exhibits 2:00-3:15 Track A: DEMONSTRATION BY LEGI-SLATE Track B: DEMONSTRATION BY Gestalt Systems, Inc. CURRENT ONLINE DEMONTRATIONS Monday, October 10 - Wednesday, October 12 Current Demonstrations Conducted By: WAIS, Inc., SemaphoreCommunications, CD Consultants, Spry, Inc., Online Bookstore,MecklerWeb Corporation, "Palo Alto Weekly," America Online,NOTIS Systems, Inc., Hybrid Networks, Inc., Mesa Technologies,Legi-Slate, Performance Systems International and Gestalt Systems, Inc. EXHIBIT HOURS Monday, October 10 - 5:00-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 11 - 12:00-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 12 - 10:00-2:00 p.m. For more information about exhibiting, call Jackie McGuigan at (703) 734-7050. For more information or registration call (703) 734-7050. ------------------------------ From: BGOODIN@unex.ucla.edu (William R. Goodin) Subject: UCLA Short Courses in Communications Engineering Date: Thu, 11 Aug 1994 16:25:57 Organization: UCLA Extension This fall, UCLA Extension will present four short courses in communications engineering on the UCLA campus in Los Angeles. "Wireless Voice and Data Communications", October 18-21, 1994. The instructors will be Dr. C.R. "Rick" Baugh, consultant, and Mr. Peter Rysavy, Rysavy and Associates. This course provides an understanding of the new wireless technologies and addresses the following technical planning/design and business development questions: o How do competing wireless technologies compare? o What voice, data, messaging, and paging services will the technology support? o What technology is best for which applications? o What are the wireless data technologies being used today? o How does PCS interconnect with existing telecommunications networks? o What is important for designing wireless products and services? o What is the status of PCS standards and FCC license? o How will existing wireless data technologies coexist with new PCS technologies? The topics to be covered include introduction to PCS and definition of PCS technology alternatives, PCS multiple access technologies, PCS system design issues, PCS networks, PCS interconnection with the PSTN, advanced intelligent network features with PCS, FCC regulatory status, PCS cost structures, issues in deploying PCS services, wireless point-to-point solutions, wireless LANs, paging, data over cellular, wireless data WANs, digital cellular, new networks, and data PCS. ------------------- "Optical Fiber Communications: Techniques and Applications", October 25-28, 1994. The instructors will be Dr Tran V. Muoi, Optical Communication Products, Dr Bor U. Chen, Optical Communication Products, Dr Del Hanson, Hewlett-Packard, and Dr Richard E. Wagner, Bellcore. This course offers a review of optical fiber communications fundamentals, then focuses on state-of-the-art technology and its applications in present and future communication networks. The course begins with the major building blocks of optical fiber communications systems ( fiber and passive components, sources and transmitters, detectors and receivers). Actual design examples of fiber optic links for short-haul and long-haul applications are studied, and recent technological advances in addressing problems due to fiber loss and dispersion are presented. Recent developments in local and metropolitan area networks to support multimedia traffic and their evolving architectures and standards are fully covered. The treatment on telecommunications systems includes various technological options for subscriber networks, exchange networks, and the global undersea networks. Network architectures evolving from the traditional telephone and CATV networks are contrasted. Technology trends and directions for realizing the so-called information superhighway are examined as well. Finally, optical networks using wavelength routing and multi-wavelength cross-connects are presented. ________________________________ "Advanced Communication Systems Using Digital Signal Processing", November 14-18, 1994. The instructors will be Dr Bernard Sklar, Communications Engineering Services, and Mr Frederick Harris, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, San Diego State University. This course provides comprehensive coverage of advanced digital communications. It differs from other communications courses in its emphasis on applying modern digital signal processing techniques to the implementation of communication systems. This makes the course essential for practitioners in the rapidly changing field. Error-correction coding, spread spectrum techniques, and bandwidth-efficient signalling are all discussed in detail. Basic digital signaling methods and the newest modulation-with -memory techniques are presented, along with trellis-coded modulation. Topics that are covered include: signal processing overview and baseband transmission, bandpass modulation and demodulation, digital signal processing tools and technology, non-recursive filters, channel coding: error detection and correction, modulation and coding trade-offs and bandwith-efficient signaling, signal conditioning, adaptive algorithms for communication systems, spread spectrum techniques, and multiple access and cryptographic techniques. Each participant receives a copy of the text, "Digital Communications-Fundamentals and Applications", by Bernard Sklar. --------------------- "Active Circuit Design for Wireless Systems: Principles and Applications", November 28- December 2, 1994. The instructors will be Dr. Les Besser, Besser and Associates, and Dr Stephen Maas, Nonlinear Technologies. This course describes the design of RF circuits and subsystems, beginning with approximate designs and optimizing them by the most appropriate tool. The course also compares practical linear and non-linear design methods used in active RF circuit engineering. It gives participants in-depth instruction in the practical use of CAE tools and their limitations, taking both lumped and distributed transmission line networks into account. Topics covered include review of linear active two-ports, monolithic circuit amplifiers: availability and performance, discrete device amplifiers, fundamentals and properties of nonlinear circuits, nonlinear CAD programs, intermodulation distortion, large-signal device modeling, power amplifier design, frequent multiplier design, commercial MMICs for wireless applications, mixer design, and oscillators. Each participant will receive a copy of the text, "Nonlinear Microwave Circuits", S. A. Maas. _______________________________________ For additional information and complete course descriptions, please contact Marcus Hennessy at: (310) 825-1047 (310) 206-2815 fax mhenness@unex.ucla.edu ------------------------------ From: bellcore!ctt.bellcore.com!quasar@uunet.uu.net (Laurence R. Brothers) Subject: Personal ACD vs. Telemarketers? Organization: Bellcore Date: Fri, 12 Aug 1994 10:48:50 GMT I want a device to do the following: * Intercept incoming call and not pass ring to phone. * Play message: "If this is a personal call press 1 now, otherwise hang up." * Hang up in 10 seconds if 1 is not pressed. * If 1 is pressed, ring the phone. I imagine an ACD could be trivially programmed to do this, but I also imagine it would be rather expensive for an ordinary consumer to purchase an ACD to serve just one line. Perhaps I'm wrong about that, or perhaps there is some consumer device to do basically this; if there is any reasonably affordable way to achieve this effect, please let me know. Basically my goal is to preempt all non-personal calls so that I don't even know I'm being called. Anti-telemarketer approaches that rely on callerid, distinctive ring, or listening to an answering machine don't cut it, because in every such case I will be disturbed by the phone ringing and probably have to go across my house to the phone in any event. If I have to do that, I might as well just answer the phone and hang up on the caller. I imagine that this would be a simple to implement using an AIN terminating call screening service, but unfortunately I don't have access to anything like that. I can't think of any way to get ordinary voice mail to do this either; so far as I know, no conventional voice mail can ring back to the customer after its been activated. Thanks, as usual, in advance. I will repost anything useful I get to the net. Laurence R. Brothers (quasar@bellcore.com) Bellcore -- Computing Technology Integration -- Knowledge-Based Applications ------------------------------ Subject: Pcomm SPARC10 Binaries Sought From: chakford@tenagra.sas.muohio.edu (Craig Chakford) Date: 11 Aug 94 15:40:34 -0500 Hello, I'm having a very difficult time compiling pcomm (a unix procomm-like utility) for a SUN SPARCstation 10 running solaris 2.3, using the gcc compiler, verssion 3.3 (or so). I'm not really interested in getting it to compile any more. Does anyone have the binaries, or know where I can get them? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance, Craig chakford@phoenix.aps.muohio.edu ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Aug 94 00:28:00 -0500 From: dave.leibold@superctl.tor250.org (Dave Leibold) Subject: PTL (Phone The LifeLine) Club Reply-To: dave.leibold@superctl.tor250.org The article "Putting God on the line" as it appeared in {The Toronto Star} 9 August 1994, describes a long distance offering called LifeLine, a reseller of WilTel long distance service as set up by a company called AmeriVision. The text of that article originated with Knight-Ridder Tribune and may appear in other newspapers. LifeLine was set up for the conservative Christian community. In the words of AmeriVision vice-president Carl Thompson: "You would call us a fundamentalist Christian, right-wing organization -- and we like it." 10% of billings are donated to various conservative groups consistent with the "religious right"; much of this community was offended by AT&T's reported sponsorship of the Gay Games sporting event, and there are concerns that major carriers sponsor entertainment shows that aren't exactly the 700 Club. LifeLine has a reported 80,000 customers, with growth of over 1000/week; yet there are hopes for 3.5 million customers over the next five years (somewhat more than current trends indicate). [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: This is, to my knowledge, the first instance of a religious organization forming an affinity group for the purpose of telecommuniations. There have been other telecom users affinity groups, such as the one dealing with conservation of natural resources, etc. In the beginning -- the middle 1980's -- the "Gay Games" was originally known as the "Gay Olympics"; the organizers were however sued by the international organization which sponsors the Olympics events each year. Their claim was that the word 'olympics' is copyrighted when used in the context of an organized series of sporting events held on a regular basis. The court found in their favor and required the organizers of "Gay Olympics" to drop their use of the word in that context; thus the change a few years ago to the "Gay Games" name they use now. PAT] ------------------------------ From: quioqy@satelnet.org (Quioqy) Subject: Europe: Unlimited Residential Service Date: 12 Aug 1994 09:37:33 -0400 Organization: SatelNET "Freedom of information" = the cost of access to the internet = the cost of the access provider + the connect cost charged by the local telcom. In America there are access providers which charge per time unit, and newer ones which charge a flat monthly rate. Local Bells provide residential service at a flat rate for unlimited local calls. Thus in most areas "freedom of information" can be purchased at a flat monthly rate, for instance: $20 for internet access + $20 for unlimited local calls = $40 per month for freedom of information +/- 10 percent. In Europe I imagine the situation varies from country to country. Please post your local experience, so that we may all get an impression of the cost of "freedom of information" in the countries of Europe. Government and social hierarchy seems always to have been associated with "-information" that is restriction of access and disinformation. Competetive advantage seems to have been associated with "+information", that is broadness in scope and ease of access. ------------------------------ From: jantypas@ccnet.com (John Antypas) Subject: CPUC and Cellular Phone Rebates (Again) Date: 12 Aug 1994 10:22:10 -0700 Organization: CCnet Communications OK -- now I'm really confused. I live in the San Fransisco Bay Area and I've been looking at getting a cellular phone. The two major carriers in my area are GTE MobileNet and Cellular One. Any many of you no doubt know, many dealers outside the Bay are providing substantial rebates on phone prices. As an example, the MotCo PT-550 can be had for as little as $99 with a one-year contract. In the Bay, the best I can do is $200. The reason, according to Cell One dealers is as follows: "The CPUC prevents us from selling the phone at anything less than 10% below a standard retail price. Anything less is illegal." Now, I've probably misunderstood something here, so please Cell One Dealers, the Good Guys, or whomever else is reading this, explain this ruling? It only affects the Bay, it does not seem to bother GTE MobileNet dealers at all. To quote FOUR Cell One dealers, "Well, if they want to do something illegal, that doesn't mean we can" Sure sounds strange to me. 1) The CPUC regulates the state, not just the Bay. 2) It doesn't care a witt about Cell One vs. GTE vs. US West vs. Bob's CellCO. 3) Why the $75-$100 rebates only via GTE? It sure sounds like Cell One dealers are feeding me a line, but I could be missing something. Again, for a one-year contract at $0.40/$0.20 peak /off-peak rates and a purchase of a new PT-550 phone, Cell One Dealers want $200-$220 for the phone and fat battery + $40/month. GTE dealers want $120-$150 + $40/mon. What gives? If anyone is interested, I'll gladly give out the phone numbers of various dealers via e-mail so this can be verified. Cell One Dealers, I am open to any pricing you have and I'll give you numbers of ads for GTE dealers to check against. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Aug 94 10:49:28 GMT From: Will Martin Subject: Blocking 800-Number Charge-Backs Here's an extract from a misc.consumers posting that includes a list of the 800 numbers for ten carriers which you can call if you want charge-back 800 call billing blocked on your line. Note that these are for carriers serving the St. Cloud, MN area, so there are undoubtedly many more in other areas, too: Subject: stop 800 number billing From: darren.young@granite.mn.org (Darren Young) Date: Thu, 4 Aug 94 17:28:00 +0600 Organization: Granite City Connection St. Cloud MN 612-654-8372 Did you know that you can be charged for 1-800 number calls? I was told this before but thought they guy that told me was crazy. ... Now after talking with the VSR company d*nk, I was informed that they could block this from my number, but it would only be THEIR particular company. There are 100's of these companies throughout the US doing this. She did tell me that a call to my local phone company would result in a block (like the 900 number block I currently have), that would keep this from happening. Not true! US West told me that of the 20 some long distance carriers that service my area (St. Cloud, MN), 10 of these offer billable 800 number service, and I would have to call each and every one of them to have them block this [<---insert profanity here--->] thing. Anyhow, here's the list........ Network Access 1-800-918-8255 Long Distance Billing 1-800-748-4309 ITA 1-800-866-8889 Integratel 1-800-736-7500 Info Access 1-800-661-1352 Federal Transtel 1-800-388-8111 Enhance Service Billing Co. 1-800-460-0078 Communications Telesystems 1-800-569-8200 American Telenet 1-800-460-0307 VRS Subscriber Service 1-800-800-2526 ------------------------------ From: TELECOM Digest Editor Subject: Another Year of it Date: Fri, 12 Aug 1994 08:30:00 CDT I just thought I would mention this issue marks the start of another year of TELECOM Digest. The Digest started thirteen years ago, on August 11, 1981. It was founded by Jon Solomon, and was spun-off from a group at that time called Human-Nets. Just as this Digest was by a group of people interested in more specialized discussions on telecom topics than was going on in Human-Nets, it has also been responsible for the creation of two journals in recent years: The Computer Underground Digest and the Computer Privacy Digest were both originally part of TELECOM Digest. They began when discussions here on the topics covered in those journals began to get too far afield from what is usually covered here. I assumed control of the Digest in October, 1988. I believe that with thirteen years of continuous publication, TELECOM Digest is the oldest continuing e-journal distributed on the Internet and related internet of computers throughout the world. Many of the original reader/participants are still around. For various reasons, publication and distribution of the Digest has been shaky over the past few months, but things are starting to look better. Anyway, welcome to the start of year fourteen. Pat ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V14 #346 ******************************