TELECOM Digest Sat, 13 Nov 93 14:09:00 CST Volume 13 : Issue 755 Inside This Issue: Moderator: Patrick A. Townson FBI Operation "Root Canal" (Dave Banisar) "Escort" Cordless Phone (Dick Rhoads) Replace KXT616 KSU With ??? (Robert Jesse) Check From MCI; What to Do? (Henry Mensch) Corning Fiber Optic Cable (James D. Gillmore) Need Statistics on Lost Crypto Sales (SPA via Mark Boolootian) Information Wanted on Lincompex (Andre van Heerden) Switch Comparison Information Requested (David Foster) Long Distance Company Offers 800 Internet Access (Klaus Dimmler) Information Wanted on Cell Phone ROMs (Nathaniel Polish) Need List of Country Codes (Malcolm Dunnett) Information About Iridium Wanted (Ravi Prakash) Display Phone With Swedish CID (Claes Gussing) Specialized Mobile Radio (Jon Anhold) Re: Do You Monitor Cellular Channels? (William H. Sohl) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Organization: CPSR Washington Office From: Dave Banisar Date: Sat, 13 Nov 1993 9:17:03 EST Subject: FBI Operation "Root Canal" FBI Operation "Root Canal" Docs From the CPSR Alert 2.05 (Nov. 12, 1993) FBI's Operation "Root Canal" Documents Disclosed In response to a CPSR Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, the FBI this week released 185 pages of documents concerning the Bureau's Digital Telephony Initiative, code-named Operation "Root Canal." The newly disclosed material raises serious doubts as to the accuracy of the FBI's claim that advances in telecommunications technology have hampered law enforcement efforts to execute court-authorized wiretaps. The FBI documents reveal that the Bureau initiated a well-orchestrated public relations campaign in support of "proposed legislation to compel telecommunications industry cooperation in assuring our digital telephony intercept requirements are met." A May 26, 1992, memorandum from the Director of the FBI to the Attorney General lays out a "strategy ... for gaining support for the bill once it reaches Congress," including the following: "Each FBI Special Agent in Charge's contacting key law enforcement and prosecutorial officials in his/her territory to stress the urgency of Congress's being sensitized to this critical issue; Field Office media representatives educating their contacts by explaining and documenting, in both local and national dimensions, the crisis facing law enforcement and the need for legislation; and Gaining the support of the professional associations representing law enforcement and prosecutors." However, despite efforts to obtain documentation from the field in support of Bureau claims of a "crisis facing law enforcement," the response from FBI Field Offices was that they experienced *no* difficulty in conducting electronic surveillance. For example, a December 3, 1992, memorandum from Newark reported the following: The Newark office of the Drug Enforcement Administration "advised that as of this date, the DEA has not had any technical problems with advanced telephone technology." The New Jersey Attorney General's Office "has not experienced any problems with the telephone company since the last contact." An agent from the Newark office of the Internal Revenue Service "advised that since the last time he was contacted, his unit has not had any problems with advanced telephony matters." An official of the New Jersey State Police "advised that as of this date he has had no problems with the present technology hindering his investigations." Likewise, a memorandum from the Philadelphia Field Office reported that the local offices of the IRS, Customs Service and the Secret Service were contacted and "experienced no difficulties with new technologies." Indeed, the newly-released documents contain no reports of *any* technical problems in the field. The documents also reveal the FBI's critical role in the development of the Digital Signature Standard (DSS), a cryptographic means of authenticating electronic communications that the National Institute of Standards and Technology was expected to develop. The DSS was proposed in August 1991 by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. NIST later acknowledged that the National Security Agency developed the standard. The newly disclosed documents appear to confirm speculation that the FBI and the NSA worked to undermine the legal authority of the NIST to develop standards for the nation's communications infrastructure. CPSR intends to pursue further FOIA litigation to establish the extent of the FBI involvement in the development of the DSS and also to obtain a "cost-benefit" study discussed in one of the FBI Director's memos and other documents the Bureau continues to withhold. ------------------ To subscribe to the Alert, send the message: "subscribe cpsr " (without quotes or brackets) to listserv@gwuvm.gwu.edu. Back issues of the Alert are available at the CPSR Internet Library FTP/WAIS/Gopher cpsr.org /cpsr/alert ------------------------------ From: dsr@atl.hp.com (Dick Rhoads) Subject: "Escort" Cordless Phone Information Wanted Date: 13 Nov 1993 14:33:59 GMT Organization: Hewlett-Packard NARC Atlanta I saw an ad in {USA Today} this week for an "Escort" 900 MHz cordless phone manufactured by Cincinnati Microwave (they make the Escort automotive radar detectors). Has anyone tried one of these yet? Do you have any comments on its' range, quality, etc ...? Dick Rhoads Hewlett-Packard Company Phone : 404-850-2310 Atlanta Technology Center FAX : 404-850-2598 2015 South Park Place HPDesk : Dick Rhoads/HPATC Atlanta, Georgia 30339 USA Internet: dick_rhoads@hpatc.hp.com X.400 : C=US; AD=ATTMAIL; PD=HP; ORG=HP; OU1=HPATC; SN=RHOADS; FN=DICK ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 Nov 93 11:16:54 -0800 From: Robert Jesse Subject: Replace KXT616 KSU With ??? Reply-To: rnj%lila@us.oracle.com I have a Panasonic KXT61610 KSU that I'd like to replace. Eight display telephones and eight POTS ports will be plenty of extension capacity. The main reason for upgrading is to get more CO lines (eight would be ok, ten or more plenty) and DISA, and for this the Panasonic KXT123211 would do nicely. However there are some features I'd like to have in a new system that Panasonic doesn't support (at least that I know of on the analog systems). Since I have a buyer for both the old KSU and the telephones, I have the option of starting from scratch with an entirely different system. Do you know of anything that supports the following? - pass CPC from CO lines to analog POTS extensions (so answering machines can detect hangup cleanly); - decode caller ID from CO lines and send to display telephones; - single button on-hook speed dialing (not having to push the speakerphone button to go off-hook before pressing the speed dial button). Particularly if you recommend a digital system, it would be helpful if you'd comment on the sound quality -- some that I've heard are pretty noisy. Thanks! ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Nov 1993 21:42:48 -0800 From: hcm@netcom.com (Henry Mensch) Subject: Check From MCI; What to Do? For my residential long distance I currently use AT&T ... I got a check in the mail from MCI last week (not a very big one, as they say; only $20) which I get to cash if I let them switch me to MCI (and friends and informants, or whatever it is this week). Now, I remember reading in this space that some folks were able to redeem these checks with their current LD carrier without having to switch carriers ... has anyone done this lately ... with AT&T? If so, how ...? # henry mensch / / pob 14592; sf, ca 94114-0592; usa ------------------------------ From: gillmore@acad.csv.kutztown.edu (James D. Gillmore) Subject: Corning Fiber Optic Cable Date: 13 Nov 1993 06:29:40 -0600 Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway We are considering wiring to the desk top with fiber. On of the vendors suggested that we spec Corning fiber only. Is there a reason to do this other than giving some vendors a better chance at responding to our RFP? I would appreciate it if you would write back directly as we don't support UUCP news services at this time. We will in a few weeks though.. :) Jim Gillmore E-mail gillmore@acad.csv.kutztown.edu Manager Network Services VOICE 215.683.4199 Kutztown University of PA FAX 215.683.4634 LMS Annex Room 105 HOME 717.865.5820 Holidays & Weekends 717.567.3931 ------------------------------ From: booloo@framsparc.ocf.llnl.gov (Mark Boolootian) Subject: Need Statistics on Lost Crypto Sales Date: Fri, 12 Nov 1993 08:32:06 PST [Moderator's Note: Passed along FYI to us by Mark. PAT] NEED STATISTICS ON LOST CRYPTO SALES The Software Publishers Association (SPA) has been working to bring about the liberalization of export controls on mass market software with encryption capabilities. SPA's much-publicized study of the foreign availability of cryptographic products has clearly demonstrated the widespread and easy availability of encryption that is stronger than what U. S. firms have been able to export. However, NSA claims that software companies have not demonstrated sufficiently the economic harm they have suffered from export controls. Congress has told us that without better economic harm statistics, our chances of liberalizing the export laws are slim. Therefore, WE NEED YOUR HELP. If you or your firm has lost business because you have not been able to export your encryption product, please let us know. Be as specific as possible. It is the cumulative effect of this information that will be most compelling. Please pass this on to those in your firm who might know about these matters or might also be able to respond. Please send replies to i.rosenthal@applelink.apple.com or to Ilene Rosenthal, General Counsel Software Publishers Association 1730 M St. NW, Suite 700 Washington DC 20036 (202) 452-1600 ext. 318 or to Douglas Miller (same address) (202) 452-1600 ext. 342 ------------------------------ From: Andre van Heerden Organization: Rand Afrikaans University Date: Sat, 13 Nov 1993 12:23:05 GMT Subject: Information Wanted on Lincompex Reply-To: avh@ing1.rau.ac.za I would like information on Lincompex (Linked Compressor and Expansion). Especially the digital implementation of the lincomplex. E-mail me directly. Thank you, Andre van Heerden Tel: +27-11-489-2107 Cybernetics Laboratory Fax: +27-11-489-2357 Rand Afrikaans University Email: avh@ing1.rau.ac.za P O Box 524 Aucklandpark 2006 SOUTH AFRICA ------------------------------ From: dfoster@mdd.comm.mot.com (David Foster) Subject: Switch Comparison Information Requested Date: 12 Nov 1993 21:14:45 GMT Organization: Motorola - Wireless Data Group; Richmond, BC Has anyone information on, or can direct me to articles/sources on the following: 1. Telco, Celluar, Mobile data, Message or similar switches. 2. Basic functionality. 3. Basic list prices. 4. Price/performance aspects. 5. Technology/delpoyment platform/appliactions. 6. Comparative studies. This request for information is relatively urgent (as usual!!) Thanks, Dave Foster ------------------------------ From: klaus@cscns.com (Klaus Dimmler) Subject: Long Distance Company Offers 800 Internet Access Organization: Community_News_Service Date: Sat, 13 Nov 1993 15:20:35 GMT Telephone Express, a regional long distance carrier in the Western States, is offering national 800 Internet access for less than the cost of a long distance phone call! For only 13 cents per minute, access to a T1-Internet connected host is available from anywhere in the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Hawaii, and Alaka! The host is connected directly to the ANS backbone. For information on this, please call 800-748-1200 (voice), or write to service@cscns.com. Klaus Dimmler klaus@cscns.com CNS, Inc 1155 Kelly Johnson Blvd, Suite 400 Colorado Springs, CO 80920 719-592-1240 [Moderator's Note: Are you using it? How well does it work and what else can you tell us about it? How is billing done, etc? PAT] ------------------------------ From: polish@cs.columbia.edu (Nathaniel Polish) Subject: Information Wanted on Cell Phone ROMs Date: 13 Nov 1993 11:02:43 -0500 Organization: Columbia University Department of Computer Science A friend of mine posed an interesting problem to me the other day. He has several cell phones. He wants to be able to use one from his boat. He wants the phone on the boat to look like the one in his car. To this end he would like to be able to reprogram the ROM in the phone to match the one in his car. Is there a repository of ROM formats for various phones anywhere? Obviously an unscrupulus individual could use this information to steal phone service from others. I presume that this goes on all the time just like credit card fraud. Anyway, is this information available? Thanks, Nathaniel Polish polish@cs.columbia.edu [Moderator's Note: Interesting you mention it, as this discussion goes on here frequently and we just finished a thread on the topic. He is not supposed to do what he wants. His cellular carrier will probably tell him it is against their rules and in violation of his contract. But yes, there are books around which explain how to do it and companies which offer to clone one cellular phone so it looks like another, etc. I imagine one of the people reading this who is in the discussion here almost every time it comes up will send you email with sources. PAT] ------------------------------ From: Malcolm Dunnett Subject: Need List of Country Codes Organization: Malaspina College I'm looking for a list of all the "Country Codes"; either an FTP site or someone to post/mail me a copy. Any help? Thanks in advance. Malcolm Dunnett Malaspina University-College Email: dunnett@mala.bc.ca Computer Services Nanaimo, B.C. CANADA V9R 5S5 Tel: (604)755-8738 [Moderator's Note: We have a comprehensive list in the Telecom Archives. To use the archives with anonymous ftp, connect with lcs.mit.edu then 'cd telecom-archives' and check out the /country.codes sub-directory. While you are there, Carl Moore tells me the /areacodes sub-directory is being updated this weekend with some revisions. If you do not have ftp access at your site, then use the Telecom Archives Email Information Service. Send email to 'tel-archives@lcs.mit.edu' and in the text of your letter (the subject does not matter) issue these commands: REPLY yourname@site NOTE: This *must* be the first command. GET country.codes END NOTE: Please add this as the final command. If you are not familiar with the Email Information Service or need to get a complete index of topics and help in using it, then add these commands in your request: INFO HELP INDEX NOTE: This index is updated three times daily. Stay current with the Archives by fetching a copy often. ... and you will get a few more files to brouse through. You can also get single back issues of the Digest, or large files of fifty back issues at a time. To the several hundred people who use the service on a regular basis, thanks for making it a big success. PAT] ------------------------------ From: prakash@cis.ohio-state.edu (ravi prakash) Subject: Information About Iridium Wanted Date: 13 Nov 1993 08:01:04 -0500 Organization: The Ohio State University Dept. of Computer and Info. Science I would like to get information about the following: - Iridium : a low earth orbit mobile satellite system that Motorola Satellite Communications, Inc. is planning to implement. They had submitted an application to the Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C., in 1990. Is there any way I can get a copy of that application? Besides, if anobody could provide me with an e-mail/snail-mail address of someone to contact at Motorola about this, it would be of great help. Thanks, Ravi Prakash Office : Bolz Hall, #319b prakash@cis.ohio-state.edu Phone : (614)292-5236 - Off. Department of Computer & Information Science, Fax : (614)292-2911 The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 [Moderator's Note: And you also might want to check out the Telecom Archives. You'll find some stuff in the special reports and technical sub-directories on Iridium. We had a special issue on it a while back. PAT] ------------------------------ From: ebcguss@ebc.ericsson.se (Claes Gussing) Subject: Display Phone With Swedish CID Reply-To: ebcguss@ebc.ericsson.se Organization: Ericsson Date: Sat, 13 Nov 1993 13:04:50 GMT Anybody out there know of a cheap Display phone that applies to the Swedish standard for Caller ID, Distinctive Ring, etc? The major Swedish telephony supplier, I hear, is planning to release these services next year, and I'm looking for a supplier to become Swedish agent for. Regards, Claes Gussing ebcguss@ebc.ericsson.se The opinions are my own, and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer. ------------------------------ From: jga+@osu.edu (Jon Anhold) Subject: Specialized Mobile Radio Date: Sat, 13 Nov 1993 06:50:21 Does anyone have any information on Specialized Mobile Radio? Specifically, types of radios, what bands they are on, and common uses for SMR? Thanks, Jon Anhold N8USK jga+@osu.edu 1008 Steeb Hall AX.25->n8usk@n8lwg.#neoh.oh.usa.noam 70 W.11th Ave Riker/Picard '96 Columbus, Ohio 43210 Dreamland Network Systems #include std/disclaimer.h ------------------------------ From: whs70@dancer.cc.bellcore.com (sohl,william h) Subject: Re: Do You Monitor Cellular Channels? Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ Date: Sat, 13 Nov 1993 16:09:43 GMT In article kcooke@uclink.berkeley.edu (Kevin Ian Cooke) writes: > In light of the recent discussions about scanning cellular frequencies, I > would like your help with the following: > I am interested in writing a story about people who, from time to > time, like to listen to their nieghbors' cellular phone conversations. > I know you're out there, especially folks in the *.dcom.telecom > worlds, since (as I'm sure most of you know) it only takes slight > alterations to cell phones and FM scanners to get them to hear the > cellular frequencies. > I know that the above is illegal, and I know that anyone engaged in > such activity could be prosecuted. In the above, the ONLY illegal activity is actually listening to cellular calls (by virtue of the ECPA). Modifying scanners to be able to receive cellular calls is not now, nor will it be in the future illegal. Indeed, one can still manufacture and import scanners that receive cellular without needing an modification (e.g. the ICOM R100 receiver). Such importation and manufacture will not be illegal until after April 1994. Even after that date, the law prohibiting importation or manufacture of cellular capable scanners does NOT prohibit any of the following: (1) Modification of a scanner, (2) Continued sales of cellular capable scanners that were imported or manufactured before April 26, 1994. (i.e. stores can continue to sell existing stocks of those cellualr capable scanners), (3) Sales of used cellular capable scanners, and (4) ownership of any cellular capable scanner. As to anyone being prosecuted under the existing ECPA (the law that forbids listening to cellular), it is interesting to note that despite the occasional revelation in the press that "this or that was learned by listening to cellular calls." the level of any prosecution seems to be all but non-existent. Indeed, even folks in this newsgroup (some, not all) seem to be willing to allow the police to be above the law when listening to cellular calls results in the arrest of a criminal. That's a true double standard in my not so humble opinion. As to my personal opinion, the ECPA is a joke and only provides a false sense of security to cellular users who buy into sales statements that because it is illegal to listen to cellular, then the security of cellular converstations is assured. In fact, the ability to PROVE a violation of the ECPA occurred is all but impossible unless the violator publicly admits they have listened to cellular. Bottom line is that the ECPA is essentially an unenfoceable law that ranks in the same catagory as the old sodomy laws. Even the new law which will forbid manufacture and importation of cellular capable scanners does little to thwart anyone who really wants to eavesdrop from doing so. After April 1994, any potential eavesdropper can simply -- (1) buy a used cellular capable scanner; (2) buy a non-cellular capable scanner and build a frequency downverter (a trivially simple piece of electronics for which construction articles have already been published ... Feb/Mar 93 {Radio Electronics} Magazine) or (3) buy a double conversion non-cellular scanner and listen to the cellular frequencies by tunbing to the "image" (two times the IF or intermediate frequency). Do I own a cellular scanner ... nope and I have no interest in doing so, BUT I think laws that attempt to regulate what types of electronic equipment individuals may buy (or own) are just a step away from the totalitarian mindset that would regulate ownership of all types of reception equipment. Standard Disclaimer- Any opinions, etc. are mine and NOT my employer's. Bill Sohl (K2UNK) BELLCORE (Bell Communications Research, Inc.) Morristown, NJ email via UUCP bcr!cc!whs70 201-829-2879 Weekdays email via Internet whs70@cc.bellcore.com [Moderator's Note: That's really something, to equate the laws pertaining to privacy in communications with the old (but still in force in about half the states in the USA) laws on sodomy. The latter are considered by many people to be an invasion of individual privacy, while the former are considered by many people to promote and protect individual privacy. In any event, they are all a bunch of worthless, unenforceable laws, eh? So what else is new in these United States? PAT] ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V13 #755 ****************************** ****************************************************************************** Downloaded From P-80 International Information Systems 304-744-2253