Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: John Higdon Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: TDD Long Distance Discount Message-ID: <8452@accuvax.nwu.edu> Date: 30 May 90 11:01:56 GMT Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu Reply-To: John Higdon Organization: Green Hills and Cows Lines: 50 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 399, Message 4 of 9 John Gilmore writes: > Besides the general public being ripped off to pay the phone bills of > the deaf, there is also the topic of TDD design itself. Then there's the Lifeline business. Remember the original concept? In our modern society, the theory went, those with less than normal means still needed the security of a telephone, particularly the elderly. So that these people could afford a telephone, a special low rate (subsidized by all of the rest of us, and now even billed as a "lifeline surcharge") was created with a very small local calling allowance. Well, that seemed slightly reasonable: the phone was really necessary for emergencies and this subsidized rate would make it available for those who couldn't otherwise afford it. Then someone pointed out that those with lifeline service were also too poor to go anywhere or do anything and passed the hours talking on the phone. Since the cost could go through the roof with the limited measured service, the guilt squad decreed that lifeline should also be unmeasured. Done [said the king with a stroke]. My question is why stop there? How about free flat-rate long distance? How about free 976 (and just bill the providers as if they had recieved a pay call, but of course they don't get paid)? > And a voice-to-explanations service for the stupid? I love it! But it would have to be paid for with a surcharge on people with IQs over 70. > Personally I think helping people should be voluntary. I don't like > the kind of "help" the government gives. Unfortunately, utilities are a favorite target for the "assistance afficiandos". You know, give away the first few cubic feet, kilowatts, etc., then charge like hell for any amount over that. It's called "social manipulation pricing". The telephone, being just a bit different, requires a different contortion of rates. It has to have a special rate available only to the target beneficiaries, and a surcharge is collected from everyone else. Frankly, I think it's unfair that I have to pay so much for my telephone lines. Why can't I get ten lines at lifeline rates? Then my money could go for things I REALLY want. John Higdon | P. O. Box 7648 | +1 408 723 1395 john@bovine.ati.com | San Jose, CA 95150 | M o o !