In article 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 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 ******************************