How do I get phone service in my dorm room?

First, if you have not already done so, you must fill out a phone service request form.  This lets us know who you are, where you live, and what services you want (phone line, voice mail, Personal Authorization code, or some combination of the 3).  After you fill out the form, we’ll set up your phone service and contact you via email with all the information you need to start using it.

Do I have to pay for phone service?

There is no charge for a phone line or voice mailbox.  However, if you request a Personal Authorization Code for making off-campus phone calls, you may be charged under certain circumstances.  For instance, local calls are free, but long distance calls and international calls are billed per/minute. See Calling Areas and Rates for more details.

Do I have to pay for incoming calls?

No

How do I make a phone call from my campus line?

To call another campus line, simply dial the 4-digit extension. To call off campus, dial [9] first, then dial the number as normal (note that if the number is long distance, you will hear a beep prompting you for an auth code). Use the links below for more detailed information:

Why can’t I make off campus calls?

There are a number of reasons why you might be having a problem:

  • Are you dialing correctly? See the previous question for information on dialing procedures.
  • Check to make sure you are entering your auth code correctly. It should have 7 digits.
  • If you are a student, are you attempting to make a long distance call from an office telephone? This generally will not work.
  • If you are faculty or staff, make sure you are dialing all 7 digits of your auth code. If your code is 5 digits long, add 2 zeros to the end.
  • If all else fails, contact the Telecommunications Office at x3333.

Is there a way to skip passed a person’s voicemail greeting?

Press # to skip the user’s personal greeting and begin recording immediately. The # key works for skipping ahead in most contexts on this system.

How do I create and manage a distribution list of phone numbers I need to message often?

  1. Log into your voicemail account as usual
  2. Select [4]: Personal options
  3. Select [2]: Administrative options
  4. Select [2]: Group lists
  5. Select either: [1] to Create a list; [2] to Edit a list; [3] to Delete a list; [4] to List the names of your lists.
  6. Then simply follow the system prompts.

How can I get the date and time that someone left me a message?

If someone leaves you a voicemail, and you want to know the date and time that it arrived, as well as what extension the message was left from (for on-campus callers), simply press [5] at any time during or immediately after the message. One thing to be aware of: this will tell you where the person who left the message called from, which may or may not actually be their phone.

Why don’t I get any channels above 13 on my TV?

Your TV must be configured for cable signal in order to receive channels higher than 13. See your owners manual for instructions on how to do this.

Which jack in my room is for the phone and which is for Internet service?

First note that in most rooms, phone and Network (internet) jacks are exactly the same size, and will accept both phone and ethernet plugs. This does not mean they are interchangeable. In many rooms, one or both types of jacks will be marked in some way to indicate their function. Network (or internet) jacks are typically orange, or have an orange sticker or computer icon over them. Phone jacks often have a blue sticker or phone icon over them. All phone jacks in the dorms should be labeled with A, B, or C in magic marker. If you have unlabeled jacks in your dorm room, they are probably network jacks.

I lost my voicemail password, or my auth code. Can I call Telecom and get a new one?

Yes, sort of. We cannot give passwords out over the phone. You can send us an e-mail from your Drew e-mail address requesting a new password.  The e-mail must come from your Drew address because that confirms your identity.  Alternatively, you can bring your Drew ID to the Telecom Office (LC 69, underneath the Library) during our regular hours (M-F 8:30 – 12:00 and 1:00 – 4:30) so that we can issue you a new password. We also ask that you call ahead (x3333) so that we can have a new password ready for you when you arrive.