NYNEX/Massachusetts home ISDN for Internet access FAQ

Last edited: 25 July 1997

Q: What about other states (not Massachusetts) in the NYNEX service area?
Sorry, I don't have information on other states at this time.
Q: I hear you have an ISDN line at home for data service. How much does the installation cost?
NYNEX's Residential ISDN service is an adder to your regular monthly service (just like call forwarding would be an adder to your regular service). NYNEX also charges a one-time installation fee, which depends on how much work they must do and whether you are installing a new line or are converting an existing phone line.
Installation Charges
Service ordering $13.88 [1][3]
Central Office work $23.19 [3]
IDSN CSV install charge $15.00
Jack $2.40 [2]
Charge for Work Done $2.40 [2]
Total $57.57
Monthly Charges
Residential unlimited local service $16.85 [3]
IDSN Basic exchange service $8.00
ISDN Circuit switched voice #1 $0.00
End-user charge $3.50 [3]
Total $28.35

Notes:

  1. I successfully contested this charge; see some details below why it should be less.

    2. I called up NYNEX when my bill arrived and spent a week trying to get a real answer. I finally got in touch with someone by calling NYNEX's consumer line (listed on your phone bill under "if you are not satisfied...") and insisting on talking to someone in the ISDN office--previously I kept getting answering machines which never resulted in return calls. I asked about the $13.88 charge and told him my reading of the tariff said it should be $7.60 (the fee for changes to existing service) and he agreed to correct the charge on my bill. They should have gotten it right in the first place, and I'll tell the DPU that in a letter.

  2. I don't know quite what these are; they did no internal work nor did they install a jack. I asked about these charges and NYNEX agreed to remove them.
  3. Same as charges published in the phone book for POTS residential service.
Q: What about monthly fees?
Numbers below (10.X.X.X) are references to the NYNEX tariffs for ISDN service, which can be found in Part C section 10. Visit your local library.

Calls on ISDN data channels are metered and billed per-call and per-minute ($0.XX per call and $0.YY per minute--let me know if you can provide values for XX and YY). [According to Helen Trillian Rose, there is one case in which NYNEX does not bill for ISDN data channel calls--if your call is contained within one central office. If your ISP's IDSN lines are connected to the same central office as your lines, you can call using data bearer service without metered charges. NYNEX apparently knows about this but doesn't really care since intra-CO capacity is plentiful. However, Tarl Neustaedter reports that he does get charged for intra-CO data service. He reports that Centrex service does provide free data calls.]

Some ISDN equipment (like mine) can use an ISDN voice channel to transport data--it effectively uses ISDN as a high-speed modem channel. My ISP is set up to accept voice channel calls as data calls. If you do can this with your ISP, the call is charged in the same way that you would be charged for a normal voice call. So, if you can dial your ISP without a per-minute charge on normal modems (28.8k or 14.4k), you should be able to call them via ISDN on voice bearer service without a per-minute charge from NYNEX.

Regular NYNEX business rates do not include any unmetered service; any calls made from a business line will incur a per-minute and/or per-call charge.

NYNEX does offer Centrex Plus service for ISDN lines in the same central office. Voice service between two lines in the same Centrex Plus group is not metered (10.1.3.Q). It appears that Circuit-switched data between lines in the same Centrex Plus service may also not be metered--10.1.3.V says that intra-Centrex data usage is not measured in the first sentence, but doesn't say whether the second sentence (invoking rates in 10.2.1) also applies. This is one way to get unmeasured service for a business. However, you need to have an ISP with a POP in the same central office serving your location.

I advise you to check your phone book or call your local NYNEX business office to see whether you can get unmetered service to your ISP's telephone exchange.

Q: Does NYNEX know about this apparent loophole (data over voice bearer channels)?
Last year, I asked that question of someone at Nearnet, and they said that NYNEX knew full well that Nearnet was setting up ISDN lines for its customers to use the voice circuits to pass data. I think he said that NYNEX either didn't care too much or had no real recourse under the existing tariffs filed with the DPU, although NYNEX does have an "out": 10.1.3.B:

Service is not furnished where the proposed use of the service or facilities would tend to injuriously affect the efficiency of the Company's plant, property or service.

But yes, NYNEX does know that this is going on.

Note: Ed Henschel reports that NYNEX is investigating the use of voice channels for cheap unmetered ISDN dialup and may file with the DPU to close this loophole. They may also file to establish a "flat usage rate for residential ISDN" which might allow unmetered data channel usage. The NYNEX representative was not specific on either of these points, though.

Q: Does NYNEX have a published rate schedule for ISDN?
Their tariffs, their FAX information, and their information relayed by a customer service agent on a phone call are conflicting. Since Telcos are regulated in Massachusetts, the tariff is what governs. I received a facsimile from their 800-GET-ISDN service which indicated some ISDN pricing. Warning: 800-GET-ISDN is basically useless. You can get a facsimile of the rates, but the chart is incomplete and may be inaccurate. They don't return phone calls. You may be better off calling NYNEX Data Services at 800-650-ISDN (800-650-4736), but they can't give you accurate answers either. I've heard that 800-588-9648 is a NYNEX ISDN hotline with real people answering the phone, but I've not tried it myself. My experience is that NYNEX customer service basically sucks when dealing with ISDN.

I've extracted the residential, virtual-circuit (not packet-switched), local switch (not virtual ISDN, not intellipath) portions of the chart here, and supplemented it with information gleaned from a phone conversation with a Data Services representative and from a copy of the tariff mailed to me by NYNEX:

Item Installation Monthly
Digital Subscriber Line [1] $37.07/$30.79 [5] $8.00
Circuit Switched Voice service $15.00 $0.00 [3]
Circuit Switched Data service $15.00 $5.00
alternate CSV/CSD service $15.00 $5.00
Inside wiring/jack installation [2] $75/hour

Notes:

  1. The basic charge for an ISDN line. The customer service representative told me this was what you paid per B-channel, but the tariffs are worded differently (stating that the CSV, CSD, alternate CSV/CSD services are charged such-and-so "each").
  2. Inside wiring is optional--you may provide your own wiring.
  3. The chart from 800-GET-ISDN states this as $0.00, as does the tariff (10.1.4.B.1) and my bill. The customer service agent incorrectly stated this as $5.00.
  4. All charges are in addition to what regular phone service would cost (except perhaps installation charges?).
  5. The tariff (10.1.4) says this is to be "in addition to the appropriate rates and charges for ... Residence exchange service, as well as the appropriate Part A, section 3 service charges." My telephone book (Arlington) states that charge to be $13.88 (new service charge) plus $23.19 (Central office connection charge). For changes to existing service, I believe this should be $7.60 (change of service charge) plus $23.19 = $30.79.

For example, an ISDN phone line with one CSV B channel would be $8 per month in addition to regular service (note that a NYNEX customer service representative and my ISP incorrectly told me this would be $13 per month). Two B channels (one CSV, one CSV/CSD) would be $13 extra per month.

(Stale Note, from 1994/95): There may be an additional subscriber line charge (SLC) per ISDN B channel; see the action alert at Bell Atlantic's web site for some sketchy details. The FCC is apparently going to consider the issue; see Bell Atlantic's press release about it.

Note also that these prices may have changed since I last looked in my phone book or the tariffs for details.

Q: What ISDN ISPs are there in the Boston metro area?
Several Boston-area ISPs appear to offer dial-up ISDN; I found some by following the links from the NECI provider list.
I haven't had time to maintain the price/features comparison chart I used to have, so I have withdrawn it. You'll have to do your own legwork.
Q: What ISDN equipment do you need in your home?
You will need an ISDN NT-1 to interface with the phone company's telephone lines, and a terminal adapter (ISDN TA) to interface with your computer. Many lower-cost ISDN modems on the market today provide both functions in one package.

Some ISPs offers discount on their preferred ISDN TAs. Ask your ISP for a recommendation, and/or check out Dan Kegel's list of ISDN terminal adapters (and other equipment) on his ISDN hardware page.

Q: Can you use your ISDN modem as a "regular" modem to talk V.34 or V.32bis to an analog modem?
It depends on your ISDN equipment. My TA's data interface only works with other ISDN equipment. Some ISDN TAs can use the ISDN line as a regular phone line and connect to an analog v.34 or v.32bis modem.
Q: Can you use the POTS jack and ISDN modem at the same time?
If you have two bearer channel ISDN service, my modem manual says you can use one for the ISDN data call (over a voice circuit) and the other for another voice call via the POTS jack.

I have only one bearer channel, so I cannot use both simultaneously. If a POTS voice call is in progress, the RS232 interface replies "NO CARRIER". If an ISDN call is in progress, the POTS jack gets no dialtone.

Note: Ed Henschel reports that some central office phone switches in NYNEX's service area do not handle two independent voice calls at once but do support two-channel data calls (BONDing).

Q: Can I replace my existing phone line with an ISDN line and get 2 channels, one for voice and one for data-over-voice?
NYNEX recommends leaving at least one phone line at your address as a POTS line, so that in case of power troubles you can still call emergency services. (Inquiries in July 1997 by Jonathan Lieberman indicate that NYNEX will insist on a POTS line being present - they will not sell you just an ISDN line.)

You might not be able to use two channels as voice circuits simultaneously, depending on exactly how NYNEX has things configured and what service you have ordered for your two B channels. I didn't see anything in the tariff which would preclude this, though.

Q: How do multiple bearer channels work with ISDN? Do you get two phone numbers, or two appearances on the same number, or something else?
As far as I can tell, you do not get an additional phone number (one NYNEX employee said she thought the switches could not give you an additional number on the same ISDN line, although it's clearly offered in the tariff (10.1.2.C.1)). I think you just get an extra channel available for use by your ISDN equipment. It might acts like a second appearance.

According to Chris Carlucci, this may depend on the type of telephone switch in your central office. For an AT&T 5ESS switch, you get one "phone number" for each line. For a Northern Telecom DMS-100 you get one "phone number" for each B channel. [If you order more complex service, for example something like the home office setup described by Cameron Communications Group, you might get up to 8 devices on the same line, multiplexed among the available B channels.]

The NYNEX ISDN tariffs only let you have one of each type of service (10.1.3.L), so if you want two voice channels you need to order a CSV and an alternate CSV/CSD. If you get three types of basic service, one of them must be low speed packet data (10.1.3.K) (i.e. you can only get two B channels plus one D channel).

[David Osborn reports that "custom" ISDN assemblies to get 2 CSV/CSD channels are available for extra fees and with more lead time. He states it was $50 extra for the install plus the added $5/month (presumably for the extra B channel). This will be set up as National ISDN rather than AT&T 5ESS Custom, resulting in two phone numbers and 2 SPIDs.]

If you find out more info, let me know.

Q: How long does it take to get service?
The first step is to get your intended installation site loop-qualified. This is NYNEX speak for verifying that they can provide ISDN to that location. Your local phone switch must be capable of ISDN service (most metro boston switches are capable), and your local loop (the wires from your place to the phone company's central office) must meet certain length restrictions for ISDN to work right. This can take several days.

Then you must order the ISDN service with particular service codes that identify what characteristics your ISDN TA needs. In 1995, my ISP said it's about 2.5 weeks from ordering to installation. (It was a bit longer for me, because I was out of town during the week they offered the first installation appointment.) Your ISP can probably help with the line ordering process.

On an inquiry by Jonathan Lieberman in July 1997, NYNEX quoted installation at 30 days from ordering.

Q: Do you need special wiring in your house?
You may not. ISDN is specified to use an RJ45 jack, but may work fine with a regular RJ11 jack. The RJ45 has 8 conductor positions, only 2 of which are used for the phone service (there are two other pairs for power and battery signaling, and (as far as I can tell) an unused pair). A normal RJ11 jack has 6 positions, of which only 4 usually have conductors and only 2 are used per phone line.

Both jacks put the signal wires in the center pair. So, if you have independently-powered ISDN terminating equipment (e.g. by a separate power plug) you can take a normal modular phone wire, plug it into the jack connected to the 2-wire phone company line, and connect that to your ISDN equipment. You may need to insure that the polarity of the wires from the phone company matches the polarity of your modular jack.

Q: What if my local switch doesn't have ISDN capability?
NYNEX offers a Virtual ISDN service for customers on older phone exchanges without ISDN capability. Basically, they run a special line from your central office to some other central office that does provide ISDN, and charge you extra for that link. If your central office later gets ISDN capability, you may retain your virtual ISDN setup or transfer without charge to local ISDN service. The install charge for virtual ISDN is $190; the monthly charge is $32 (10.1.5.C). The tariff wording (10.1.5.B.5) implies you get your service from the foreign switch; presumably this means your calling plans and charges and phone number will be relative to the foreign switch.
Q: What protocol do you run over the ISDN link?
I run asynchronous PPP over V.120 modulation. It provides pretty much a raw async bit-pipe between my ISDN modem's RS-232 port and the PPP server at my ISP. Your service provider can probably offer either PPP (be sure to ask if it's synchronous or asynchronous, and to insure that your ISDN equipment can handle the required modulation methods) or SLIP. I chose PPP because I already had PPP scripts ready to go for other PPP services.

My service provider assigns static IP addresses to its SLIP/PPP customers, so I could have easily set up SLIP without hassle. If you don't have a static IP address and need to negotiate an IP address, PPP is much easier to set up and get working right.

Q: How's the network connectivity?
This is mostly dependent on your ISP. I've found the ISDN link to be quite reliable and hassle-free, but the service beyond the ISP depends on the quality of their other connections to the net.
Q: What data rate do you really get?
I am only getting a 56000 bps ISDN carrier to my ISP, because I use the voice bearer channel (in order to avoid per-minute line charges).

I'm seeing about 5500 bytes/sec (44Kbps) with FTP.

Q: How do you securely connect to your destinations on the Internet?
I use Kerberos-authenticated encrypted telnet to get either to the gateway at work (and from there to the internal network) or to my account at MIT.
Q: What operating systems support encrypted telnet?
I run it on NetBSD, a 4.4BSD-Lite derivative. It should be easy to compile on FreeBSD & BSD/OS (other 4.4BSD-Lite derivatives), Linux, or any of the commercial UNIXes. Sources can be found at MIT. You will need the 31 May 1995 (or later) version.

There are versions for MS-DOS/Windows 3.1 and for the Macintosh.

DOS/Windows Kerberos support programs and libraries are available from MIT, although I haven't yet found a telnet client there.

A Macintosh telnet can be found at NCSA's FTP site. You'll need the Kerberos telnet plug-in as well as the regular telnet itself, and you need the kclient software to get Kerberos tickets (get version 1.5). You can also get a copy from MIT.

Another Macintosh client, NiftyTelnet, is available from CMU. It provides Kerberos support through the Authentication Manager package from the University of Michigan. (Thanks to Lars Kellog-Stedman for this information.)

I haven't actually tried the PC or Mac telnet clients, so if you find you need more pieces, let me know. I've also heard that NCSA is no longer working on telnet, so we may be out of luck for now.

Q: What about other remote access protocols, such as POP (post office protocol) or SSH?
I currently don't know of encrypting protocols/implementations at the application level (like Kerberos would be) for fetching or sending mail through a gateway system. There are solutions like Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) for sending encrypted mail, but it sits on top of the regular mail systems and requires specific user directions to perform encryption.

You might also be able to use the Secure Shell (SSH) to get a secured connection between two hosts.

Q: Why did you get this service, anyway?
Honestly? It's a neat toy. I do a bunch of non-work-related stuff on the net from home, and it's easier this way.

For more ISDN details, see the Bellcore National ISDN site, Dan Kegel's ISDN page, or the CPT's ISDN pricing page, or call the NYNEX Data Services line at 1-800-650-ISDN (650-4736) or (if you're brave and are willing to talk only to a voice mail hell) the ISDN sales hotline at 1-800-GET-ISDN, or the Bellcore ISDN Information Hotline at 1-800-992-ISDN.

John Kohl, <john_kohl@alum.mit.edu>