Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!wugate!wuarchive!swbatl!texbell!vector!telecom-gateway From: nvuxr!deej@bellcore.bellcore.com (David Lewis) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: How Do I Obtain a Phone Calling Card? Message-ID: Date: 21 Jul 89 18:54:24 GMT Sender: news@vector.Dallas.TX.US Organization: Bell Communications Research Lines: 34 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 250, message 9 of 10 In article , cowan@marob.masa.com (John Cowan) writes: > Naturally. A BOC calling card >is< an AT&T calling card. I frequently use > my New York Telephone calling card out-of-state, dialing 10288 where > necessary, and never have a problem. Why this hook between AT&T and the BOCs > still exists I don't know -- doesn't the MFJ prevent BOCs from giving AT&T > special treatment? Yes, but... The calling card databases were one of several types of facilities (particularly "Class 4" tandem switches) which were in effect "shared" between the BOCs and AT&T Long Lines, which couldn't be split. (I can't recall offhand what the name of the AT&T Calling Card DB is called; I'm sure some willing Bell Labs soul could help me out....) For this reason, at divestiture the BOCs were in essence granted a waiver to allow them to continue to use the AT&T calling card verification databases until they were able to develop and deploy their own systems. They've developed them, using a database system called LIDB (Line Information DataBase), but deployment is being held up in legal maneuverings, the extent of which I can't recall offhand. Probably something to do with call setup times, like 800 DBS. I believe there's a time limit on the waiver, but I suspect if the RBOCs went to Judge Green with a case that they've developed a system but have been unable to deploy it because of legal challenges, the waiver would be extended. Disclaimer: I don't work on LIDB, so I don't really know any of this. -- David G Lewis ...!bellcore!nvuxr!deej "If this is paradise, I wish I had a lawnmower."