Defiance Telephone Company

Providing Telephone service in and around Defiance

In case you haven't noticed, telephone service is our main business. Our family has been in the 'business' since the days when phones were made of wood and had cranks on them (the mechanical kind). We've seen many changes, much of them in the last few decades. Check our History for more info.

Service is provided via our Nortel DMS-10 switch, seen above. (DMS=Digital Multiplexing System) Digital switching takes your voice and converts it to a stream of computer bits and connects you to your neighbor or sends them to another office where they are converted back to your voice. This is the most efficient way to send your voice to the rest of the world, and makes possible features like call waiting and caller ID. It involves no moving parts, so the wear and tear of earlier mechanical systems is a thing of the past. Batteries and a back-up generator keep things going in the event of a power outage. All lines are underground and provide the best protection from mother nature.

A few of the features we provide are:

• Call Waiting - Signals you of another call while you are on the phone
• Speed Calling - Stores frequently dialed numbers
• 3-way Calling - Adds another party to your conversation
• Call Forwarding - Sends call to another phone
• Caller ID - Displays the number of the person calling
• Caller ID Name - Adds the name of the caller to your display
• Call Waiting Caller ID - See who's calling while you are on the phone

Some Questions and Answers:

Q: Why doesn't the number or name always show up on my caller ID Box?

A: First, not all phone companies provide caller ID. Some companies block the info. Remember that the data is sent between the first and second rings. In the case of call waiting caller ID, the box must be connected properly between the phone and the jack.

Q: Why is it that sometimes my phone rings once or twice, and when I answer it no one is there?

A: Most of these are from telemarketing companies. They use predictive dialers that place several calls at once, then drop the others after one of them answers. This continues until they actually reach you, unfortunately.

Q: What should I do if my phone seems dead?

A: Disconnect everything that is plugged into your phone jacks, then try a phone you know is good. Don't forget that basement or garage phone, answering machine, computer, dish, etc. If that doesn't fix it, the wiring in your house may be faulty. This covers most of the problems we see.

Q: What should I do before digging more than 8" deep in my yard?

A: Consult your telephone directory for the number of ONE-CALL. This one number will give all utilities in your area 2 working days to mark any underground lines where you plan to dig. It is a good idea to put small stakes in the areas you plan to excavate. It is still up to you to avoid these lines, repairing or moving them is at your expense.

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