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From: Harvey.Wyche@f15.n11.z1.fidonet.org (Harvey Wyche)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Controversy Over Prodigy Pricing
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Date: 7 Nov 90 21:22:27 GMT
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Index Number: 11632

Just finished reading a news article entitled: "Prodigy Pulls
Computer Plug on Protesters".  It seems that Prodigy subscribers
are angry over being charged for some messages (beginning Jan. 1)
in addition to their flat rate monthly fee.  They started to
complain and to protest this increase in rates by making their
dissatisfaction known to Prodigy advertisers.  In response to this,
Prodigy has deleted messages about the controversy from its
network, refused to meet with the protesters, and has even canceled
some protesters' memberships because they complained to advertisers
(not exactly what I would call a user friendly network).

The article reported that Greg Bobbs of Atlanta (a regional
coordinator of the protest movement) said that he was particulary
displeased with the Prodigy decision to implement additional
charges for messages because many "handicapped people" use the
message network as a support group.  I wonder if this is an
accurate statement.

While I'm new to this echo, I haven't seen any references to
Prodigy. Ofcourse, I realize that if you're here, you don't need to
be on Prodigy. But, I belong to more than one electronic message
network and I would imagine that others do likewise.  I was
wondering if anyone felt the way that Greg Bobbs did, that many
disabled people are using Prodigy as a support group.  What special
features does Prodigy offer as a support group that other networks
do not.  Was it truly the flat rate monthly fee?  Or are there
other attractions? Just curious.

Harvey...

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