TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: Re: Foreign Listings for Residences

Re: Foreign Listings for Residences

Fred Atkinson (fatkinson@mishmash.com)
Wed, 2 May 2007 19:43:22 -0400

TELECOM Digest Editor noted:

> Wasn't life a lot simpler when there were two basic entities: Bell
> and Independent? And just as back in 1900 when Bell and the
> independents were at each other's throat constantly, by 1980, when
> Bell and the independents had made peace with each other and were
> working hand in hand like two peas in a pod, the VOIP companies and
> the cellcos -- who honestly should have been treated as 'independents'
> in the Bell vrs Independent struggle -- came along and upset the whole
> thing once again. PAT]

Was life really simpler then, PAT? Or did you pay inflated costs
because there was no compeditor to get your service(s) from?

The only time when there was real evolution of our telephone network
was when competition entered the industry. My thanks to Bill McGowan
(who, by the way, used to hold the elevator door for me at MCI 19th
Street when my arms were heavily loaded with equipment I was taking to
the terminal).

They told you you couldn't connect an answering machine to your
service. They told you you couldn't connect any other equipment to
your service (unless you were paying them to provide it) until along
came the famous Carterfone decision and the courts changed things for
them.

You really think the VOIP and cell phone companies are to blame for
this situation? I don't.

To Mr. Hendley: That's an idea but it would need a lobby and it would
have to pressure all of the VOIP and cell phone companies to allow
these listings.

My point is: The incumbent telcos have been offering this service
(foreign listings) for many years. So why don't their people know
what they are, which department is responsible for it, and why those
people don't know it is there responsibility and how to do it?

I actually had a Bellsouth rep call me (several years ago) to confirm
that such a thing was possible (she was asking *me*) because someone
down in Florida (whom she had told that foreign listings could not be
done) had cited my listing as an example (precent?). I gave her my
account number. She pulled it up and reviewed my account. She then
said she'd get him his listing. I'm glad I was able to show someone
at Bellsouth (now AT&T) how to do their job.

Regards,

Fred

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