AWalker@RED.RUTGERS.EDU (*Hobbit*) (10/08/85)
I think the idea is that eventually under equal access, the LOC will do the destination parsing and tell you that you don't need to invoke a carrier for an intra-LATA call. [They do this now, but you can get around this by using 950- or local dialups to the switch.] Some carriers *do* place a shortest-distance limit on calls, or at least they used to. I think MCI still does, but I haven't checked in a while. Interesting hack: If you dial 10nnn# where nnn is a carrier code, in a lot of cases you'll get to that carrier's switch, like you used 950 or a local dialin. Then, the above still applies. I think it's *hilarious* what MCI tells you if you want an operator: 10222 + 0 + number yields "For operator assistance, please hang up and dial 10288 plus the area code and number you are calling". They don't yet do the go-to-switch-parse-authorization-code-complete-call thing... _H* -------