There is a single statewide toll-free dial-up access number, 455-0268, for RINET users in all areas of Rhode Island. During 2001, RINET has worked to consolidate the remotely located modem banks. The Providence modem bank will become the only RINET dial-up modem pool. To allow for the smoothest transition to a single dial-up number and to ensure adequate capacity, modem banks in all other Rhode Island locations are being disconnected in phases. Phase 1: As of June 30, 2001, the Cumberland, Little Compton, and Portsmouth numbers were disconnected. Phase 2: As of December 31, 2001, the Westerly number was disconnected.

Why?

RINET is capitalizing on Verizon's implementation of statewide toll-free calling allowing toll-free calls to Providence from anywhere in Rhode Island. The elimination of the modem banks in Cumberland, Little Compton, Portsmouth, and Westerly and the expanded capacity of the Providence modem bank will reduce the 10 existing dial-up numbers to the one Providence number, 455-0268, while increasing reliability and lowering operational costs.

Important note: Toll-free calling to Providence is available to all Rhode Island Verizon customers. Please be aware that some businesses and hotels do not use Verizon services; in these instances, dial-up users may incur toll charges.

What do I have to do?

If you were using the Cumberland, Little Compton, or Portsmouth dial-up line(s), you should have changed your dial-up telephone number to 455-0268 by June 30, 2001^th. If you are currently using the Westerly dial-up line(s), you should have changed your dial-up number telephone number to 455-0268 by December 31, 2001

To change your dial-up telephone number, follow these steps:

Windows 95/98/ME/2000:

1. Click the Start Button, then Settings, then Control Panel.
2. Double-click the folder containing dial-up connections (it may be called Dial-up Connections, Dial-up Networking or Network and Dial-up Connections).
3. Right-click the dial-up connection icon you need to change and select Properties.
4. Select the General tab and change the telephone number to 455-0268.
5. Select the Networking tab or the Server Types tab (whichever is visible), click TCP/IP Settings. If there is no TCP/IP Settings, select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and select Properties.
6. Enter the Primary/Preferred DNS as 131.109.31.100 and the Secondary/Alternate DNS as 128.148.128.9 and click OK. If these values are already correct, click OK.
7. Connect as you normally would.

1. Choose Control Panel from the Apple menu.
2. Open the PPP or Remote Access control panel and change the telephone number to 455-0268.
3. Close PPP or Remote Access and click Save.
4. Open the TCP/IP control panel and change the Name server addr box to 131.109.31.100 and 128.148.128.9
5. Close the TCP/IP control panel.
6. Connect as you normally would.

Phase 2 (December 31, 2001):

348-9330

Please send comments to the RINET Webmaster