Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!hayes.ims.alaska.edu!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request
From: john@bovine.ati.com (John Higdon)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: October Changes to Wisconsin Bell
Message-ID: <14238@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 1 Nov 90 20:04:41 GMT
Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu
Reply-To: John Higdon <john@bovine.ati.com>
Organization: Green Hills and Cows
Lines: 30
Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 782, Message 2 of 10


Dan Ross <dross@cambizola.cs.wisc.edu> writes:

> I don't know that the tariff was trading unlimited calling for
> touch-tone.  Even if it was, unlimited calling puts a load on the
> local phone network (if taken advantage of), contrasted with
> touch-tone which costs the phone company nothing (at this point).

Since this country can't seem to get off the 'business day' mentality
(that gives rise to traffic jams, both automobile and telephone, and
lowers general overall productivity), why not take advantage of it? A
number of years ago, Pac*Bell experimented with a plan that allowed
residence subscribers unlimited BAY AREA calling (that's right, San
Jose to San Rafael) between 5 PM and 8 AM and all weekend. During the
business day it was gougem toll as usual. Calls made during the off
hours didn't even show up on the bill.

 From a reality standpoint this would make sense, since during
off-business hours, the network is just loafing with a good deal of
excess capacity. So the logical question to be asked is, "Why can't
the telcos come up with an off-peak unlimited local calling plan?"
Instead of eliminating unlimited altogether, as in some areas of the
country, why not make it time of day sensitive? Evening "peak"
residential use runs a poor second to the ordinary business day use.
Telcos should charge MUCH less for this, since it puts no strain on
capacity whatsoever.


        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   +1 408 723 1395
    john@bovine.ati.com     | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !