jdominey@bsga05.attmail.com (01/08/91)
Someone suggested recently (and our Moderator concurred) that in cases of cable cuts and similar disasters, LD carriers should provide automatic re-routing of calls to other networks. While the idea sounds more reasonable as I consider it longer, one issue does stick out. If such a program were implemented, the people affected would be placing calls, expecting service from their default carrier, but actually receiving service from someone else. Sound familiar? It's awfully similar to the discussions of slamming that have rolled around in here for some time. For that reason, the idea of transparent re-routing bothers me somewhat. The effect would be mitigated by announcing the policy well before any emergency, with a bill insert or some such, and by making arrangements so that I would be billed through my default carrier. The latter, however, would be incredibly difficult to arrange and execute. In fact, the carriers will probably decide that it's easier to identify critical points in the network (such as the AT&T Newark cable) and provide redundant and/or better-protected facilities. (It's hard to protect against your own engineers and line people, though!) Jack Dominey | AT&T Commercial Markets | 800 241-4285 | attmail !dominey My own opinions except as noted. [Moderator's Note: They would not be receiving service from 'someone else'. They would be receiving service from their own carrier on lines their carrier temporarily leased *from someone else*. That makes a big difference. Remember, for years prior to Sprint and MCI having their own complete network they both leased circuits from AT&T and from each other. The OCC's may in fact still parcel out a lot of their international traffic to AT&T in a way transparent to their users. An intercompany emergency re-routing system would say to the public, "Don't worry about *how* we handle your call; it is our obligation to see that it gets handled, period." PAT]
phil@wubios.wustl.edu (J. Philip Miller) (01/11/91)
> [Moderator's Note: >.... Remember, for years prior to Sprint and MCI having > their own complete network they both leased circuits from AT&T and > from each other. This reminds me of a question that I have had for some time. Does AT&T now do the reverse? One of the reasons that I ask, is that near my house (in the 1900 block of Chouteau) is a bunker type building which was (at least since the divesture) labeled as an AT&T facility. A couple of years ago there was the laying of a major fiber cable under major streets in St. Louis and leading to this facility. Several months ago, I noticed that now the bunker is labeled as belonging to Sprint. What is going on here? J. Philip Miller, Professor, Division of Biostatistics, Box 8067 Washington University Medical School, St. Louis MO 63110 phil@wubios.WUstl.edu - Internet (314) 362-3617 uunet!wuarchive!wubios!phil - UUCP (314)362-2693(FAX) C90562JM@WUVMD - bitnet