Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!samsung!uunet!medar!jseymour
From: jseymour@medar.com (James Seymour)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: modem tax
Message-ID: <102@hdwr1.medar.com>
Date: 2 Apr 91 13:37:21 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Medar, Inc.     Farmington Hills, MI
Lines: 102

An associate of mine spotted this in news.sysadmin.  I find it hard to
believe, but with some of the nonsense coming out of FCC these days, it's
probably true.

| Article 240 of news.sysadmin:
| Path: medar!uunet!isis!scicom!milo
| From: milo@scicom.AlphaCDC.COM (Michele Lord)
| Newsgroups: news.sysadmin
| Subject: Modem Tax
| Message-ID: <11236@scicom.AlphaCDC.COM>
| Date: 31 Mar 91 18:11:41 GMT
| Distribution: usa
| Organization: Alpha Institute
| Lines: 85
| 
| Article: 5828 of info.paranet
| Path: scicom!paranet!f4.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG!Michael.Corbin
| From: Michael.Corbin@f4.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Michael Corbin)
| Newsgroups: info.paranet
| Subject: Fcc Modem Charge
| Message-ID: <70488.27F3A4AF@paranet.FIDONET.ORG>
| Date: 29 Mar 91 19:19:00 GMT
| Sender: ufgate@paranet.FIDONET.ORG (newsout1.26)
| Organization: FidoNet node 1:104/4
| Lines: 69
| Status: R
| 
| 
|  * Forwarded from "Communications Echo"
|  * Originally from Philip Kirschner
|  * Originally dated 03-28-91 03:48
| 
|  Next  Again
| Msg #   8 of   9Date: Fri  3-22-91,  4:37 pm
| From: SYSOPRead: 37 times
| 
| Subject: MODEM TAX
| 
| A new regulation that the FCC is quietly working on will directly affect you as 
| the user of a computer and modem.  The FCC proposes that users of modems should 
| pay extra charges for use of the public
| telephone network which carry their data.  In addition, computer
| network services such as Compu Serv, Tymnet, & Telenet would also be charged as 
| much as $6.00 per hour per user for use of the public
| telephone network.  These charges would very likely be passed on to the 
| subscribers.  The money is to be collected and given to the
| telephone company in an effort to raise funds lost to deregulation. Jim Eason 
| of KGO newstalk radio (San Francisco, Ca) commented on the proposal during his 
| afternoon radio program during which, he said he learned of the new regulation 
| in an article in the New York Times. Jim took the time to gather the addresses 
| which are given below.
| What you should do:  First, take the time to download this message and the 
| letter which follows.  Next find three or more other BBS systems which are not 
| carrying this message and upload this text.  Finally, print three copies of the 
| letter which follows (or write your own) and send a signed copy to the three 
| addresses.  It is important that you act now.  The bureaucrats already have
| it in there mind that modem users should subsidize the phone company and are
| now listening to public comment. Please stand up and make it clear that we
| will not stand for any government restriction on the free exchange of
| information.
| 
| 
| The three addresses to write to: (a letter to send follows)
| Chairman of the FCC
| 1919 M Street N.W.
| Washington, D.C. 20554
| 
| Chairman, Senate Communication Subcommittee
| SH-227 Hart Building
| Washington, D.C. 20510
| 
| Chairman, House Telecommunication Subcommittee
| B-331 Rayburn Building
| Washington, D.C. 20515
| 
| Dear Sir,
|   Please allow me to express my displeasure with the FCC proposal which would 
| authorize a surcharge for the use of modems on the telephone network. This
| regulation is nothing less than an attempt 
| torestrict the free exchange of information among the growing number of 
| computer users. Calls placed using modems require no special telephone company 
| equipment, and users of modems pay the phone company for use of the network in 
| the form of a monthly bill. In short, a modem call is the same as a voice call 
| and therefore should not be subject to any additional regulation.
| 
|                      | Or words to that effect |
| 
| 
| --  
| Michael Corbin - via FidoNet node 1:104/422
| UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name
| INTERNET: Michael.Corbin@f4.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG
| 
| Forwarded by:
| Michele Lord    (milo@scicom.alphacdc.com)
| Alpha Institute
|
-- 
Jim Seymour				| Medar, Inc.
...!uunet!medar!jseymour		| 38700 Grand River Ave.
jseymour@medar.com			| Farmington Hills, MI. 48331
CIS: 72730,1166  GEnie: jseymour	| FAX: (313)477-8897