2000-11-06 I was looking up some info on ISDN offered by Ameritech, my local phone company and found something interesting. You can be billed per 0.1 min basis or per KILO segment basis. I take it kilo is per kilometre. Is this one of those little drops? John P.S. I'm really interested in DSL, but it isn't available to me yet. My main problem is I'm 6 km from the Central Office. At this distance, it is hard to get a connection more than 26 kbit/s. I'd rather pay 40 $ a month for DSL then all these per x basis fees, which I'm sure will add up to more than 40 $ a month. Plus, DSL is over 10 times faster then ISDN (1.5 Mbit/s compared to 128 kbit/s). Ameritech ISDN Direct Rate Structure ISDN Direct rates include nonrecurring charges at installation as well as recurring monthly charges to maintain the local access line and for the circuit-switched and packet-switched capabilities required by the customer. In addition, customers must pay for local usage based on the rate structure for their specific access location. As with all regulated services, ISDN Direct pricing differs in the states that make up the Ameritech region. Illinois: ISDN Direct local usage (voice and data) and local access are unbundled. Circuit-switched usage is almost exclusively structured as a measured service throughout the state, although flat rate usage pricing exists in specific exchanges. Measured service rates calls on a per-minute basis utilizing four elements: time of day, distance, duration, and frequency. For packet-switched usage, customers can select measured rates based on a per 1/10-minute basis or a per kilo segment basis. Indiana: ISDN Direct local usage (voice and data) in Indiana is bundled with local access. Circuit-switched usage is established with a flat rate structure and allows for unlimited calling for the same charge each month. For packet-switched usage, customers can select measured rates based on a per 1/10-minute basis or a per kilo segment basis. Michigan: ISDN Direct local usage (voice and data) is unbundled from the local access line, and circuit-switched usage is rated on a per-call basis. For packet-switched usage, customers can select measured rates based on a per 1/10-minute basis or a per kilo segment basis. Ohio: ISDN Direct local usage (voice and data) is not bundled with local access. Circuit-switched usage is offered as a measured (per-minute) rate service based on time of day, distance, duration, and frequency. Special extended area rates (Local Calling Plus) are applied between specific exchanges. For packet-switched usage, customers can select measured rates based on a per 1/10-minute basis or a per kilo segment basis. Wisconsin: ISDN Direct local usage (voice and data) is not bundled with local access. Circuit-switched usage is offered as a message rate service based on message frequency. Special extended area rates (Extended Community Calling) are applied between specific exchanges. For packet-switched usage, customers can select measured rates based on a per 1/10-minute basis or a per kilo segment basis.
