Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: david@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov (David Robinson) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Modems and Phone Rates Message-ID: <1778@accuvax.nwu.edu> Date: 3 Dec 89 21:23:38 GMT Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu Organization: Image Analysis Systems Grp, JPL Lines: 30 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 9, Issue 550, message 2 of 12 From the discussion so far it appears that modems do not take up anymore phone network resources than a normal voice call, you get the same ~4KHz bandwidth whether you are talking or using a modem. The only valid argument for charging a modem different is that they tend to be use the line for longer periods of time. But a person sitting on a modem reading news for two hours is no different than a teen talking to their friend for two hours, both tie up the network. I think the phone companies will argue that as more modems are appearing total network usage will rise and their current physical plant and rate structure cannot support this, thus they propose a surcharge. It can easily be shown that a surcharge for modems is not fair, many modem users do not tie up lines for long periods of time. A better proposal would be to modify the current rate structure. Now we currently pay more for the first minute (anyone still pay more for the first 3 minutes?) and a cheaper flat rate for the rest of the call. If long duration calls are a problem, why not propose a rate that increases after a certain amount of usage, either linearly or non-linearly if you really want to curb long usage. I think this would be more fair and more accurately represent the problem. People will quickly change their usage habits if you start to effect their wallets. David Robinson elroy!david@csvax.caltech.edu ARPA david@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov ARPA {cit-vax,ames}!elroy!david UUCP Disclaimer: No one listens to me anyway!