Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!texsun!texbell!vector!telecom-gateway From: mcb@ncis.tis.llnl.gov (Michael C. Berch) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Why can't I choose AT&T? Message-ID: Date: 18 Jul 89 00:13:16 GMT Sender: news@vector.Dallas.TX.US Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore CA Lines: 44 Approved: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 243, message 4 of 9 SKASS@drew.bitnet writes: > I'm about to move into housing built by my employer, who owns the > switch that my phone service will be on. According to everyone I've > asked, I will not have a choice of long distance carrier. Access > codes won't work (I'll get a busy signal after dialing 1-0, just like > I do now from my work phone), and the local company (NJ Bell) says > they can't install a phone for me. Hmmm. Isn't there some sort of tariff that requires RBOCs not to refuse to install residential service in various places where it might be more expensive than the normal installation? What grounds does NJ Bell give for refusing to install normal service? This sounds like a pretty poor deal; I would have to be *very* satisfied with my employer to agree to something like this, since it sounds like the potential to screw the consumer is very high. What sort of housing is this? I assume it isn't a military base or other government reservation, since it was mentioned that some units will be sold, but it sounds rather unusual. Even student/faculty housing on most campuses does not have this problem. -- Michael C. Berch mcb@tis.llnl.gov / uunet!tis.llnl.gov!mcb [Moderator's Note: There is indeed a tariff which says the local Bell cannot refuse to provide service to any QUALIFIED subscriber. A qualified subscriber is any person who has exhibited an *ability* and *willingness* to pay for the service. The correspondent should contact the local telco office, and order service. He'll need to meet any reasonable credit requirements they may impose. If telco says they will not install service, then he should immediatly ask to speak with the manager. He should advise the manager that he does not wish to be placed in a position where he must appeal to the Chairman's Office, but he will do so if the manager is unable to arrange the installation promptly. The next step would be to appeal to the Chairman, then file a formal complaint with the appropriate utility regulators. They know the rules, as does the Chairman and most likely the manager. He will wind up getting local service from the telco; from there, getting AT&T on the line is a breeze. Actually, when his complaint hits the regulators, he will get a call back from the Chairman's office. In truth, it will be a highly placed flunkie authorized to respond in the Chairman's name. He'll get his service. PT]