unactivated phone lines

[Gherkin]

I don't have landline phone service, but the phone jacks in my apartment have DC on-hook voltage across tip and ring. can anything be done with them, or are the phone jacks as exciting as watching paint dry barring activation of services c/o the local landline provider?

[rbcp]

You should hook up your refrigerator to it so the phone company pays for it instead of you.

[Gherkin]

exciting.

[carwash]

You could try this.  http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/tap-into-the-phone-companys-current-if-you-dare/

edited to add this link:  http://www.evilmadscientist.com/article.php/stealfromthephonecompany

[Cyclopath]

I moved into a house in September of last year that has the phone lines messed up, and only one jack works. It sucks too because I actually still have and use landline service.

[Legion303]

Fix the lines yourself. It's amazingly easy.