

TELECOM Digest     Sat, 13 Nov 93 14:09:00 CST    Volume 13 : Issue 755

Inside This Issue:                        Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    FBI Operation "Root Canal" (Dave Banisar)
    "Escort" Cordless Phone (Dick Rhoads)
    Replace KXT616 KSU With ??? (Robert Jesse)
    Check From MCI; What to Do? (Henry Mensch)
    Corning Fiber Optic Cable (James D. Gillmore)
    Need Statistics on Lost Crypto Sales (SPA via Mark Boolootian)
    Information Wanted on Lincompex (Andre van Heerden)
    Switch Comparison Information Requested (David Foster)
    Long Distance Company Offers 800 Internet Access (Klaus Dimmler)
    Information Wanted on Cell Phone ROMs (Nathaniel Polish)
    Need List of Country Codes (Malcolm Dunnett)
    Information About Iridium Wanted (Ravi Prakash)
    Display Phone With Swedish CID (Claes Gussing)
    Specialized Mobile Radio (Jon Anhold)
    Re: Do You Monitor Cellular Channels? (William H. Sohl)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Organization: CPSR Washington Office
From: Dave Banisar <banisar@washofc.cpsr.org>
Date: Sat, 13 Nov 1993 9:17:03 EST    
Subject: FBI Operation "Root Canal"  


  FBI Operation "Root Canal" Docs
 From the CPSR Alert 2.05 (Nov. 12, 1993)

FBI's Operation "Root Canal" Documents Disclosed

In response to a CPSR Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, the FBI this
week released 185 pages of documents concerning the Bureau's Digital
Telephony Initiative, code-named Operation "Root Canal." The newly
disclosed material raises serious doubts as to the accuracy of the
FBI's claim that advances in telecommunications technology have
hampered law enforcement efforts to execute court-authorized wiretaps.

The FBI documents reveal that the Bureau initiated a well-orchestrated
public relations campaign in support of "proposed legislation to
compel telecommunications industry cooperation in assuring our digital
telephony intercept requirements are met."  A May 26, 1992, memorandum
from the Director of the FBI to the Attorney General lays out a
"strategy ... for gaining support for the bill once it reaches
Congress," including the following:

     "Each FBI Special Agent in Charge's contacting key law
     enforcement and prosecutorial officials in his/her territory
     to stress the urgency of Congress's being sensitized to this
     critical issue;

     Field Office media representatives educating their contacts
     by explaining and documenting, in both local and national
     dimensions, the crisis facing law enforcement and the need
     for legislation; and

     Gaining the support of the professional associations
     representing law enforcement and prosecutors."

However, despite efforts to obtain documentation from the field in
support of Bureau claims of a "crisis facing law enforcement," the
response from FBI Field Offices was that they experienced *no*
difficulty in conducting electronic surveillance.  For example, a
December 3, 1992, memorandum from Newark reported the following:

     The Newark office of the Drug Enforcement Administration
     "advised that as of this date, the DEA has not had any
     technical problems with advanced telephone technology."

     The New Jersey Attorney General's Office "has not experienced
     any problems with the telephone company since the last
     contact."

     An agent from the Newark office of the Internal Revenue
     Service "advised that since the last time he was contacted,
     his unit has not had any problems with advanced telephony
     matters."

     An official of the New Jersey State Police "advised that
     as of this date he has had no problems with the present
     technology hindering his investigations."

Likewise, a memorandum from the Philadelphia Field Office reported
that the local offices of the IRS, Customs Service and the Secret
Service were contacted and "experienced no difficulties with new
technologies."  Indeed, the newly-released documents contain no
reports of *any* technical problems in the field.

The documents also reveal the FBI's critical role in the development
of the Digital Signature Standard (DSS), a cryptographic means of
authenticating electronic communications that the National Institute
of Standards and Technology was expected to develop.  The DSS was
proposed in August 1991 by the National Institute of Standards and
Technology.  NIST later acknowledged that the National Security Agency
developed the standard.  The newly disclosed documents appear to
confirm speculation that the FBI and the NSA worked to undermine the
legal authority of the NIST to develop standards for the nation's
communications infrastructure.

CPSR intends to pursue further FOIA litigation to establish the extent
of the FBI involvement in the development of the DSS and also to
obtain a "cost-benefit" study discussed in one of the FBI Director's
memos and other documents the Bureau continues to withhold.

                      ------------------

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"subscribe cpsr <your name>" (without quotes or brackets)
to listserv@gwuvm.gwu.edu.  Back issues of the Alert are available at
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------------------------------

From: dsr@atl.hp.com (Dick Rhoads)
Subject: "Escort" Cordless Phone Information Wanted
Date: 13 Nov 1993 14:33:59 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard NARC Atlanta


I saw an ad in {USA Today} this week for an "Escort" 900 MHz cordless
phone manufactured by Cincinnati Microwave (they make the Escort
automotive radar detectors).

Has anyone tried one of these yet?  Do you have any comments on its'
range, quality, etc ...?


Dick Rhoads                   Hewlett-Packard Company
Phone   : 404-850-2310        Atlanta Technology Center
FAX     : 404-850-2598        2015 South Park Place
HPDesk  : Dick Rhoads/HPATC   Atlanta, Georgia 30339 USA
Internet: dick_rhoads@hpatc.hp.com
X.400   : C=US; AD=ATTMAIL; PD=HP; ORG=HP; OU1=HPATC; SN=RHOADS; FN=DICK

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 13 Nov 93 11:16:54 -0800
From: Robert Jesse <rjesse@us.oracle.com>
Subject: Replace KXT616 KSU With ???
Reply-To: rnj%lila@us.oracle.com


I have a Panasonic KXT61610 KSU that I'd like to replace.

Eight display telephones and eight POTS ports will be plenty of
extension capacity. The main reason for upgrading is to get more CO
lines (eight would be ok, ten or more plenty) and DISA, and for this
the Panasonic KXT123211 would do nicely.

However there are some features I'd like to have in a new system that
Panasonic doesn't support (at least that I know of on the analog
systems).  Since I have a buyer for both the old KSU and the
telephones, I have the option of starting from scratch with an
entirely different system. Do you know of anything that supports the
following?

- pass CPC from CO lines to analog POTS extensions (so answering machines
  can detect hangup cleanly);

- decode caller ID from CO lines and send to display telephones;

- single button on-hook speed dialing (not having to push the speakerphone
  button to go off-hook before pressing the speed dial button).

Particularly if you recommend a digital system, it would be helpful if
you'd comment on the sound quality -- some that I've heard are pretty
noisy. Thanks!

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 12 Nov 1993 21:42:48 -0800
From: hcm@netcom.com (Henry Mensch)
Subject: Check From MCI; What to Do?


For my residential long distance I currently use AT&T ... I got a
check in the mail from MCI last week (not a very big one, as they say;
only $20) which I get to cash if I let them switch me to MCI (and
friends and informants, or whatever it is this week).

Now, I remember reading in this space that some folks were able to
redeem these checks with their current LD carrier without having to
switch carriers ... has anyone done this lately ... with AT&T?  If so,
how ...?


# henry mensch / <hcm@netcom.com> / pob 14592; sf, ca  94114-0592; usa

------------------------------

From: gillmore@acad.csv.kutztown.edu (James D. Gillmore)
Subject: Corning Fiber Optic Cable
Date: 13 Nov 1993 06:29:40 -0600
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway


We are considering wiring to the desk top with fiber.  On of the vendors
suggested that we spec Corning fiber only.  Is there a reason to do this
other than giving some vendors a better chance at responding to our RFP?  
I would appreciate it if you would write back directly as we don't support
UUCP news services at this time.  We will in a few weeks though.. :)


Jim Gillmore     E-mail gillmore@acad.csv.kutztown.edu
Manager Network Services      VOICE 215.683.4199
Kutztown University of PA       FAX 215.683.4634
LMS Annex Room 105       HOME 717.865.5820
        Holidays & Weekends 717.567.3931

------------------------------

From: booloo@framsparc.ocf.llnl.gov (Mark Boolootian)
Subject: Need Statistics on Lost Crypto Sales
Date: Fri, 12 Nov 1993 08:32:06 PST


[Moderator's Note: Passed along FYI to us by Mark.  PAT]

NEED STATISTICS ON LOST CRYPTO SALES

The Software Publishers Association (SPA) has been working to bring
about the liberalization of export controls on mass market software
with encryption capabilities.  SPA's much-publicized study of the
foreign availability of cryptographic products has clearly
demonstrated the widespread and easy availability of encryption that
is stronger than what U. S. firms have been able to export.  However,
NSA claims that software companies have not demonstrated sufficiently
the economic harm they have suffered from export controls.  Congress
has told us that without better economic harm statistics, our chances
of liberalizing the export laws are slim.  Therefore, WE NEED YOUR
HELP.

If you or your firm has lost business because you have not been able
to export your encryption product, please let us know.  Be as specific
as possible.  It is the cumulative effect of this information that
will be most compelling.

Please pass this on to those in your firm who might know about
these matters or might also be able to respond.

Please send replies to i.rosenthal@applelink.apple.com or to

Ilene Rosenthal, General Counsel
Software Publishers Association
1730 M St. NW, Suite 700
Washington DC 20036
(202) 452-1600 ext. 318

or to

Douglas Miller
(same address)
(202) 452-1600 ext. 342

------------------------------

From: Andre van Heerden <AVH@ING1.rau.ac.za>
Organization:  Rand Afrikaans University
Date: Sat, 13 Nov 1993 12:23:05 GMT
Subject: Information Wanted on Lincompex
Reply-To: avh@ing1.rau.ac.za


I would like information on Lincompex (Linked Compressor and Expansion).
Especially the digital implementation of the lincomplex.

E-mail me directly.


Thank you,

Andre van Heerden           Tel: +27-11-489-2107
Cybernetics Laboratory      Fax: +27-11-489-2357
Rand Afrikaans University   Email: avh@ing1.rau.ac.za
P O Box 524   Aucklandpark  2006   SOUTH AFRICA

------------------------------

From: dfoster@mdd.comm.mot.com (David Foster)
Subject: Switch Comparison Information Requested
Date: 12 Nov 1993 21:14:45 GMT
Organization: Motorola - Wireless Data Group; Richmond, BC


Has anyone information on, or can direct me to articles/sources 
on the following:

1. Telco, Celluar, Mobile data, Message or similar switches.
2. Basic functionality.
3. Basic list prices.
4. Price/performance aspects.
5. Technology/delpoyment platform/appliactions.
6. Comparative studies.

This request for information is relatively urgent (as usual!!)


Thanks,

Dave Foster

------------------------------

From: klaus@cscns.com (Klaus Dimmler)
Subject: Long Distance Company Offers 800 Internet Access
Organization: Community_News_Service
Date: Sat, 13 Nov 1993 15:20:35 GMT


Telephone Express, a regional long distance carrier in the Western
States, is offering national 800 Internet access for less than the
cost of a long distance phone call! For only 13 cents per minute,
access to a T1-Internet connected host is available from anywhere in
the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Hawaii, and Alaka!
The host is connected directly to the ANS backbone.

For information on this, please call 800-748-1200 (voice), or write to
service@cscns.com.


Klaus Dimmler    klaus@cscns.com  CNS, Inc
1155 Kelly Johnson Blvd, Suite 400
Colorado Springs, CO 80920    719-592-1240


[Moderator's Note: Are you using it? How well does it work and what
else can you tell us about it?  How is billing done, etc?   PAT]

------------------------------

From: polish@cs.columbia.edu (Nathaniel Polish)
Subject: Information Wanted on Cell Phone ROMs
Date: 13 Nov 1993 11:02:43 -0500
Organization: Columbia University Department of Computer Science


A friend of mine posed an interesting problem to me the other day.  He
has several cell phones.  He wants to be able to use one from his
boat.  He wants the phone on the boat to look like the one in his car.
To this end he would like to be able to reprogram the ROM in the phone
to match the one in his car.  Is there a repository of ROM formats for
various phones anywhere?  Obviously an unscrupulus individual could
use this information to steal phone service from others.  I presume
that this goes on all the time just like credit card fraud.  Anyway,
is this information available?


Thanks,


Nathaniel Polish    polish@cs.columbia.edu


[Moderator's Note: Interesting you mention it, as this discussion goes
on here frequently and we just finished a thread on the topic. He is
not supposed to do what he wants. His cellular carrier will probably
tell him it is against their rules and in violation of his contract.
But yes, there are books around which explain how to do it and companies
which offer to clone one cellular phone so it looks like another, etc.
I imagine one of the people reading this who is in the discussion here
almost every time it comes up will send you email with sources.  PAT]

------------------------------

From: Malcolm Dunnett <dunnett@mala.bc.ca>
Subject: Need List of Country Codes
Organization: Malaspina College


  I'm looking for a list of all the "Country Codes"; either an FTP
site or someone to post/mail me a copy.

  Any help?

  Thanks in advance.


Malcolm Dunnett    Malaspina University-College     Email: dunnett@mala.bc.ca
Computer Services  Nanaimo, B.C. CANADA V9R 5S5       Tel: (604)755-8738


[Moderator's Note: We have a comprehensive list in the Telecom Archives.
To use the archives with anonymous ftp, connect with lcs.mit.edu then
'cd telecom-archives' and check out the /country.codes sub-directory.
While you are there, Carl Moore tells me the /areacodes sub-directory is
being updated this weekend with some revisions. If you do not have ftp
access at your site, then use the Telecom Archives Email Information
Service. Send email to 'tel-archives@lcs.mit.edu' and in the text of
your letter (the subject does not matter) issue these commands:

REPLY yourname@site     NOTE: This *must* be the first command.
GET country.codes
END                     NOTE: Please add this as the final command.

If you are not familiar with the Email Information Service or need to
get a complete index of topics and help in using it, then add these
commands in your request:

INFO
HELP
INDEX            NOTE: This index is updated three times daily. Stay
                 current with the Archives by fetching a copy often. 

 ... and you will get a few more files to brouse through. You can also
get single back issues of the Digest, or large files of fifty back
issues at a time.  To the several hundred people who use the service
on a regular basis, thanks for making it a big success.  PAT]

------------------------------

From: prakash@cis.ohio-state.edu (ravi prakash)
Subject: Information About Iridium Wanted
Date: 13 Nov 1993 08:01:04 -0500
Organization: The Ohio State University Dept. of Computer and Info. Science


I would like to get information about the following:

- Iridium : a low earth orbit mobile satellite system

that Motorola Satellite Communications, Inc. is planning to implement.
They had submitted an application to the Federal Communications
Commission, Washington, D.C., in 1990. Is there any way I can get a
copy of that application?

Besides, if anobody could provide me with an e-mail/snail-mail address
of someone to contact at Motorola about this, it would be of great
help.


Thanks,

Ravi Prakash                                  Office : Bolz Hall, #319b
prakash@cis.ohio-state.edu                    Phone  : (614)292-5236 - Off.
Department of Computer & Information Science, Fax    : (614)292-2911
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210


[Moderator's Note: And you also might want to check out the Telecom
Archives. You'll find some stuff in the special reports and technical
sub-directories on Iridium. We had a special issue on it a while
back.  PAT]

------------------------------

From: ebcguss@ebc.ericsson.se (Claes Gussing)
Subject: Display Phone With Swedish CID
Reply-To: ebcguss@ebc.ericsson.se
Organization: Ericsson 
Date: Sat, 13 Nov 1993 13:04:50 GMT


Anybody out there know of a cheap Display phone that applies to the
Swedish standard for Caller ID, Distinctive Ring, etc? The major
Swedish telephony supplier, I hear, is planning to release these
services next year, and I'm looking for a supplier to become Swedish
agent for.


Regards,

Claes Gussing    ebcguss@ebc.ericsson.se

The opinions are my own, and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer.

------------------------------

From: jga+@osu.edu (Jon Anhold)
Subject: Specialized Mobile Radio
Date: Sat, 13 Nov 1993 06:50:21


Does anyone have any information on Specialized Mobile Radio?
Specifically, types of radios, what bands they are on, and common uses
for SMR?


Thanks,

Jon Anhold N8USK                          jga+@osu.edu
1008 Steeb Hall   AX.25->n8usk@n8lwg.#neoh.oh.usa.noam
70 W.11th Ave                         Riker/Picard '96
Columbus, Ohio 43210         Dreamland Network Systems
#include std/disclaimer.h

------------------------------

From: whs70@dancer.cc.bellcore.com (sohl,william h)
Subject: Re: Do You Monitor Cellular Channels?
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Date: Sat, 13 Nov 1993 16:09:43 GMT


In article <telecom13.753.5@eecs.nwu.edu> kcooke@uclink.berkeley.edu
(Kevin Ian Cooke) writes:

> In light of the recent discussions about scanning cellular frequencies, I
> would like your help with the following:

> I am interested in writing a story about people who, from time to
> time, like to listen to their nieghbors' cellular phone conversations.
> I know you're out there, especially folks in the *.dcom.telecom
> worlds, since (as I'm sure most of you know) it only takes slight
> alterations to cell phones and FM scanners to get them to hear the
> cellular frequencies.

> I know that the above is illegal, and I know that anyone engaged in
> such activity could be prosecuted. 

In the above, the ONLY illegal activity is actually listening to
cellular calls (by virtue of the ECPA).  Modifying scanners to be able
to receive cellular calls is not now, nor will it be in the future
illegal.  Indeed, one can still manufacture and import scanners that
receive cellular without needing an modification (e.g. the ICOM R100
receiver).  Such importation and manufacture will not be illegal until
after April 1994.  Even after that date, the law prohibiting
importation or manufacture of cellular capable scanners does NOT
prohibit any of the following:

 (1) Modification of a scanner,
 (2) Continued sales of cellular capable scanners that were imported
 or manufactured before April 26, 1994.  (i.e. stores can continue to
 sell existing stocks of those cellualr capable scanners),
 (3) Sales of used cellular capable scanners, and 
 (4) ownership of any cellular capable scanner.

As to anyone being prosecuted under the existing ECPA (the law that
forbids listening to cellular), it is interesting to note that despite
the occasional revelation in the press that "this or that was learned
by listening to cellular calls." the level of any prosecution seems to
be all but non-existent.  Indeed, even folks in this newsgroup (some,
not all) seem to be willing to allow the police to be above the law
when listening to cellular calls results in the arrest of a criminal.
That's a true double standard in my not so humble opinion.

As to my personal opinion, the ECPA is a joke and only provides a
false sense of security to cellular users who buy into sales
statements that because it is illegal to listen to cellular, then the
security of cellular converstations is assured.  In fact, the ability
to PROVE a violation of the ECPA occurred is all but impossible unless
the violator publicly admits they have listened to cellular.  Bottom
line is that the ECPA is essentially an unenfoceable law that ranks in
the same catagory as the old sodomy laws.

Even the new law which will forbid manufacture and importation of
cellular capable scanners does little to thwart anyone who really
wants to eavesdrop from doing so.  After April 1994, any potential
eavesdropper can simply -- 

(1) buy a used cellular capable scanner; 

(2) buy a non-cellular capable scanner and build a frequency downverter (a
trivially simple piece of electronics for which construction articles
have already been published ... Feb/Mar 93 {Radio Electronics} Magazine) or 

(3) buy a double conversion non-cellular scanner and listen to the
cellular frequencies by tunbing to the "image" (two times the IF or
intermediate frequency).

Do I own a cellular scanner ... nope and I have no interest in doing
so, BUT I think laws that attempt to regulate what types of electronic
equipment individuals may buy (or own) are just a step away from the
totalitarian mindset that would regulate ownership of all types of
reception equipment.


Standard Disclaimer- Any opinions, etc. are mine and NOT my employer's.

Bill Sohl (K2UNK) BELLCORE (Bell Communications Research, Inc.)
Morristown, NJ             email via UUCP      bcr!cc!whs70
201-829-2879 Weekdays      email via Internet  whs70@cc.bellcore.com


[Moderator's Note: That's really something, to equate the laws
pertaining to privacy in communications with the old (but still in
force in about half the states in the USA) laws on sodomy. The latter
are considered by many people to be an invasion of individual privacy,
while the former are considered by many people to promote and protect
individual privacy. In any event, they are all a bunch of worthless,
unenforceable laws, eh?  So what else is new in these United States?  PAT]
 
------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #755
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