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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!rocky2!cubsvax!wu1!rf
From: rf@wu1.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.followup
Subject: Re: Transmission of caller"s phone number to called phone
Message-ID: <155@wu1.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 9-Sep-83 12:52:39 EDT
Article-I.D.: wu1.155
Posted: Fri Sep  9 12:52:39 1983
Date-Received: Fri, 16-Sep-83 20:37:22 EDT
References: <1004@ittvax.UUCP>
Organization: Western Union Telegraph, Mahwah, NJ
Lines: 22

A nice idea; maybe even a good one.  There are, however, some
technical problems.

First, the changes to the telephone network you are describing
would involve altering communications protocols (in the
industry, these are called "signalling") that have been in place
for some 50 years.  Most of the cost of these changes would fall
upon the local telephone companies.  As a result of the AT&T
divesture, these are already strapped for cash, having been
handed the oldest, hardest-to-maintain parts of the telephone
network.

Second, it would probably take as long as 20 years to convert
certain central offices.  So, serious creeps would just go to an
unconverted office.

Third, many lines in private (company) exchanges would only be
identified as "WWW co. line 3" -- not particularly useful for
tracing messages.

				Randolph Fritz
				  Western Union Telegraph