2600 Flash
718 is Coming!
The New York State Public Service Commission has voted to begin dividing New York City into two area codes on September 1 to "prevent an impending exhaustion of telephone numbers." At that time, the old 212 area code will begin to reach only Manhattan and the Bronx, whereas a brand new area code, 718, will start to work for Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. The whole system becomes mandatory on January 1, 1985.
Charles Herndon, a New York Telephone spokesman, said that the 718 code was assigned to the city years ago by the North American Dialing Plan, a group that administers area codes in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
"Of the numbers available at the time, 718 was the best," he said. "There weren't that many available."
The P.S.C. rejected recommendations by a consultant (Economics and Technology, Inc.) hired by the New York City Board of Estimate. Those recommendations called for the implementation of the 718 area code, however, instead of using it for people, the consultant suggested using it exclusively for computers, paging systems; and other devices, since they were the main reason for the new area code in the first place.
[2600 would like to go on record as enthusiastically supporting the idea of an entire area code of machines.]
Supercomputer Dial-Ups
Astronomy and astrophysics are gathering so much data by telescope these days, that it cannot be handled by conventional computers, according to Dr. Vincent Icke of the University of Minnesota.
To remedy the problem, Dr. Icke called for the creation of a central supercomputer facility that would be at the disposal of all astronomers and astrophysicists nationwide via telephone lines.
Wiretap City
After an investigation, the New Haven (Connecticut) Board of Police Commissioners, a civilian body that oversees the police department, revealed in 1978 that the department had routinely tapped the phones of residents from 1964 to 1971, apparently to monitor radical political activity. This, the board said, was illegal.
In December 1982, after it had been disclosed that the phones of some 3000 residents had been tapped, the Federal District Court in Bridgeport made the case a class action inviting anyone who felt wronged to become a plaintiff.
So far: 1230 people have become plaintiffs. They include several judges, lawyers, and other prominent political figures and, of course, a great many members of the Yale faculty.
Students Cause Havoc in Computer
A group of students at Gompers Secondary School in San Diego tapped into the school's computer system last month, causing all kinds of problems.
"It was funny at first when the kids changed the passwords so the teachers couldn't get into their programs in the system," said Alex Rascon, a school official. "But then they started deleting grades, altering the other kids' homework, and tampering with the teachers' files.
"These kids are whizzes - they're very bright," he went on. "Fortunately we caught it before too much damage was done. At this point it can be easily corrected."
Albert Cook, the assistant San Diego superintendent, took the sorehead approach. "We still haven't decided whether charges will be filed with the San Diego Police Department," he said.
The Person Numbers
Sweden's Personal Identity Number is a 10-digit figure that tells who you are, where and when you were born, and your sex. Every computer file in the country is based on the Personal Number, whether it's at a bank, a hospital, an employer, the social welfare office, or the tax authorities.
Personal Numbers went into effect on January 1, 1947 and were computerized 20 years later. Recently, a government study suggested the creation of a super-databank (based on the Personal Number) that the Central Bureau of Statistics could use freely. By calling up a Personal Number on a terminal, the bureau would be able to find out details on everything from a person's illnesses and criminal record to his income and debts.
Critics of the plan see this as an erosion of civil liberties. One said, "The files will collect more information on a person than he can remember himself."
Furthermore...
*) All computers seized by the FBI last October during the Telemail raids have either been returned already or are in the process of being sent back. New developments in the case are expected shortly.
*) Telenet now hangs up after three connection attempts, whether they're successful or not. This means that last month's article ("Hacking on Telenet") is already slightly outdated, but only until somebody figures out a way around this latest hurdle.
*) Some more signs of the divestiture - this time it's the 950 exchange. This is a universal exchange that is (or will soon be) working everywhere. 950-1022 and 950-1088 give alternate long-distance dial tones. (The latter belongs to SBS/Skyline.) The connection is crystal clear and toll-free. Eventually, the 950 will be dropped and you will dial 10XXX to make long-distance calls, where XXX is the carrier of your choice. You can't access 950s in other area codes.
*) Eastern Air Lines has changed its mind about allowing portable computers on flights, leaving only American Airlines maintaining the ban.
*) 202 and 214 now have automated directory assistance too. Have you checked your area code today?