telecom@eecs.nwu.edu (TELECOM Moderator) (06/11/89)
For a few days now at least, calls from Chicago to 415-976-anything have been getting intercepted at a switch in Chicago and rejected. I was unable to find a single routing which would work. 10288 (1 plus on my lines) immediatly cuts in after 1-415-976 without waiting for the final four digits -- "Your call cannot be completed as dialed. Please check the number and dial again, or ask the operator for assistance. Three One Two, One Tee" However the operator was also unable to complete the call, or explain why not. 10222 waited for the complete eleven digits, then said, "We're sorry. MCI does not complete calls to 976 at this time." (click) 10333 accepted all eleven digits, then intercepted saying, "Forty Four! Five Oh Three! Your call cannot be completed as entered. Please call Customer Service for assistance." (and it kept repeating) 10444 accepted all eleven digits, paused, then gave a spurt of dial tone from somewhere for a couple seconds, followed by two rings, and a report, (one voice saying) "Forty seven dash three" followed by a different voice saying "We're sorry, but your call cannot be completed. Please check the number and redial, or call Customer Service." 10888 accepted all eleven digits, then *Illinois Bell* responded, "The long distance company you have selected cannot complete your call at this time. Please try your call again later." Growing frustrated at my inability to call a service which I enjoy using sometimes, I tried a different tactic. The firm which employs me has a WATS extender which I am authorized to use when working from home. A local Chicago seven digit number connects me. Calling into the diverter and entering my password, I then dialed the three digits for the tie-line to our branch in New York. Getting their dial tone, I dialed their access code for WATS, and again tried to dial 415-976-my thing. This time, a *very funky* recording from somewhere -- I know not where -- cut in after the 415-976 part, without waiting for the final four digits, and told me, "again. The number you have dialed is not in service. Please check the number and dial" (pause) (repeat, beginning with 'again') Attempting to make the call from the nine-level trunks off the New York PBX got me a New York Telephone intercept similar to the one in Chicago. Although we have an office in Canoga Park, CA, I know for a fact that all 976 numbers are blocked at the PBX level there, just as we have all 1-900 and 976 numbers in area 312 blocked in our PBX here in Chicago. But I figured I would try it anyway. As expected, calling through the nine level local trunks out of Canoga Park blocked all 213-976 and 415-976 numbers. Forcing the call through 9-10288 + 1-415-976 out of Canoga Park got me through. Finally! As to be expected, the transmission was lousy, and I don't intend to bother dialing all those numbers in the future just to make the call. So I guess its goodbye 415-976 from outside the State of California! Patrick Townson
john@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (John Higdon) (06/12/89)
In article <telecom-v09i0193m01@vector.dallas.tx.us>, telecom@eecs.nwu.edu (TELECOM Moderator) writes: > For a few days now at least, calls from Chicago to 415-976-anything have > been getting intercepted at a switch in Chicago and rejected. I was unable > to find a single routing which would work. California Information Access Providers have been clamoring for years to get this accomplished. They have found it very discouraging to have their call-counters registering impressive numbers, only to find at the end of the month that the check from Pac*Bell was for pennies. > Growing frustrated at my inability to call a service which I enjoy using > sometimes, and not paying for, since providers are only paid for in-state calls, > Forcing the call through 9-10288 + 1-415-976 out of Canoga Park got me > through. Finally! And finally, someone will be charged for the calls you make. It seems that California has been the only state to allow out-of-state calls to 976 due to the generally inept manner that Pac*Bell has handled the service all along. That there is even a 976 industry in California remaining is a miracle. > As to be expected, the transmission was lousy, and I don't intend to bother > dialing all those numbers in the future just to make the call. So I guess > its goodbye 415-976 from outside the State of California! And goodbye to all those jammed lines that are not making any money for the service provider. -- John Higdon | P. O. Box 7648 | +1 408 723 1395 john@zygot.uucp | San Jose, CA 95150 | M o o ! [Moderator's Note: Well, la-dee-dah! I am tempted to say something obscene, something 976-like. (Sticking out tongue and making ugly face.) PT]
goodman%cdp.uucp@eecs.nwu.edu (06/13/89)
The audiotext information providers have been losing a $bundle$ on calls placed outside the local billing area. They've been literally going batsh*t over the issue and are pressuring ALL carriers to block access to 976 #s outside the local billing area. AT&T has it's own reasons to comply with such requests: they've got a 900 service that would be happy to host information providers on a national basis. --Harry Goodman hplabs!cdp!goodman Disclaimer? Oh. "I mean what I say and say what I mean but CdP/IGC refuse to be responsible for my debts much less my words." [Moderator's Note: But can I get it billed on my Reach Out at twelve cents a minute? The one thing about 415-976 for us Chicagoans: it was *cheap* thrills. (Making obscene, Bronx-cheer like noises.) PT]
edell%garnet.Berkeley.EDU@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Richard Edell) (06/13/89)
In article <telecom-v09i0193m01@vector.dallas.tx.us> telecom@eecs.nwu.edu (TELECOM Moderator) writes: >For a few days now at least, calls from Chicago to 415-976-anything have >been getting intercepted at a switch in Chicago and rejected. I was unable >to find a single routing which would work. The following is an excerpt from a letter from Pacific Bell to 976 Information Providers dated May 4, 1989: "On February 22, 1989, Pacific Bell requested that the local telephone companies and the IECs block the California 976 prefix outside the state. This action was taken to help eliminate unbillable interstate calls from reaching California programs. Apparently Pacific Bell's 976 serving central offices are unable to reject 976 calls carried by IECs (long distance carriers) from outside of California (and still accept calls originated within California.) Therefore Pacific Bell is asking all other phone companies to implement blocking. -Richard Edell (edell@garnet.berkeley.edu) (UCB EECS student and 976 Information Provider)
jpp@uunet.uu.net (06/13/89)
telecom@eecs.nwu.edu (TELECOM Moderator): > For a few days now at least, calls from Chicago to 415-976-anything have > been getting intercepted at a switch in Chicago and rejected. I was unable > to find a single routing which would work. After reading this I tried it from the UK and got: "We're sorry. MCI does not complete calls to 976 at this time." (click) or NU (Number Unobtainable) tone from British Telecom or US style busy signal or Nothing at all - I.E. open line to who knows where. I then tried 213-976 and got the same set of messages. It looks like calls to all CA 976 codes are being blocked to out of state callers. This is no great suprise other than the fact that British Telecom seems to use MCI for some, but not all, of its US traffic. John Pettitt