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From: bzs@bu-cs.BU.EDU (Barry Shein)
Newsgroups: net.dcom
Subject: Phone line problem and modem
Message-ID: <1021@bu-cs.bu-cs.BU.EDU>
Date: Fri, 8-Aug-86 21:18:56 EDT
Article-I.D.: bu-cs.1021
Posted: Fri Aug  8 21:18:56 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 13-Aug-86 01:26:18 EDT
Organization: Boston U. Comp. Sci.
Lines: 39


>How would I go about getting NY Tel. to fix this?  They usually are unwilling
>to listen to any problems dealing with data equipment.
>-- 
>Robert Berlinger

Ok, due to circumstances, different BOCs etc it's hard to say anything
that's absolutely true. I once found the following out from my local
phone co (AFTER MUCH PERSISTANCE):

You are right, if it is only a problem with data they start resisting
you. HOWEVER, that is because they fix voice problems for free.
After much persistance (I say again) I found out they would be "glad"
to come out and clean up any problems such as you mention (bring it
all up to spec) for (at the time) $150.

Like I said, the problem is that the general repair folks don't seem
to know about this. I think the way I finally got to the right people
is I called and asked about leasing a modem for my home. When I got
to that person (after a few calls) I asked "what if my lines are too
noisy or something for the data", they told me about the above service
and gave me a phone # to call.

They also said if the problem was "out on the pole" they would repair
that for no charge (I guess tho you are still stuck with the initial
fee as they did come out, I dunno, it turned out in the end it was
my modem after all.) The woman on the line was quite insistant that
"on the pole" it should all be of data quality as they might have
to support someone "on the same pole" (they love that phrase I guess)
who is a bona-fide data customer (business I suppose.)*

She also strongly suggested that I go down in the basement and unscrew
the terminators, clean them up so they shine, and screw it back together
as that (corrosion) is the problem 99% of the time. Check the voltage
down there at the origin if you can.

	-Barry Shein, Boston University

* Obviously this may not be at all true outside of a major city.