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From: telecom@ucbvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: mod.telecom
Subject: Touch-Tone (tm) Line Charges
Message-ID: <8512310828.AA18883@seismo.CSS.GOV>
Date: Tue, 31-Dec-85 03:28:37 EST
Article-I.D.: seismo.8512310828.AA18883
Posted: Tue Dec 31 03:28:37 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 31-Dec-85 23:36:37 EST
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Approved: telecom@mit-xx.arpa


	Since Touch-Tone (tm) DTMF service was first introduced in the early
60's by New York Telephone (now part of the NYNEX holding company), there has
always been an additional recurring monthly charge for central office lines and
PBX trunks so equipped.  In the "beginning", this cost was understandable since
DTMF apparatus had to be installed in what were originally rotary dial central
offices.  The cost of adding DTMF receivers to crossbar office originating
registers was significant.  On a very limited and selective basis certain SxS
offices were equipped with DTMF register-senders to provide this service, also
resulting in a significant cost.
	Once installation of No. 1 ESS began, virtually every installation had
dial pulse registers which handled DTMF.  As a matter of course all No. 1A and
newer ESS were equipped with DTMF capability for all dial pulse registers.
	In upstate New York, at least 80% of all crossbar central offices have
been replaced by ESS; at least 70% of all SxS CDO's have also been replaced by
No. 2 or No. 3 ESS.  I am not aware of any panel offices now functioning in
upstate New York; any remaining crossbar is now No. 5 with all originating
registers equipped for DTMF.
	My question (and gripe): How can New York Telephone continue to justify
an additional monthly charge of over $ 5.00 for Touch-Tone service?
	From a traffic engineering standpoint, DTMF is far more efficient than
rotary dial; a given central office requires far less dial pulse registers for
DTMF than for rotary dial, since the register holding time for DTMF is less
than one third of that for rotary dial.  It is to the economic *advantage* of a
telephone company to have its subscribers DTMF.
	I would like to know if other former Bell System operating companies
continue to perpetuate the anachronistic charge for Touch-Tone service, and
whether anyone has attempted (and succeeded) in having have such tariffs
withdrawn.

==>  Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, New York        <==
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