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Copyright © 2015 E. William Horne. All Rights Reserved.

The Telecom Digest for Jun 15, 2015
Volume 34 : Issue 109 : "text" Format
Messages in this Issue:
White House Weighs Sanctions After Second Breach of a Computer System (Monty Solomon)
Landline automated testing (highflux7)
Despite roadwork delays, AT&T seeks more taxpayer subsidies (Bill Horne)
Should Bright House, Verizon customers worry about service? (Bill Horne)

We owe it, therefore, to candor and to the amicable relations existing between the United States and those powers to declare that we should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety.
James Monroe

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Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2015 00:10:47 -0400 From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com> To: telecomdigestsubmissions.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org. Subject: White House Weighs Sanctions After Second Breach of a Computer System Message-ID: <C2E47E3E-083D-4CD8-B3A9-823D1D82E769@roscom.com> White House Weighs Sanctions After Second Breach of a Computer System By MICHAEL D. SHEAR and SCOTT SHANE JUNE 12, 2015 WASHINGTON = The White House on Friday revealed that hackers had breached a second computer system at the Office of Personnel Management, and said that President Obama was considering financial sanctions against the attackers who gained access to the files of millions of federal workers. Investigators had already said that Chinese hackers appeared to have obtained personal data from more than four million current and former federal employees in one of the boldest invasions into a government network. But on Friday, officials said they believed that a separate computer system at the agency was breached by the same hackers, putting at risk not only data about the federal employees, but also information about friends, family members and associates that could number millions more. Officials said that the second system contained files related to intelligence officials working for the F.B.I., defense contractors and other government agencies. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/13/us/white-house-weighs-sanctions-after-second-breach-of-a-computer-system.html Or:http://goo.gl/s8CtNx
Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2015 01:32:51 -0500 From: highflux7@remove-this.hushmail.com To: telecomdigestsubmissions.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org. Subject: Landline automated testing Message-ID: <20150614063251.502A4E04C5@smtp.hushmail.com> Monitoring the audio on my at&t (swbt) landline without going offhook, each day at approx. 1:15am I record an automated test: http://vocaroo.com/i/s0AalcrMvYCT I don't have a dso to record exactly what's happening, but a VOM across the line shows a momentary voltage drop from the usual -48v similar to going off hook. In addition, another test occasionally is performed-- this one with three tones similar (or identical) with some combination of SIT tones. http://vocaroo.com/i/s04CWLpy1bhu Any idea of the purpose or scope of these tests?? I believe the line is served by 5ESS. Regards, ***** Moderator's Note ***** I've never heard those tones, or anything like them, before. Bill Horne Moderator
Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2015 23:16:12 -0400 From: Bill Horne <bill@horneQRM.net> To: telecomdigestsubmissions.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org. Subject: Despite roadwork delays, AT&T seeks more taxpayer subsidies Message-ID: <mllfvk$5p1$1@dont-email.me> by Marty Schladen / El Paso Times AUSTIN - AT&T might have trouble getting its communication lines out of the way of highway construction, but it's had no problem asking for hefty taxpayer subsidies to help pay for those lines. Without the tax breaks, an AT&T executive said in March, the Dallas-based company might decide to invest in infrastructure outside Texas - a state where it's enjoyed well over $350 million in taxpayer business since 2008, according to records at the Texas Comptroller's Office. http://goo.gl/xJVClO -- Bill Horne (Remove QRM from my address to write to me directly)
Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2015 23:05:26 -0400 From: Bill Horne <bill@horneQRM.net> To: telecomdigestsubmissions.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org. Subject: Should Bright House, Verizon customers worry about service? Message-ID: <mllfb9$41l$1@dont-email.me> William R. Levesque, Times Staff Writer What happens when two cable TV companies ranked as having superior customer service are taken over by firms whose record of keeping consumers smiling is inferior and, according to some, wretchedly so? If you currently get your Internet or cable from Bright House Networks or Verizon FIOS, you may soon find out. Charter Communications announced last month it plans a merger with Bright House and Time Warner Cable, a combination Charter's chief boasted will lead to improved service. Earlier this year, Frontier Communications said it was buying the regional Internet and cable TV assets of Verizon FIOS, including Verizon's Florida business. http://goo.gl/EFNuwz -- Bill Horne (Remove QRM from my address to write to me directly)

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