TELECOM Moderator <telecom@eecs.nwu.edu> (09/03/90)
Labor Day is a good time to stop and reflect on the years of labor by the men and women in the telephone industry in America who have made the network what it is today. Despite the several problems that have arisen since divestiture was deemed to be what was good for the American public, the United States still has the finest, and most technically complex phone system in the world. For that, we can thank the telephone workers, and we should pay tribute to them today, along with all workers, for their contributions to our nation. Patrick Townson
Jim Breen <jwb@monu6.cc.monash.edu.au> (09/04/90)
In article <11635@accuvax.nwu.edu>, telecom@eecs.nwu.edu (TELECOM Moderator) writes: > Despite the several problems that have arisen since divestiture was > deemed to be what was good for the American public, the United States > still has the finest, and most technically complex phone system in the [1] [2] > world. For that, we can thank the telephone workers, and we should pay > tribute to them today, along with all workers, for their contributions > to our nation. [1] Come, Patrick. What is your evidence for this assertion? While not singing praises for my own country's network, I must say that my observations of the US network compared with others in the world lead me towards other less complimentary adjectives. It is a common observation that Americans always seem to shout on the telephone. The reason? [2] if you mean most technically advanced, I must ask again for the evidence. If you mean the most complicated mish-mash of vendors, companies, and switches, not to mention prices and operating standards, I must agree. Do you really want to pay tribute for this? Jim Breen (jwb@monu6.cc.monash.edu.au) Dept of Robotics & Digital Technology, Monash University PO Box 197 Caulfield East VIC 3145 Australia (ph) +61 3 573 2552 (fax) +61 3 573 2745 [Moderator's Note: I think many Americans shout on the telephone not from any failure of the telephone to convey their voice properly, but from some other cultural thing. I've experienced what you say, and I cannot explain it, but it has nothing to do with the clarity of the connection in most cases. Regards the technical mish-mash prevelant here, please note my message said *despite* divestiture -- not because of it -- we have an excellent system. And I for one *will* sing praises for your telephone system there. I spend about $1000 per month on international calling. I call about a dozen countries routinely, on both sides of the world. Most of my calls to Australia and New Zealand connect within seconds and sound like they were in the same phone exchange as myself. I still think the USA's network is best; but surely yours is in second or third place, along with New Zealand, the UK, and Hong Kong (loud and clear!). Most South American telephone systems are bad news, as is a lot of the middle east. PAT]
ashbya@uunet.uu.net (Adam J. Ashby) (09/04/90)
In comp.dcom.telecom, TELECOM Moderator writes: >Despite the several problems that have arisen since divestiture was >deemed to be what was good for the American public, the United States >still has the finest, and most technically complex phone system in the ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ From what I read daily in comp.dcom.telecom, the US definitely does not have the finest or the most technically complex phone system in the world. What have you based this sweeping statement on?? Surely not the all important 'User Satisfaction'? Adam Ashby (+1)(708) 632 3876 - work time (+1)(708) 934 1431 - play time ...!uunet!motcid!ashbya [Moderator's Note: Alright, fine. If the USA does *not* have what I described, then what country *does* have it? If TELECOM Digest was published in East Germany, Poland, Brazil or Haiti, what type of messages would you see here from day to day? Admittedly, user satisfaction has gone down since divestiture, and we have lost some of the margin we maintained for decades, but we are still far in front, which is more a testament to the old Bell System than it is to the federal judge :{ who made it all possible. Readers, suppose you tell me: (You generally have no reluctance to do so!) -- Whose is best? Whose is worst? Why? And if you say the USA, was it because of the judge, or despite him? Title your replies, Re: The Best and Worst. PAT]