30 Years of the Digest ... founded August 21, 1981 Add this Digest to your personal   or   The Telecom Digest for March 19, 2012 Volume 31 : Issue 73 : "text" Format Messages in this Issue: Should private ambulance companies have access to blocked CPN? (Bill Horne) CWA plans 'Day of Action' against Verizon (Bill Horne) IBEW calls for 'March and Rally to Stop Corporate Greed' (Bill Horne) CWA Bargaining continues with AT&T (Bill Horne) ====== 30 years of TELECOM Digest -- Founded August 21, 1981 ======

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Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2012 13:01:16 -0400
From: Bill Horne <bill@horneQRM.net>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Should private ambulance companies have access to blocked CPN? 
Message-ID: <jk2g10$6sg$1@dont-email.me>

The FCC is considering a petition for waiver of its rules regarding
the delivery of Calling Party Number to a volunteer ambulance
company. The idea, which appears to be back on the front burner at the
FCC after years of debate, is covered in FCC proceeding number 91-281.

In brief: a private non-profit corporation which provides ambulance
services has asked that it be allowed to see Caller ID information
that the Calling Party has blocked. The company's argument(1) is that
it deserves the same consideration as a Public Safety Access Point
(PSAP), since it is providing emergency response in situations where
lives are at stake.

I feel that the request should be denied. There are valid arguments
both for and against, but I'm uncomfortable with the idea of granting
governmental powers or privileges to non-public corporations, no
matter how well-intentioned their request may be.

CenturyLink's comment(2) is the most recent (3/16/2012), and one sentence
caught my eye:

    Contrary to the Petition's assertions, though, it is not obvious
    that the needs of private emergency services providers are the
    same as those associated with public agencies, agencies generally
    charged by legislative or government imperatives to protect the
    public health and safety.

... and I agree. After all, there are numerous private ambulance
service providers, who are licensed to offer their services to the
public, and which are answerable to the government for their
competence, training programs, and performance. However, they are
dispatched through PSAPs, which keep records to prevent abuses.

Here's the official filing:

http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/comment/view?id=6016985878

-or-

http://goo.gl/jTJMS

The FCC proceeding 91-281, which is the official request for public comment, is at:

http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2012/db0214/DA-12-210A1.pdf

-or-

http://goo.gl/VGacr

The comments to the proceeding are at 

http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/proceeding/view?z=rdmfz&name=91-281

-or-

http://goo.gl/x2esJ

Bill

P.S. Full disclosue: I was responsible for the E911 system in New
England during part of my career at Verizon. I was also once a
CenturyLink employee.

1. Other organizations have asked that they be given the same
waiver: most notably, NASA, on behalf of the security forces at the
Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

2. The rest of CenturyLink's filing is at

http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/comment/view?id=6017025180

-- 
Bill Horne
(Remove QRM from my address to write to me directly)

(Robert Bonomi served as guest moderator for this post)



Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:53:46 -0400
From: Bill Horne <bill@horneQRM.net>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: CWA plans 'Day of Action' against Verizon 
Message-ID: <20120319045346.GA21594@telecom.csail.mit.edu>

The Communications Workers of America is planning a "Day of Action"
against Verizon, which will be March 22.

The CWA website has the announcement:

   There's still time to find an event in your community and join in
   the National Day of Action, that hits "1 percent" Verizon for its
   corporate greed, and brings union and progressive activists
   together to stand up for each other's fights on March 22.

   Go to www.stopverizongreed.com to find an event or post information
   about what your local has planned. Across AFL-CIO unions, across
   the labor movement, with support from Jobs with Justice and lots of
   progressive groups, activists are joining together on March 22.

Rest is at:

http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/are_you_ready_for_march_22

-or-

http://goo.gl/GK4xH

Bill

-- 
Bill Horne
(Remove QRM from my address to email me directly)



Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2012 01:08:39 -0400
From: Bill Horne <bill@horneQRM.net>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: IBEW calls for 'March and Rally to Stop Corporate Greed' 
Message-ID: <20120319050839.GA23329@telecom.csail.mit.edu>

IBEW calls for "March and Rally to Stop Corporate Greed". This is the
latest news on the March 22 demonstrations that both the IBEW and the
CWA are organizing.

This is from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers,
Local 2222 site:

   Verizon has made tens of billions in profits and its top executives
   walked away with $283 million in the last four years. But when it
   comes to the 45,000 workers who make Verizon's success possible,
   suddenly the company cries broke.

   Verizon has sent thousands of American jobs overseas, and wants to
   outsource even more jobs, gut pensions, charge current and retired
   employees thousands of dollars more for health benefits, and cut
   disability benefits for workers injured doing their jobs.

Details at:

http://ibew2222.org/

-- 
Bill Horne
(Remove QRM from my address to write to me directly)



Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2012 01:00:32 -0400
From: Bill Horne <bill@horneQRM.net>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: CWA Bargaining continues with AT&T 
Message-ID: <20120319050032.GA21914@telecom.csail.mit.edu>

Bargaining for Four AT&T Contracts Continues

CWA bargaining teams are continuing separate negotiations with AT&T
Midwest, AT&T West, AT&T Legacy and AT&T East. CWA negotiators are
reporting tough bargaining at every table and are urging members to
keep mobilizing to make certain that the companies know we're not
backing down from our fair contract fight. Those contracts expire
April 7. In the summer, CWA District 3 will begin negotiations with
AT&T Southeast; that contract expires in early August.

http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/bargaining_for_four_att_contracts_continues

-or-

http://tinyurl.com/6p6g5z6

-- 
Bill Horne
(Remove QRM from my address to write to me directly)





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