Phone Numbers

The SVPAL system is accessed by 10 dial-in lines. The 408-453-9950 and 650-961-3569 access points support connections up to 33.6K for both PPP and the Text/Menu system. The modem banks are located in two locations in he Silicon Valley: one in the 408 area code and one in the 650 area code. We offer PPP [Full Internet] service at all our dialup numbers. SVPAL can also be accessed via the Internet with the "telnet" remote login program. Use "svpal.svpal.org" for telnet and "ftp.svpal.org" for ftp access. Click telnet to connect to SVPAL now.

The two modem bank telephone numbers and locations are:

Number        Location   Description

408-453-9950  San Jose   (33.6K) Santa Clara County Office of Education 

650-961-3569  Mtn View   (33.6K) Mountain View/Los Altos Adult Education Center 

Use your SVPAL email address for PPP dialup access. In the dialup settings where you specify your username use your SVPAL address. For example if your SVPAL user-name is janedoe, then you would use janedoe@svpal.org.

Use your SVPAL username alone for dialup to the SVPAL text/menu system (e.g. janedoe).

Avoid Toll Charges

You can avoid toll charges and large bills when calling SVPAL by having unmetered (unlimited) local telephone service from your local telephone company. For example the rate for this service from AT&T is $16.45 per month (about $22 / month with taxes and fees included).

California Lifeline Telephone Service

You may be able to lower your phone bill if you can qualify for California Lifeline service. The California Lifeline service is exempt from many of the add-on taxes and fees charged to other telephone subscribers.

The flat rate (unmetered local calling) California Lifeline service is $6.84 / month (plus taxes and fees). All local calls on this plan are free.

The measured rate California Lifeline plan at $3.66 / month can be even cheaper if you average 3 calls, or fewer, per day. The first 60 local calls per month are free and after that they are 8 cents per call. So if you make 90 calls in one month (3 calls per day), including SVPAL Internet call, the additional toll charge would be $2.40 making your bill about $6.06.

This service is available for individuals and families with limited income. One or two person families usually qualify if their annual income is below $24,000 / year. Details for Lifeline service are available from the AT&T web site.

Local Calling Area

You can determine if SVPAL is a local call by using the local calling tool on the AT&T web site. You need to provide your area code and prefix (the first three digits of your telephone number). Then enter 408 or 650 to find prefixes that are local calls for you (zones 1 and 2). Scroll or search for 650-961 (Mountain View) or 408-453 (San Jose). If you have flat rate (unmetered) local calling on your phone and one or both of these numbers appear on the list, then your calls to these numbers are free. If only one of these numbers appears, then only that number is a free call for you.