---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-ID: <pirgv4$mp5$1@news.albasani.net> Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2018 02:21:25 +0000 (UTC) From: bob prohaska <bp@www.zefox.net> Subject: Cheap voice-only cellphone plans? Apologies if this is considered off-topic, but my (non-datacomms) cellphone account just expired. I wasn't paying attention. 8-( It was an AT&T GoPhone (now called AT&T Prepaid) that cost $100/year and gave me 1000 minutes of talk time for one year. No data, no smartphone, just simple voice. It was just for unusual circumstances, and worked fine. Obviously, I'll go back to AT&T to see if they'll renew the account, but in case they won't I'd like to know if there are any alternatives. I've never used more than a small fraction of the talk time each year and have no need of a smartphone. I just want something to let me communicate when in transit. Poking around briefly on the Web I find lots of "cheap" cellphone options, but all seem to involve more service than I need. Thanks for reading, any thoughts appreciated. bob prohaska ------------------------------ Message-ID: <20180720143011.GA17917@telecom.csail.mit.edu> Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2018 10:30:11 -0400 From: Bill Horne <bill@horneQRM.net> Subject: Verizon Reaches New Labor Deal Tentative four-year agreement with unions would cover 30,000 employees, take effect in 2020 By Sarah Krouse Verizon Communications Inc. reached a tentative agreement with unions representing more than 30,000 employees, the parties said Thursday, a move likely to avoid the work stoppages that have plagued past negotiations. The four-year agreement covers pole climbers, call-center represen- tatives and other staffers in Verizon's landline business, which includes its Fios TV and broadband services. During the previous round of negotiations, in 2016, some 40,000 workers went on strike for 49 days. https://www.wsj.com/articles/verizon-reaches-new-labor-deal-1532026888 -- Bill Horne (Remove QRM from my email address to write to me directly) ------------------------------ Message-ID: <20180720143316.GA17934@telecom.csail.mit.edu> Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2018 10:33:16 -0400 From: Bill Horne <bill@horneQRM.net> Subject: Guilford Metro 911 unable to return calls to Verizon Wireless customers due to nationwide issue GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. - Guilford Metro 911 is reporting Verizon Wireless has a cut fiber line that is causing issues in the Piedmont Triad and nationwide. Residents can still call 911, but Guilford Metro 911 is unable to return calls to Verizon Wireless customers. http://www.wxii12.com/article/guilford-metro-911-unable-to-return-calls-to-verizon-wireless-customers-due-to-nationwide-issue/22484746 -- Bill Horne (Remove QRM from my email address to write to me directly) ------------------------------ Message-ID: <20180720143846.GA17951@telecom.csail.mit.edu> Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2018 10:38:46 -0400 From: Bill Horne <bill@horneQRM.net> Subject: Still no extension on EIS By Mark Rockwell The General Services Administration has not extended its 2020 deadline for agencies to move to a next-generation telecommunications contract, but one of GSA's top acquisition officials said it's still being considered. "We're very aware it's an issue," Kay Ely, deputy commissioner in the office of information category in GSA's Federal Acquisition Service, said at a July 17 conference on the agency's Enterprise Infrastructure Services contract. "We're looking at how we have conversations with stakeholders." https://washingtontechnology.com/articles/2018/07/19/eis-deadline-no-extension.aspx -- Bill Horne (Remove QRM from my email address to write to me directly) ------------------------------ ********************************************* End of telecom Digest Sat, 21 Jul 2018