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From: USERGS8C@mts.rpi.edu
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: More on BBSs and Phone Rates
Message-ID: <15807@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 4 Jan 91 17:31:42 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 9, Message 3 of 8


It is riduculous to compare a BBS run out of a person's den to a
non-profit organization.  A non-profit is allowed to have a
substantial budget, a staff, and can fund-raise, as long as they do
not make a profit.
 
Now, how can a BBS be considered a non-profit organization?  Most of
the sysops I know do not have an operating budget, do not have a paid
staff, and pay out of their own pocked the expense of having an extra
phone line and a second computer.  Occasionally sysops will ask for a
donation [like I did when the hard drive blew up, but most users are
cheap :)], but most don't bother.  For most sysops, it is an expensive
HOBBY, like radio-controlled airplanes or model railroading.  Wouldn't
it make more sense for the phone company to WELCOME a sysop, because
of the extra line that is normally installed?  For the extra income?
And for the increased long-distance charges incurred when the sysop
has to call the support BBS for his/her particular software, which is
usually on the opposite coast from his/her location?
 
I received some good advice a year ago when COSUARD was still slugging
it out with SWB.  If the phone company calls you, the sysop, asking
about your BBS, tell them you are a HOBBYIST BBS, and not a
NON-PROFIT.  Non-profit means to them that you do have a large budget
to pay inflated business rates.
 
Another thing, GTE Michigan decided to go after Variety-N-Spice for
two reasons: it's the biggest BBS in the state, and it is an ADULT
BBS.  Set the legal guns on the biggest adult board in the state.
When it falls, so will all the rest.
 
Enough on the soapbox.  The precedent set by Michigan will no doubt be
taken up by NYTel; they tried it before; they'll try it again.  The
precident will have a very bad effect on hobbyist BBSs, that serve a
vital purpose to telecomputerists that are not fortunate enough to
have an account to Internet or Bitnet, or are too broke to call
Compu$erve.  Discussion on this topic is necessary, since who knows
how many phone company-types read this Digest?  Maybe they'll think
about what they do to modemers.
 

Aimee Tweedie         usergs8c@mts.rpi.edu
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute  Troy, NY


[Moderator's Note: Two issues are involved here: (1) should 'business'
phones pay higher rates than 'residence' phones; (2) who should define
what is a 'business' and what is not. If someone attaches a computer
to a phone line and charges money to access it and gain informtion
from it, why is he different than Compuserve, which attaches computers
to phone lines and charges money to access their system and gain
information from them? The one has a 'staff and a budget' you say?
Should telco be in the business of defining what is a business and
what is not? There are many, many one-person businesses in the USA.
Lots of people work from home with no staff and litle budget.  PAT]