Kokua Line
Kokua Line
All phone lines are not
created equal for dataQuestion: I am in the market for Internet access and was considering either Oceanic Cable's Road Runner or Verizon's DSL. People have told me that cable is easier to hack into because many people share one cable source, but a friend told me that DSL service will be reliable only if I get a clean line. He said that the phone company "taps" on the main line -- where a line does not go just from Point A to Point B, but branches off to other areas, creating a much longer line. When I asked Verizon, they said that if I qualified for service, my line would meet specifications. I feel the public should be aware of these "taps" and demand their lines be tap-free to produce a cleaner, shorter line, considering the price they charge. Can you get an answer from Verizon?
Answer: What you are referring to are "bridge taps," which are extensions from Verizon's central office to a customer's home, said Verizon Hawaii spokeswoman Ann Nishida. (They are not to be confused with wiretaps, which are illegal unless used by law enforcement with a court order, she said.)
According to Nishida, Verizon stopped adding bridge taps -- used to maximize efficiency -- in the early 1990s as the market became more data-driven. Since Verizon's original telephone network was for voice service, voice circuits were designed to operate within the parameters of bridge taps, Nishida said. That's why customers don't notice any difference in voice service.
However, she acknowledged, the taps in some cases may affect a customer's ability to obtain DSL (digital subscriber line) or other high-speed data services.
"In these cases, Verizon will remove the bridge tap if it is feasible to do so," she said, adding that Verizon is "gradually removing" the taps as customer needs change. To remove all taps immediately would be costly and ultimately lead to "significantly higher rates," she said.
Asked what determines feasibility of removal, she said even if all bridge taps are removed, the length, gauge or age of the cable may not support data services over the phone line.
"In these cases, we can work with the customer on alternate data solutions or, on an individual case basis, discuss the possibility of designing a special circuit to their home or business," she said.
Call 611 and ask if Verizon technicians can look at your line. Nishida said they could likely remove a bridge tap if it is causing problems with DSL service.
She pointed out that most customers already have bridge taps inside their homes -- each telephone jack is a bridge tap off the main telephone line.
To find out whether it's possible to obtain DSL service on a telephone line or for more information, call 643-4411 (business) or 643-3456 (residential).
Trees trimmed
A reader asked if two trees blocking the view of cars exiting from a parking lot onto Waialae Avenue at 7th Avenue could be trimmed ("Kokua Line," Oct. 17). The city Department of Parks & Recreation (call 971-7151 for similar complaints) reported that two street trees there had been pruned.
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Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered.
E-mail to kokualine@starbulletin.com