Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request
From: unhd!unhtel!paul@uunet.uu.net (Paul S. Sawyer)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Why Aren't College Telcos Regulated?
Message-ID: <1866@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 5 Dec 89 20:25:11 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 9, Issue 555, message 5 of 5

[Please note that any comments following are my personal opinions.  I
make no policy for, nor do I speak for UNH.  I run the UNIX System,
not the switch.  We are familiar with ACUS only as users of software
which they own.]

Many persons, apparently students, have written lately to complain
about various campus phone services.  Recently Paul Selig brought up a
few points to which I would like to add, to help show the position
that we are in as service providers....

Since Divestiture, the local telco may not want to bother with serving
your dorm room, unless it is already wired.  Sometimes the telco does
not even have wires to the building.  It is the property owner's
responsibility to provide the means (space in existing conduits or on
poles, or easements and in some cases costs to install conduits or
poles) to serve those buildings.  Some colleges/universities do not
wish to do this.  Some opt to let an outside agent handle this.

UNH is wiring buildings as possible, trying to eventually provide
service for all campus residents.  If we had to act as a public
utility, we would have to do this all at once and so might not do it
at all, since our main job is to provide business telecommunications
for staff users.  In most cases, we are making use of existing
equipment and capacities which are not otherwise fully used after
business hours.

Keeping track of even a small number of students as customers is quite
different from keeping track of departmental customers, especially
with no additional staff.  Outside agencies such as ACUS can seem
attractive when they can act as turnkey service providers.

Although some larger or more fortunate institutions have central
office type switches and answer supervision, we and many others do
not, and it would not be cost effective to implement soon (so they
tell me).  TSPS or similar service which someone mentioned as
available to hotels, etc., was refused to us because we ARE NOT A
HOTEL under the tariff, said the telco....

We already process outside toll tapes which include collect calls,
etc., so we do not charge extra for such calls, but if you attempt a
fraudulent call or make an operator assisted call which gets billed to
other than your own number, we have to research it, and "Bill'em,
Danno" an extra $2.00.  We do this whether you are student or staff,
since it is preventable.

We do not knowingly block access to any long distance company that is
normally accessable, although our direct dial prices should be lower
than those with credit card or operator surcharges.  We do not charge
for 1-800- 950- or local calls.

Our business office treats our fees as normal student expenses, so we
do not need to charge a deposit or cut you off at a line of credit.
Some institutions do not want to collect telephone bills.

I agree that "Colleges and universities can only get away with this
crap if their students and staff let them!" [eravin@dasys1.UUCP], as
ACUS and other third parties all make some arrangement with some agent
of any institution they serve, one or more of President, VP, Dean of
Students, Telecom Office, Buildings and Grounds, Housing Office,
probably Trustees and/or State Board of Regents, etc, ad infinitum, ad
nauseum.  Each institution has different people making different
arrangements for different services, and differs in responsiveness to
student needs.  

As telephone service providers at UNH, we try to be responsive, we
welcome complaints, and we even give credits!  (sometimes...  B-) But
you don't call the public utilities commission because the lights in
your dorm flicker every time you make popcorn...  so work with whoever
runs these things on YOUR campus and maybe you can get somewhere!

		Best of luck, Paul
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Paul S. Sawyer              uunet!unh!unhtel!paul     paul@unhtel.UUCP
UNH Telecommunications        attmail!psawyer       p_sawyer@UNHH.BITNET
Durham, NH  03824-3523      VOX: 603-862-3262         FAX: 603-862-2030