This discussion is Beehive CEO's - monthly column as found on the last page of Americas Network magazine. They have been printing his letters for nearly 20 years. This column will remain posted till he writes the next one.
The Last Word.. December 1997
Silly Codes
When needing a change or new insert, an applicant could go on the Internet and insert a prospective new code for listing and review. If there were no objections,the code would lock in three weeks.
Three of my Utah exchanges parallel 170 miles of the Utah/Nevada border. Over the years, folks have been moving to adjacent Nevada, trailer by trailer. Their phones are Utah numbers on Utah time.
At times I wish they would not move. It's costly to add cable and/or convert to analog, then expand to digital -- especially if you have a skinny route to start with.
Such is the joy of rural growth.
I'm now converting those customers to Nevada office codes. That will change roll routing from Utah to Nevada. But before the network will modify its provisioning ("software," to the unwashed), we need 11 near alphanumeric code identifiers which only Bellcore may issue. Doh!
A Common Language location Identification (CLLI) code is made up like this: the first four denote the abbreviation of the city. The next two denote the state. The next two comprise the address (for example. MA is always the "main" switch: go figure for others.) The last three comprise the switch type (for example, DXO is the digital switching office.)
The industry cheerfully coughs up a grand each time Bellcore issues one of these codes. Not even a discount for two or more.
It is my personal opinion that it is stupid for the industry to allow Bellcore to retain this monopoly. Why? Even Homer Simpson could gin up on these silly codes for network identification.
Would it not be more equitable for the National Exchange Carriers Association (NECA) or United States Telephone Association (USTA) to set aside a computer listing of all of the silly codes?
When needing a change or new insert, an applicant would go on the Net and insert a prospective new code for listing and review. That would set up a flag, calling attention for all interested companies to review. If there was no problem, the number would lock in three weeks.
Problems would be resolved -- this is not a big deal. The administration of such a program need not be subject to monopolistic enrichment. Hello; Competition?
Then there is the matter of listing NXX switching office codes and the accuracy of vertical and horizontal (V&H) coordinates. My router miles were mostly wrong. The figures on file looked as old as me. With a couple of more months, and help from the ladies at US West, Citizens Telecom and NECA, that data will become accurate.
ACCESS TARIFFS
At the end of 1993, I bailed out of NECA's tariffs, except for the carrier common line (CCL). Beehive's rates were incorporated in 12 pages, which became effective on July 1994.
Last summer, after looking at the work papers for out third annual FCC tariff revision, Grandma Bell called. She said they were looking at our newer lower rate tariff. Basically, AT&T asked me to change to specific miles per exchange, instead of averaging billing for transport. I pointed that specific billing by exchange was going to cost me more.
I advised Granny to not rock the boat. I pointed out she was getting a 25% reduction with this year's filing. She said she would pass the word.
After review of AT&T's complaint, the FCC slapped our hands; said to bill only on specific miles. Another grand to file. Paul got the rest of his car and college tuition paid by writing the software to bill by the mile. Instead of a composite rate reduction of $0.02 per minute, it's $0.003 per minute higher! C'est la vie!
BYE, BOB
I find it remarkable that, upon the announcement of Bob Allen leaving before the new year, AT&T's stock went up a buck. Methinks not because of the new pick by the board, but only because Allen is finally leaving.
Is there yet hope for AT&T? Or if once WorldComm digests MCI, will it gobble up Grandma, too?
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Copyright 1997 by A. W. Brothers and Americas Network magazine. All rights reserved.
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