Return-Path: Received: by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.7.4/NSCS-1.0S) id JAA10923; Fri, 7 Feb 1997 09:16:06 -0500 (EST) Date: Fri, 7 Feb 1997 09:16:06 -0500 (EST) From: ptownson@massis.lcs.mit.edu (TELECOM Digest Editor) Message-Id: <199702071416.JAA10923@massis.lcs.mit.edu> To: ptownson@massis.lcs.mit.edu Subject: TELECOM Digest V17 #32 TELECOM Digest Fri, 7 Feb 97 09:16:00 EST Volume 17 : Issue 32 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson And the New Number is ... 323 (Mike King) CID-on-CW-Beep and Other ADSI-Based Features (Mark J. Cuccia) Re: Alternate Directory Providers (Linc Madison) New Internet Domain Names (Greg Monti) FBI's "888" Unabom(b)er Line Gets '800' Owner Angry (Danny Burstein) 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 America On Line. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Subscriptions are available to qualified organizations and individual readers. Write and tell us how you qualify: * ptownson@massis.lcs.mit.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: Post Office Box 4621 Skokie, IL USA 60076 Phone: 847-329-0571 Fax: 847-329-0572 ** Article submission address: ptownson@massis.lcs.mit.edu Our archives are located at mirror.lcs.mit.edu. The URL is: http://mirror.lcs.mit.edu/telecom-archives They can also be accessed using anonymous ftp: ftp mirror.lcs.mit.edu/telecom-archives/archives A third method is the Telecom Email Information Service: Send a note to tel-archives@mirror.lcs.mit.edu to receive a help file for using this method or write me and ask for a copy of the help file for the Telecom Archives. ************************************************************************* * 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. * ************************************************************************* Finally, 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. A suggested donation of twenty dollars per year per reader is considered appropriate. See our address above. 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: Mike King Subject: And the New Number is ... 323 Date: Thu, 6 Feb 1997 20:37:35 PST Forwarded to the Digest, FYI: Date: Thu, 06 Feb 1997 09:53:21 -0800 From: sqlgate@sf-ptg-fw.pactel.com Subject: NEWS: And the New Number is...323 FOR MORE INFORMATION: David A. Dickstein (213) 975-4074 dadicks@legal.pactel.com And the New Number is...323 Geographic Split Approved For 213 Area Code In Los Angeles LOS ANGELES -- California's first donut-shaped geographic area code split was approved today by the state Public Utilities Commission to provide relief for the 213 area code in Los Angeles. The split will create a new area code -- 323 -- to serve part of the region beginning next year. Introduction of the new 323 area code, which will be California's 21st, is planned for June 13, 1998, and is needed to meet the rapidly growing demand for additional phone numbers in the 213 area code. Among the communities currently served all or in part by the 213 area code are: Bell, Belvedere Gardens, Commerce, Cudahy, Eagle Rock, East Los Angeles, Highland Park, Hollywood, Huntington Park, Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, Maywood, Montebello, Monterey Park, South Gate, Vernon, Watts and West Hollywood. New Area Code Boundaries: Under the 213 area code split, a three-mile diameter region in downtown Los Angeles will keep the 213 area code. All other existing 213 area code customers will receive the new 323 area code. The split will have a donut shape, with the downtown Los Angeles business district located in the center of the donut. "While the donut shape does not conform to the traditional east-west or north-south splitting of NPA (area code) boundaries, it is the only way to achieve an equal division of the 213 NPA into two parts without splitting downtown Los Angeles," the California Public Utilities Commission wrote in its order approving the geographic split plan. California Code Administrator Bruce Bennett, who oversees area code relief planning statewide for the telecommunications industry, said two options for adding an area code in the 213 were submitted to the Commission in November 1996 following public comment in July 1996. "Because the industry could not reach consensus on one plan, two options were submitted -- the geographic split plan that was ultimately approved and an overlay proposal," Bennett said. In an overlay, a new area code is placed over the existing area code, with both codes sharing the same geographic boundaries. The new area code is generally given to people who request new phone numbers, while existing customers keep the old area code. The Commission issued a policy decision in late December precluding the use of overlays in California for area code relief projects through the year 2000. The Commission said several issues related to competition need to be resolved before overlays may be used. Last month, Pacific Bell asked the Commission to reconsider its area code policy ruling to allow an overlay in the 213 area code. Area Code Portion of Phone Number Impacted, But Not Call Price Bennett said the new area code's introduction will not affect customer's seven-digit phone numbers. However, customers in the new 323 area code will need to change the area code portion of their phone number beginning June, 13, 1998. The introduction of the new area code will have no impact on the price of telephone calls, Bennett added. "Call distance determines call price. What is a local call today will remain a local call regardless of the area code change." The new 323 area code is estimated to last 11 to 13 years, while the reconfigured 213 area code will have enough numbers to accommodate growth for 5 to 7 years. Bennett said the new area code is needed to meet the skyrocketing demand for new phone numbers in the Los Angeles area and across the state. "Californians are continuing to use telephone numbers at record rates," he said. "California has 14 area codes and will need to grow to 26 area codes by the year 2001 to keep pace with customer demand." In the greater Los Angeles region, 213 is one of four area codes that have been split or that will split by the end of 1998. Last month, the new 562 area code was split off from the 310 area code and now serves southeastern Los Angeles County. The 818 area code in northern Los Angeles County will split off the 626 area code later this year. And in 1998, Orange County's 714 area code will also split off the 949 area code. Bennett said when the new 323 area code is introduced in June 1998, there will be a six-month permissive dialing period during which callers can dial either the old or new area code. Things to Remember: Bennett said a new area code impacts consumers and businesses in many ways. Among the things to remember: * Change stationery, business cards and advertising to reflect the new area code * Notify friends, relatives, clients and customers of the change * Reprogram fax machines and auto-dialers * Customers with cellular phones and pagers should check with their service provider to see if reprogramming is required Make Sure Equipment Can Accommodate The New Area Code: The new 323 area code is part of a series of new-style area codes introduced in North America beginning in 1995 that can be any three digits. This has special implications for certain types of telecommunications equipment, which must be reprogrammed to recognize the new-style area codes, Bennett said. "Historically, area codes always had either a '1' or '0' as the middle digit for identification purposes, but all of those codes are gone. The new number combinations allow area codes to be any three digits from 220 to 999, creating an additional 5 billion phone numbers. "Because of this, it's important for customers to know that PBX (private phone) systems, auto-dialers, alarms and other telecommunications equipment will have to be re-programmed to recognize these new-style area codes," said Bennett, adding that people should check with their equipment vendors to see if their equipment needs to be reprogrammed. More Area Codes To Come Statewide The 213 area is the latest in a series of regions in California requiring area code relief due to growing demand. That demand is being spurred by several factors, the two primary being the high-technology explosion of fax machines, pagers, cellular phones, modems for Internet access, and data communications networks like ATMs and pay point services, all of which require phone lines. The other factor is the onset of competition in California's local telephone service market, with each new provider requiring a separate supply of telephone numbers. In addition to the 213 area code, California areas which have already been designated as requiring new area codes are: 818 in the San Gabriel and San Fernando Valley areas, 619 in the San Diego, Palm Springs and Inland County areas, 415 in the San Francisco Bay area, 916 in Sacramento and Northern California, 510 in Contra Costa and Alameda counties, 714 in Orange County, 408 covering the South Bay Area Peninsula and Central Coast areas, 209 in the Stockton, Modesto and Fresno areas and 805 serving the Ventura County, Santa Barbara County and Bakersfield areas. Plans for the 213 area code were collectively developed by a telecommunications industry group representing more than 30 companies, including Pacific Bell, AT&T, MCI, Sprint, AirTouch, GTE, Pagenet, AT&T Wireless, MFS Communications Co., Teleport Communications Group (TCG), the California Cable Television Association and others. --------- Mike King * Oakland, CA, USA * mk@wco.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 06 Feb 1997 17:39:55 -0600 From: Mark J. Cuccia Subject: CID-on-CW-Beep and Other ADSI-based Features BellSouth just added CID-CW in the switch which serves my home telephone, the "Seabrook" switch (504-24x prefixes), which is _STILL_ a #1AESS office. I found this out on Sunday afternoon, when verifying with the Business Office that my payment was properly applied. The feature was added to the serving central office on Friday 31 January 1997. I am under BellSouth's "Complete Choice" plan, which allows me to pick and choose, add or drop, mix and match, etc. any, or virtually all of the "Vertical Services" which my central office switch can provide, all at _ONE_FIXED_ monthly price. If I add or modify services under "Complete Choice", I do _NOT_ have to pay any 'one-time' charges, neither any 'monthly recurring' charges. By Vertical Services, I am referring to the Custom Calling features, CLASS features (BellSouth's trademark is called "Touchstar"), the trademark "Ringmaster" service (more than one telephone number associated with _one_ line, each incoming number with a distinctive ringing pattern), etc. I have had virtually every CLASS and Custom Calling feature on my line, under the "Complete Choice" package, including Call-Waiting, as well as Caller-ID Number and Name, for some time now. But now, I have the added capability of receiving 'off-hook' CID name/number info, _during_ a Call Waiting 'beep' tone! Now, when someone calls my line while I am already on another call, unless I've done *70/1170 to 'cancel-CW', in addition to the standard CW beep tone (the 'subscriber alerting signal' - aka SAS), I also hear a quick high-pitched 'chirp' tone of 2130+2750 Hz (the 'CPE alerting signal' - aka CAS). This CAS is to 'wake-up' the CID box or ADSI-based CPE, which will 'mute-out' the telephone or handset, and then the CPE will send a touchtone 'A' or 'D' signal (from the 1633 Hz fourth column) to the central office switch. The c/o will then 'modem-dump' the CID number/name info thru the loop to the CPE display. Finally, the CPE will 'unmute' the telephone or handset. This is all to take place in less than a second. In my "Call-Waiting Deluxe" service, I also have _additional_ options as to the _disposition_ of the CW-beeping party, or the _disposition_ of either/both of the two parties if I am 'flashing-back-and-forth between them': a) I can actually _Bridge_ the CW-beeping party into the conversation with the original party ... or if after flashing-back-and-forth, I can still _bridge_ the two parties togather with my line. b) I can have the c/o switch hold the CW-beeping party and have a message played back to them, that the party being called knows that they are calling, and that I will be getting to them shortly, and to please hold. This is nice if I don't want to interrupt the original party, yet in my situation, 'doing nothing' would cause that CW-beeping party to eventually forward over to cellular/voicemail. c) I can _instantly_ cause the CW-beeping party to be forwarded to a forwarding telephone number or voicemail I might have. In my situation, all incoming calls to my home telephone number forward to my cellular phone (which has voicemail service) if my line is 'busied-out' (i.e. with *70/1170 Cancel-CW on a per-call basis) or after about three unanswered rings. With the new feature, I can _instantly_ forward that 'beeping' caller to my cellular and voicemail service, without them having to 'wait' through three ring cycles. d) I can have the c/o switch _drop_ that CW-beeping party from my line, but before dropping that caller altogather, the c/o switch will play a message to them that the party being called knows that they are calling, and that I will _call_them_back_later_on_, and to please hang up now. Of course, the switch _does_ eventually drop that party. e) I can cause a 'hang-up' _instantly_ on the original party, thus answering the beeping party, but I don't have to actually 'disconnect the hook and allow the beeping party to ring'. Nor do I have to do similar if wanting to 'hang-up' on either party in a 'flash between the two' to take a call from only one of the parties. There is a way to 'flash to the _other_ party and immedietely disconnect the present party', even if I have been going back and forth between the two. Now, to _properly_ take advantage of _all_ of these features and options, I will need a 'screen-display' phone capable of ADSI-features, with have central-office per-situation-programmed 'soft-touch' keys/buttons. However, I don't presently have a Nortel PowerTouch Model 350 type of phone, nor even yet do I have a 'plain-Jane' CID-on-CW-beep display box. However, I _am_ able to utilize some of the ADSI-based 'disposition' options to the CW-beeping party! How can this be done? Well, when flashing the switch-hook between the two parties, the original party is put on hold upon flashing, however, there is a noticeable split-second _delay_, before the 'other' party is taken 'off' hold and able to talk with me. _DURING_THAT_DELAY_, a special DTMF receiver is brought into the line, which a screen-display (convenience) phone will send out a specific touchtone for the disposition options mentioned above. But even without a screen-display ADSI-based phone, I can do a standard hook-flash and _immedietely_ touchtone a single digit to control what disposition is to be taken to either the 'beeping' party, or one or the other of the two parties if 'flashing-back-and-forth'. I can 'flash' + a DTMF'd digit, _rapidly_, to do the following: - a touchtoned '3' takes care of option 'a' above. - a touchtoned '6' takes care of option 'b' above. - a touchtoned '9' takes care of option 'c' above. - a touchtoned '8' takes care of option 'd' above. - a touchtoned '7' takes care of option '3' aboce. These 'flash plus DTMF single digit' is what the 'soft-key' buttons on an ADSI screenphone do. There are other possible telco offered (switch-based) ADSI features which could be available, such as "Visual Screen List Editing", where I can dial a number or a code, and actually modify my Custom Calling and CLASS lists, and while hearing the voiceprompts, I can also see info loaded from the c/o switch displayed on the CID-plus LCD pad! Also, other 'non-telco' information providers, such as a telephone mail order center, a transportation company (bus, train, airline), bank, etc. can have 'ADSI-based' information downloaded to your unit. You will interface with the buttons on your box, and maybe even hear voiceprompts, and strings of DTMF will be sent from your CPE to the (non-telco) ADSI-host to indicate as to what you are requesting. The info 'downloaded' from the (non-telco) ADSI-host could be airline schedules and fares, your checking account balance from your bank's system, the status of a telephone/mail order you placed with a department store, etc. Both of the above 'added' features (general info from 'non-telco' sources, and telco-provided Visual List Editing), will use strings of DTMF from the ADSI-based CPE to the c/o or provider/host, _including_ the touchtone 'A', 'B', 'C', 'D' signals (as well as '*' and '#') in a full sixteen-button DTMF arrangement. Now ... I am not really in the market for a full 'screenphone', however I would like to locate a 'stand-alone' ADSI-features box! I am quite happy with the nostalgic WECO/NECO phones I have from the 1920's through the 1960's. I could plug the phone thru the ADSI-box, and use that box for the controls. However, I have not been able to locate such a 'stand-alone' ADSI box from my conversations with BellSouth's CPE subsidiary or Nortel. I've even checked with AT&T-leased-products (800-555-8111), which doesn't lease CID items, and referred me to Lucent products sales (800-222-3111). Presently, it doesn't seem that Lucent (formerly AT&T equipment, formerly the Western Electric and Manufacturing Company) makes nor distributes CID boxes for CID-on-CW nor anything yet for ADSI-features. The Radio Shack stores in the New Orleans area sell a 'plain-Jane' CID-on-CW-beep box, which does 'just' that. It does hold about 100 numbers/names, IIRC. My present CID box has (IIRC) a storage of 85 numbers/names. BellSouth's CPE subsidiary distributes the Nortel manufactured CID-on-CW box which holds 50 numbers/names, yet it has some additional features, but it seems to be only 'convenience' features, such as 'scrolled number dialing'. Similar to 'last number redial' buttons on many CPE, this box can be scrolled thru the up-to-50 numbers (and names), and you can press a button to 'autodial' to that number. The 'basic' CID-on-CW box also has a 'Call-Waiting-off' button, which I think causes the box to out-dial *70/1170 on every outgoing call, until you 'deactivate' the 'CW-off' feature. (I wonder if the box can '3-way-flash' and *70/1170 to Cancel-CW on an incoming call?). And I think that there were a few other 'CPE-only' type features that this CID box can do. I don't want to spend over $200.00 for a full screen-display phone. I do eventually want to get some form of box which can show CID info _on_ a CW-beep tone. But I am hoping that Northern Electric (Nortel) or Western Electric (Lucent) will soon make/market a full-ADSI-featured standalone box. BTW, some of the ADSI-based CPE even have a 'mag-card' swipe, for credit card verification/validation and transactions! I don't anticipate the need for that, but I do need some form of ADSI equipment, without having to buy a special 'full' telephone! But I am happy with the new features and options of the ADSI platform, even though I presently have to 'manually' flash and DTMF rapidly, and IMO, BellSouth is providing some of the most customer-friendly service when I compare it with other LEC's in North America! The "Complete Choice" package, as well as their introduction of ADSI-based features is going to be a _great_ benefit to customers like myself who like to have as many central-office based features as possible, all at an affordable price! MARK_J._CUCCIA__PHONE/WRITE/WIRE/CABLE:__HOME:__(USA)__Tel:_CHestnut_1-2497 WORK:_mcuccia@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu_|4710_Wright_Road|__(+1-504-241-2497) Tel:UNiversity_5-5954(+1-504-865-5954)|New_Orleans_28__|fwds_on_no-answr_to Fax:UNiversity_5-5917(+1-504-865-5917)|Louisiana(70128)|_cellular/voicemail ------------------------------ From: Telecom@Eureka.vip.best.NOSPAM (Linc Madison) Subject: Re: Alternate Directory Providers Date: Thu, 06 Feb 1997 15:10:14 -0800 Organization: No unsolicited commercial e-mail! In article , Lou Jahn <71233.2444@CompuServe.COM> wrote: > [some good stuff, but I have a couple of points...] > In 1984, the courts created a dual delivery of DA numbers. LECs were > not permitted to carry your DA inquiry across NPAs, hence IXCs owned > NPA-555-1212 delivery while LECs owned 411 and/or 555-1212 service. > The court also "arbitrarily" determined that $0.75 was a fair price to > allow IXCs (mostly AT&T) to charge for NPA-555-1212 DA access. The boundary was never the NPA. The boundary was the entirety of all NPAs that were wholly or partially within your LATA. Thus, if, here in San Francisco, I called 1-408-555-1212, I would be connected by Pacific Bell to the Pacific Bell D.A. center, which would give me the number, whether it was in my LATA (San Jose/Santa Cruz area), or in the Monterey LATA. Unless I dial 10XXX-1-408-555-1212, my call will never touch an IXC. My LATA includes all of 415, 510, and 707, and the northern part of 408, not counting upcoming area code splits. This setup creates some asymmetries, by the way: if a caller in Los Angeles dials 1-619-555-1212 for a number in Escondido, that call will be handled by the LEC, because part of 619 is in the Los Angeles LATA. However, if the party in Escondido dials 1-{213, 310, 562, 818}-555-1212 for the number in Los Angeles, the call will be handled by the IXC, because the San Diego LATA does not include any part of those L.A. area codes. (When the 619/760 split happens, the example above will remain true, but with "760" substituted for "619".) > There is also the new markets with the creation of CLECs. If you were > the CLEC VP of Marketing and spent a ton of money to capture say 5,000 > subscribers from an ILEC, would your next move be to provide the list > of your successes to your competition? It easily helps their analysis > and reaction to your ability to sell and build programs to capture > subscribers. Yes, it would, as a matter of fact. A good number of those subscribers are going to want published numbers. Having their number listed with the CLEC's competitive DA provider does little good, because then callers who try to find their number through the ILEC's DA bureau (or through some other alternate DA provider) will get "no listing." That is an unacceptable result and would impair my competitiveness. > Now why are some alternative providers having a problem with accuracy? > It stems from many of the RBOCs refusing to "rent or license" their > listings for the alternate DA provider. Thus some systems use > "complied" listings. If they pick up records from financial sources > (of even Motor Vehicle Agencies), they will include Non-Pub numbers. That's "compiled," not complied. Anyway, you just finished saying that the CLEC's shouldn't provide the numbers of their subscribers to the ILEC's DA bureau, but the ILEC should provide its listings to the ADAP. What was that about a level playing field? ** Do not spam e-mail me! ** Linc Madison * San Francisco, Calif. * Telecom@Eureka.vip.best.com >> NOTE: if you autoreply, you must change "NOSPAM" to "com" << ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 07 Feb 1997 01:38:52 -0500 From: gmonti@mindspring.com (Greg Monti) Subject: New Internet Domain Names There's an article on page B6 in the 6 February, 1997 {The Wall Street Journal} titled "Internet Domain: Cyberspace Expands With New Addresses; Standards Panel Seeks to Ease Overcrowding By Creating Seven Web Site Suffixes". A summary: Internic's monopoly on top-level domain naming will be broken by the end of 1997. Up until now, Internic, owned by Network Solutions, was the sole arbiter of who got domain names ending in .com, .org or .net (or .us). Within the year, twenty-eight different companies will be in charge of handing out top-level domain names ending with: .firm (for any kind of business or firm) .store (for businesses offering goods for purchase) .info (information services) .web (world wide web related) .arts (cultural and entertainment) .rec (recreational activities) .nom (personal web domains or pages) The purpose of .nom was to let individuals who want a domain name for their web presence to be freed from the .com domain where they are largely placed now. The Internet Society considered using .name or .pers for this domain, but settled instead on .nom Don Heath, President of the Internet Society, noted that the French-speaking world loves it, in the midst of an otherwise English-dominated internet. The article notes that 85,000 new domain names are registered per month, 90% of those ending with .com The 28 firms that will register the names will likely charge $50 per year per name, same as Internic charges. The 28 name givers have formed a Council of Registrars to administer conflicting claims. Greg Monti Jersey City, New Jersey, USA gmonti@mindspring.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 6 Feb 1997 21:49:04 EST From: danny burstein Subject: FBI's "888" Uunabom(b)er Line Gets '800' Owner Angry From an AP story describing the FBI's '888' number which plays the "white male with no discernable accent"'s warning about the centenial park bombing. (btw, what do you think the chances are that they're ANI'ing all the callers hoping that that the bad guy will check in? FBI toll-free number plays 911 tape warning of Olympic Park bombing By PATRICIA J. MAYS The Associated Press 02/06/97 3:15 PM Eastern ATLANTA (AP) -- Federal agents have a new "888" toll-free number to let the public hear the voice of the man who called 911 to warn about the bomb in Centennial Olympic Park. But the businessman who has the same number, with an 800 area code, is less than thrilled. The audio tape of the 911 call placed just before the fatal July 27 blast can be heard by calling 1-888-324-8404, federal officials announced Wednesday. The story continues with a description of the problems the business with the '800' version of the number is having due to the call volume. There was another (short term) problem, as well: The number, which was supposed to operate nationwide, was not accessible from Seattle and some other cities. [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Of course, it is not the fault of the FBI that large numbers of Americans do not understand how to dial their telephone and that 888 is not the same as 800 even though they function the same way. If I were the owner of the 800 number and had a little extra money to spend, I would use the 800 version to completely blast the FBI totally condemn their mishandling of the matter in the beginning. I would also use the phone number to challenge the FBI on their handling of the 'original unabomber' and ask why after all this time Ted K. has not yet been put on trial and why no trial date has ever been set up. I would ask why the FBI (where Ted K. is concerned) is being held incognito and they are refusing to allow him any media contact or more than just minimal contact with his own attorney. I guess they know by now they have the wrong person there also; that like Atlanta they jumped the gun and let the media give Ted K. their version of a 'fair trial' and now they are unable to prove any of it. Yes, if I had a large number of people calling my 800 number daily thinking they were reaching the FBI, I would definitly use it to my advantage to let people know just how rotten that agency is. Indeed, the entire US Department of Injustice needs a major overhaul, beginning with Janet Reno. What a great opportunity, depending on how the owner of the 800 number feels about it. PAT ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V17 #32 *****************************