TELECOM Digest     Wed, 22 Jun 94 15:51:30 CDT    Volume 14 : Issue 298

Inside This Issue:                           Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    FCC Callback Ruling (Leroy Casterline)
    Groups Hail New Bill For Public Space on NII (People For American Way)
    Pointers to Information on Cable Modem Details (Michael S. Pontecorvo)
    Hockey Broadcast Circuit (Fred Ennis)
    Anyone Have a Good PBX Disaster Recovery Plan? (rkprkp@aol.com)
    Long Dialup String (Randall Pascua)
    WWW Site For Used/New Telecom and WAN Equipment Dealers (Henry Minsky)
    Cellular to Cellular Calling (Shawn Gordhamer)
    WilTel Shows CID to/from CT (Doug Reuben)
    17.5 Cent/Min No-Surcharge Travel Service (Doug Reuben)
    New Phone Circuits Book (David C. LeDoux)
    ISDN Application Survey (Stuart Brainerd)
    Anybody Know Status of Speedway.net? Any Alternatives? (Tom Olin)
    FormFlow Supports MicroSoft Exchange (Jack Bzoza)

TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not
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----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: casterli@csn.org (Leroy Casterline)
Subject: FCC Callback Ruling
Date: Wed, 22 Jun 1994 13:18:48 -0600
Organization: Cahill Casterline Limited
Reply-To: casterli@csn.org


Pat,

Sorry it took me so long to post this.  I was hoping to OCR it from a
fax, but no such luck. I typed it in, so any errors are mine ...

Leroy

Report No. CC-572         Common Carrier Action        April 22, 1994

              FCC AUTHORIZES THREE APPLICANTS TO PROVIDE
             RESOLD INTERNATIONAL SWITCHED VOICE SERVICE

        The Commission has granted the applications of VIA USA, Ltd.
(Viatel), Telegroup, Inc., and Discount Call International Co. (DCI),
to resell the public switched services of other U.S. carriers, over
the objection of AT&T.

        Viatel is a Colorado corporation that sought authority to
offer resold, tariffed international switched voice and facsimile
service between the United States and various international points.
Telegroup, an Iowa corporation, sought authority to offer resold
international switched voice and data service between the United
States and various international points.  DCI, a Florida corporation,
sought authority to operate a "typical telephone dialback operation"
between points in the United States and various South American and
Central American countries.

        AT&T, in its petition to deny, alleged that the applicants
intended to engage in a "call turn-around" or "call-back" service.
AT&T opposed the applications to the extent that the applicants
proposed to use the resold services to provide call-back services
using a "code-calling" configuration.  AT&T stated that a reseller
using "code-calling" instructs its customers in foreign locations
to dial a U.S. telephone number, hang up after a pre-arranged
number of rings, but before the call is completed, and wait for the
reseller (usually through a conferencing unit) to return a call to
the predesignated foreign telephone number, providing U.S. dial
tone to the foreign customer.  The connection between the calling
and the called party is established via a U.S-originated switched
service call to the called location.  The customer does not pay the
foreign carrier for the initial uncompleted call.

        After reviewing the applications and pleadings, the Commission
found that the public convenience and necessity will be served by
granting the applications to resell the international switched
voice services of various U.S. common carriers.  Moreover, the
Commission could not find, based on the record, that uncompleted
call signalling ("code-calling") constituted an unreasonable
practice under Section 201(b) of the Communications Act.

        The Commission has long recognized that increased competition
in the international marketplace benefits U.S. ratepayers, and has
routinely granted applications for Section 214 authorizations for
the resale of international switched voice services to further that
goal.

        The Commission believes the proposed services would provide
similar benefits associated with increased competition, in line
with its statutory mandate to establish a rapid, efficient, nation-
wide, and worldwide wire and radio communications service.  The
Commission noted that use of the resold services for international
call-back activity could place significant downward pressure on
foreign collection rates, to the ultimate benefit of U.S. ratepayers 
and industry.

        The commission disagreed with AT&T that uncompleted call
signalling constituted an unreasonable practice under Section 201
of the Act, or otherwise was not in the public interest.  The
Commission reemphasized, however, that resellers of U.S. switched
voice services are common carriers and continue to be subject to
obligations of common carriers, including those in Sections 201(b)
and 214.

        AT&T alleged that this activity imposed costs on its
ratepayers through use of its facilities without compensation.
However, the Commission agreed with the applicants that AT&T had
presented no evidence that uncompleted call signalling occurred
often enough or made sufficient use of the network to impede
revenue-producing use of the network by AT&T or to otherwise impose
costs on AT&T or its ratepayers.  The Commission noted  that AT&T
and its foreign correspondents have the ability to address
uncompleted call signalling practices that are imposing costs on
them.

        In response to concerns expressed by AT&T and by certain
foreign carriers about the effect of uncompleted call signalling on
principles of international comity, the Commission required that
the applicants provide service in a manner that is consistent with
the laws of countries in which they operate.  However, the Commission 
recognized that the legality of the proposed activities under foreign
law is a matter for foreign authorities and courts to decide.

        Action by the Commission April 12, 1994, by Order,
Authorization and Certificate (FCC 94-96).  Chairman Hundt,
Commissioners Quello and Barrett.

                              -FCC-

News Media contact: Patricia A. Chew at (202) 632-5050.
Common Carrier Bureau contact: Adam L. Kupetsky at (202) 632-1305.

------------------------------

From: NetSurfer <jdwilson@gold.chem.hawaii.edu>
Date: Tue, 21 Jun 1994 06:59:26 HST
Subject: Groups Hail New Bill For Public Space on NII (fwd)


 ---------- Forwarded message ----------
 Date: Sun, 19 Jun 1994 22:20:30 -0700
 From: email list server <listserv@snyside.sunnyside.com>
 To: cpsr-announce@sunnyside.com
 Subject: Groups Hail New Bill For Public Space on NII

This is a press release put out by People for the American Way and the
Media Access Project last week. Additional information, including a
copy of the legislation, will be put online shortly.


June 15, 1994

       PUBLIC INTEREST GROUPS HAIL INTRODUCTION OF BILL TO
     PROVIDE "PUBLIC LANE" ON THE INFORMATION "SUPERHIGHWAY"

                PEOPLE FOR CALLS BILL "VITAL" TO
               DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH-TECH DEMOCRACY

           MEDIA ACCESS PROJECT SAYS NON-PROFITS NEED
             TO GET ON NOW, NOT IN FIVE OR TEN YEARS

     Public interest groups expressed enthusiastic support for S.
2195, legislation introduced today by Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) to
ensure that there will be space on the "information superhighway" for
schools, libraries, public broadcasters, and non-profit organizations
which promote local artistic, political and social speech.

     Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman Inouye's bill
guarantees access on the "superhighway" for non-commercial and
governmental uses.  "Without this protection, we may not get anything
besides home shopping and movies on demand," said Leslie Harris,
Director of Public Policy for the People For the American Way Action
Fund (PFAWAF).  "Senator Inouye's bill creates an electronic `public
square' where diverse political, artistic and cultural expression can
flourish.  It is vital to ensuring that the interests of the public
are not left behind on the information `superhighway.'"

     Andrew Jay Schwartzman, Executive Director of the Media Access
Project (MAP), underscored the short-term impact of Senator Inouye's
proposal.  "We hope -- and expect -- that some day the new technologies 
will provide so much capacity at such low prices that there will be no 
need to reserve space for public use.  The bill directs the Federal
Communications Commission to phase out the `public right of way' if
and when that happens." But, he added, "It is critical that local
government and non-profit groups have access to the new technologies
right away.  We need to begin using the technologies as they evolve;
it will be too late to do this five or ten years from now."

     Potential uses of this capacity are innumerable, according to
PFAWAF and MAP.  Among them are distance learning (in which master
teachers can work with students locally and nationwide) and
interactive information services such as the video health referral
system established by the Chicago Chapter of the Black Nurses
Association.  Similarly, performing arts groups could distribute their
works on these systems using an upgraded version of the currently
operative Arts Wire.  PFAWAF and MAP are especially enthusiastic about
the Los Angeles-based Democracy Network, an on-line interactive
multimedia political communication prototype which could help reduce
the cost of running for public office by creating high-tech voter
information services, in which all qualified candidates could respond
to citizen inquiries, "post" biographical information, video clips of
their speeches and position statements, and the public can participate
on video bulletin and issue boards.

     People For the American Way Action Fund is a 300,000-member
nonpartisan constitutional liberties organization.
  
     Media Access Project is a twenty-one year old non-profit public
interest telecommunications law firm which seeks to promote the
public's First Amendment rights to speak and be heard.

    -----------

 As Senator Inouye stated when introducing the bill, "nearly
100 educational, public broadcasting, library, civil rights, labor,
local government, and disability rights organizations and others have
expressed their support for the principles outlined in this
legislation."

 This coalition is asking organizations and individuals to
write the Senate in support of S. 2195. Sample letters to Senator
Inouye, Senator Hollings, and your individual Senators will also put
placed online shortly.


Anthony E. Wright    cme@access.digex.net
Coordinator, Future of Media Project  Center for Media Education

------------------------------

From: ponte@crl.com (Michael S. Pontecorvo)
Subject: Pointers to Information on Cable Modem Details
Date: 21 Jun 1994 18:47:32 -0700
Organization: CRL Dialup Internet Access (415) 705-6060  [login: guest]


I am looking for information on cable modems.  How the technology
works, baud rates, error recovery, etc. Any pointers would be helpful.


Thanks in advance,

Mike Pontecorvo   ponte@crl.com


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: What is a 'cable modem'?    PAT]

------------------------------

Subject: Hockey Broadcast Circuit
From: fred@page6.pinetree.org (Fred Ennis)
Date: Tue, 21 Jun 1994 23:28:34 -0400
Organization: Page 6, Ottawa, Ontario +1 613-723-5711


Hi!

I was talking with the Chief Engineer of CFRA Radio where I do an
afternoon talk show, and I promised I'd raise the question with the
experts here in TELECOM Digest.

What is the most economical way of delivering broadcast quality (5 Khz
or better bandwidth, mono only) sound from other NHL cities back to
our studios in Ottawa.

Bear in mind that installation costs are a killer unless it is
something that can be used by ALL NHL broadcasters to do their away
games and it can then simply be a matter of the home team installing
the facilities for all visiting broadcasters.

Options could include leased line to satellite uplink, ISDN, switched
56, Rood/Comrex/other systems using two dial up POTS lines, etc.

Email is welcome, or post here to let others join in the solving of
this problem.

Thanks in advance!


Fred Ennis, fred@page6.pinetree.org

------------------------------

From: rkprkp@aol.com
Subject: Anyone Have a Good PBX Disaster Recovery Plan?
Date: 22 Jun 1994 01:28:02 -0400
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)


I am interested in seeing if anyone out there has developed a disaster
recovery plan that they would be interested in sharing for their PBX
system.

I'm interested in plans that address switch failure, cable cuts, site
disasters, carrier failures, etc.  Any plan that addresses any or all
of the above would be welcome.

I know each situation is a little different, but I'd love to see a
copy of some.  E-mail me if you have anything to share.  


Thanks.

------------------------------

From: randallp@delphi.com (Randall Pascua)
Subject: Long Dialup String
Date: 22 Jun 1994 08:35:05 GMT
Organization: Delphi Internet Services Corporation


Hello all,

I don't know if this is the correct area to post my question, but here
goes ...

I'm trying to have my modem dialup a long string of numbers (to no
avail).  Here's what I want my modem to dial:

           9,18005555555,1,55555555555,1,5555555555

                               (explanation)

9,         <- is to get an outside line from a hotel - followed by a pause
18005555555,  <- is to call up my calling card service followed by a pause
1,   <- is a menu selection on my calling card service followed by a pause
55555555555, <- is my personal password in the service followed by a pause 
1,         <- is another menu selection on the service followed by a pause
5555555555 <- is the actual area code and phone number that I wish to reach
              via my calling card service

A bunch of humbug I know -- BUT if I do daytime calls via my calling
card service -- then I get a discount ($).  I'm sure you've seen the
advertis- ments on tv.

Anyway -- I wanted to have my modem dial this long string but it always
replies:  ERROR 

Must be because a modem's dialup procedure will only handle so many
characters and numbers.

So I've figured this out: put most of the info in my telephone profile
"0" (non-volatile ram in my modem) then put the rest in profile "1".

                               (example)

at&z0=9,18005555555,1,55555555555,1,     <enter>
at&z1=5555555555                         <enter>

I then type:  at&v <enter> which then shows me the two telephone profiles
stored in my modems' nvram:

&Z0=9,18005555555,1,55555555555,1,
&Z1=5555555555

NOW! my question is: can I just do some sort of "at" commands that
will dial both numbers consecutively?  Or is there a better solution
to this?

Whew!


Thanks,

Please send email reply to:  randallp@delphi.com

------------------------------

From: hqm@ai.mit.edu (Henry Minsky)
Subject: WWW Site For Used/New Telecom and WAN Equipment Dealers
Date: 22 Jun 94 05:06:32
Organization: MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory


I have started a WWW listing of used and new telecom/internetworking
equipment dealers, specifically dealing in useful stuff for
configuring a PC running BSDI BSD.386 un*x for wide area networking.
The list is made up of some places I have had reasonable experiences
with, and many places I have not dealt with, but were recommended by
various sources on the net. I don't have any relation to any of these
folks, and as always, caveat emptor ...

The list is at:

http://www.ai.mit.edu/datawave/hardware.html

There is an automatic entry form, if you want to add your favorite
source to the list (and you are running a relatively new Mosaic or
other WWW client).


Henry

------------------------------

From: shawnlg@netcom.com (Shawn Gordhamer)
Subject: Cellular to Cellular Calling
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest)
Date: Wed, 22 Jun 1994 20:00:51 GMT


When one cellular phone calls another on the same system, is the
equipment smart enough to _not_ use the telephone network?  As the
number of cellular-type phones increase in proportion to the number of
landline phones, will there be less of a dependence on the local
landline network?

I've heard that soon, non landline phones will have about the same
cost as landline ones.  If this is true, then I would think many
people will switch to portable phones and leave the landline network
altogether.


Shawn Gordhamer  shawnlg@netcom.com  Rochester, Minnesota  USA

------------------------------

From: dreuben@netcom.com (Cid Technologies)
Subject: WilTel Shows CID to/from CT
Date: Wed, 22 Jun 1994 13:08:05 PDT


I've noticed that WilTel LD (usually 10555) is now transporting CID
between NY and CT offices which are SS7 equipped.

WilTel seems to be supporting blocking - if you  *67 to block the ID, the 
call shows up on the receiving end as "PRIVATE". 

(I think) I've heard of other cases noted here on the Digest where
this is not the case - ie, *67 does NOT make a difference, and your ID
is shown no matter what. Does this apply to offices where *67 is
simply NOT available, ie, where the local telco hasn't implemented CID
yet and CID's customer controlled feature codes, like blocking? Or is
this more of a case where WilTel (or MCI or any of the other carriers
who are starting to allow CID transmission) randomly chooses to ignore
the "privacy bit" (can they strip it?) causing the remote Telco to
display the full CID number?


Doug    dreuben@netcom.com

------------------------------

From: dreuben@netcom.com (Cid Technologies)
Subject: 17.5 Cent/Min No-Surcharge Travel Service
Date: Wed, 22 Jun 1994 14:06:18 PDT


I was just browsing through the pages of the {Consumer Reports Travel
Letter} June issue, and noted an article about a Calling Card company
called "Alliance Travel Network".

The article was quite brief, but it seemed to indicate that ATN was
offering a Calling Card service charging 17.5 cents per minute DAY
rate, which is pretty good compared to the 23 cents which I am paying
now.

There is no surcharge associated with this service, and they didn't
mention any monthly fees. (Although maybe there are - I'll see when I
get their literature.) You access the service via an 800 number, and
they offer Canadian and international calling as well.

I don't know if they offer six-second billing as does ConTelCom
(WilTel reseller with the 23 cent calling card), but if they did, a
quick check to my pager for 15 seconds daytime would run like six
cents!  Compare that with a similar call placed over AT&T, Sprint, or
MCI's calling card "services", which would cost around $1, DAY rate.
With rates as low as ConTelCom's or ATN's (assuming no monthly
minimum), AT&T et. al. are beginning to look like AOSs! Why pay $1
when you can pay six cents (or to be fair, for a full one minute of LD
17.5 cents)?

Anyhow, ATN's number is: 800-477-9692. They will mail you some
literature about their company if you call.


Doug  CID Technologies (203) 499-5221

------------------------------

From: ledoux@netcom.com (David C. LeDoux)
Subject: New Phone Circuits Book
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest)
Date: Wed, 22 Jun 1994 01:29:38 GMT


I just bought a new book which might interest some readers.  It is
called "Ready-to-Build Telephone Enhancements", by Delton T. Horn, Tab
Books, 1994, ISBN 0-8306-4359-1, $16.95, and contains home-brew
electronics projects like remote ringers, hold buttons, DTMF
generators and detectors, telephone amplifiers, ring detectors,
off-hook indicators, and a couple of circuits to test phones and phone
lines.  Several of these have been requested in the past by readers of
the Telecom Digest and the other Usenet telecom groups, I believe.
The book also contains a couple of chapters of info on how telephones
work.


David C. LeDoux     ledoux@netcom.com

------------------------------

From: swbrain@mcs.com (Stuart Brainerd)
Subject: ISDN Application Survey
Date: Wed, 22 Jun 1994 20:51:59 CST
Organization: Synapse Consulting


To all interested in helping out on an ISDN applications survey, I am
posting this message for Ms. Anderson.

The survey was quick and she actually shared with me some of her
findings.  Interesting.  Such as the number of people who have tried
using ISDN and got so frustrated they gave up completely; and that
most people are either fanatic about ISDN or are very down on it.

                 ________________________________

Attention ISDN users.  I would like your participation in a study of
ISDN usage.  Please contact me with phone number and best day/time to
call.


Thank you.

Sandy Anderson    INTERNET:73241.3477@Compuserve.Com

------------------------------

From: tro@partech.com (Tom Olin)
Date: Wed, 22 Jun 1994 14:23:51 +0500
Subject: Anybody Know Status of Speedway.net?  Any Alternatives?


Speedway.net has been unreachable for the past several days by both
Internet and by dial-up.  They announced that they would be moving to
a new location sometime in early June, but they never announced any
specific information about the move, such as when they would be going
down or when they expected to be back up.  I'd like to have some
confirmation that they will indeed be coming back on-line sometime
soon.  If anybody knows anything about their status, please reply via
e-mail.

I'm also interested in finding any Internet service providers similar
to Speedway, for situations such as this.  speedway provides a full
range of Internet services, including shell access, full Usenet feed,
PPP/SLIP connections, etc.  The key items for me are PPP and the fact
that the service is free except for the long-distance phone call via
AT&T.  speedway makes its money by getting a cut of the LD charges
from AT&T, and AT&T happens to be my only option for LD service.  If
anybody knows of other providers who offer PPP, a charging method like
speedway's, and the usual other Internet goodies, please reply.

I am not affiliated with Speedway in any way other than as a usually
satisfied customer -- except when they disappear for days at a time
without leaving a note!


Tom Olin        PAR Technology Corporation   Voice: +1 315 738 0600 Ext 638
tro@partech.com           New Hartford, NY     Fax: +1 315 738 8304

------------------------------

From: Jack Bzoza <JackB@delrina.com>
Subject: FormFlow Supports MicroSoft Exchange
Date: Wed, 22 Jun 94 10:07:00 PDT


Delrina FormFlow to Support Microsoft Exchange

Premier Forms Application Software Will Integrate with Microsoft+s New 
Messaging and Information Platform

SEATTLE, WA and TORONTO, ONT - June 21, 1994 - Delrina Corporation
(NASDAQ:DENAF, TSE:DC) today announced plans to integrate the powerful
forms application creation environment of Delrina FormFlow with
Microsoft+s new messaging and information platform.

Microsoft Exchange is part of a family of products that offers a new
generation of enterprise computing and information sharing.  Microsoft
Exchange enables group collaboration across functional, organizational, 
and geographical boundaries, and automates business processes.

Delrina FormFlow enables people with little or no programming
experience to quickly create sophisticated forms applications with
conditional logic and deploy them across their organization using
their LAN-based e-mail systems.

FormFlow+s integrated Intelligent forms Language enables professional
developers to get +under the hood+ and design highly complex
applications when necessary.  By tightly supporting Microsoft+s
public/private folders, data replication, and the forms registry in
Microsoft Exchange, FormFlow users can now track their forms
applications across wide area networks.

This combination provides all that customers will need for entering
the evolving electronic commerce marketplace providing critical
capabilities for both intra-company and inter-company structured
information sharing.

+Electronic forms are a key enabling technology for client-server
solutions supporting the flow of structured information,+ said Rob
Shurtleff, General Manager Workgroup Solutions Product Unit.
+Delrina+s support for Microsoft Exchange delivers an enterprise-wide
forms solution.+

+Delrina FormFlow provides a first-class solution to companies looking
to organize and route forms-oriented information through their
enterprise,+ said Albert Behr, Director Forms Marketing at Delrina.
+Combined with Microsoft Exchange, FormFlow offers the first viable
alternative to Lotus Notes for sharing and managing structured
information - and one that is completely platform, operating system,
and messaging system independent.+

Ranked by the editors of PC Magazine as the premier forms-based
application creation environment for automating workflow (Editors
Choice, June 1994) and the best forms processing software by the
editors of PC Magazine and InfoWorld (PC Magazine Editors+ Choice,
March 1994; Infoworld, May 1994), Delrina FormFlow brings front-end
forms creation with conditional routing to Microsoft Exchange.
Delrina FormFlow leverages a company+s current investment in
technology by allowing: DOS, Windows, Macintosh, and UNIX hardware;
the most popular e-mail systems, including MAPI, VIM, MHS, AOCE, SMTP,
LAN-based, and public e-mail; and, the most popular desktop/SQL
databases, and ODBC; to be combined in forms-based applications.

Delrina develops, markets and supports PC-based software products and
services for the PC fax and data communications, electronic forms
processing, and consumer content markets.  Founded in 1988, Delrina
employs more than 500 people with headquarters in Toronto, Ontario and
offices in San Jose, CA; Washington, DC; Kirkland, WA; the United
Kingdom; France; and Germany.

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V14 #298
******************************

