Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site madhat.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!sb6!scbhq!uahcs1!madhat!alvitar From: alvitar@madhat.UUCP Newsgroups: net.consumers Subject: Re: long distance companies (info requested) Message-ID: <193@madhat.UUCP> Date: Thu, 12-Dec-85 01:59:14 EST Article-I.D.: madhat.193 Posted: Thu Dec 12 01:59:14 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 14-Dec-85 00:58:01 EST References: <213@bbncc5.UUCP> <385@sdcc13.UUCP> <947@osu-eddie.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: DataVision, Huntsville AL Lines: 70 In article <385@sdcc13.UUCP> kemasa@sdcc13.UUCP (kemasa) writes: > If you pick another company is there any way to use AT&T? Other > than going to a pay phone. That brings up an interesting question. > If the local phones are by the local phone companies are pay phones > going to be divided? > Kemasa. I consult for a company which builds equal access conversion equipment and a front end for a multi-carrier credit card telephone system, so I have followed this subject closely. As I understand, the ruling handed down from Judge Greene [greene@bellbusters :-)] specified a universal dialing format as follows. This plan is not presently being used by BellSouth but they tell me it will be used in the future. [1 or 0 or 10ccc +] [aaa+] nnn-nnnn , where: [1] = prefix for unassisted direct dialing [0] = prefix for operator assisted direct dialing [10] = prefix for direct dialing using a specific long distance carrier. [ccc] = Three digit carrier number [aaa] = Area code Each long distance carrier has a unique three digit carrier code which will be the same anywhere in the USA. The code for AT&T is 288, so if you were presubscribed to Sprint, you could still dial Time and Temp in Memphis via AT&T by dialing 10288-9015265261. All intra-LATA calls are presently handled by your local operating company (LOC) although this may change in the future. Inter-LATA calls must be handled by an "other comman carrier" or OCC, and an LOC can not also be an OCC. Some LOCs will allow their customers to presubscribe to the carrier of their choice. When a carrier is not explicitly specified (normal 1+ dialing), the LOC should route inter-LATA calls through this predesignated carrier. The ruling requires that an LOC must provide this service for all carriers if it is provided for any carrier. The same carrier codes are used at pay phones, but with a 9501 prefix, so to access AT&T from a pay phone anywhere in the USA, you would dial 950-1288. This number, referred to as a point-of-presence (POP), is already used by several credit card phone systems (including the one we build). Calling the POP from a pay phone is usually free since most LOCs require the OCC to pay an access charge for use of the local networks. My understanding is that the LOC is forbidden to own any subscriber equipment (why you now may rent your phone from AT&T). Technically this includes pay phones, but I think an exception was made to let the LOCs own them. You can of course buy and install your own pay phone, and so can any of the OCCs. AT&T and MCI are doing just that. [And now for the obligatory joke. What? This isn't net.jokes? :-)] The following is a bit of post-divesture humor, seen on a bulletin board in a Memphis CO (our beta site for a credit card phone) during the summer of `84. The author is unknown, but probably not a member of the Judge Greene fan club. :-) The two largest bureacracies in America are the federal government and the Bell System. One has given us the telephone, the transistor, direct dialing anywhere in the USA, and is quite profitable. The other has given us the depression, the Vietnam war, Social Security, double digit inflation, and is almost two trillion dollars in debt. So who is telling the other how to run their business? ---- Live: Phil Harbison, DataVision Mail: 3409 Grassfort Dr., Huntsville, AL 35805 Uucp: {ihnp4,clyde,sdcsvax}!akgua!madhat!alvitar Bell: 205-881-4317