>>===========================================================<<
     >> ANOTHER TELECOMMUNICATIONS PHILE FROM THE ARCHIVES OF THE <<
     >> PRIVATE SECTOR BBS (201) 366-4431, OFFICIAL BOARD OF 2600 <<
     >> FOR BEST RESULTS WHEN READING TRY 80 COLUMNS / LOWER CASE <<
     >>===========================================================<<


=><---------------------------------><=
=>      A little somthing about      <=
=>         Your phone company        <=
=><---------------------------------><=
=>           By Col. Hogan           <=
========================================

           Ever get an operator who gave you a hard time, and you didn't know 
what to do? Well if the operator hears you use a little Bell jargon, she might 
wise up. Here is a little diagram (excuse the artwork) of the structure of 
operators. 

/--------\     /------\     /-----\
!Operator!-- > ! S.A. ! --->! BOS !
\--------/     \------/     \-----/
   !
   !
   V
/-------------\
! Group Chief !
\-------------/

           Now most of the operators are not bugged, so they can curse at you, 
if they do ask INSTANTALY for the "S.A." or the Service Assistant. The operator 
does not report to her (95% of them are hers) but they will solve most of your 
problems. She MUST give you her name as she connects & all of these calls are 
bugged. If the SA gives you a rough time get her BOS (Business Office 
Superviser) on the line. S/He will almost always back her girls up, but 
sometimes the SA will get tarred and feathered. The operator reports to the 
Group Chief, and S/He will solve 100% of your problems, but thte chances of 
getting S/He on the line are nill.

           If a lineman (the guy who works out on the poles) or an installation 
man gives you the works ask to speak to the Installation Foreman, that works 
wonders.  

&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!

           Here is some other bell jargon, that might come in handy if you are 
having trouble with the line. Or they can be used to lie your way out of 
situations....  

           An Erling is a line busy for 1 hour, used mostly in traffic studies 
A Permanent Signal is that terrible howling you get if you disconnect, but 
don't hang up.  

           Everyone knows what a busy signal is, but some idiots think that is 
the *Actual* ringing of the phone, when it just is a tone "beeps" when the 
phone is ringing, wouldn't bet on this though, it can (and does) get out of 
sync.  

            When you get a busy signal that is 2 times as fast as the normal 
one, the person you are tring to reach isn't really on the phone, (he might 
be), it is accutally the signal that a trunk line somewhere is busy and they 
haven't or can't reroute your call.  Sometimes you will get a Recording, or if 
you get nothing at all (Left High & Dry in fone terms) all the recordings are 
being used and the system is really overused, will probably go down in alittle 
while. This happend when Kennedy was shot, the system just couldn't handle the 
calls. By the way this is called the "reorder signal" and the trunk line is 
"blocked".  

           One more thing, if an overseas call isn't completed and doesn't 
generate any money for AT&T, is is called an "Air & Water Call".  


     >>===========================================================<<
     >>=> PHOR THE BEST IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS INPHORMATION READ <=<<
     >>===========================================================<<
     >>   2600 MAGAZINE, BOX 752, MIDDLE ISLAND, NY 11953-0752    <<
     >>              12$ A YEAR, 1$ FOR BACK ISSUES               <<
     >>===========================================================<<