automatic number identification. More new services are being introduced regularly. Long distance companies also provide: 900 services, 700 ser- vices, credit cards, toll fraud prevention programs, and customized bills and management reports on paper, on CD-ROM or on-line Web access and other related services. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 has enabled the tradi- tional long distance companies to compete for local telephone service. The local telephone companies, meeting certain criteria, can now sell long distance service as well. Most major long distance companies also sell local service, Internet access and cellular service. Calling Cards A calling card enables you to place calls from any telephone using your unique calling card number and personal identification number (PIN). Calling cards are provided by both long distance companies and local telephone companies. There actually is a small wallet-sized plastic card (like a credit card) that is issued to each calling card holder. In some public telephones including The Telecom Handbook 279 UNDERSTANDING THE INDUSTRY those in airport travelers' lounges, this card can be swiped through a slot on the telephone which reads the calling card number from the magnetic strip on the back of the card. If the telephone is not equipped with this slot or if the card holder chooses not to carry the card around with him, a calling card call can be placed by dialing a toll free telephone number of the service provider (11 digits), the telephone number you are calling (11 digits) then the calling card number (10 digits) and PIN (4 digits.) Despite the inconvenience of dialing 36 digits, the use of calling cards is widespread for business travelers, although rapidly decreasing as the use of cellular telephones increases. Most calling card calls are charged not only a cost per minute, but a surcharge on a per call basis. These charge vary dramati- cally depending upon the rates you have negotiated with your particular service provider. This is sometimes called a "bong" charge 