This problem was solved by setting up a proper /etc/sysconfig/networking/ifcfg-ppp0, /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/chat-ppp0, and /etc/ppp/options file and carefully reading the documentation.
Kppp is usually foolproof unless the configuration files are "fooled" with; in my case, I accidentally downloaded and installed "htttpd" which set up Apache on my system and as far as I can tell stepped on some files. This may be just the musings of a confused newbie which I am from time to time.
robertn
