Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.csd.uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!netsys!vector!telecom-gateway From: acd4!mjb@uunet.uu.net (Mike Bryan) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: 10288 From a Payphone Message-ID: Date: 20 Aug 89 16:39:56 GMT Sender: news@vector.Dallas.TX.US Reply-To: Mike Bryan Organization: Applied Computing Devices, Inc., Terre Haute, IN Lines: 48 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 313, message 3 of 4 In article lmg@cbnewsh.ATT.COM (lawrence.m.geary) writes: >I recently tried to make a call using 10288 from the Dunes hotel in >Las Vegas. The hotel blocked 10288 access from the room phones. (And >the hotel operator lied about how to reach AT&T, giving me a sequence >that connected me to an AOS called "OSW".) They also denied access to >10288 from PAY telephones located on the premises. > >Question: Is this legal? I have a couple of articles which were circulated around our company regarding the problems with AOS providers. Both appear to be from a local newspaper, but I can't say for sure. The first article lists in detail the types of problems that are often experienced by users (sometimes unwittingly) of AOS, including high prices and blocked access to major carriers. Regarding blocking of calls, the article says: [reprinted without permission] The AOS may block all access numbers starting with 10, making it impossible to reach AT&T. The FCC has ordered an end to this practice, but four AOS carriers are asking to be excepted. Even on a blocked phone, you can sometimes reach Sprint or MCI by using their 800 or 950 numbers. The second article deals with a pending investigation of AOS by Indiana utility regulators, due to complaints of price gouging and fraud. Relevant quotes from this article: [reprinted without permission] "We are seeking a total ban of AOS providers because what they provide is not in the public interest," Timothy M. Seat of the office of the utility consumer conselor said Wednesday. The consumer office, which represents the public in utility hearings, requested the investigation after hearing that some companies charge extremely high rates, block callers from using cheaper long-distance companies and bill for local calls from pay phones based on the length of a call, which is banned in Indiana. -- Mike Bryan, Applied Computing Devices, 100 N Campus Dr, Terre Haute IN 47802 Phone: 812/232-6051 FAX: 812/231-5280 Home: 812/232-0815 UUCP: uunet!acd4!mjb ARPA: acd4!mjb@uunet.uu.net "Did you make mankind after we made you?" --- XTC, "Dear God"