-------------------------------------- TAS Lingo Simplified By Doctor Zerox GJC David Johns -------------------------------------- When we have dialtone, whether it is a line or trunk, we can make and receive calls; either one or the other or both depending on the type ordered. n we call with this line? And how? Each area is different but the majority use a specific dialing plan. Local Calls are usually seven digits, consisting of the NNX or office code followed by the four digits line number. In some Step by Step (SXS) COs, the office code may not be required as they are "absorbed", however, in large SXS and all Crossbar and ESS offices, the NNX is required, hence the seven digits needed. If you have local calling to adjacent towns, dialing their NNX followed by their four digit line number will connect you to their CO and hence their telephones. It is possible to see groupings of NNX codes. In many areas, because of the method of Step by Step switching, all exchanges in one city may begin with four (4), such as 422, 473, 488, etc., and all the towns surrounding the city may begin with 6 such as 633, 622, 655, etc. This way all 6XX codes were switched to a "tandem" office or the location where all EAS (Extended Area Service) or free calling offices are connected through. Some EAS plans today still follow the common first selector digit train (first digit of the NXX codes the same) as we see above, such as Ssyracuse, NY 4XX is all Metro Syracuse, with 6XX all EAS towns, even though all Metro is ESS. With Crossbar (XBar) and Electronic Switching (ESS) this practice is no longer necessary. Most EAS plans are banded with different large area zones for each calling "band" and the further you call airmileage (the way all Toll and EAS is billed), the more yo pay. Usually EAS calls are not itemized, hence the reduced rate per minute. Itemization would show the printed date, time, where, number, how long and type, as in a Toll Statement. If the call is not a local or EAS call, the next type is DDD, or Direct Distance Dialing. DDD calls are usually placed by the caller dialing "1" plus the number, i.e. 1-555-1234. Such a call is a Toll Call from the serving Central Office (CO) to the remote (called) CO based on the Interoffice Airmileage fro the center to the CO to the center of the receiving CO according to the chart of the mileage toll bands. Toll within the state is Intrastate Mileage and is at a rather high rate, usually reducing per mile greatly after the first 25 miles or so to the same rate for calls 200 miles or more away. Out of state calls are Interstate Mileage and are at AT&T rates, which are usually lower than interstate rates. The cost to call your neighboring state or across the country (staying in the 48 continental) is virtually the same. There are seven bands from coast to coast that slightly increase the rates as we move toward the opposite shore. DDD is based on the whole minute and is rounded to the next highest minute per call. Some areas are required to dial 1 + a code + the number. In those cases the code is the "party" code for ANI (Automatic Number Identification) so that ONI (Operator Number Identification) is not required with over two parties on a line. In most Bell areas, ONI is used for four and eight party lines. ANI with 1+ only works for two and one-party private lines. The problems with ONI are that you can give anyones number and the operator will accept it. Thus, you next-door neighbor can bill calls to you and you to him. DDD requires the NPA (area code) before the dialed number, if you are calling outside your local NPA. Therefore, to call San Jose from Los Angeles, 1 408-555-8585 would be dialed. When calling inside your own NPA, the area code is rejected and you must redial. Some states have one NPA for the whole state, others have several. Each NPA can have 639 CO NNX codes, or 6,390,000 telephones. With our NPA codes being a three digit number, with the center digit always a 1 or a 0, we have 80 possible NPAs or 511.2 million potential base telephones. With all phones having 1+ dialing, which some do not at present, we can have NNX codes with 1 and 0 in the center digit, and therefore 80 additional NNX codes for 800,000 added phones per area code. This plan has started with New York City (212 area) being converted to a 1+ as they ran out of NNX codes for the 212 area. . In areas where ESS offices have been installed, a new highly popular feature has been added: IDDD. International Direct Distant Dialing is the ablility to dial over 80 other countries without operator assistance, just as with DDD. This time dialing starts with 011 + country code + routing number. The country code is two or three digits, followed by a routing code (like an area code overseas) usually one to four digits, followed by the actual local number there, usually four to seven digits. ODD and OIDD are Operator Distance Dialed which costs more per call. To place domestic Operator calls, dial 0 + the area code (if needed) and the number. International calls are 01 + country code + routing number. Special Service Codes are another thing that can be dialed. 411 in many areas is information (Directory Assistance-DA); 611 usually is repair, and 811 is usually the business office. All areas of the USA have 911, or access to emergency services (fire, ambulance, police, etc.) Where no government organization wanted to do 911 service, the 911 translates to 0 or the operator so that travelers can dial what they are used to, 911, for service. The operator routes the emergency call in these cases. Most 911 centers have ANI to tell where the call came from, thus when a child calls 911 help can be dispatched without a CO line number trace. . Some areas have mass recording codes, like 936 (the old WE6) or 976-XXXX for weather, sports, news, stockmarket reports, etc. These are always one Message Unit calls in local calling aras, even if the caller is flat rate local service and calls toll from elsewhere. Information outside your local area is always 1 555-1212 for calls within your NPA and 1 NPA 555-1212 for calls to areas outside your area code. Calls to DA (directory assistance) in many states to areas within the state are billable inquiries after a small allowance, but never chargeable outside the state you are in. Therefore DA in Nevade from Chicago is free of charge. DA to WATS listings is 1 800-555-1212 and is always Toll Free. DA to Dial-it Service is 1 900-555-1212 and is also toll free. WATS service using 800 numbers, is the old INWATS service now called 800 service and is totally Toll Free to the caller. The recipient of the service tone with the 800 numbers gets billed for each and every call by the second per month. The 800 Service lines are available in seven types. Band 0 800 Service is used for persons within your own state to call you (The last number of the 800- -NNX codes, is always a 2). For a New Jersey state inward WATS (Wide Area Telephone Service) the number may be 1 800-962-0000. A US inward 800 Service WATS can be obtained in six zones. Bands 1-5 are the 48 states of the USA plus Puerto Rico, Bahamas, and the Virgin Islands. Band 6 includes the above bands 1-5 plus Alaska and Hawaii. Never does an US inward WATS line include the state you are in. ------------------------------------ By Doctor Zerox, GJC and David Johns TEAM ZEROX ------------------------------------