Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!thunder.mcrcim.mcgill.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!apple!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!ucsd!casbah.acns.nwu.edu!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: john@bovine.ati.com (John Higdon) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Michigan Bell vs BBSs Message-ID: <15755@accuvax.nwu.edu> Date: 2 Jan 91 08:01:53 GMT Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu Reply-To: John Higdon Organization: Green Hills and Cows Lines: 42 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 4, Message 2 of 12 Ed Hopper writes: > At this hearing, the public will be allowed to voice their > opinions and comments. This applies to both sysops and users. If MBT > wins this case it can cause serious restrictions to be place on BBS's, > and will set a precedence for other phone companies around the country > to follow. Well, maybe. In many cases, including California, major changes would have to be made to the tariff structure. In CA, the opening assumption concerning whether business or residence service is appropriate is "where is the line to be installed?" If the line is installed in someone's residence, residential service is assumed UNLESS certain conditions apply. A line installed anywhere else is assumed to be for business service. This would include churches, shelters, charities, etc. Pac*Bell would be hard pressed to charge business service for any BBS installed in someone's home, regardless of "upload requirements" or any other nebulous manifestations of "consideration". On the other hand, if someone logged in and was presented with a rate card, that could easily be construed as a business venture and the service would be subject to regrading accordingly. > The MPSC does not think the Michigan public even > cares about BBS's. But we can certainly jar their thinking if we can > pack the room with sysops and users! This may be the key. It has often been said that Pac*Bell would never screw around with BBSes, or people who use modems in general because of the high concentration of users and because of the high interest in such matters particularly in the Silly Valley. The MPSC is banking on public disinterest and only a demonstration by the people to the contrary will carry any weight. It is a political fact of life that the minorities and obscure factions take the brunt of laws and regulations. Computer users must make it clear to those in power that as a group, such users are neither passive nor silent. John Higdon | P. O. Box 7648 | +1 408 723 1395 john@bovine.ati.com | San Jose, CA 95150 | M o o !