Signs on Community Path light poles

[ceo]

I've noticed that the city has put signs on all the light poles on the bike path, that say to call 311 to report a light out.

They'd be more useful if 311 worked from cell phones.

Comments

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

The irony, it is sweet on my tongue. I can't imagine getting 311 to function on cell phones would be worth the cost, though.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

Um, it does. (Certainly I've called it from Sprint and T-Mobile cell phones.)

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

311 is supposed to work with all cell providers.

The other number is 617-666-3311. I recommend you call that and tell them that 311 doesn't work with your cell phone.

(the TTY number is 866-808-4851 ; during business hours only)

[ron_newman]

Does it depend on the area code of the cell phone? If you call 311 while standing on the Somerville Community Path with a cell phone from area code 212, will you get Joe Curtatone's 311, or Mike Bloomberg's?

[sonofabish.livejournal.com]

I dunno, but I only have a cell phone and have had no problem calling 311. I have AT&T and have made my 311 calls from Somerville.

[uberjay.livejournal.com]

Last time I asked about this, I heard it depends on where you call *from*, so it should work as long as you hit a tower inside Somerville city lines.

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

tin cans on super long string!

[docorion.livejournal.com]

Oddly, it works fine on my phone, which has a 617 area code, but a Boston exchange. I've only tried it from within the Somerville borders (basically, my house; I don't have a landline so if I have need of calling 311 I use my cell), but it worked. [Edit: my provider is AT&T).

[miss-chance.livejournal.com]

I've had no trouble reaching Som. 311 from my T-mobile cell. I keep meaning to try it when I'm well within someone else's city limits to find out if it selects which 311 to connect to based on the location of the cell you're hitting (which would make sense) or the billing addy of the phone (which would be stupid). Anyone know for sure of some other towns around here doing 311?

[syntheticnature.livejournal.com]

Not the billing addy; I live in Cambridge but have called Somerville 311 from a location a couple of blocks within Somerville.

Thanks, Mayor Joe

[soong.livejournal.com]

Oh, but all the signs also have mayor joe's name on them. Does that mean they have to go and replace all the signs when we go and replace the mayor?

Re: Thanks, Mayor Joe

[billharnois.livejournal.com]

I thought about this too. And was it necessary to have a complete sign on all 50+ poles? It would have been more efficient to have a few signs about the 311, and then each pole has a little sign with it's pole number.

Re: Thanks, Mayor Joe

[ron_newman]

Probably just sticker over it with the name of the next mayor.

[fappyheet.livejournal.com]

Speaking of irony, if the light is out, can one read the sign? Perhaps I should pack my solar-powered flashlight for such an emergency.

[wonkywheels.livejournal.com]

I've called 311 from my Verizon cell phone and it worked.

[ceo]

Well, I sit corrected. Didn't work when I originally tried it (I'm on AT&T), but I'll try again.

[pandaposse.livejournal.com]

I've called 311 from my AT&T phone w/out-of-state area code and it worked. I was on Willow & Elm, so it seems location-based, though I haven't tested the range.