🚀 go-pugleaf

     In a recent letter to Time magazine, Howard Crane, MCI senior V.P., writes
that:

     "The assertion that MCI has been overcharging customers for uncompleted
      calls is not simply not true. We do no begin to bill for a call after a
      certain number of seconds or a certain number of rings. We begin to bill
      when the call is answered and have very sophisticated means for
      determining when that occurs"


      Is this correct? I was under the impression that only AT&T could detect
a pick-up in *ALL* exchanges, and that mci (not to mention alternate LD
carriers) were not able to. I think mci can detect it in certain exchanges,
supposedly where equal access is in place, but never heard that they were able
to detect an answer in all areas.

     If they can, what sort of "very sophisticated equipment" do they use?
and why do they do it when most other LD CO'S still can't seem to tell the
difference? (i Believe that after a call is answered on AT&T, a signal is
sent back to the originating office to indicate that billing should start.
could MCI, by some means, use that signal as well? Or is this totally wrong?)

     Any answers would be greatly appreciated!

     Thanks,

     -DOUG


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