Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!casbah.acns.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: arnold%audiofax.com@mathcs.emory.edu (Arnold Robbins) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: FCC Proposed Rule Changes; Equal Access Message-ID: Date: 22 Feb 91 15:50:59 GMT Sender: news@casbah.acns.nwu.edu Reply-To: arnold@audiofax.com Organization: AudioFAX, Inc., Atlanta Georgia Lines: 41 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 149, Message 10 of 10 Originator: telecom@delta.eecs.nwu.edu In article The Moderator Notes: >[Moderator's Note: I don't see why AT&T has to get an 800 number. The >rules established for this plainly call for equal access via 10xxx, >and thus far, AT&T has been insisting everyone follow the rules. I've >heard all the arguments about fraud and difficulty in billing 10xxx >calls, but that is the COCOT owner's problem ... not AT&T's. PAT] Wrong. It's your problem and my problem. I.e., *the customer*. I don't care where I happen to be travelling, if I want to use AT&T to make a long distance call and I can't, then it's my problem. If getting to ATT through an 800 number works where 10xxx doesn't, then that makes life easier for *the customer*, the guy who buys the service and keeps all these folks in business. Pat's point is fine, in theory. But we all know about the difference between theory and practice. Arnold Robbins AudioFAX, Inc. 2000 Powers Ferry Road, #200 / Marietta, GA. 30067 INTERNET: arnold@audiofax.com Phone: +1 404 933 7612 UUCP: emory!audfax!arnold Fax-box: +1 404 618 4581 [Moderator's Note: But the fact that you cannot access AT&T via 10288 is not AT&T's fault. It is a greedy private operator who is denying access illegally. What is to prevent the same greedy operator from blocking access to 950 numbers if desired, or assessing some outrageous surcharge for calling an 800 number, both of which would make it impossible or impractical to use AT&T? The standard set up by the FCC to access the carrier *of your choice* was via 10xxx routing. If a greedy operator decides to deny you your choice of long distance carriers because his deal with that carrier is not as lucrative as with another, then your complaint is with that operator. What the local telcos should do is whenever they find 10-anything access being tampered with at the subscriber level is cut the the service off entirely until the subscriber agrees to bring himself into compliance with the regulations. Then watch the COCOT owner squeal about how his commissions went down that month. Down to zero! PAT]