Path: utzoo!telecom-request Date: Thu, 20 Jun 1991 17:00:20 GMT From: Guy Helmer Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Disarmingly Curteous and Friendly US West Message-ID: Organization: Dakota State University Sender: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu 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 477, Message 7 of 11 Lines: 37 In Paul Schlveck writes: [... most of story about USWest's truly wonderful service deleted ...] > Another disturbing question was whether or not I required "an > additional line for a computer modem ..." I asked for clarification of > the question, but the rep couldn't give me any more info (reading a > script, etc.). At first I thought they were trying to sell me another > line, but I wonder if it is a sneaky way to monitor modem/BBS traffic > for a possible Michigan Bell-style extortion racket. I of course, > said "no." Any speculation? I called USWest about a second line into my apartment about eight months ago, and I spoke with a person who was very pleasant. After I asked about the second line, though, her immediate question was, "Oh, is that for a fax or modem?" Not wanting to leave myself open to any possibility of being charged business rates for a residential line, I mumbled something about just needing a second line for voice. More recently, I tried to find out if ISDN service would be available here in Madison, SD. A new switch was installed here about 20 months ago, and I've heard rumblings in the rags about USWest offering ISDN in a few locations real soon now. The residential customer service rep I spoke with had no idea what ISDN was, so I talked with a business rep and ended up talking with a guy who wanted to know what I wanted it for and then told me he'd have to look up some things and call me back (he never did, of course). Being a telecom newbie, I haven't pursued this any further :-) It would be great, though, to have high-speed switched service from home into LANs I manage in town and in Sioux Falls. Guy Helmer, Dakota State University Computing Services helmer@sdnet.bitnet, dsuvax!ghelmer@wunoc.wustl.edu, ghelmer@dsuvax.dsu.edu