A.T.& T. and and IDB to use Soviet satellite on trial basis: an attempt to widen communications bottleneck

Article Abstract:

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ruled that IDB Communications Group and AT&T will be allowed to use the Soviet Intersputnik communications satellite. It is hoped that this will lessen problems Americans are having, trying to place calls to the USSR. Fewer than one in 100 calls are currently being completed. The Intersputnik system is made up of Eastern bloc countries that o have agreed to send and receive all international calls over the system. The FCC had delayed approval of US carriers using the Intersputnik system, fearing it would be a violation of a treaty the US signed agreeing to route all international calls through the Intelsat system. But in sum 1991, Intelsat's board of governors voted to allow member nations use the Intersputnik system. AT&T and IDB may each set up 24 satellite circuits. Extra equipment will have to be installed before all the circuits can be used. IDB will act on this matter immediately. The company estimates it will gain $8 million to $10 million in sales, and the cost will be about $50,000 in equipment. The FCC has also announced it will work to reduce the price US companies pay to overseas companies for receiving long-distance calls.

Communication services, not elsewhere classified, Regulation, admin. of utilities, United States, Laws, regulations and rules, Telecommunications services industry, United States. Federal Communications Commission, Telephone companies, International aspects, Long distance telephone services, Contracts, Satellite communications, United States foreign relations, Long-distance telephone service, Soviet foreign relations, Soviet Union, International communication, Telephone Company, International Communications, Intersputnik (Artificial satellite), Artificial satellites, Soviet, Soviet satellites (Spacecraft), IDB Communications Group Inc., Communications Satellite Corp. INTELSAT Satellite Services, IDBX

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Cable is cut, snarling New York phone links

Article Abstract:

An American Telephone and Telegraph Company crew severed a telephone link between New York City and Newark on Jan 4, 1991, causing delays at airports because air traffic controllers lost radar contact with planes. Florists, travel agents and other businesses that rely on AT&T were also inconvenienced. Full service was restored by 5 P.M. because the volume of calling decreased as businesses closed for the weekend and because AT&T was able to redirect many calls. Even at the height of the difficulty, problems were minimized because most large companies now do business with more than one long-distance carrier, and many businesses have their own microwave, cable or satellite communications links. This incident demonstrates, however, how sophisticated technology can render a telephone system vulnerable: a severed fiber-optic cable can be particularly significant because it carries so many calls.

Communications Equipment, Telephone communications, exc. radio, Accidents, New York, New York, Fiber optics, Cables, Reliability (Trustworthiness), Telephone systems, Reliability, Telephone System, Telecommunications Services Industry

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