telecom@bu-cs.BU.EDU (TELECOM Moderator) (11/25/88)
One other solution to the problem of unwanted long distance calling is to have the restriction done by telco in the central office. For example, when you have service installed by Illinois Bell, you are requested to designate an LD carrier. If you specifiy NONE (as opposed to simply not answering and being defaulted to some company) then 1+ dialing will not work on your line. You can still dial 10xxx+11D, but not a lot of folks are aware of this way to route calls, and you as the owner of the line would just keep your mouth shut about it. When no carrier is assigned here, calls via 1+ get re-order tone. Calls via 0+11 digits also fail, as do calls to 00 (double zero). Naturally you can go 10xxx plus 1 plus 10D or 10xxx plus 0 if the specified service has operators to handle calls. The success of this would depend on the lack of sophistication of the phone user. Illinois Bell will also deny 10xxx calls if you request it. Other types of restricted-use lines can be ordered here, but they are not advertised. You have to specifically talk to a specialist at telco, and generally you have to be a business subscriber instead of a residential subscriber, unless you can give them a good reason for having the requested line treatment with home phone service. Available are - 1) One way incoming line. NO outgoing calls. No dial tone on line. 2) Outgoing service only. Number for billing purposes only. If call is dialed to number, caller gets intercept "The number you dialed is not in service for incoming calls." 3) Long distance special billing calls only. NO local calls; no incoming calls. ALL outgoing calls MUST be made zero plus ten digits; even for local calls. This service is generally provided for inmate telephones in correctional centers. Typically the call must be made collect; no credit card numbers accepted and the operator IS aware of the caller's location. 4) No incoming or outgoing calls. Phone is only a local centrex extension and cannot place/receive calls from outside locations. A number is assigned for billing purposes, but caller gets intercept "The number you have dialed, 123-456-7890 cannot be reached from outside the customer's premises." Someone at IBT told me there will 'of of these days' be an arrangement where all long distance calls must have a four digit trailing PIN, otherwise call will be denied. It will be sort of like using a credit card but from your home phone as an accounting code or security code to prevent unauthorized use.