Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!sdd.hp.com!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!casbah.acns.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: ho@hoss.unl.edu (Tiny Bubbles...) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: COCOT *LOCAL* Toll Charges Message-ID: Date: 3 Mar 91 21:42:05 GMT Sender: news@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Mr. News) Organization: TELECOM Digest Lines: 36 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 178, Message 10 of 10 Originator: telecom@delta.eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Nntp-Posting-Host: hub.eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu In reading John Higdon's post, it occurred to me that I've never seen a COCOT. Now, I never use pay phones -- or at least, very rarely -- so when I sauntered up to a pay phone at a local bar last night, I inspected it very carefully to see if it was, indeed, one of the vile things. Under long-distance information, it said something to the effect of "This telephone supplies long-distance service which is provided by LINCOLN TELEPHONE LONG DISTANCE, the absolute best long-distance service in the world, cost-effective, clear, heck, why aren't you using it at home???". There was a big -- and I mean big, like 2" x 4", sticker by the dial that said the phone supplied access to all carriers in compliance with all regulations. The upshot: an LT&T phone. No doubt. But I've still never seen a COCOT, and then came his post saying that some states have outlawed them. Is Nebraska one of them? I would tend to doubt it, since we're one of the most (if not *the* most) deregulated state for telephone services. Are Nebraskans just too nice to use the things? What should I be looking for? Do all COCOTs use AOSes, or do I have to be more picky than that? Is there some kind of "this is a COCOT, run for your life" message I should be looking for? Michael Ho, University of Nebraska Internet: ho@hoss.unl.edu Disclaimer: Views expressed within are purely personal and should not be applied to any university agency. [Moderator's Note: Actually, the more clever COCOT operators use phones which very closely resemble the 'genuine Bell' style. They try to make it very hard *from the phone's appearance* that you are not using what you expected. Once they get your coin deposit in the phone, well then that is another matter. PAT]