Dave Leibold <Dave.Leibold@f135.n82.z89.onebdos.UUCP> (06/23/91)
An update on some of the COCOT happenings in south Florida is due.
Note that some of the following is a few weeks old at this point, and
situations can change. With that disclaimer in hand ...
1) After contacting the Florida Public Service Commission about a
COCOT, and whether or not it was supposed to allow access to carriers
using 10XXX+ (although 10288 for AT&T is allowed), the PSC's response
included the following:
"At present, the Public Service Commission doesn't require that all
long distance carriers be accessed by using the 10XXX method from
non-local exchange pay phones [presumably PSC lingo for COCOTs -
djcl]. Some carriers can be accessed by using the 950 or 800 method,
and the proper dialing procedure can be obtained from your long
distance carrier or on the back of your calling card ..."
Generally, COCOTs will only allow 10288; no carriers other than AT&T
get the FG D treatment, but FG B (ie. 950) is accessible on most
COCOTs.
For reference, PSC in Florida can be reached at 1 800 342 3552.
2) A previous posting of mine about a COCOT in front of a Booger King
some time ago has some follow-up. On a return visit, I found that the
COCOT got changed to a different model, one which looks like a BC Tel
payphone. This time, the COCOT at least allowed access to the AT&T
operator with 10288 + 0, although it didn't allow any more numbers to
go through such as 10288 + 0 + NPA + NXX.XXXX. The COCOT company's
name ("Phone Plus") was also hand-scrawled on an information card this
time.
3a) Delray Beach's Atlantic Ave. could be re-titled COCOT Street. A
number of the things can be found in Delray's downtown, of varying
quality and price structure.
One COCOT allowed 555.1212 service to remote area codes for the
whopping sum of 35c. This is a good bargain, indeed.
Try to dial up a number in area code 903 (split from 214) or 908
(split from 201) and listen as the COCOTs either reject the number
with a canned invalid number message, or assign a high default rate
instead. Much fun can be had when 706 and 905 are tried; it will be
interesting to see what happens when the old Mexico codes are
reassigned to Georgia and Ontario respectively.
3b) The worst-case Delray COCOT was in front of a restaurant called
Ken and Hazel's. It seems a company called Alltek is supplying
"phones" that reject access to 950 and 10ATT along with other
defeciencies. I procceded to call a "211" number listed on the
payphone as being the number to call for problems and that. It was
answered by someone who didn't identify with a company name, just a
"Hello". When I asked what number I got, she responded with "You tell
me" and started getting secretive. It was apparent that 211 on this
COCOT dials someone's private residence. After explaining that this
was from the payphone, she seemed to understand and even knew the
location as "Ken and Hazel's". The connection was also fairly spotty
throughout, as the voice path was somewhat broken.
A recent return visit showed that not much changed after reporting the
problems to the "211" number ... the 211 number written on the phone
seems to have faded out a bit, though.
4) The more reputable (or the less flawed) of the COCOTs are run by
companies that state their membership in something called the Florida
Pay Telephone Association. I have no further details about this group
at this point.
dleibold@attmail.com
Dave Leibold - via IMEx node 89:681/1
Dave.Leibold@f135.n82.z89.onebdos.UUCP