Date: 9 Aug 2000 15:53:19 -0400 Message-ID: <20000809195319.18721.qmail@xuxa.iecc.com> From: owner-telecom-digest@telecom-digest.org (Telecom Digest) To: telecom-digest@telecom-digest.org Subject: Telecom Digest V2000 #13 Reply-To: editor@telecom-digest.org Sender: owner-telecom-digest@telecom-digest.org Errors-To: owner-telecom-digest@telecom-digest.org Precedence: bulk X-UIDL: da69845f254e1d909a372398f77c5d27 Status: RO X-Status: Telecom Digest Wednesday, August 9 2000 Volume 2000 : Number 013 In this issue: Problems Reaching Toll-Free 866 Numbers Can we cool it here? Is Telecom Digest doomed? strategy vs. entitlement etc. ICB *free* articles in Telecom Digest RE: ICB *free* articles in Telecom Digest ICBTollFree.Com HEADS UP HEADLINES Re: Is Telecom Digest doomed? brief explanation Re: Phone Fears: Malignant or Benign? NO long distance carrier on phone, but Hacker calls overseas on my line! Visit with Pat Re: NO long distance carrier on phone, but Hacker calls overseas on my line! Re: Can we cool it here? Strange Overseas LD charges to Vanuatu (Re: NO LD-carrier but overseas charges) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 9 Aug 2000 08:28:29 -0400 From: Mark J Cuccia Subject: Problems Reaching Toll-Free 866 Numbers There have been recent reports about difficulty in reaching some Toll-Free numbers with the new 866 Toll-Free "area" code, especially from an AT&T-Wireless phone. Some of these problems - on reaching valid toll-free numbers from your calling area from ANY type of phone or carrier/service - is beacuse the originating/access provider either doesn't yet have 866 (or whatever that new code is, such as 877 two years ago, or when new 855 starts in November) yet programmed into its switch translations - or if the code (866, or 877, or 855, etc) _IS_ programmed into translations, it was put in WRONG where it isn't being properly database-dipped first. BellSouth Mobility's Ericsson Cellular switch here in New Orleans (NWORLAIYCM3) - well, the switch isn't in New Orleans, but actually in Metairie LA (a suburb) - does have 866, 855, 844, 833 and 822 "loaded", but they are not doing (or having BellSouth landline's LATA tandem downtown do) the database-dip first, and are sending all 866-nxx-xxxx+SEND dialed numbers over to the customer's inter-LATA "PIC" directly. In my case, my inter-LATA "PIC" on my BS Mobility phone is AT&T. If the customer who has that 866 number happens to have the 866 number from AT&T, I have no problems reaching that 866 number from my cellular phone. BUT, if that 866 number's customer has the number with MCI or Sprint or someone _other_ than AT&T, and if BSMobility is sending all of my dialed 866 calls over to AT&T (my PIC), then AT&T is going to reject the call, because that 866 number isn't "theirs". If BS Mobilty were doing what they are SUPPOSED to do, they would be first doing the database-dip of _ALL_ dialed 866 calls, or at least having BellSouth _landline_ do the database-dip, the database returning the indication of the LD carrier associated with that 866 number, and BS Mobility or BellSouth Landling then turning the handling of that 866 number over to _THAT_ LD carrier. Other situations where you may have problems... PBX systems which either don't have 866 or 855, etc. loaded into their translations, or else they are handing _ALL_ 866 dialed calls over to their chosen LD carrier. They are _SUPPOSED_ to be doing a database-dip first, or having the LEC do the database-dip, and then handing the 866 call over to the carrier indicated by the result of the database-dip. Dittos for problems with CLECs. They too have to somehow interconnect with the database-manager, usually the incumbent LECs. Dittos for problems with many independent (incumbent) LECs, particularly in rural areas. One additional problem with them has to do with where the LD-carrier indicated by a database-dip isn't "normally" available from that rural area for originating calls. However, the database-result usually indicates an "alternate" carrier (such as MCI, Sprint, or AT&T) to carry the call to the nearest point where the call can then be handed over to the "smaller" carrier who would be the chosen provider for that toll-free customer's number. But the smaller/rural independent LEC doesn't look at the "alternate/intermediate" carrier (AT&T, MCI, Sprint, etc) on the database-result, and only the "main" (smaller) LD-carrier indicated (the one actually chosen by the toll-free customer), and then rejects the call because that independent LEC doesn't have originating access with that smaller LD-carrier. COCOTs/Private Payphones/etc... They too have to have each new toll-free code (888, 877, 866, etc) loaded into their internal "chips" as valid AND FREE area codes dialed in a ten-digit method: 1+ 8zz-NXX-xxxx There was a problem with COCOT companies not getting around to doing this or even REFUSING to load the new codes. However, maybe one of the "benefits" of COCOTs getting their _EXTORTION_ pound-of-flesh on toll-free numbers dialed from "their phones" is that the private payphone industry is now MUCH more aware of new toll-free codes as they are identified, announced, and put into actual service. The COCOT owners can get revenue on calls dialed from their phones to 866, etc. I've already seen COCOT instruction cards indicating the future 855, 844, 833, and 822 as all being toll-free, and even allowing FREE coinless access to ten-digit numbers dialed with these codes. Of course, except for 855, with the 250-xxxx test numbers, toll-free 855 goes into service in November and many local telcos have already opened up 855 into their switch, the others - 844, 833 and 822 don't have any announced date as to when they go into service nor even the initial testings phase. Also, for the most part, COCOTs get a dialtone line from the incumbent LEC, which is the local manager of copies of the toll-free number database, and as long as the incumbent LEC has everything working right, you won't really have the problem with 866 (and 855, 844, etc) as you might have with Wireless providers and CLECs. The bottom line is: Load the 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, 833, 822 toll-free code into originating (ten-digit number dialed) translations, and as TOLL FREE, which also means: you MUST DATABASE-DIP the dialed 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, 833, 822 toll-free number FIRST, and THEN hand-off the call to the LD carrier (or "alternate" carrier) indicated by the RESULTS of the database-dip! Mark J. Cuccia mcuccia@tulane.edu - -- The Telecom Digest is currently robomoderated. Please mail messages to editor@telecom-digest.org. ------------------------------ Date: 9 Aug 2000 08:54:08 -0400 From: Fred Atkinson Subject: Can we cool it here? I've been reading some of the sharp edged remarks that are flying around. Imagine Pat returning [in his state of health] to find this kind of flaming going on. Why would we want to treat his many years of work in a manner such as this? It degrades not only the publication, but it gives the readers the [hopefully false] impression that we are not adults here. We are not adolescents. We can have our differences without having to show the world that we are functioning under the direct influence of our emotions. I'd like for Pat to return and find that we have preserved his work. Certainly he deserves that. Fred Atkinson - -- The Telecom Digest is currently robomoderated. Please mail messages to editor@telecom-digest.org. ------------------------------ Date: 9 Aug 2000 09:03:02 -0400 From: Joseph Singer Subject: Is Telecom Digest doomed? Well, we can see how well "robomoderation" works. There has been a larger than normal signal-to-noise ratio in the digest what with the furor over the ICB thing not to mention when folks reply to articles quoting back whole issues of the digest. I fear that if things continue at the current rate no one will even *care* to read Telecom Digest. Let's clean it up folks! - -- The Telecom Digest is currently robomoderated. Please mail messages to editor@telecom-digest.org. ------------------------------ Date: 9 Aug 2000 13:24:08 -0400 From: "Judith Oppenheimer" Subject: strategy vs. entitlement etc. - ------------------------------ Date: 8 Aug 2000 10:08:07 -0400 From: jlurker@bigfoot.com (Justa Lurker) Subject: Re: strategy vs. entitlement >You would keep me from having the same digits spell >something else because of misdials and confusion. >And what would you say if I registered 1-888-videxpe(rt). >Too close to a (TM) name? No, I said the opposite -- there should be no legal entitlement for anyone to replicate anything in any space. Judith Oppenheimer - ------------------------------ Date: 8 Aug 2000 11:29:46 -0400 From: jlurker@bigfoot.com (Justa Lurker) Subject: ICB Issue >As Ms Oppenheimer has complained specifically about my >presence here, in the sense that I don't belong and she, >as a paying sponsor with a deal does belong, Below is my verbatim *private* email to Mr. Lurker and John Levine: Pat Townson and I negotiated a sponsorship agreement that included specific visibility and distribution for ICB *and* ICB advertisers. This was after the ITU withdrew its funding, but long before Pat had his stroke. No "taking advantage" of anyone or anything took place, and quite frankly, the suggestions is insulting. I am beginning to wonder about the repetitive pejorative postings against ICB being allowed (encouraged?) onto the Digest by people calling themselves things like "Just Lurker", while ICB postings (separate from ICB's HeadsUp Headlines) appear to be blocked. For this long-time Telecom Digest reader and contributor, the wisdom, discretion and diplomacy of Pat Townson's moderation is sorely missed. Judith Oppenheimer - -- The Telecom Digest is currently robomoderated. Please mail messages to editor@telecom-digest.org. ------------------------------ Date: 9 Aug 2000 13:24:19 -0400 From: "Judith Oppenheimer" Subject: ICB *free* articles in Telecom Digest I have replied to posters of this thread offline, and am taking just a moment to clarify a few things here. >Nobody in their right ... provides correct information ... I'd offer you a list of industry players who do (at least with ICB, but then most of our business is referrals.) But we do not sell, rent, lease or share in any way for any reason, subscriber or registration contact information. As for comparison with the NY Times, I'm flattered to be in such prestigious company, but we're not big enough to support or justify targeting ads. And for the purists among you who truly believe that registration is evil or constitutes 'payment' (my own mother among you), I can only tell you that every ICB registration copies to my email, a wonderful opportunity that if you have the time to read them, that I recommend highly. It does help me tell prospective advertisers the overall characteristics, though never any contact, identifying or email information, of who'd see their ads. But more importantly, ICB readers range from carrier execs to end users, techies and engineers to lawyers and regulatory people, small businesses to global corporations, also b2b vendors and all forms of service providers, literally worldwide. All individuals with diverse frames of reference and an interest, for one reason or other, in toll free and domain name issues. How in heavens name would I know what to publish -- what's of critical interest, what's of casual interest -- if I didn't know who was reading?! Registration also provides a great way to get acquainted with people you'd otherwise never meet, often resulting in new business, professional friendships, and important editorial contributions, as more than a few on this list know. Finally, as I just explained to Jay offlist (where I think this conversation belongs), ICB contributes significantly to the free information base of the internet - something I believe in strongly. The bulk of ICB's daily content is free (this my mother *doesn't* like ), and that which isn't frequently offers a demonstrative heads-up value simply found no where else. Judith p.s. Re someone's spam accusation - was it Jay? - ICB is updated daily - headlines are not repeated. Judith Oppenheimer, +1 212 684-7210, 1 800 The Expert Publisher, http://www.icbtollfree.com/testimny.cfm - -----Original Message----- From: owner-telecom@telecom-digest.org [mailto:owner-telecom@telecom-digest.org]On Behalf Of Jay Hennigan Sent: Monday, August 07, 2000 3:58 PM To: editor@telecom-digest.org Subject: Re: ICB "free" articles in Telecom Digest On 2 Aug 2000 01:09:10 -0400, Joseph Singer wrote: :I do appreciate Judith Oppenheimer's contribution of articles to the :digest, but every "free" article that I clicked on in both of her :submissions in the latest digest were met with: : :The page you requested is available only to Registered Users. : :If you are already registered log in now, if not Register here. : : User name : Password : :If the article in the digest has an "F" next to it and you have indicated :in your article that it is free to view why am I met with the above stuff?? It is the same technique used by the New York Times, to which Pat has strongly objected. When you register you're required to give personal information such as industry affiliation, etc. The "free" articles are peppered with advertisements. With the registry information, the sites (NYT or ICB, etc.) can either target the ads to the demographics of the viewer, justify higher prices to the advertisers with claims of more "quality" viewers, or if the site is truly greedy sell the data itself to junk mailers, junk faxers, and telemarketers. I'm not saying that ICP or NYT do this now, but when you put marketers and that type of database in close proximity it is always a possibility. For a mild example, see: http://www.thestandard.com/article/display/0,1151,16718,00.html Such sites are, in my opinion, inherently evil. Nobody in their right mind who has been the vicitm of spammers and telesleaze provides correct information to them. - -- Jay Hennigan - Network Administration - jay@west.net NetLojix Communications, Inc. NASDAQ: NETX - http://www.netlojix.com/ WestNet: Connecting you to the planet. 805 884-6323 - -- The Telecom Digest is currently robomoderated. Please mail messages to editor@telecom-digest.org. - -- The Telecom Digest is currently robomoderated. Please mail messages to editor@telecom-digest.org. ------------------------------ Date: 9 Aug 2000 13:24:48 -0400 From: "Judith Oppenheimer" Subject: RE: ICB *free* articles in Telecom Digest I have replied to posters of this thread offline, and am taking just a moment to clarify a few things here. >Nobody in their right ... provides correct information ... I'd offer you a list of industry players who do (at least with ICB, but then most of our business is referrals.) But we do not sell, rent, lease or share in any way for any reason, subscriber or registration contact information. As for comparison with the NY Times, I'm flattered to be in such prestigious company, but we're not big enough to support or justify targeting ads. And for the purists among you who truly believe that registration is evil or constitutes 'payment' (my own mother among you), I can only tell you that every ICB registration copies to my email, a wonderful opportunity that if you have the time to read them, that I recommend highly. It does help me tell prospective advertisers the overall characteristics, though never any contact, identifying or email information, of who'd see their ads. But more importantly, ICB readers range from carrier execs to end users, techies and engineers to lawyers and regulatory people, small businesses to global corporations, also b2b vendors and all forms of service providers, literally worldwide. All individuals with diverse frames of reference and an interest, for one reason or other, in toll free and domain name issues. How in heavens name would I know what to publish -- what's of critical interest, what's of casual interest -- if I didn't know who was reading?! Registration also provides a great way to get acquainted with people you'd otherwise never meet, often resulting in new business, professional friendships, and important editorial contributions, as more than a few on this list know. Finally, as I just explained to Jay offlist (where I think this conversation belongs), ICB contributes significantly to the free information base of the internet - something I believe in strongly. The bulk of ICB's daily content is free (this my mother *doesn't* like ), and that which isn't frequently offers a demonstrative heads-up value simply found no where else. Judith p.s. Re someone's spam accusation - was it Jay? - ICB is updated daily - headlines are not repeated. Judith Oppenheimer, +1 212 684-7210, 1 800 The Expert Publisher, http://www.icbtollfree.com/testimny.cfm - -----Original Message----- From: owner-telecom@telecom-digest.org [mailto:owner-telecom@telecom-digest.org]On Behalf Of Jay Hennigan Sent: Monday, August 07, 2000 3:58 PM To: editor@telecom-digest.org Subject: Re: ICB "free" articles in Telecom Digest On 2 Aug 2000 01:09:10 -0400, Joseph Singer wrote: :I do appreciate Judith Oppenheimer's contribution of articles to the :digest, but every "free" article that I clicked on in both of her :submissions in the latest digest were met with: : :The page you requested is available only to Registered Users. : :If you are already registered log in now, if not Register here. : : User name : Password : :If the article in the digest has an "F" next to it and you have indicated :in your article that it is free to view why am I met with the above stuff?? It is the same technique used by the New York Times, to which Pat has strongly objected. When you register you're required to give personal information such as industry affiliation, etc. The "free" articles are peppered with advertisements. With the registry information, the sites (NYT or ICB, etc.) can either target the ads to the demographics of the viewer, justify higher prices to the advertisers with claims of more "quality" viewers, or if the site is truly greedy sell the data itself to junk mailers, junk faxers, and telemarketers. I'm not saying that ICP or NYT do this now, but when you put marketers and that type of database in close proximity it is always a possibility. For a mild example, see: http://www.thestandard.com/article/display/0,1151,16718,00.html Such sites are, in my opinion, inherently evil. Nobody in their right mind who has been the vicitm of spammers and telesleaze provides correct information to them. - -- Jay Hennigan - Network Administration - jay@west.net NetLojix Communications, Inc. NASDAQ: NETX - http://www.netlojix.com/ WestNet: Connecting you to the planet. 805 884-6323 - -- The Telecom Digest is currently robomoderated. Please mail messages to editor@telecom-digest.org. - -- The Telecom Digest is currently robomoderated. Please mail messages to editor@telecom-digest.org. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2000 19:17:34 -0700 From: editor@icbtollfree.com Subject: ICBTollFree.Com HEADS UP HEADLINES ************************************************************************* ICBTollFree.Com HEADS UP HEADLINES ************************************************************************* from ICB Toll Free News - Daily News and Intelligence covering the Political, Legal and Marketing Arenas of 800 and Dot Com. ************************************************************************* CONTENTS - - IT AIN'T 866 IF IT DON'T DO THAT DIP - - INTERNET PIONEER KARL AUERBACH STEPS UP TO THE PLATE, SEEKS AT-LARGE NOMINATION FOR ICANN BOARD - - BARCELONA.COM LOSES WIPO DECISION - - AMAZON.COM: NEW .COM'S ON THE HORIZON? - - ITU AND IETF SET STANDARDS TO BRIDGE SWITCHED & IP NETWORKS - - MODEL E FREE, FOR THE MOMENT, TO HIT THE ROAD - - INTERNET NAME PROTECTION? ************************************************************************* CUSTOMER SERVICE NOTES: ICB Premium Service is on Summer Sale for $99 for a 12 month subscription, including access to all 'P' articles and Premium areas of the web site. (regular price $549) Act Now! - http://www.icbtollfree.com/order.cfm ICB is a popular research destination, with all content archived indefinitely. Find all ICB headlines, current and archived, at http://www.icbtollfree.com/icbheadlns.cfm. ************************************************************************* ARTICLE ACCESS CODE LEGEND ICB Toll Free News offers two valuable service options: F = Free - News and Features articles P = Premium - Unlimited Site Access including all Articles and Documents. ************************************************************************* HEADLINES FOR August 8, 2000 P - IT AIN'T 866 IF IT DON'T DO THAT DIP 'It doesn't really take 'rocket science' to properly route a call.' CONTINUED HERE: http://www.icbtollfree.com/article.cfm?articleId=4287 F - INTERNET PIONEER KARL AUERBACH STEPS UP TO THE PLATE, SEEKS AT-LARGE NOMINATION FOR ICANN BOARD Karl Auerbach is an engineer with a law degree who understands commerce as well as free enterprise. CONTINUED HERE: http://www.icbtollfree.com/article.cfm?articleId=4286 P - BARCELONA.COM LOSES WIPO DECISION 'The City Government of Barcelona has amply demonstrated this interest through the implementation of a long-standing constant policy of obtaining registration of trademarks, most of them containing the expression 'BARCELONA', for the most varied kind of activities it has engaged into. The Complainant has proved in these proceedings to own approximately one thousand of these registrations.' CONTINUED HERE: http://www.icbtollfree.com/article.cfm?articleId=4291 ************************************************************************* **************************************************advertisements********* >>>>>>>>>>>>> http://1800TheExpert.com <<<<<<<<<<<<< 800 & Domain Name Acquisition Management, Lost/Stolen 800 # Retrieval, Litigation Support, Regulatory Navigation, Correlating Domain Name & Trademark Matters. ************************************************************************* FT Telecom Conferences In its 20th year, this event will bring leading personalities in the telecomms industry to discuss opportunities and challenges which technological advancement, increased competition and restructuring will pose to the future of global telecommunications. 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That's twice the value for one great rate. http://www2.gte.com/LD/bld/tollfree.cfm ************************************************************************* ************************************************************************* more HEADLINES FOR August 8, 2000 F - AMAZON.COM: NEW .COM'S ON THE HORIZON? Acquisition of new domain names potentially signals new lines of business or increased focus on existing lines. CONTINUED HERE: http://www.icbtollfree.com/article.cfm?articleId=4292 P - ITU AND IETF SET STANDARDS TO BRIDGE SWITCHED & IP NETWORKS The Megaco/H.248 standard should enable gateway devices to pass voice, video, fax and data traffic between conventional analog telephones and packet-based data networks. CONTINUED HERE: http://www.icbtollfree.com/article.cfm?articleId=4290 F - MODEL E FREE, FOR THE MOMENT, TO HIT THE ROAD A federal judge ruled yesterday that a Michigan court was the wrong venue for Ford's lawsuit against a company currently doing business only in California. CONTINUED HERE: http://www.icbtollfree.com/article.cfm?articleId=4289 F - INTERNET NAME PROTECTION? Internet Name Protection says it is providing a 'public service' to name holders who might otherwise forget to renew their domain names. But 'implicit in the request for the client to forward details for re-registration (and 'funds - urgently') is the implication that somehow (the) `Internet name protection agency' is the agency able to rescue the client from this non-existent crisis,' Waddell said. CONTINUED HERE: http://www.icbtollfree.com/article.cfm?articleId=4288 ************************************************************************* **************************************************advertisements********* DOCTOR, LAWYER, CHIEF COOK & BOTTLE WASHER? Are you a local or regional business that advertises in newspapers, direct mail, on radio or tv? 1 800 BRAND IT shared use marketing programs can help your sales skyrocket! 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(Personal Assistance Team) can enhance your productivity and image with rates as low as 3 cents per minute. http://www.patlive.com or 800.775.7790 ************************************************************************* Free Timely Time Management Tips to increase your personal productivity and give you more time and balance for your personal life. Subscribe now at: http://www.topica.com/lists/timemanagement ************************************************************************* Read TOLLFREE-L online at http://www.egroups.com/group/tollfree-l/info.html ************************************************************************* ABOUT ICB ICB HeadsUp Headlines Daily Email is sent by request. Subscriptions are free to qualified applicants. Visit http://www.icbtollfree.com/reg.cfm?NextURL=Index.cfm to sign up. Please feel free to pass along a copy to a friend, within reason so long as the message is not modified or used unfavorably. To unsubscribe mailto:editor@icbtollfree.com, subject: unsubscribe. *************************** ADVERTISING INFORMATION *************************** For information on advertising in ICB HeadsUp Headlines emails, see http://www.icbtollfree.com/advertiz.cfm ************************************************************************* Only subscribers or registered users of ICB Toll Free News web site will be able to access all or some of the full text of URLs provided. ************************************************************************* Copyright © 2000 ICB, Inc. All rights reserved. ************************************************************************* ------------------------------ Date: 9 Aug 2000 13:39:52 -0400 From: pete-weiss@psu.edu (Pete Weiss) Subject: Re: Is Telecom Digest doomed? On 9 Aug 2000 09:03:02 -0400, Joseph Singer wrote: |I fear that if things continue at the current |rate no one will even *care* to read Telecom Digest. Let's clean it up |folks! Oh, you mean like alt.dcom.telecom! :-( - -- The Telecom Digest is currently robomoderated. Please mail messages to editor@telecom-digest.org. ------------------------------ Date: 9 Aug 2000 13:45:38 -0400 From: "Judith Oppenheimer" Subject: brief explanation Email messages that I sent to the Digest yesterday and the day before (one twice, thinking I'd not sent it correctly), have just now been released to the list, as it turns out my email address was inexplicably suspended by our interim moderator. Hence the appearance today of replies to what should now be old subject matter. 'Twas not my fan, that stirred the dirt ... Judith Judith Oppenheimer, +1 212 684-7210, 1 800 The Expert Publisher, http://www.icbtollfree.com/testimny.cfm Register for FREE 800/Dot Com Headlines here: http://www.icbtollfree.com/reg.cfm?NextURL=Index.cfm - -- The Telecom Digest is currently robomoderated. Please mail messages to editor@telecom-digest.org. ------------------------------ Date: 9 Aug 2000 14:13:51 -0400 From: jay@west.net (Jay Hennigan) Subject: Re: Phone Fears: Malignant or Benign? On 4 Aug 2000 23:09:57 -0400, Monty Solomon wrote: : : Phone Fears: Malignant or Benign? (Business 3:00 a.m. PDT) : http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,38013,00.html?tw=wn20000804 : Cellphone manufacturers post radiation information on their packages : while maintaining their products are safe. This in the same week a : neurologist blames cellphones for brain cancer. By Elisa Batista. I'm not sure if this is a government regulation requiring the information be posted, or the manufacturers reacting to media pressure to list it. While field strength in free space is relatively easy to measure or calculate, the radiation absorbed by the user is quite difficult to accurately predict as a lot depends on the shape of the user's head and how the person holds the phone. The makers have a tough decision in terms of marketing. On the one hand, "more powerful" sells the concept that the phone will perform better in marginal areas, but "less radiation" appeals to the people who buy in to the cancer scare. A few years ago KTLA in Los Angeles put together a documentary of the history of the station, one of the west coast television pioneers. They had on the show an engineer who had lived on Mount Wilson for many years in the transmitter shack. He was in his eighties and seemed quite healthy. There should be by now a significant sample of those who have worked in and around UHF and microwave facilities for a long period. Where's the data showing increased cancer? I, for one, am not buying in to the cancer scare. - -- Jay Hennigan - Network Administration - jay@west.net NetLojix Communications, Inc. NASDAQ: NETX - http://www.netlojix.com/ WestNet: Connecting you to the planet. 805 884-6323 - -- The Telecom Digest is currently robomoderated. Please mail messages to editor@telecom-digest.org. ------------------------------ Date: 9 Aug 2000 14:39:23 -0400 From: peny_lane2@my-deja.com Subject: NO long distance carrier on phone, but Hacker calls overseas on my line! Southwestern Bell is my local phone carrier. When I set up my service, I told Southwestern Bell that I did not want a long distance carrier because I have Local Plus. I never call outside the state, so I do not need long distance service. The only other services I have on my line are "Privacy Manager" to stop computer generated calls; "Call Busy Forwarding" for "Callwave" program; and "Caller ID". I opened my phone bill today and there were AT&T charges in the amount of $23.90 for a 3 minute call to an overseas country called Vanuatu. I called AT&T to find out what Vanuatu was. I was told that it was a call placed to a porn site and that it worked like a 1-900 call. I informed AT&T that no such call was made by me or my husband from my computer or phone. We live alone with our 3 year old grandaughter. We do not access porno sites on my computer; We do not have a microphone to make computer sex calls. My desktop stays locked and I do not have a long distance carrier. I asked, "How can a long distance call be placed on a line that is not supposed to have long distance capability?" After wasting and hour and getting the run-a-round with AT&T (another representative said that it was not a 1-900 call). I finally connected to the International Center for AT&T. When I explained my situation, the AT&T representative removed the charges. However, she told me that next time the charges could not be removed. She suggested that I call Southwestern Bell and have them check my line to see if I had been hacked. Southwestern Bell could not find anything wrong with my line. The repair service said that someone could have hacked into my computer and dialed with a 10-10 Code. Southwestern Bell suggested that I get a toll blocker put on my line. I called Southwestern Bell to inquire about this service. The young man told me to forget everthing that I had been told, because not having a long distance carrier does not stop someone from making long distance calls on my line with 10-10 Codes. Had I been told this when I hooked up my service, I could have placed a long distance block on my phone. He then proceeded to sell me a "toll blocker" package for $3 a month. With this service I can call 1-800 and 911, but I cannot access directory assistance (which I need). He also offered me "Outgoing Call Control" which is $6.95/month. This service allows 1- 800 and 911, and long distance calls with a pin number, but it does not access directory assistance either. Both these services block 10-10 Codes. I did not order either package. The only things I can figure are as follows: 1. Somebody hacked into my computer and used a 10-10 code to call a porn site (Vanuatu 678507730). (My modem is set NOT to dial a 1+ area code--only the prefix and number; I have a local ISP and Local +. 3. Somebody has hacked my phone line with a 10-10 Code. I am angry that everytime I turn around, due to forces outside my control, I am being forced to buy more protection for my phone line. As much as Southwestern Bell charges, I would expect their technology to surpass all these problems and give line protection automatically, free of charge. Do I need to pay for an additional service that will not allow me to use directory service or see if my local ISP can help? I do not know how to keep this from happening again without paying Southwestern Bell for another service that will take away the directory service I have now. It is like trying to find the "perfect" church. No such thing exists. Who can I talk to about this? HELP!! Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy. - -- The Telecom Digest is currently robomoderated. Please mail messages to editor@telecom-digest.org. ------------------------------ Date: 9 Aug 2000 15:15:09 -0400 From: Mike Sandman Subject: Visit with Pat Hi. I visited with Pat over the weekend, and he seems to be doing OK. His health seems to be stable for now. He's taking his medication, which will hopefully ward off further problems. He smokes a lot, which can't help his condition, but he doesn't seem care. He has decided not to go for the surgery that his doctors wanted to do, since there was a 25% chance he wouldn't make it out alive. Not very good odds. John should be posting more here about Pat soon. Pat really appreciates John's taking over the group in his absence, and is happy that the Digest is back. Since he doesn't have access to a computer or the Internet, I gave him a bunch of printouts from the Digest to try to keep him in the loop. Since there have been so many posts about ICB in the Digest, I specifically asked Pat what he wanted in the Digest in terms of ICB. He said that he'd like the ICB posts to continue as they were before, and that you can look in the archives to see what was in the Digest in early May - but it's up to John to deal with it as the moderator. Pat said he really appreciated Judith Oppenheimer's support as a sponsor, as well as that of all of the rest of the Digest readers who have expressed concern about him and have supported the Digest. I've personally received a lot of email asking about Pat, and have seen lots of newsgroup postings asking about his health. I forwarded printouts of a lot of those to him. I think it'll really help his spirits! Since we all actually know that John is trying to moderate this with a bot, it would be good if we could work with him. Obviously some spam will get through, and it will never look like a group moderated by Pat (or any human) looking at every message, but Pat said that this system has worked well for years in other groups and it should work fine on the Digest. I hope that you'll all continue to support the Digest, and wish Pat well. Mike Sandman - ----------------------------------------------------------- Mike Sandman 630-980-7710 E-mail: mike@sandman.com WWW: http://www.sandman.com Our 112 page catalog of Unique Telecom Products & Tools is on the World Wide Web. We have a fantastic assortment of Cable Installation Tools and Training Videos to help you use them. NEW "Basic ISDN", "Intro to T1" and Fiber Optic/CAT 5 Training Videos are now available. Also check out our Telephony History Page, which contains ads and articles from telephony related magazines from the first part of the century. - -- The Telecom Digest is currently robomoderated. Please mail messages to editor@telecom-digest.org. ------------------------------ Date: 9 Aug 2000 15:50:28 -0400 From: s falke Subject: Re: NO long distance carrier on phone, but Hacker calls overseas on my line! wrote ... > 3. Somebody has hacked my phone line with a 10-10 Code. Shouldn't the 101XXXX provider show up on your bill? - --s falke - -- The Telecom Digest is currently robomoderated. Please mail messages to editor@telecom-digest.org. ------------------------------ Date: 9 Aug 2000 15:51:42 -0400 From: herb@herbstein.com (Herb Stein) Subject: Re: Can we cool it here? Amen. Come on folks. Chill out. Pat provides a valuable service as does Judith. As some unknown lady once said, "What would your mother(s) say if they heard you go off like that?" In article <200008091254.HAA26361@celadon.propagation.net>, Fred Atkinson wrote: > I've been reading some of the sharp edged remarks that are flying >around. Imagine Pat returning [in his state of health] to find this >kind of flaming going on. Why would we want to treat his many years >of work in a manner such as this? It degrades not only the publication, >but it gives the readers the [hopefully false] impression that we are >not adults here. We are not adolescents. > > We can have our differences without having to show the world that >we are functioning under the direct influence of our emotions. > > I'd like for Pat to return and find that we have preserved his >work. Certainly he deserves that. > > > > > > Fred Atkinson - -- Herb Stein The Herb Stein Group www.herbstein.com herb@herbstein.com 314 215-3584 - -- The Telecom Digest is currently robomoderated. Please mail messages to editor@telecom-digest.org. ------------------------------ Date: 9 Aug 2000 15:53:16 -0400 From: Mark J Cuccia Subject: Strange Overseas LD charges to Vanuatu (Re: NO LD-carrier but overseas charges) Having "no" Long-Distance carrier doesn't mean that 1-900 calls can't be dialed from your line (you can get FREE blocking against "area" code 900 and "local" 976 codes from your line through Southwestern Bell)... and it doesn't mean that 101-XXXX+ Carrier codes (they aren't really just 'so-called' ten-ten codes, since there are 101-5XXX+ and 101-6XXX+ ranges as well, and eventually there will be codes of the entire 101-XXXX+ set) can't be dialed. However, the type of call that was billed to your line could still be a billing-fluke where your line' account happened to be posted for such a call. If it ever happens again, REFUSE to pay the charge, call up AT&T and/or Southwestern Bell and tell them STRONGLY that you did NOT place this type of call, and if they DON'T credit you, that you will complain to the FCC and your state regulatory agency. Talk to supervisors with both companies - even managers. Usually, when you insist to them that you are going to formally complain to your state regulatory agency and/or the FCC, they change their tune and become "oh so helpful", but not always. It all depends on "who" you talked to at telco. On that AT&T-billed call to Vanuatu... did the charges appear on an AT&T page/section of your SWBell bill? Or did AT&T bill you directly? BTW, Vanuatu is a typical "sex/porno" PAY-per-call destination country. Something else that came to mind... did you dial any 1+ 500- "area" code numbers recently? The Special Area Code '500' is for "personal numbers", which a person or company can have, keeping the same 500-nxx-xxxx number regardless of where they move or happen to be at that moment, with the called party being able to have calls forwarded at will. This is a "one-number" for people/companies that have multiple phone numbers and faxes, yet still be able to give out a single number. The two biggest providers of 500 numbers are (or have been) AT&T and MCI (there have been other smaller carriers here and there too). It doesn't matter who your "main" LD carrier is (if you even have chosen one), the 500 number is going to be carried and billed by the LD-company providing that 500 service/number. I don't know how MCI handled billing for their 500 numbers when the 500 number was set to terminate at a number outside of the United States, but AT&T would bill the CALLING party for all overseas charges if the person who has that AT&T 500 number forwarded to something outside of the US. This is UNLIKE local telco call-forwarding, where the person who has the call forwarding service is the billed/responsible party for all toll charges if they forward their incoming calls to a long distance location. Vanuatu in the Pacific has been a "hot spot" for sex/porno PAY-per-call lines via AT&T-provided 500 numbers where the 500-customer has forwarded their 500 number to sex/porno PAY-per-call numbers destined (or "appeared" to be destined) in Vanuatu. It was my understanding that if someone dials an AT&T-provided 500 number that has been forwarded to a number outside of the US, that AT&T provides an intercept type message indicating that if you (the caller who dialed the 500 number) stay on the line, your call will route to Vanuatu (or wherever) and will be billed the rate for such a call overseas. You do have the option to hang-up right away. Could you have dialed some 500 number recently, that you "thought" was going to be legit (but turned out not to be so)? Did you dial something that was "close" to 500 (maybe an 800 number, but you mis-dialed, hitting the '5' above the '8' on the keypad), and hung up AFTER you were connected to the destination, and didn't realize that the "wrong number" was _NOT_ an 800 number, but in reality a 500 number that was forwarded to Vanuatu? (and forgot about the wrong number incident?)... ANY time you are mis-billed, especially for wrong numbers, AT&T and the local Bell are supposedly REQUIRED to credit you. So if this appears again on your bill, just tell them that it was a wrong number and that you are not paying it. That THEY MUST credit you! Good Luck! Mark J. Cuccia mcuccia@tulane.edu - -- The Telecom Digest is currently robomoderated. Please mail messages to editor@telecom-digest.org. ------------------------------ End of Telecom Digest V2000 #13 *******************************