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From: wisdom@cs.uwindsor.ca
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Bell Canada Restricts 976
Message-ID: <12432@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 22 Sep 90 09:35:40 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 666, Message 5 of 11


 
In article <12292@accuvax.nwu.edu>, msb@sq.com (Mark Brader) writes:

> An insert in the current Bell Canada phone bill reads in part:

> #  Effective August 24, 1990 Bell Canada customers will be able
> #  to reach only Bell 976 Service programs within their area code.
> #  Long distance calls to Bell 976 Service programs elsewhere
> #  within Bell Canada territory -- for example, Ottawa to Montreal
> #  -- will automatically be blocked.

> #  ... Bell filed the proposal to block long distance calls to 976
> #  Service programs as a result of customer complaints over unauth-
> #  orized calls.  This restriction is meant to protect them from
> #  unexpected long distance charge for 976 Service.
 
Right. The unmentioned reason is that BC's customers don't make any
money from calls out of your Area Code ... such calls are only charged
the LD rates, NOT the maximum $3 per call for a maximum 4 minute
recorded msg.
 
With service providers losing out on, for instance, calls to their 416
numbers by 519 dialers, instead of to the 519 numbers, BC had to
appease their REAL customers somehow. Thus the "restriction".
 
In almost all cases, the "unexpected long distance charge" works out
to about half the cost of an "unexpected local 976 charge".
 
Service providers for Ontario 976 numbers are required to rent a
minimum of 30 phone lines, with equipment in specific locations
(closer to certain CO's, the cheaper the line rentals). I can
understand why they want to make as much money as they can; but BC's
"meant to protect" smoke is just annoying.
 
Ah well, at least we don't have to worry about 900 numbers; the only
ones we have access to here are the automated voting lines; the most
popular one is used on the national Movie Channel to pick a new
release to be shown early.
 

Pete Smith