FROM A FRIEND....


Hi Folks:

I am forwarding this not as a BTL hater. The
company does good things and hire many of my
friends. I forward it as a matter of a philosophy I
have. I believe that monopolies exist because we
allow them to. We can blame the government or other
individuals for putting them in place. But we make
their existence possible by our seemingly
uncontrolled dependence on what they offer. If you
keep on buy food from someone who does nto cook
well, they will think they can cook and they will
act like that. If you stop or limit what you buy,
they will take notice. BTL is no different.

When we came to planet earth there were no phones
and no internet. If we cannot get these services in
a manner that is affordable to us then we probably
don't need these services that badly. I think the
idea of a one-day boycott is a great idea. We need
not blow whistles nor stamp down the office doors.
We only need to send the message. SO I am planning
to do this. I am inviting you to do it too.


--- BTL HATER wrote:

*My Fellow Belizeans*

As I was checking out the web this morning, I
noticed that World
Telecommunications Day is coming up on:
*Wednesday, May 17, 2006 *

Growing up in Belize, I remember that we used to
have quizzes in my class
and competition celebrating World
Telecommunications day at my school. Those
days the government run phone company was bad but
it wasn't as stifling and
greedy as BTL is today. So I say we make an effort
to show BTL this
year on World
Telecommunications Day who is boss.

Here is my idea:

ON WEDNESDAY MAY 17, 2006 LET US ALL BOYCOTT ALL
OF BTL'S SERVICES.

TURN OFF YOUR PHONES AND FAX MACHINES FOR ONE DAY
TO SHOW THEM WE MEAN
BUSINESS!!

IF YOU CAN'T DO THIS, AT LEAST MINIMIZE YOUR USE
OF BTL'S SERVICES TO THE
GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE. I GUARANTEEE YOU, A
SIGNIFICANT LOST OF INCOME IN
ONE DAY WILL CATCH THEIR ATTENTION. BTL IS A MONEY
MAKING MACHINE AND WILL
ONLY LISTEN TO THE CRIES OF OUR PEOPLE IF WE SHOW
THEM WE ARE WILLING TO
TAKE THE FIGHT TO THEIR POCKETS IF WE HAVE TO.

PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.
ENCOURAGE YOUR EMPLOYERS
TO DO THE SAME.

REMEMBER NOTHING IN LIFE COMES FOR FREE AND
FREEING OURSELVES FROM THE
SHAKLES OF BTL IS NO EXCEPTION. WE ALL MUST
SACRIFICE FOR THE CAUSE OR
FOREVER BE OPPRESSED.

WE CAN LEARN FROM OUR CHINESE BELIZEAN BROTHERS
AND SISTERS.WHEN THEY DECIDE
TO CLOSE DOWN THEIR SHOPS TO PROVE A POINT, THEY
GET 100% PARTICIPATION ALL
OVER THE COUNTRY. WE CAN ALL DO THE SAME!!!

SO MARK YOUR CALENDERS AND LET'S DO IT! *MAY 17th*

PLEASE RESPOND WITH ANY ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS TO
BTL-HATER@HOTMAIL.COM

LET US SHOW BTL WHO IS BOSS!


OBVIOUSLY, PEOPLE WHO WORK IN AREAS OF EMERGENCY
LIKE HOSPITALS AND FIRE
STATIONS SHOULD CONTINUE TO USE THEIR
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES

Thanks Marty...I had posted this in another area, but I think people are more apt to do it if you present it...thanks again.
Oh yeah...Happy Birthday....hope it's wonderful!

Do most of you realize that almost everything you get from BTL is prepaid? Which means they do not care if you use it or not, you still pay for it. Do you remember when they were down for a week last year, did they rebate anyones accounts? Not as I remember. I understand what you are saying and trying to do, but in this instance you are not making any sense. It will not make any difference to BTL.

But it will, perhaps in the long run. Minutes not used on the 17th will maybe give you another day of phone use. And, any long distance calls would be placed on a different day, so they would feel that. If their lines were quiet for 24 hours, it would give them pause to think about how their customers can make a difference. If you can come up with a way to get their attention other than boycott, please let us know. As it is right now, this is the only way so far that we can all join together and make a difference, however small, it may get their attention.

The only thing that will change the BTL, or many others situations that more seriously affect average Belizeans, is if Belizean citizens are upset enough and vote in a government that responds to their needs and desires. Until that happens we can cry and moan all we want but change will not come. Just my opinion.

Only legislation can change the way BTL/Ashcroft behave, and then only if the law is enforced. I fear that neither is likely to happen.

It is a Romantic notion that forming a boycott will bring about change. The fact is we are always changing. If enough people come together for a cause, change can occur.People together have a vioce, don't ever feel alone. If you want changes for better, it may just happen, but it starts with the effort...If we could boycott Exxon/Mobile for one day in the USA imagine what might happen..

Well, since I don't live there yet, not much I can do. This effort may not make a major difference, but I think it will allow voices to be heard. If no one wants to make an effort to change things, then no one has the right to whine and complain about how things are going. Just my opinion..

You are so correct. How many who are doing the complaining are citizens of Belize (not residents) and willing to make their vote count. We are three years away from being able to apply for citizenship, but plan on going all the way through the process when we can.

What you should do is for one day take your phones off the hook so all the lines are busy that would be crazy. Just not using them wont do anything you all ready paid for the service

If you use the phones here alot you already get busysignals and every other from BTL except the call going through.

Interesting quote from Mark Espat, Minister of National Development:

"Mark Espat, Minister of National Development
“We all know that VOIP is not illegal in Belize and it should not be made illegal. Forty-nine countries in fact have legalised VOIP. What is illegal is B.T.L.’s blocking of VOIP. VOIP has emerged because of the exorbitant cost of long distance calls, in fact B.T.L. itself employs Voice Over Internet Technology and should offer this service to Belizeans at globally competitive rates. B.T.L.’s ownerships appears to be clinging to the past mainly to protect profits, but the march of technology and the tide of personal freedom that brought us from the Morris Code to the Telex to the fax machine to the email cannot and will not be halted. And so the Public Utilities Commission is oblige, I believe, if they are to remain relevant, to defend the interest of the consumers including the tourism related consumers.”"

I saw this on another message board:

"There is one way to get at BTL if they continue the VOIP blocking: Move your accounts from Belize Bank. See how much money Mr. Ashcroft is willing to lose on the Belize Bank side in order to halt the march of progress in Belize."

Now THATS a good idea.

I am trying to read this thread, but my internet has shut down four times in the last twenty minutes - thanks BTL!!!

Following Chris's idea, also move your internet connection to satellite or cable - BTL still get something from these, but less.

Does anyone with cable have blocking problems? Cable is routed through BTL so it would be a simple task for them to block cable access as well. Satellite sucks for VOIP unless things have changed in the last 3 years.

Chris - In your quote of Mark Espat he talks about the freedom that brought us from Morris code... I wondered what is Morris code until I realized he was talking about Morse Code. Named for Samuel B. Morse. I am old enough to have used it.
From wikopedia:
"Morse code is a method for transmitting information, using standardized sequences of short and long marks or pulses — commonly known as "dots" and "dashes" — for the letters, numerals and special characters of a message. Originally created for Samuel Morse's electric telegraph in the mid-1830s, it was also extensively used for early radio communication beginning in the 1890s. However, with the development of more advanced communications technologies, the widespread use of Morse code is now largely obsolete, apart from emergency use and other specialized purposes, including navigational radio beacons, and by CW (continuous wave) amateur radio operators."

Perhaps BTL will force us to return to its use.

Simon, When I first started using Satellite internet 3 years ago the speed was 70 kbs, about 3 months ago it went up to 80, and now I sometimes reach 95 for big files that take over an hour to download... (average speed). I've got no problems with Skype or VOIP Buster anymore; only with MSN Voice and usually when I'm also using the webcam.

BTW
There is hope for BTL users:

Skype 2.5 proves harder to block

http://www.techworld.com/security/news/index.cfm?newsID=5946&pagtype=samechan

By John E. Dunn, Techworld

The latest beta version of Skype has been well received by enthusiasts, but one important new feature has so far been ignored - the programme is now much harder to block.

The development signals another round in the small but fierce war between Skype’s designers, and the growing band of security companies that sell products to block the software on corporate networks.

According to iPoque, a German company that ranks as one of only a tiny number that claim to stop Skype using traffic analysis, the beta of version 2.5 had been overhauled in important ways by its designers to make detection more difficult.

Company CEO, Klaus Mochalski, confirmed that the anti-Skype filter used on the company’s PRX Traffic Manager PRX-250 would have to be revised to take account of the changes, which had only come to light with the beta’s release this week.

“Skype has changed the connection setup procedure enough to circumvent our current filter implementation. We are currently working on a solution,” he said.

“The only thing we already know is that not only the protocol has changed, but it is also more difficult to identify.” His company would be producing a workaround for customers as soon as possible.

The market for Skype filtering products is motivated by a number of concerns. Some worry about the programme’s ability to set up encrypted tunnels allowing VoIP calls, file transfers and instant messaging sessions, all of which are undetectable without filtering. Others have pointed to its tendency to hog bandwidth in unpredictable ways, even when not in use.

As with any software, it suffers from its own security vulnerabilities too.

Two months ago, researchers Philippe Biondi and Fabrice Desclaux published a document (PDF) for the Black Hat conference which outlined the highly complex and devious nature of the software.

Among a number of worries highlighted was the difficulty of probing the software in the event it became prey to subversion by a Trojan or other malware.

With dry understatement, the pair conclude that Skype use on a network made a proper network security policy “hard to enforce”.

Short,
You must be running a consumer service? Just curiuos.
I'm using a business 7700 system though a VAR service with 512kbps/2mb. VoIP is working well with Skype(last years version), Net2phone, and Crystalvoicelive. In addition the 7700 is working VERY well on a VPN Citrix beta project I'm working on. There are options, depending on the need and budget. From there you can step up to iDirect enterprise equipment and service for additional bandwidth and less latency. I worked on a Direcway install on SP a few years ago, it handled Skype fine last fall while I was there via my laptop though a wireless connection.

SimonB- yes I would say that satellite VoIP has changed a great deal in the last three years. If I had to deal with the BTL problems here at my home I would pull the copper line and not look back.

I've been with the sat. products for the last 4 years, and followed their development longer. I've been using them and belive enough in them to sell and install.
I've been a board browser here for several years as well, and know the problems posted about BTL. Myself as well as many people offer solutions. I'll post over on classfied if anyone is intrested.

Tom