Just goes to show how many bums are out there working and what a disgrace unions have become
On 8/9/98 11:28 AM, Rod Paine wrote:
>Thinking about installing ISDN? > >Patience and a sense of humor will be required, if your efforts result >in similar responses to ASTEC's attempts. > >ASTEC and ISDN > >A summary of events in the course of ASTEC attempting to have ISDN >installed to support 56k V.90 modems calling the ASTEC BBS. > >Over two months have passed, involving the following and resulting in: > >June 8 - ASTEC calls Bell Atlantic and requests 128k ISDN to be >installed, converting existing ASTEC BBS phone numbers (2) and requests >quote on cost of ISDN service. > >June 12 - Bell Atlantic calls ASTEC, is confused that it does not want >to call out using Bell Atlantic ISDN to connect to the Internet via Bell >Atlantic Internet access plan. Bell Atlantic does not appear to >understand that ASTEC wants ISDN to support incoming calls, not out >going and can't quote cost of service at this time. Bell Atlantic says >that a check of ASTEC's existing phone lines will be made sometime in >the next two weeks, to confirm they will support ISDN service. They will >advise ASTEC on test findings and cost of service in about two weeks. > >June 29 - ASTEC calls Bell Atlantic to check on status of tests and ISDN >installation. Bell Atlantic has no record of earlier conversations with >ASTEC. > >June 30 - ASTEC attempts to contact 3Com/USR "I-Team" to have them >arrange ISDN installation. Unable to speak to a human being due to >"Voice Jail" telephone support system at 3Com/USR. FYI... the "I-Team" >is a free service of 3Com/USR to new owners of Courier ISDN I-modems, >that takes care of all arrangements for ISDN implementation, >specifically for use with the I-modem. > >July 6 - ASTEC finally reaches a real person at 3Com/USR who says the >"I-Team" no longer exists and the service is now provided by Eastern >Telecom. ASTEC contacts Eastern Telecom and is told that ASTEC's >existing lines will have to be checked for ability to support ISDN >service. ASTEC authorizes Eastern-Telecom to proceed. > >July 21 - Eastern-Telecom advises ASTEC that service from ASTEC's local >CO (which has a 5ESS switch) can not be provided. ASTEC will have to >have additional phone numbers installed from CO in next town, which is >in a different area code. Cost not yet known. > >July 24 - Eastern-Telecom advise ASTEC that there is no additional cost >for new phone numbers and that Bell Atlantic will install and activate >ISDN service on August 6. Please be at office on that date, all day, >since a specific time can not be scheduled! (ASTEC does its business at >client facilities, not at the office! But, we shift schedules to be >available) > >August 6 - Bell Atlantic technician seen working on telephone pole >outside ASTEC office, but no other Bell Atlantic employees visit ASTEC >on August 6. > >August 7 - Bell Atlantic technician back again working on telco wires on >telephone pole outside ASTEC office. ASTEC walks over to technician to >see if work is associated with ASTEC ISDN order. Yes! Technician >indicates he is connecting all new wire pairs from CO to this junction >box for ASTEC to have ISDN on existing phone numbers. On existing >numbers? New phone numbers are not required? Technician checks order... >gosh, ASTEC is correct, it is supposed to get new, additional phone >numbers! > >However, new pairs for existing numbers already connected so they will >be activated at local CO today and additional new numbers, to support >ISDN, will be activated on Monday, August 10. > >August 9 - Bell Atlantic goes on strike! > >ASTEC Company, Inc. >August 9, 1998
