[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: How would you then deal with 'phone
> patches', the little devices which allow VHF/UHF radios to link into
> the public phone network? Should they also be subject to the rules
> of the public switched telephone network? PAT]
Yes. Patched calls are subject to BOTH the rules of the public telephone network AND the rules of whatever radio channel is in use, because the call is handled by both services.
--scott
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I guess what I meant to say was the person using the radio who issues certain tones to the base station where the 'phone patch' is located, who then makes outgoing phone calls over a (common, owned by the ham radio operator's club for example) phone line. Is that commonly-owned phone line, and the 'patch' device in the middle, and most important, the portable transciever (a two meter rig comes to mind) all subject to both radio and telco rules, for example, the 911 surcharge, and other fees on account of his transciever rig _can possibly_ be used on the phone network? What about the local number portability fee, etc? After all, he does have a _phone number_ (albiet shared in common with other club members) doesn't he? PAT]