Table of Contents:

Important phone numbers

About your telephone service

PAETEC, Personal Billing Number (PBN) and billing

Collections policy

Web site access and Customer Care

Directories and directory assistance

Dialing instructions

Long distance rates

Using other carriers' services

Telephone repair service from NUIT

Data communications service

Miscellaneous

Important Phone Numbers

* PBN = Personal Billing Number

Northwestern University Information Technology (NUIT) is pleased to provide your telecommunications services. NUIT provides telecommunications services to the academic and administrative units of Northwestern University and many of its affiliates, as well as to all University residence halls and some fraternities and sororities. Among the many benefits of NUIT telephone service are these:

• You may plug in and use your telephone for on-campus calls as soon as you check in (connect your telephone to the outlet marked with the purple icon).
• No installation fees or deposits are associated with NUIT services.
• Your telephone service includes:
  • Unlimited calling to other NUIT Network telephones on either NU campus.
  • Call-waiting and cancel call-waiting features.
  • On-campus network repair service (NUIT does not repair telephones.)
  • Long-distance service at discounted rates.
• Other long-distance carriers' calling cards may be used.
• Your Personal Billing Number (PBN) helps protect against fraudulent charges.
• Calling charges are appropriately billed to individuals, not rooms, eliminating the need for roommates to divide up charges.

You or one of your roommates will need to provide a touch-tone telephone. Telephones with a wide array of features such as last-number redial (which works with on-campus numbers only), privacy/mute buttons, and speed dialing can be purchased at many retail stores.

Rotary and/or other pulse-based telephones will not operate on the NUIT Communications Network. Cordless telephones are also not recommended because privacy cannot be assured. If you wish, you may also provide an answering machine, a fax machine (see If You Use a Fax Machine below), and/or a modem. You do not need a modem to access NUNet, the Northwestern University computer network.

Only one telephone line will be provided to each room. All telecommunications devices should be plugged into the outlet marked with the purple icon. The other outlets are for personal computers.

If you live in a University residence hall, the telephone number for your room is printed on your Residence and Board Contract. If you live in a Greek house, a list of room numbers and corresponding telephone numbers has been given to the Greek house. Telephone numbers are permanently assigned to a specific room and may not be moved from one room or hall to another.

The prefixes for NU residence halls and Greek house extensions served by NUIT are as follows:

Evanston Campus (area code 847):

Dial 2 + xxxx for 332-xxxx telephone numbers.

Chicago Campus (area code 312):

Dial 2 + xxxx for 482-xxxx telephone numbers.

NUIT has contracted PAETEC Communications, Inc., as its billing agent for residence hall telephone services. PAETEC specializes in providing billing services for university students.

Personal Billing Number (PBN)

You will receive a PAETEC PBN which gives you the freedom to place calls and receive an individualized bill. On-campus calls do not require the use of a PBN. If you live in an undergraduate residence hall, you can use your PBN from the telephone in your room and in rooms in other undergraduate residence halls.

Do not share your PBN with anyone! By using your PBN, you agree to pay for all calls placed with your PBN whether or not you made them. Therefore, you should treat your PBN like a credit card and protect it. If you lose or forget your PBN, or suspect that your PBN has been stolen, contact Customer Care immediately. PAETEC will disable your original PBN and a new PBN will be assigned.

Cancelling Your Service

It is your responsibility to cancel your service, settle your account, and provide a forwarding address when you leave. This ensures that your PBN will be disabled and no charges can be generated with it. Until your PBN is cancelled, you are responsible for all calls placed with it, as well as any other monthly service fees.

Managing your Calling Budget

A $250 credit limit has been automatically set to help you manage your calling budget. If you exceed your credit limit, your PBN may be deactivated within 24 hours. Your PBN will be reinstated within 24 hours only after full payment is received. If you wish to lower your credit limit of have questions about how your credit limit works, please contact Customer Care. Please remember, you are responsible for all charges on your account including calls placed with your PBN and other additional charges which may exceed your credit limit.

Billing Information

Please visit the PAETEC Web site at www.campuslink.paetec.com to review your detailed account information and to get answers to frequently asked questions. To log onto your account, you will need your PBN (Personal Billing Number) your 11-Digit Account ID (Account Number) as printed on your PBN card. Please contact Customer Care for detailed instructions on how to view your bill on the PAETEC Web site.

You will receive a detailed bill at the address indicated in PAETEC's records. PAETEC does not send statements for usage bills under $5.00. If your total bill remains under $5.00 for an entire quarter, a statement will be sent to the address indicated in PAETEC's records to keep your balance current.

Changing your Mailing Address

If your prefer to have your bill sent to a different location, please call Customer Care or complete the address change information on the reverse side of the remittance slip you include with payment. Please note that it may take up to two billing cycles for your address change to be completed.

If you move to a different room, you must contact PAETEC when you move and inform them of the change to ensure that you will continue to receive your monthly bills from PAETEC. (Also see Changes to Student Information below).

How to Pay Your Bill

You can pay your bill in one of three ways:

• By Web: Payment can be made with American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or VISA on the Web at www.campuslink.paetec.com.

• By Mail: Mail payments in the return envelope. Please allow 7 to 10 business days for the payment to reach PAETEC by the due date. Please make your check or money order payable to PAETEC/Campuslink and be sure to include your account number on your check. Mail your payment to:

  PAETEC/Campuslink (NWU)

  1530 Eisenhower Place

  Ann Arbor, MI 48108

• By Phone: Payment can be made by phone with American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or VISA by calling PAETEC Customer Care.

Avoid Additional Fees

• Late Payment Fee: A $10.00 fee will be assessed each month on all balances greater than $5.00 at 60 days after invoicing.
• Returned Check Fee: A $25.00 fee will be assessed on your next bill.
• Declined Credit Card: If payment is made by automatic credit card debit each month and is declined, a $25.00 fee will be assessed on your next month's bill.

Failure to Make Payment

It is your responsibility to know the status of your account at all times. if you have not received your current billing statement, it is your responsibility to contact Customer Care to update your mailing information. Failure to make payment on your account will result in the following:

• At 30 days after invoicing, your bill will reflect a previous due balance, and you may be contacted in reference to your balance.
• At 45 days after invoicing, you may receive weekly telephone calls requesting payment in full.
• At 60 days after invoicing, your PBN will be deactivated until full payment is received. At this point, your account moves into PAETEC's internal collections department.
• At 90 days after invoicing, your account will be turned over to the Northwestern's Office of Student Accounts.

Restriction of Registration/Encumbrance of Grades

If payment in full is not received within 90 days of the original billing date, your account will be transferred to Northwestern University's Office of Student Accounts for collection. This action will restrict your registration for classes and encumber your academic records. To reverse this action, the outstanding balance, plus a $10 Student Accounts Collection Fee, must be paid. To pay, have the Student Telephone Payment receipt validated at the Bursar's office, 619 Clark Street, Evanston (1-5224). Once the receipt is validated, you can deliver it to NUIT's Accounting Department at 1800 Sherman Avenue, Suite 206, in Evanston. You can also fax it to 7-6500 (847-467-6500 from outside the NUIT Network) or return it via campus mail to 1800 Sherman Avenue, Suite 206, Evanston Campus.

Questions regarding billing of repairs should be referred to NUIT's Accounting Department at 7-1000 (847-467-1000 from outside the NUIT Network). Inquiries concerning all other billing matters should be referred to PAETEC at 1-800-962-4772. If you dispute any charges, call PAETEC immediately after you receive your bill. Verbal requests can be accepted if they are made within 30 days of receipt of the bill.

If you do not receive your bill, call PAETEC to verify your correct billing address and to request a copy of the bill. Inquiries will be handled most efficiently if you call PAETEC. If you cannot reach a PAETEC representative, or if you prefer to speak with NUIT Technology Support Services, call our offices between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, at 7-5560 (847-467-5560 from outside the NUIT Network).

Access all of your account information via the PAETEC Web site at www.campuslink.paetec.com. All you need is your PBN and Account ID. The Web site will allow you to:

• Obtain your current account balance
• Review your invoice and payment history
• Print a duplicate copy of your bill
• Verify rate information
• Pay your bill by American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or VISA
• Update your email address

You may also call Customer Care at 1-800-962-4772 for:

• Billing inquiries
• Automated account information
• Credit card payments
• Collections

PAETEC's Customer Care hours are:

• Monday - Wednesday: 8 am to midnight (EST)
• Thursday & Friday: 8 am to 10 pm (EST)
• Saturday & Sunday: noon to 5 pm (EST)
• Messages may be left after hours

PAETEC Customer Care may also be reached by e-mail at campuslink@paetec.com, or by mail at:

PAETEC Communications, Inc.

1530 Eisenhower Place

Ann Arbor, MI 48108

NU Directory

The NU Faculty/Staff/Student Directory is published in late fall and is distributed to the residence halls in January. If you prefer not to be listed in the Directory, please visit the Registrar's office in Rebecca Crown Center, 633 Clark Street, Evanston, during normal business hours and request a form for this purpose.

Other Telephone Directories

"White Page" and "Yellow Page" directories for Evanston are bulk shipped to your residence hall in September.

Directory Assistance

There are varying charges for directory assistance calls. To obtain Directory Assistance for Area Codes 224, 312, 630, 708, 773 or 847, dial 9 + 411 + your PBN. For phone numbers outside the Chicago area, dial 9 + 1 + the area code + 555-1212 + your PBN. To obtain international phone numbers, you must use a long-distance calling card or your credit card. These calls will be charged directly to your calling card or credit card. (For other carriers' calling-card system access numbers, see Using Other Carriers' Services below.)

Student Information Assistance: 1-5500

The Student Information Assistance Number, 1-5500 (847-491-5500 from outside the NUIT Network), is open from 9:00 am to midnight, 7 days a week. There is no charge for this service. NUIT Communications Center operators answer these calls. You may request the telephone numbers of two students per call. (Please check either the printed or electronic NU telephone directory before calling Student Information.)

Changes to Student Information

To report changes, additions, or deletions to your student information, visit the Registrar's Web site at www.northwestern.edu/registrar/ or visit the Registrar's office during business hours with your current Northwestern ID. This will ensure that your telephone number is listed correctly with both NU and the Northwestern operators.

To request that your telephone number not be listed, visit the Registrar's office during regular business hours with your current Northwestern ID. If you have any questions, please call the Registrar at 1-5234.

Following are instructions for making calls from your room. You may also reach other long-distance carriers from your room. Please contact your preferred carrier for access information.

Using Your PBN (Personal Billing Number)

After you complete the appropriate dialing steps, you will hear three beeps. Enter your PBN. If you enter an invalid PBN, you will hear a recording, and you will need to hang up and try again.

Using Your Switchhook

To successfully terminate a call, you must press your telephone's switchhook for at least one full second.

Calling Instructions

Domestic Long-Distance Rates

The domestic long-distance rate is 6¢ per minute, any time, any day. This rate applies to calls made to locations within the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii; calls made to the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico; and calls made to Canada and the United Kingdom.

International Long-Distance Rates

For exact rates for calls to specific locations at specific times, call PAETEC at 1-800-962-4772 and press option 3 for Customer Care.

You may use other carriers' services to make calling-card, credit-card, collect, and third-party billing calls. However, you must have an appropriate means of paying for these calls. Only direct-dialed calls (calls dialed using 9 + 1 + Area Code + Telephone Number, followed by your PBN) can be included in your monthly statement from PAETEC. No other calls can be billed to your NU telephone number or PBN.

Direct-Dialed "Operator-Assisted" Calls

Dial 9 + 0 + Area Code + Telephone Number. At the tone, dial your calling-card number, or wait for an operator. If you place a call to a telephone number within the 224, 312, 630, 708, 773 or 847 Area Codes by dialing in this manner, SBC will process the call. If you place a call to a number within other area codes by dialing in this manner, Sprint will process the call. (You may also reach a Sprint operator by dialing 9 + 0 + 0.)

You may receive information from Sprint or Focal about operator charges, rates, or billing methods before any charges are incurred. Sprint also accepts major credit cards, including VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Diner's Club, Discover, Carte Blanche, and JBC Charge. For Sprint Customer Service: dial 9 + 1 + 800-786-5050, or write to Sprint Hospitality Market Group, P. O. Box 8490, Kansas City, MO 64114-8490.

Other Carriers' Calling-Card System Access Numbers

You have the right to reach other long-distance carriers from this location. Listed below are the equal access numbers and the 800 numbers for contacting your preferred carrier.

To use the Equal Access Numbers: dial 9 + 1 + 0 + 1 + 0 + Equal Access Code + 0 + Telephone Number. At the tone, dial your calling card number.

To use the 800 number for your preferred carrier: dial the 800 Number for your preferred carrier. Follow your carrier's instructions for entering your calling card number and the telephone number you are calling.

Direct complaints to: FCC Common Carrier Bureau, Enforcement Division, 445 12th Street SW, Room 5-A863, Washington, DC 20024.

NUIT provides working dial-tone hookup to each residence hall room and sleeping rooms in Greek houses. The outlet marked with the purple icon should provide a dial tone. Should a problem arise with your telephone service, test your outlet to determine the source of the problem(s). Use a telephone and cord that you know are in good working condition and test the outlet in your room marked with the purple icon.

If you are able to call out with the substitute telephone and cord without any difficulties, your telephone or cord is probably the cause of the problem. If the problem recurs with the substitute equipment, the problem is probably with the NUIT Communications Network. If the problem is making local or long-distance calls with your PBN, the problem may be that your PBN has been deactivated. Call our Service Center at 611 at anytime -- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week -- to report any of the following problems: no dial tone, static, trouble placing campus calls, trouble with Call-Waiting or trouble with incoming calls.

When you call 611, you will be asked for your name, address and room number; your NU ID number; the number of the telephone with the problem, a brief description of the problem; and a working telephone number where you can be reached. NUIT will test the line and attempt to clear the trouble. If it is determined that a technician must be dispatched to your room, an appointment will be made no sooner than the next business day between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, except for holidays. You must specify a two-hour window during which someone will be available to let the technician in your room.

Note: NUIT does not repair or replace telephones. Contact the manufacturer or the place of purchase to arrange for repairs.

Room Access

It is your responsibility to make arrangements to provide access to your telephone outlet for the NUIT technician. Technicians will not enter a room unescorted; you or your designated representative must be available to provide access to your telephone outlets and must remain with the technician throughout the visit. The NUIT technician will leave a summary card detailing the nature of the problem and how it was resolved, as well as the date and time of the visit. If a technician responds during a scheduled time frame and cannot gain entry due to the absence of you or your representative, you will be charged for the visit, and it will be your responsibility to reschedule the repair by calling 611.

Repair Charges

Repairs are free of charge unless any of the following apply:

1. Repair was required because of vandalism or tempering with NUIT jacks, lines or equipment.
2. You or your representative were not present during the scheduled time frame.
3. A technician was dispatched and the problem was found to be with your telephone (or other equipment) or its attachment to the jack.

When repair charges are applicable, repairs will be billed at the rate of $67.32 per hour, plus materials. A minimum of 1/2 hour ($33.66) will be charged. This rate applies to regular business hours only; premium rates will be charged at all other times. Charges will be billed to the roommate who placed the repair call. The repair charges will appear on that roommate's next monthly billing statement from PAETEC. However, questions regarding billing of repairs should be referred to NUIT's Accounting Department at 7-1000.

Note: In the case of an emergency repair, you will be charged the premium rate, which is double time, no matter what the nature of the problem.

Students in NU residence halls who have personal computers are able to connect to the NU computer network (NUNet), thereby reaching a wide range of resources, including the NU Web, the Internet and more. In residence halls, one Ethernet jack is provided for each room resident. Most Greek houses also have installed one data port per resident; please check with your house manager regarding data ports within your Greek house.

If you are interested in connecting your computer to NUNet, contact your Residential Networking Consultant (ResCon) to learn what hardware and software you will need, along with the steps necessary for networking your computer. If you do not know your ResCon, or if he or she is not available, call the NUIT Help Line at 1-HELP (1-4357).

Data Communications Repair Service

If you have a problem with data communications service, contact your ResCon, who will help you isolate the problem to the software, the hardware, or the data connection. If you do not know your ResCon, or if he or she is not available, call the NUIT Help Line at 1-HELP (1-4357). If the problem is traced to the data connection, you will be referred to NUIT's Data Communications Repair Service.

There is no charge for repairs made by NUIT to the data communications network unless:

1. Repair was required because of vandalism or tampering with NUIT jacks, lines or equipment.
2. You or your representative were not present during the scheduled time frame.

When NUIT repair charges are applicable, repairs will be billed at the rate of $67.32 per hour, plus materials. A minimum of 1/2 hour ($33.66) will be charged. Charges will appear on your next monthly PAETEC telephone bill. Questions regarding billing of repairs should be referred to NUIT's Accounting Department at 7-1000. In the case of emergency repair, you will be charged the premium rate, which is double time, no matter what the nature of the problem.

Note: NUIT does not repair or replace computers. Contact the manufacturer or place of purchase to arrange for repairs.

Call-Waiting/Cancellation of Call-Waiting

Call-Waiting provides a second incoming path to your telephone. If you are on a call and a second party dials your telephone number, you will hear a short beep. You may excuse yourself from the first call, depress the switchhook, and answer the second call. You may then speak alternately with each party, by depressing the switchhook as needed until either party hangs up. If you decide not to answer the second call immediately, the beep will be repeated every ten seconds or until the second caller hangs up. The second caller hears ringing until you answer -- he or she is not aware that you are on another call.

You can cancel Call-Waiting temporarily to prevent interruptions during outgoing calls. To cancel Call-Waiting for an outgoing call, press *70. You will hear two beeps followed by a dial tone when Call-Waiting has been successfully cancelled. Place the call to the other party. When your connection is terminated, Call-Waiting is reactivated automatically.

You may have NUIT permanently deactivate Call-Waiting for all calls if you and your roommate(s) agree. This averts the potential interruption of fax transmissions sent to you. Contact NUIT Technology Support Services (TSS) at 7-5560 and request a "Permanent Cancellation of Call-Waiting Form." Once the form is signed by all roommates and returned to NUIT, Call-Waiting will be deactivated for all calls.

Collect Calls

Because NUIT has no way to easily identify which roommate would accept an incoming collect call, collect calls placed to your room will be blocked, as they are to nearly all other University telephones. However, in emergency situations, residents can make collect calls to telephones in residence hall rooms or Greek houses on the NUIT Campus Network by calling the Student Information number (847-491-5500). The NUIT operator will obtain billing information from the resident making the call (name, address, telephone number, NU ID number), and charges will appear on that resident's monthly bill.

There are no restrictions on "outgoing" collect calls (collect calls made from the NUIT Network to locations outside the Network). For information on placing collect calls, see Using Other Carriers' Services above.

Third-Party Billing Calls

Because NUIT has no way to identify which roommate would incur such charges, all attempts to bill your telephone number or PBN for calls made from other telephones will be blocked, as they are to nearly all other University telephones. There are no restrictions on outgoing "third-party calls" (calls made from the NUIT Network to locations outside the Network and billed to a third number that is also outside the NUIT Network). For information on placing calls to be billed to a third party, see Using Other Carriers' Services above.

Blocked Calls

The following types of calls are blocked by NUIT because they cannot be billed to your PBN:

• Incoming third-party billing calls.
• Incoming collect calls.
• Outgoing calls to 9 + 1 + 900 + Telephone Number (Pay-per-Call services).
• Outgoing calls to 9 + 1 + 700 + Telephone Number (special carrier services).
• Outgoing calls to 9 + 976 + Telephone Number (recorded messages).
• Attempts to have calls made through other carriers billed to your room or PBN.

Harassing or Obscene Telephone Calls

Harassment by telephone is a violation of Illinois State Law. Report harassing or abusive calls to the Northwestern University Police for investigation at 1-3254.

If You Use a Fax Machine

If you provide your own fax machine, follow the manufacturer's instructions for connecting it to the telephone line in your room and for local dialing. Contact PAETEC if you need help faxing to an international number. Rates for faxing are the same as rates for other local, long-distance or international calls to the same location; charges appear on your PAETEC bill.

Because Call-Waiting can allow an incoming call to interrupt a fax in progress, you may want to consider cancelling Call-Waiting permanently if you expect to receive faxes on a regular basis.

Note: NUIT does not provide support services for fax machines.