Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!netsys!vector!telecom-gateway From: morris@jade.jpl.nasa.gov (Mike Morris) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Info please... Message-ID: Date: 4 Jun 89 01:24:43 GMT Sender: news@vector.Dallas.TX.US Reply-To: Mike Morris Lines: 31 Approved: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 187, message 7 of 10 I hear that in a few years, we'll be able to know the number of the calling party before we pick up the phone. How exactly will that work? Will it be a squirt of modem tones between rings? Or will it be when ISDN ("Innovations Subscribers Don't Need") comes into the house, requiring me to junk the 1A2 system inthe basement (and all the stuff I've got wired into it, like 4 amateur radio base stations, intercom to all 9 rooms, plus 4 outside talkback speakers, and much more). Can any body elaborate on what the plans are for the local loop? I'm not asking for anybody to spill any beans on stuff not already announced, just to let us know what to expect in the next few years. Lastly, can anybody explain why the local BOC is charging MONTHLY for a number assignment? Background: Several years ago I had 818-445-6453 as a second line in my parents house. After about a year, I lost my job, and to cut expenses had the number disconnected. Several years later, I inherited my parents house, and the number that we'd had since 1965. When I moved in, I decide to put a 2nd number in the house for the computer and the modem. When I tried to get my old number back, I was told it was available, but it would be an extra charge PER MONTH. Knowing computer systems, I know that assigning a specific phone number is no more work than assigning a random one, but still I'd be willing to pay an extra $10 or so, when placing the order. BUT NOT EVERY MONTH! CAN ANYBODY EXPLAIN? Or is it just seen as another cash cow to be milked? US Snail: Mike Morris UUCP: Morris@Jade.JPL.NASA.gov P.O. Box 1130 Also: WA6ILQ Arcadia, Ca. 91006-1130 #Include disclaimer.standard | The opinions above probably do not even