Message-ID: <20210813200320.8515B76F@telecom2018.csail.mit.edu>
Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2021 20:03:20 +0000 (UTC)
From: Moderator <telecomdigestsubmissions@remove-this.telecom-digest.org>
Subject: HI: Emergency Broadband Benefit Program Ready To Accept
More Households With Free Internet Service
Posted on Aug 13, 2021
HONOLULU - As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, our reliance on
internet connectivity to work remotely, engage in distance learning,
utilize telehealth services, and access government services online
becomes more in demand. But, with the help of a program established by
the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), low-income families
everywhere, including Hawai'i, are able to access truly affordable
internet service. Currently, more than 9,000 households across Hawai'i
are enrolled in the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, amounting to
more than one million dollars in savings for island residents who need
it most.
https://governor.hawaii.gov/newsroom/dbedt-news-release-emergency-broadband-benefit-program-ready-to-accept-more-households-with-free-internet-service/
Message-ID: <20210805235025.E6CAB25A03E4@ary.qy>
Date: 5 Aug 2021 19:50:24 -0400
From: "John Levine" <johnl@iecc.com>
Subject: Re: Maine Opens Investigation Into Verizon Over 207 Area
Code
It appears that Moderator
<telecomdigestsubmissions@remove-this.remove-this.telecom-digest.org> said:
> Maine's Public Utilities Commission is investigating how the
> communications company forecasts its need for blocks of new phone
> numbers, which could hasten Maine getting a new area code. ...
The article says:
That could hasten the end of the dominance of 207, which the PUC
currently expects to reach its maximum by the end of 2024, even though
just 37% of 207s are currently "utilized."
That low usage isn't surprising since most of Maine is quite rural so they
have lots of
tiny exchanges with far less than 10,000 numbers assigned.
If they want to fix the number issue, they should mandate that the
entire state become one rate center, all calls within Maine are local.
Then carriers that need more numbers could use blocks of unused
numbers from those tiny exchanges.
Fat chance, though.
R's,
John
Message-ID: <3411E6BD-ACA0-43D3-A2B6-26D1CA2BA6E0@mishmash.com>
Date: 14 Aug 2021 13:38:31 -0700
From: "Fred Atkinson" <fatkinson.remove-this@and-this-too.mishmash.com>
Subject: PIN Code to Reach
Folks,
Some years ago, I had a friend [who is now departed] living in
Bishopville, South Carolina. He had a feature added to his phone service that
required the caller to enter a four digit PIN in order to get through to his
phone after you dialed his phone number. I knew the PIN so I could call him
when I needed to. But it shut down the telemarketers pretty quickly.
This was a great way to keep scammers from reaching you. Only
people you gave the PIN to could actually reach you.
I now have an aunt who is getting pretty senile. Her son (a first
cousin of mine) heard her almost give her Social Security number over the
phone. Thankfully, he stopped her in mid-sentence.
He is looking for a way to keep her from receiving bad calls like
this so she can keep her telephone service. He needs to be able to reach her
as do others who have a legitimate need to call her. This might be a solution
if it is available to her.
I do not what the name of this service would be. So, I can't tell
my cousin what to ask for if he calls her phone company to se if it could be
added to her service.
She lives near Atlanta, Georgia. She is on a POTS line.
Can any of you help me by providing me with the name of this
service?
Regards,
Fred
