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Last updated:
08/08/2008
Dorm Phone Service - FAQ
If I don’t upgrade to full service, can I place toll-free
calls?
No, basic dorm phones are limited to campus-only phones (5-digit
extension).
Are there full service phones I could use, if I don’t
activate the service in my room?
Check with your House manager – each House can decide whether
there will be public access phones.
Why is MIT charging me so much for a phone?
The decision was made to have optional full service phones in the
dorms because so many students have cell phones, and therefore they
weren’t using dorm phone full services. The pricing for the
full service based on MIT’s costs to provide telephone service
to the MIT campus, and compares favorably with the cost to buy a
telephone in off campus housing (e.g., Verizon charges more than
$25/month for a service with unlimited local calling and voice mail).
Unless you activate the phone during a period when the activation
fee is waived, you will be charged a $25 activation fee. There is
currently no deactivation fee.
Can I activate and deactivate the phone service whenever
I want?
Yes, you are allowed to activate and deactivate the service whenever
you want. However, unless you activate the phone during a period
when the activation fee is waived, you will be charged a $25 activation
fee. There is currently no deactivation fee.
How can I cancel full service?
You will need to call PAETEC at 1.800.962.4772 to request cancellation.
Note: You must notify them to cancel when you leave
for the summer break.
I’m changing dorm rooms, can I transfer my phone
number?
If you are in a dorm room with an analog phone, that phone number is assigned
to the room, not you. If you have activated full service on that phone, and
are moving to another room with an analog phone, you will need to call PAETEC
to cancel service for your old room and reactivate full service in your
new room.
If you are a registered Personal SIP Account user, that number will remain
with you throughout your time at MIT. The Personal SIP Account provides an
MIT phone number and voice mail box which lets callers leave messages that
will be forwarded to your email. You can forward your Personal SIP Account
number to any working phone, e.g. your cell phone, or other compatible device.
For more information, including how a SIP account works and the connection
options, see Personal
SIP Accounts.
Will I incur another activation fee if I change rooms?
If you move outside the ‘free activation’ promotional
period, yes, you will be charged. However, if you know you will
be moving, you can initialize the activation process, but not provide
a phone number until you know the number in the new room. For other
situations, please contact telecom-csr@mit.edu
to discuss the options.
There are two of us in the room, can’t we split the
charges?
Only one person can be billed for the $17/month fee; certainly you
can work out an arrangement with your roommate(s) to split the fees.
Reminder – for long distance calls, each person can have their
own calling card/PAETEC PBN, and those charges will be billed directly
to each of you.
I’m signing up at the end of the month; will the
month fee be pro-rated?
No, unfortunately, there is no way to pro-rate the monthly fee,
either when you sign up, or when you deactivate.
I’ve gotten a lot of telemarketing calls. Is there
any way to stop them from calling?
You can easily put your dorm phone number on the national ‘do
not call’ registry.
I’d like to use my cell phone, but there is no reception
in my room.
Unfortunately, there is no cell phone reception guarantee. Whether
your phone will work in a particular place depends on a number of
variables, including the carrier you are using, where their antennae
are located, what buildings and other structures may be in the way,
and the building construction of the building you are in. New buildings
often have materials that block cell signals. IS&T does monitor
cell reception issues, and will investigate to see if any remedial
action can be taken; to report problems, email cell-feedback@mit.edu.
You can optionally forward your cell phone to your room phone when
you are in your room. You would need to review your cell carrier's
instructions for call forwarding, and there may be a charge by your
carrier.
Can I use VoIP?
VoIP is a protocol which lets you make voice calls over the Internet. MIT
does not have a full-featured VoIP service for the residence halls;
however, students are welcome to contract with any company that provides
VoIP, sometimes known as "digital voice," for service. These companies
provide a range of services, from using their software and your computer
as your telephone, to furnishing you with a regular telephone which you connect
to the network jack in your room.
For more information about VoIP, see Phone
Service in MIT Housing.
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