Return-Path: Received: by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.7.4/NSCS-1.0S) id WAA08788; Tue, 13 Jan 1998 22:44:12 -0500 (EST) Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 22:44:12 -0500 (EST) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <199801140344.WAA08788@massis.lcs.mit.edu> To: ptownson Subject: TELECOM Digest V18 #7 TELECOM Digest Tue, 13 Jan 98 22:44:00 EST Volume 18 : Issue 7 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson 702 Area Code Fight May Split Nevada (Tad Cook) Nevada Area Code (702) Proposal- Huh? (Richard Barnaby) USWest Admits 3-Way Problem (73115.1041@compuserve.com) Digital Cell Phones Jam Hearing Aids (Monty Solomon) Wanted: Merlin Programming Documents (Tele Monster) Telecom Update (Canada) #115, January 12, 1998 (Angus TeleManagement) USN Communications News Release (Bryan Williams) The Microsoft Witchhunt (TELECOM Digest Editor) 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 public service systems and networks including Compuserve and America On Line. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Subscriptions are available to qualified organizations and individual readers. Write and tell us how you qualify: * telecom-request@telecom-digest.org * The Digest is edited, published and compilation-copyrighted by Patrick Townson of Skokie, Illinois USA. You can reach us by postal mail, fax or phone at: Post Office Box 4621 Skokie, IL USA 60076 Phone: 847-727-5427 Fax: 773-539-4630 ** Article submission address: editor@telecom-digest.org ** Our archives are available for your review/research. 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Please make at least a single donation to cover the cost of processing your name to the mailing list. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: 702 Area Code Fight May Split Nevada Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 13:12:46 PST From: tad@ssc.com (Tad Cook) 702 area code fight may split Nevada CARSON CITY (AP) -- Unhappy northern Nevadans are making emotional pleas to hold onto something that southern Nevadans might soon claim -- the state's 702 area code. Members of the state Public Utilities Commission heard northern Nevadans beg Monday to retain the 702 area code and assign a new code to Clark County, encompassing booming Las Vegas. Carson City eighth-grader Josh Growth recited a poem, urging commissioners not to let southern Nevada "coldheartedly seize" the number. Another student, Stephanie Jackson spoke of the coyotes, sagebrush and natural beauty of northern Nevada. Such beauty should remain in the same place as the 702 area code, she said. But the pleas may have fallen on deaf ears. The telephone industry proposes to give Clark County the 702 area code, which was assigned to the entire state in 1947. The rest of the state would receive an as yet undisclosed new code. Doug Hescox, area code administrator for Nevada and California, said Nevada needs another number because the 7.9 million potential numbers on the 702 code are nearly exhausted. He and telephone company leaders want to give the 702 code to Clark County because it is home to two-thirds of the state's population. That way, fewer telephone users would be disrupted by a change. A formal hearing on the plan will be conducted Jan. 20 in Carson City. The commission is expected to make its decision at a later date. Under the proposal, people outside Clark County would voluntarily begin using a new area code Dec. 12. Then, in May 1999, they'd have to use it. While students and retirees in northern Nevada lamented the proposed change, Clark County countered with some of its top officials -- including four legislators -- who said the 702 code should remain in the south. Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas, maintained southern Nevada should retain possession of the code because Las Vegas is the "financial engine that drives the state." Rob Powers, a spokesman for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said other parts of the state have fewer tourists. Powers said 31 million of the 42 million Nevada visitors last year went to Clark County. While Nevada has been given two potential new code numbers, Hescox refused to divulge them until the plan receives commission approval. He expects that a third area code will be needed in the state within five or six years. That code likely will be put in place in Clark County. Because of that, Carson City resident Tony Marangi said, the commission should let the rest of the state keep the 702 code. "Clark County will go on like Los Angles and eventually need another code," Marangi said. "Why put off the inevitable?" ------------------------------ From: barnaby@barnaby.net (Richard Barnaby) Subject: Nevada Area Code (702) Proposal - Huh? Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 13:11:48 GMT Organization: Business Support Services Just looking at a newspaper clipping discussing a new area code for Nevada. Among other propositions, the two major ones seem to be: Propostion A: Let Clark County (Las Vegas) have the existing 702, and the rest of the state have the new number. Proposition B: Let everyone who already has 702 keep it, and let the "new folks" get the new one. I had always *assumed* from looking at area code maps, etc that area codes do not overlay each other. I mean what business *wouldn't* like to keep their investment in stationery, etc. Any NANP mavens know if there is any precedent for overlaid area codes? ------------------------------ From: 73115.1041@NOSPAMcompuserve.com Subject: USWest Admits Three-Way Problem Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 23:51:43 GMT Organization: Zippo News Service [http://www.zippo.com] You may recall my message from a few months back about how US West had activated three way calling on all lines in New Mexico, with billing on a per use basis (.75). I mentioned that I didn't have a problem with per use billing, but that I thought that the user interface was a really bad idea, especially for the thousands of people that have no experience with flashing a switchhook. I called the business office and immediately deactivated the feature. Apparently, a large number of people are getting stung by this. From the 1/12/98 {Albuquerque Journal}: US West Admits Three-way Problem US West customers must wait a full two seconds between calls or risk triggering a new three way calling service at .75 per use, US West has told state regulators. [...] New Mexico customers, who been offered the three way calling service since September, have complained about getting billed for accidentally activating it. Consumers have also objected to not being warned about the problem. [...] The same three way calling problems have occurred in other US West service territories, including Colorado and Arizona. Ken ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 13:28:47 -0500 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Digital Cell Phones Jam Hearing Aids New Digital Cell Phones Jam Hearing Aids By CAROL SMITH c.1998 {Seattle Post-Intelligencer} It was a simple enough wish -- Fred Raxter of Seattle wanted to join the telecommunications revolution and use a cellular phone. The hitch: Raxter wears hearing aids. So, to use the new generation of digital phones without enduring a high-pitched squealing, he'd have to turn off his aids. But then he couldn't hear anything. Call it Catch-22. Turns out the new digital cell phones interfere with most hearing aids, causing disturbances that range from low-pitched buzzing to what sounds like a motorboat whine, a phenomenon that is frustrating consumers and the wireless industry. The industry is working on a solution, but no one knows when the problem will be fixed. ``We hope we're not far away,'' said Laura Ruby, manager of external affairs for AT&T Wireless in Kirkland. Even if researchers were able to fix the situation tomorrow, it could still be a year or more before products hit the market, she said. The push is on in part because aging baby boomers _ those born between 1946 and 1964 _ are showing signs of hearing loss at earlier ages than previous generations, auditory specialists say. The suspected cause is repeated high-level amplification of stereos, Walkman-type headphones and loud concert speakers. About 28 million Americans _ 10 percent of the U.S. population _ have some degree of hearing loss, according to the Better Hearing Institute in Virginia, a non-profit organization serving the hearing-impaired. About 7 million Americans have been fitted with aids, the institute said. But the numbers are increasing. ``Business is booming,'' said Brandon Dawson, president and CEO of Sonus, a Portland-based network of hearing clinics across the United States and Canada. ``We're seeing increasing numbers of people coming to clinics to be fitted for hearing instruments at younger and younger ages.'' Sales of hearing aids were up 15 percent in the first nine months of 1996 in Washington, according to the Hearing Industries Association, a Virginia-based trade organization representing companies that make or sell hearing aids. Between January and September, 35,831 units were sold in Washington. Audiologists estimate that about 17 percent of people between ages 35 and 54 could benefit from hearing aids, Sonus spokesman Randy Drullinger said. Indeed, the country's most prominent baby boomer _ Bill Clinton _ was fitted with hearing aids in October after experiencing difficulty hearing in crowded rooms and at noisy events. Audiologists blamed his hearing loss on his enthusiasm for the saxophone and a fondness for loud rock music. Raxter, 73, may not be a boomer. But like them, he wanted to take advantage of the latest in communications technology by getting a cellular phone. ``It would let me take the phone with me,'' he said. ``It would give me more freedom.'' Raxter assumed federal laws requiring telecommunications manufacturers and service providers to provide access to people with hearing loss would guarantee that a cell phone would work with his hearing aids. But the law is ahead of the technology. Complaints started about two years ago when carriers such as AT&T Wireless started using digital systems instead of analog devices, which don't interfere with hearing aids. Analog systems in older phones use a continuous wave signal to transmit sound information. Digital phones, in contrast, break the sound signal into bits of information, encoding it like computer data. The information is then decoded and reconverted to sound at the receiver's end. Digital systems can carry a lot more information, so the new digital cell phones offer features such as caller identification and message waiting that aren't available on analog cell phones. But all digital cell phones produce an electromagnetic pulse that hearing aids can detect, and it interferes with how the aids work. The task for researchers is to develop a hearing aid with ``electromagnetic immunity,'' Ruby said, which would allow the device to operate in a world full of electronic gadgets, including cell phones, without interference. AT&T Wireless currently uses both analog and digital phones. Its digital phones can be programmed to act as analog phones to reduce interference, Ruby said. But the whole wireless industry is moving toward digital equipment. ``Right now all we can say is that as long as there are analog phones out there, we will continue to support them,'' she said. ``But as far as the future goes, nobody really knows. This technology is still so young, who knows what will happen in the next couple of years?'' The wireless industry, including manufacturers and carriers, has founded the Wireless Electromagnetic Compatibility Center at the University of Oklahoma to solve the interference problem. Hearing-aid manufacturers also are working on the problem and have created shielding devices to keep out unwanted signals. ``We're very aware of the technological problems with hearing aids and cell phones,'' said Pam Hurst, an audiologist with the Hearing, Speech and Deafness Center in Seattle. The problem has been growing in the workplace where more companies are requiring employees to use cell phones for communication. For hearing-impaired employees, that presents a problem. It is also a problem for senior citizens, many of whom don't know the differences between digital and analog phones, said Gordon Nystedt, coordinator for Self Help for Hard of Hearing People in Washington. Nystedt's organization recommends all hearing-aid users try a variety of phones before buying one to see if any cause less interference than others. But Raxter and others want a more permanent fix. ``We are all waiting and hoping for research to find a solution for us,'' Ruby said. ``It will be to everybody's benefit to find a solution.'' ------------------------------ From: telmnstr@norfolk.infi.net (Tele Monster) Subject: Wanted: Merlin Programming Documents Date: 13 Jan 1998 21:52:05 GMT Organization: 757 Elite I recently bought a used Merlin 410 for home use. However, It didn't come with much (hardly) any documentation. I located some information on Administrating the Merlin Plus system thru a dealer's homepage. However, I am using the good ol' Merlin 410 and I don't believe it has all of these features. I was wondering if anyone knew of a good internet resource or other resource for obtaining the programming information for this system? The system (as said before) is a Merlin 410 w/ Feature Pack 1 and Music on hold. I am also looking for information as far as the different features from pack #1 and pack #2. So far I know Pack#2 adds broadcast page. There was another web page : http://www.dcpc.nci.nih.gov/help/Merlin.html Which gives some information. However, this is more for the user end. I noticed I was unable to change the ring cadence (the 10 button phones? BIS-10?). Any information would be appreciated. I'm thinking about putting together a WWW resource for Merlin systems. (Maybe others as well, as I stumble into them). Tele Monster www.757.org ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 11:41:26 -0500 From: Angus TeleManagement Subject: Telecom Update (Canada) #115, January 12, 1998 ************************************************************ * * * TELECOM UPDATE * * Angus TeleManagement's Weekly Telecom Newsbulletin * * http://www.angustel.ca * * Number 115: January 12, 1997 * * * * Publication of Telecom Update is made possible by * * generous financial support from: * * * * Bell Canada ................. http://www.bell.ca/ * * City Dial Network Services .. http://www.citydial.com/ * * Computer Talk Technology .... http://icescape.com/ * * fONOROLA .................... http://www.fonorola.com/ * * Lucent Technologies ......... http://www.lucent.com/ * * * ************************************************************ IN THIS ISSUE: ** AT&T Buys Owner of ACC ** BCE Sells Bell Sygma to CGI ** PCS Suppliers Report Subscriber Figures Bell Mobility Clearnet Microcell Rogers Cantel ** CadVision Loses Case Against Telus ** City Dial Sold to Applied Cellular ** AT&T Canada LD Network Fails ** Bell Mobility Slashes Handset Prices ** Local Competition Clarification ** MetroNet Buys Three Local Resellers ** Teleglobe Plans 12% Rate Cut ** Telus Asks More Time for Digital Cable Trial ** Telus Forms Partnership for Prepaid Calling ** Mitel's Millard to Retire This Year ** Competitive Payphone Association Proposed ** ExpressVu Opts Out of Gray-Market Court Fight ** The Day 800 Died ============================================================ AT&T BUYS OWNER OF ACC: Telecom Update #110 reported that U.S. local carrier Teleport Communications Group is buying the parent company of ACC TelEnterprises, Canada's fourth largest alternative long distance provider. Now AT&T is buying Teleport for US$11.3 Billion; there has been no statement on how this might affect the Teleport/ACC deal. BCE SELLS BELL SYGMA TO CGI: Bell Sygma, BCE's computer consulting and outsourcing business, is being sold to Montreal-based CGI Group. BCE now owns 43% of CGI, with an option to buy another 13%. PCS SUPPLIERS REPORT 4Q NEW-SUBSCRIBER FIGURES: ** Bell Mobility: Bell Mobility reports 114,000 new PCS and analog subscribers in Ontario and Quebec in the fourth quarter, its first quarter of digital sales. ** Clearnet: Clearnet Communications won 50,676 PCS digital subscribers following its service launch in October. Clearnet's Mike business service gained 14,899 subscribers in the quarter, bringing its subscriber base to 44,549. ** Microcell: Microcell CEO Andre Tremblay says Microcell fourth-quarter results, to be released this week, will show a total of more than 60,000 PCS subscribers. ** Rogers Cantel: Cantel reported 63,000 new PCS/cellular subscribers in the fourth quarter. CADVISION LOSES CASE AGAINST TELUS: Calgary-based Internet provider CadVision Development Corp. has lost its court action against Telus for its failure to provide CadVision with equal access to ADSL service (see Telecom Update #114). An Alberta court ruled January 7 that co-location delay would not cause irreparable harm to CadVision. CITY DIAL SOLD TO APPLIED CELLULAR: Canadian Network Services, whose main subsidiary is City Dial Network Services, has been purchased by Missouri-based Applied Cellular Technology. City Dial provides flat-rate long distance services to about 4,000 customers in Montreal, Toronto, and Calgary. AT&T CANADA LD NETWORK FAILS: AT&T Canada's long distance network was out of service from 11:30am to 5:30pm (est) on Friday January 9. AT&T is investigating the cause of the problem. BELL MOBILITY SLASHES HANDSET PRICES: On January 1, Bell Mobility reduced the price of its PCS handsets to $269 ($169 for customers with a one-year contract). The previous price range was $499-549, or $199-$299 for two-year contract customers. LOCAL COMPETITION CLARIFICATION: CRTC Telecom Order 98-1 rejects Stentor's argument that only carriers offering unlimited flat-rate local service should be eligible for a contribution subsidy. The Commission also confirms that carriers are not required to operate as CLECs in all exchanges where they operate. http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/telecom/order/1998/o981_0.txt METRONET BUYS THREE LOCAL RESELLERS: MetroNet Communications has bought three Western Canada Centrex resellers: VoiceTek Communications and Touch 9 Communications of Vancouver and ABTel Communications Alberta. TELEGLOBE PLANS 12% RATE CUT: Commenting on the CRTC's recent authorization of switched hubbing (see Telecom Update #113), Teleglobe says it will cut overseas rates by more than 12% this year. TELUS ASKS MORE TIME FOR DIGITAL CABLE TRIAL: Telus Corp. has asked the CRTC for more time to begin digital service on its Calgary and Edmonton cable market trial. Last month, the Commission told Telus to shut down the trial because it has failed to provide digital service. (See Telecom Update #114) TELUS FORMS PARTNERSHIP FOR PREPAID CALLING: Telus Communications has formed a national partnership with Calgary-based Revere Communications for joint marketing of prepaid calling cards. MITEL'S MILLARD TO RETIRE THIS YEAR: Mitel Corp's President and CEO John Millard has announced he will retire this year. He will continue as a Mitel Director. COMPETITIVE PAYPHONE ASSOCIATION PROPOSED: Cameron Stuart of Independent Payphone Management is organizing the founding meeting of the Canadian Independent Payphone Association. For information, email: ipm@interlog.com EXPRESSVU OPTS OUT OF GRAY-MARKET COURT FIGHT: ExpressVu, one of the Canadian broadcasters that recently filed suit against 18 gray-market dish companies, has withdrawn from the court action. (See Telecom Update #114) THE DAY 800 DIED: On November 26, computer crashes shut down toll-free service across Canada for several hours. In the January issue of Telemanagement, published this week, Ian Angus explains the causes of the crash, the measures taken to prevent a reoccurrence, and some crucial issues that have not yet been addressed. ** To subscribe to Telemanagement, call 1-800-263-4415 ext 225 or go to http://www.angustel.ca/teleman/tm-sub.html ============================================================ 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. Point your browser to www.angustel.ca and then select TELECOM UPDATE from the Main Menu. 2. The e-mail edition is distributed free of charge. To subscribe, send an e-mail message to majordomo@angustel.ca. The text of the message should contain only the two words: subscribe update To stop receiving the e-mail edition, send an e-mail message to majordomo@angustel.ca. The text of the message should say only: unsubscribe update [Your e-mail address] =========================================================== COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER: All contents copyright 1998 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 228. 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. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 15:27:53 EST From: Bryan Williams Subject: USN Communications News Release NEWS RELEASE Contact: Andrea Weber Director, Corporate Communications 312-559-5311 Colin McWay Chief Operating Officer Connecticut Telephone 203-284-4703 Allan Jordan Golin/Harris Communications 212-697-9191 USN COMMUNICATIONS TO ACQUIRE CONNECTICUT TELEPHONE Chicago, IL (January 9, 1998) - USN Communications, Inc. announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Connecticut Telephone, the fourth largest cellular reseller in the country. The acquisition will enable USN to add cellular services to its local and long distance product bundle, as well as adding the Connecticut footprint to USN's service area. "Cellular service is a critical and logical extension to our product offering," said Thomas Elliott, chairman, president and chief executive officer. "For our target market of small to medium businesses, cellular is a frequently requested service." "We are looking forward to joining USN Communications," adds Colin McWay, chief operating officer of Connecticut Telephone. "Their vision of offering a full complement of communications services corresponds with our strategy. We will be able to use our efficient and successful wireless service model to provide cellular products throughout the USN service territories." Founded in 1985, Connecticut Telephone and its affiliates resell cellular, paging, long distance, local and Internet service throughout Connecticut. Connecticut Telephone, the first Connecticut-based company to be certified as a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) in Connecticut, currently provides cellular service to more than 64,000 subscribers and paging service to more than 15,000 subscribers in the Connecticut area. USN, a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC), offers one-stop shopping for local, long distance and enhanced communications services for small- and medium-sized businesses and adds value to business telecommunications products and services with a highly customer-focused sales and service staff. In 1995, USN Communications was the first CLEC in the country to sign a local resale agreement with a Regional Bell Operating Company (RBOC), Ameritech in Illinois, to provide competitive local services to area businesses. Headquartered in Chicago, USN Communications is a privately held company founded in 1993. It currently provides service in more than 40 states, with 34 offices in Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Wisconsin. Investors include the venture affiliates of Bankers Trust, Chase Manhattan, Canadian Imperial Bank, Fidelity Capital, HarbourVest Partners, LLC and Prime New Ventures. ------------------------------ From: Telecom Digest Editor Subject: The Microsoft Witchhunt Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 20:30:00 EST So, they had Microsoft in court today, trying to get the judge -- who seems more confused than ever as each day goes by -- to hold Microsoft in contempt for the great job the company is doing in supplying software to the masses. When Ayn Rand commented on how often one might hear the phrase, 'From each according to his ability and to each according to his need ...' I thought she was exaggerating. This however certainly seems to be the case in the Microsoft matter. Gates is doing a great job and operating a very prosperous company? He is meeting the computational needs of millions of Americans you say? Well then, let's fine him a million dollars per day until he plays by the rules we have set forth. Rules, which I suspect were bought and paid for by Netscape, through their mouthpiece who will try to pretend he is a disinterested third-party and a concerned consumer. If their complaint is that a browser is included free of charge with Windows 95, then shouldn't they have a similar complaint about AOL and Compuserve? Both of those service providers include a free browser as part of your online experience with them. If I log onto either my AOL account or my Compuserve account and ask to 'go web' what to my eyes appear on my screen but a browser. Not one of mine, mind you, but one the service provider pops up on the screen for me to use when I am about to explore the web. I suspect other services may do the same thing; ie. provide a browser as part of the software on line made available in common to all their subscribers. Why doesn't the 'justice' department go after those guys with the same zeal and vigor they are using against Gates? Why not require them to remove the browser from their software-in-common on line and when a subscriber wants to 'go web' put up a message on the screen saying 'okay, bring up the browser you paid for of your own free will and start making your connections, etc ...' Someone should make sure Netscape understands something: browsers are a dime a dozen. They are all over the place, free for the down- loading. Admittedly, Netscape *is* one of the better, high-end products on the market. I am particularly fond of its ability to do 'server-push' and the way it works with applets of all kinds and Java. They have a very good product to be sure. I see Gates doing nothing more than enhancing and encouraging the sale of Windows 95 by including lots of neat software for free including Internet Explorer. And Explorer is lacking in some areas that Netscape does quite well, as per above. As has been demonstrated in recent days, it is possible and quite easy to install both browsers in your machine if you want, and to remove either one you don't want. Obviously you need to take care in removing a program making sure you remove the files peculiar to the program while leaving alone files which service various programs in common. Why do we need the 'justice' department and some professor from Harvard badgering Microsoft in the meantime? I have both icons sitting side by side on the desktop and use them as I wish. Both browsers use some of the same software in common anyway, including Real Player. And do people seriously think that if IE is removed from the Windows 95 distribution that Microsoft won't make it available free of charge anyway on a separate CD-Rom they send out to anyone who asks? I think Netscape should wise up to the fact that there are lots of places to get for free what *they* are trying to sell, and that a lot of folks won't know the difference in browsers, so they might as well take the one that is free. Maybe they need to re-think *their marketing strategy* and include lots of free goodies as part of the package. What is to prevent Netscape, for example, from devising a new operating system which is far superior to Windows (and many believe *anything* is superior to Windows) and selling it, tossing in their browser stuff as part of the deal? Do you suppose Gates would then go to court and try to get them to stop doing it? I respectfully suggest we allow the marketplace to do its own thing, with the winner to be decided by the consumers, rather than adopting Netscape's approach of going in a back room with some cronies in the United States Justice Department, whispering back and forth and having the lawyers come out with all sorts of bogus arguments which they present while holding a proverbial gun (the unmitigated and often abused power of the United States government) at Bill Gates' head. And when is the Professor going to quit the charade of impartiality and disinterest, and resign as special master? If he were to resign now, it would be to his credit, and that of his principal employer, Harvard University. Or does he plan to just brazenly stick around, getting a laugh out of the mock-proceedings as he has done up to this point? "From each according to his abilty; to each according to his need." The new motto at the 'justice' department I guess. PAT ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V18 #7 ****************************