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From: jdominey@bsga05.attmail.com
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Emergency Re-Routing
Message-ID: <15902@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 8 Jan 91 14:47:11 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 18, Message 4 of 6


Someone suggested recently (and our Moderator concurred) that in cases
of cable cuts and similar disasters, LD carriers should provide
automatic re-routing of calls to other networks.  While the idea
sounds more reasonable as I consider it longer, one issue does stick
out.

If such a program were implemented, the people affected would be
placing calls, expecting service from their default carrier, but
actually receiving service from someone else.  Sound familiar?  It's
awfully similar to the discussions of slamming that have rolled around
in here for some time.  For that reason, the idea of transparent
re-routing bothers me somewhat.

The effect would be mitigated by announcing the policy well before any
emergency, with a bill insert or some such, and by making arrangements
so that I would be billed through my default carrier.  The latter,
however, would be incredibly difficult to arrange and execute.  In
fact, the carriers will probably decide that it's easier to identify
critical points in the network (such as the AT&T Newark cable) and
provide redundant and/or better-protected facilities. (It's hard to
protect against your own engineers and line people, though!)


Jack Dominey | AT&T Commercial Markets | 800 241-4285 | attmail !dominey
My own opinions except as noted.


[Moderator's Note: They would not be receiving service from 'someone
else'. They would be receiving service from their own carrier on lines
their carrier temporarily leased *from someone else*.  That makes a
big difference. Remember, for years prior to Sprint and MCI having
their own complete network they both leased circuits from AT&T and
from each other. The OCC's may in fact still parcel out a lot of their
international traffic to AT&T in a way transparent to their users. An
intercompany emergency re-routing system would say to the public,
"Don't worry about *how* we handle your call; it is our obligation to
see that it gets handled, period."   PAT]