US ISDN Services
As a network planner for a nationwide data processing service bureau, I come
into contact with ISDN types from most of the major RBOCs (Regional Bell
Operating Companies) and have found the existing base of information on ISDN to
be poorly documented and frequently misunderstood both by those who order the
service, and the RBOCs and LECs. Additionally, the ISDN service (although 10
years old) has not reached the point where all LECs have facilities to provide
for this service. I would like to see this forum begin to compile a database of
the ISDN switch types and software versions being run across the country. The
switches used for ISDN at the LECs and RBOCs are quite flexible, but without
the proper build-out information (i.e. DMS-100 switch using Northern
Telecom(NT) software) two locations can spend countless hours in initiating a
session. If anyone is familiar with representatives of the RBOCs and/or their
switch/software setups, please encourage them to participate in the creation of
this much needed base of information. Many corporations nationwide are in the
process of serious adjustments to the location of their workforce — work at
home will become a reality for many employees in 1995 and ISDN will provide the
majority of "remote office" connections. Over the past several months I have
provisioned ISDN services in Ameritech, Nynex, and Bell Atlantic regions
ranging from 1B+D and 2B+D (Basic Rate) to ISDN PRI rate. Our own organization
is in the process of investigating the use of ISDN for over 200 employees to
work at home by year end 1995. As we begin at our organization to compile
information on ISDN adapters and Terminal adapter equipment, I will post this
information here to assist others in their evaluation.