Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!rutgers!cbmvax!hutch!rabbit1!barber From: barber@rabbit1.UUCP (Steve Barber) Newsgroups: comp.sys.misc Subject: Re: Pending FCC ruling threat to modem users Message-ID: <269@rabbit1.UUCP> Date: Mon, 22-Dec-86 18:37:10 EST Article-I.D.: rabbit1.269 Posted: Mon Dec 22 18:37:10 1986 Date-Received: Tue, 23-Dec-86 21:49:14 EST References: <1575@brl-adm.ARPA> <4851@mimsy.UUCP> Organization: Rabbit Software Corp., Malvern PA Lines: 40 Summary: local modem calls cost more In article <4851@mimsy.UUCP>, chris@mimsy.UUCP (Chris Torek) writes: > When you make a local call that does not require routing between > different COs, this ties up only the two twisted pairs and whatever > it takes to cross-connect them. It is only when you use a long- > distance trunk that you begin using a shared resource. (I am not > at all certain that the connection at the CO is `free', though.) > -- > In-Real-Life: Chris Torek, Univ of MD Comp Sci Dept (+1 301 454 7690) > UUCP: seismo!mimsy!chris ARPA/CSNet: chris@mimsy.umd.edu Well, you are correct that all it takes are the twisted pairs and the cross-connect stuff, but the cross-connect stuff *IS* a shared resource also. Each CO has a finite number of switches and that number is very much smaller than the (number of lines / 2) figure that would be required if everyone called someone else at the same time. The number of switches in an office is based on the average frequency and duration of calls through that office: modem calls are longer (on the average) than voice calls (no matter how many teenage girls there are out there). They consume more resources (switches), causing the phone company to either install more switches or tolerate a lower successful connection rate. Since reliability, or rather perceived reliability, is important, they usually will install more switches, causing a capital outlay to be passed on to consumers. These economics have been true since the beginning of the Bell System up through and including the ESS 5 switch (I don't know if there have been any since then). So, regretfully, data calls do cost the phone company more, and equal rates for voice and data cause voice-only users to "subsidize" data users if someone wishes to perceive things that way. Too bad. Not that I relish paying extra (and I won't if I don't have to), but that's the way it looks from where I sit. -- Steve Barber Rabbit Software Corp. ...!ihnp4!{cbmvax,cuuxb}!hutch!barber ...!psuvax1!burdvax!hutch!barber (215) 647-0440 7 Great Valley Parkway East Malvern PA 19355