From editor@telecom-digest.org Mon Apr 12 17:57:44 2004 Received: (from ptownson@localhost) by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.6p2/8.11.3) id i3CLviJ02344; Mon, 12 Apr 2004 17:57:44 -0400 (EDT) Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2004 17:57:44 -0400 (EDT) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <200404122157.i3CLviJ02344@massis.lcs.mit.edu> X-Authentication-Warning: massis.lcs.mit.edu: ptownson set sender to editor@telecom-digest.org using -f To: ptownson Approved: patsnewlist Subject: TELECOM Digest V23 #182 TELECOM Digest Mon, 12 Apr 2004 17:58:00 EDT Volume 23 : Issue 182 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Telecom Update (Canada) #428, April 12, 2004 (Angus TeleManagement) Seeking Sample RFP (Faith McGary) Comprehensive List of OAM&P Standards Bodies (Nearly) (Generic Usenet) Re: CRTC: VoIP is Just Phone Service (John R. Covert) Should Government Censor Speech on Cable and Satellite TV? (M Solomon) Obscenity Crackdown -- What Will the Next Step Be? (Monty Solomon) AOL Quietly Opens its Mail System to the Rest of the World (M Solomon) Artifact: Text Lit (Eric Friedebach) All contents here are copyrighted by Patrick Townson and the individual writers/correspondents. Articles may be used in other journals or newsgroups, provided the writer's name and the Digest are included in the fair use quote. By using -any name or email address- included herein for -any- reason other than responding to an article herein, you agree to pay a hundred dollars to the recipients of the email. =========================== Addresses herein are not to be added to any mailing list, nor to be sold or given away without explicit written consent. Chain letters, viruses, porn, spam, and miscellaneous junk are definitely unwelcome. We must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands against crime. Geoffrey Welsh =========================== See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2004 16:32:29 -0400 From: Angus TeleManagement Subject: Telecom Update (Canada) #428, April 12, 2004 ************************************************************ TELECOM UPDATE ************************************************************ published weekly by Angus TeleManagement Group http://www.angustel.ca Number 428: April 12, 2004 Publication of Telecom Update is made possible by generous financial support from: ** ALLSTREAM: www.allstream.com ** BELL CANADA: www.bell.ca ** CISCO SYSTEMS CANADA: www.cisco.com/ca ** CYGCOM INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGIES: www.cygcom.com ** GROUP TELECOM: www.360.net ** JUNIPER NETWORKS: www.juniper.net ** PRIMUS CANADA: www.primustel.ca ** SPRINT CANADA: www.sprint.ca ** TELUS: www.telus.com ************************************************************ IN THIS ISSUE: ** CRTC Announces Internet Telephony Review ** Aliant Wants Local Service Deregulated ** MTS Income Trust Proposal Withdrawn ** Cable Profits Increase 16% ** Bell Says 11% of Local Calling Is Wireless ** Allstream Managed LAN Will Support VoIP ** Bell Intros Hosted Microsoft Exchange ** SEC Investigates Nortel ** Matthews Changes Role at March Networks ** Ontario and Michigan Research Nets to Connect ** Broadband Tested on Atlantic Vessels ** Inukshuk Calls for Internet Learning Proposals ** Celestica to Close Montreal Plant ** Big Jump for RIM Revenue ** Cogeco Cable Revenue Rises ** Shaw Reports Profit ** Angus Speakers at ICCM Next Week ** IP-PBX Issues in 2004 ============================================================ CRTC ANNOUNCES INTERNET TELEPHONY REVIEW: In Public Notice 2004-2, the CRTC sets out its preliminary view that VoIP services should be subject to the same rules as regular local phone service. This would mean that incumbent telcos' "in- territory" VoIP services will require tariff approval, while those of other providers will not. ** In the CRTC's view, VoIP providers should have to inform customers if they cannot initially provide 9-1-1, E9-1-1, Message Relay Service, or privacy safeguards, and must offer them as soon as practicable. ** Initial comments are due by April 28, followed by an oral consultation May 19-20. www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Notices/2004/pt2004-2.htm ALIANT WANTS LOCAL SERVICE DEREGULATED: Aliant Telecom has asked the CRTC to unconditionally forbear from regulating residential local phone services in 32 exchanges in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, where it estimates that EastLink has 21% of the market. ** While the application is being considered, Aliant wants the CRTC to immediately exempt it from rules that restrict bundling and winback activity, and to allow it to file special promotional tariffs confidentially. www.crtc.gc.ca/PartVII/eng/2004/8640/a53_200403329.htm MTS INCOME TRUST PROPOSAL WITHDRAWN: Shortly after Manitoba Telecom Services announced a dividend increase last week (see Telecom Update #427), Enterprise Capital Management withdrew its shareholder proposal to convert the telco into an income fund. Enterprise owns approximately 5% of MTS's common shares. CABLE PROFITS INCREASE 16%: The CRTC's annual report on broadcast distribution undertakings, released last week, says that cable industry profits jumped 15.8% from 2002 to 2003. The number of cable subscribers fell 2.1%. DTH and MDS revenues grew 27.2%, and subscribers increased 9.2%. www.crtc.gc.ca/ENG/publications/reports/BrAnalysis/dist2003/dist2003.htm BELL SAYS 11% OF LOCAL CALLING IS WIRELESS: A study conducted by Bell Canada concludes that about 11% of Ontario and Quebec consumers' local calling is carried over wireless networks, and that 9% is carried by non-Bell service providers, including competitors and independent telcos. ALLSTREAM MANAGED LAN WILL SUPPORT VoIP: Allstream has introduced a Managed Local Area Network service based on Cisco's AVVID architecture. The company says the service will support the Managed IP Telephony services that it plans to introduce in the second quarter of this year. BELL INTROS HOSTED MICROSOFT EXCHANGE: Bell Canada's new Productivity Pak offers a hosted Microsoft Exchange service for small and mid-sized businesses. Pricing starts at $19.95/month for the full service bundle. SEC INVESTIGATES NORTEL: Nortel Networks says that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has issued a formal order of investigation into the company. This gives the SEC the ability to subpoena documents and testimony. ** Nortel recently announced that it had begun a second internal review of its financial results since 2000, and would delay its annual SEC filing. (See Telecom Update #425) MATTHEWS CHANGES ROLE AT MARCH NETWORKS: Peter Strom, who joined March Networks a year ago and became COO last fall, has been named President and CEO of the privately owned company. He takes over from principal shareholder Terry Matthews, who remains Chairman and says he will still be actively involved. ONTARIO AND MICHIGAN RESEARCH NETS TO CONNECT: The Ontario and Michigan Research and Education networks, ORION and MERIT, have agreed to interconnect across the Canada/U.S. border, collaborate on advanced networking technologies, and facilitate research in the Great Lakes region. The two networks plan to connect at Windsor/Detroit later in 2004, and at Sault Ste. Marie at a later date. BROADBAND TESTED ON ATLANTIC VESSELS: Telesat is pilot testing a satellite-based system that delivers broadband Internet access to marine vessels. The trial involves five ships owned by Marine Atlantic and two from the Woodward Group. INUKSHUK CALLS FOR INTERNET LEARNING PROPOSALS: Inukshuk Internet is seeking proposals that focus on enhancing either content or connectivity related to learning and the Internet. The company, a subsidiary of Microcell, has established committees in each of its service areas to provide direction and guidance for projects, and will provide $3 million in funding. For information, go to www.inukshuk.ca or e-mail inukshuk.internet@microcell.ca. CELESTICA TO CLOSE MONTREAL PLANT: Celestica will shut down its Montreal manufacturing plant within six months. Some of the 700 jobs will be transferred to its remaining Canadian manufacturing site in Toronto. BIG JUMP FOR RIM REVENUE: Research In Motion reports fourth quarter revenue of $210.6 million, up 37% from the previous quarter and up 141% from the same quarter of last year. The total number of BlackBerry users in the quarter increased by 204,000 to 1,069,000. COGECO CABLE REVENUE RISES: Cogeco Cable reports revenue of $129 million in the quarter ended February 29, 9% higher than a year earlier. Profits were $2.3 million, about double those of a year ago. ** CEO Louis Audet says that Cogeco will soon start testing IP-based phone service and will offer commercial service within 18 months. (See Telecom Update #306) SHAW REPORTS PROFIT: December-February sales of Shaw Communications were $531 million, a 1.8% increase from the same period last year. Net income was $17.1 million, compared to a loss of $19.7 million. Shaw's Internet subscriber total rose to 969,565, 3.8% more than three months earlier. ANGUS SPEAKERS AT ICCM NEXT WEEK: ICCM Canada, Canada's premier contact centre event, will be held in Toronto, April 19-21. ** Henry Dortmans and Michael Dunne will conduct a half-day tutorial on business skills for contact centre managers, and both will moderate panel discussions. ** Ian Angus will open the conference with a talk on the state of the call centre industry in Canada. ** John Riddell will lead sessions on speech recognition and performance indicators. ** To register, go to www.iccmcanada.com, or call 1-800-265-5665. IP-PBX ISSUES IN 2004: The April issue of Telemanagement is now available online. This month, John Riddell explains why, despite the growing adoption of IP-PBXs, there remain significant problems in implementation and support. Also: Ian Angus on the arrival of next-generation wireless broadband; Gerry Blackwell tests local IP phone services from Primus and Vonage; and a debate on telecom regulation between BCE and the Cable TV Association. ** Telemanagement is available to subscribers only. Telemanagement Online subscribers can access this issue, and an extensive library of past issues, columns, editorials, and feature reports, at http://online.angustel.ca. ** To subscribe, or to add online access to your existing subscription, go to www.angustel.ca/teleman/tm-sub-online.html or call 800-263-4415 x500. ============================================================ HOW TO SUBMIT ITEMS FOR TELECOM UPDATE E-MAIL: editors@angustel.ca FAX: 905-686-2655 MAIL: TELECOM UPDATE Angus TeleManagement Group 8 Old Kingston Road Ajax, Ontario Canada L1T 2Z7 =========================================================== HOW TO SUBSCRIBE (OR UNSUBSCRIBE) TELECOM UPDATE is provided in electronic form only. There are two formats available: 1. The fully-formatted edition is posted on the World Wide Web on the first business day of the week at www.angustel.ca 2. The e-mail edition is distributed free of charge. To subscribe, send an e-mail message to: join-telecom_update@nova.sparklist.com To stop receiving the e-mail edition, send an e-mail message to: leave-telecom_update@nova.sparklist.com Sending e-mail to these addresses will automatically add or remove the sender's e-mail address from the list. Leave subject line and message area blank. We do not give Telecom Update subscribers' e-mail addresses to any third party. For more information, see www.angustel.ca/update/privacy.html. =========================================================== COPYRIGHT AND CONDITIONS OF USE: All contents copyright 2004 Angus TeleManagement Group Inc. All rights reserved. For further information, including permission to reprint or reproduce, please e-mail rosita@angustel.ca or phone 905-686-5050 ext 500. The information and data included has been obtained from sources which we believe to be reliable, but Angus TeleManagement makes no warranties or representations whatsoever regarding accuracy, completeness, or adequacy. Opinions expressed are based on interpretation of available information, and are subject to change. If expert advice on the subject matter is required, the services of a competent professional should be obtained. ------------------------------ From: Faith McGary Subject: Seeking Sample RFP Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2004 16:27:36 -0400 Good Afternoon! I am looking for a telecom sample RFP for land based telephone company billing. Do you have any ideas how I would get some sample Billing RFP's? Faith McGary 610-997-1071 ------------------------------ From: usenet@sta.samsung.com Subject: Comprehensive List of OAM&P Standards Bodies Date: 12 Apr 2004 14:01:07 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com I have an extremely ambitious goal of trying to compile a list of standards bodies that have developed OAM&P standards for network management as well as element management. I am providing the starter. I have listed below standards bodies that have merely provided domain-related information-model/managed-object definitions as well as standards bodies that have given some OAM&P architectural guidelines as well. Kindly augment this list. OAM&P reference architecture (also information model definitions) - IETF/TMN - Telcordia - TINA Consortium - TeleManagement Forum (formerly the Network Management Forum) - Service Availability Forum Information model definitions only - Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions - IETF - ATM Forum - ETSI - 3GPP - 3GPP2 - ADSL Forum - Optical Internetworking Forum - SONET Interoperability Forum Given the myriad of standards bodies, I may be on a wild goose chase. However, I am more interested in bodies that have recommended a meaningful OAM&P reference architecture (i.e. the first list shown above). I believe the number of standards bodies that have taken the trouble to provide some architectural guidance is more manageable. Regards, Bhat ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2004 17:09:45 EDT From: John R. Covert Subject: Re: CRTC: VoIP is Just Phone Service John Levine wrote: > there's the little detail that my Vonage phone has a real phone > number ... while a FWD phone has a fake phone number that only the > 4000 FWD phones ... can call. Well, not exactly. My FWD phone also has a WA state (area code 360) number that any phone can call and also has a UK number (0870) which any phone can call. True, it's not the FWD phone's true phone number, but that's merely a small matter of programming; it could be. /john [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Tell me this please, John Covert: Is that FWD area 360 number to your personal FWD line or is it is a gateway type thing, where you call, the gateway answers, then you have to input your own FWD number? Either way, gateway or DID to your phone, who would one talk to about getting the same thing, or if it is a gateway type thing, are there other 'more local' gateways one can use? If a gateway, can anyone use it who has FWD? Thanks for your answers. PAT] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2004 15:55:59 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Should Government Censor Speech on Cable and Satellite TV? Issue #77 by Adam Thierer An important and troubling shift may be developing regarding the way lawmakers regulate mass media in the United States. During recent congressional hearings on broadcast television and radio violations of Federal Communications Commission indecency standards, several lawmakers hinted that they believed federal censorship efforts should extend beyond licensed TV and radio operators to unlicensed media sources, such as cable, satellite, and Internet providers. And a debate is about to take place on the Senate floor during which some lawmakers have said they will attempt to apply indecency regulations on such subscription-based services. Leaving aside the Janet Jackson incident during this year's Super Bowl halftime show, it seems reasonable to question the wisdom of Congress getting involved in regulating "pay TV" programs. Subscription-based media providers have not faced such regulatory scrutiny in the past because they are not licensed by the FCC and, therefore, receive strict First Amendment protection. http://www.cato.org/tech/tk/040329-tk.html [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: And I suspect things will get a lot worse before they start to get any better, if they ever do. As the mild little guy says on TV-Land (courtesy of MTV-2), this year the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November is going to be a very important day: a chance to get 'them' out of office, that is, if the first ten amendments to the constitution mean anything and do not themselves get amended away before then. PAT] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2004 15:58:48 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Obscenity Crackdown -- What Will the Next Step Be? Issue #78 by Eugene Volokh So here's what I wonder about the Justice Department's planned new obscenity crackdown. As we know, there's lots of porn of all varieties out there on the Internet. I don't know how much of it is produced in the U.S. -- but even if it's 75 percent, and every single U.S. producer is shut down, wouldn't foreign sites happily take up the slack? It's not like Americans have some great irreproducible national skills in smut-making, or like it takes a $100 million Hollywood budget to make a porn movie. Foreign porn will doubtless be quite an adequate substitute for the U.S. market. Plus the foreign distributors might even be able to make and distribute copies of the existing U.S.-produced stock -- I doubt that the imprisoned copyright owners will be suing them for infringement (unless the U.S. government seizes the copyrights, becomes the world #1 pornography owner, starts trying to enforce the copyrights against overseas distributors, and gets foreign courts to honor those copyrights, which is far from certain and likely far from cheap). And even if overall world production of porn somehow improbably falls by 75 percent, will that seriously affect the typical porn consumer's diet? Does it matter whether you have, say, 100,000 porn titles (and live feeds) to choose from, or just 25,000? So we have three possible outcomes: ... read about them here. http://www.cato.org/tech/tk/040412-tk.html ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2004 16:13:49 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: AOL Quietly Opens its Mail System to the Rest of the World http://www.macnightowl.com/news/2004/04/week2.htm#world Can I read and send AOL e-mail using other e-mail applications? http://help.channels.aol.com/article.adp?catId=1&sCId=416&sSCId=4093&articleId=217449 Accessing the AOL Mail System using IMAP & Authenticated SMTP An Unofficial Guide http://members.aol.com/adamkb/aol/mailfaq/imap/ Unofficial AOL Email FAQ http://members.aol.com/adamkb/aol/mailfaq/ [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Why was this entitled 'AOL Quietly Opens ...' as if it was something new? For as long as I can remember, I have been able to send mail to name@aol.com and get replies to same. What am I missing here? PAT] ------------------------------ From: friedebach@yahoo.com (Eric Friedebach) Subject: Artifact: Text Lit Date: 12 Apr 2004 14:26:31 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com Charles Paul Freund, Reason Magazine, April 2004 This common cell phone may strike you as unremarkable, a familiar telecom device that, in this photo [print edition shows a Nokia handset with the letters "YYSSW" on the text screen], is displaying the text message, "Yeah, yeah. Sure, sure. Whatever." But look again, because this device is morphing into something different: a linguistic and literary influence. This winter, a French writer named Phil Marso published a short novel aimed at young readers and written entirely in France's own intricately developed cellphonic argot. http://www.reason.com/0404/artifact.shtml Eric Friedebach /Old enough to remember when MTV played music videos/ ------------------------------ TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of networks such as Compuserve and America On Line, Yahoo Groups, and other forums. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. TELECOM Digest is a not-for-profit, mostly non-commercial educational service offered to the Internet by Patrick Townson. All the contents of the Digest are compilation-copyrighted. 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Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. End of TELECOM Digest V23 #182 ******************************