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From: kabra437@athenanet.com (Ken Abrams)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,comp.sys.ibm.pc,misc.forsale.computers
Subject: Re: Modem TAX
Message-ID: <1991Jun11.192500.20615@athenanet.com>
Date: 11 Jun 91 19:25:00 GMT
References: <1991Jun6.061521.25657@sbcs.sunysb.edu>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Athenanet, Inc.,  Springfield, Illinois
Lines: 66

In article <1991Jun6.061521.25657@sbcs.sunysb.edu> hyhuang@eeserv1.ic.sunysb.edu (Hsin-yuan Huang) writes:
>The following article is posted in news group misc.forsale. I think is
>important to act now, so I'm posting it here! For any information please
>contact the originator.
>
>=========================================================================
>
>
>From sbcs!cmcl2!hsdndev!wuarchive!sdd.hp.com!caen!uwm.edu!psuvax1!news Thu Jun 06 02:04:46 EDT 1991
>Article: 34511 of misc.forsale
>Path: sbcs!cmcl2!hsdndev!wuarchive!sdd.hp.com!caen!uwm.edu!psuvax1!news
>From: colin@math.psu.edu (colin haase)
>Newsgroups: psu.general,psu.forsale,misc.forsale
>Subject: believe it or not MODEM TAX !!!!!
>Message-ID: <#n7H1n*l@cs.psu.edu>
>Date: 3 Jun 91 16:28:52 GMT
>Sender: news@cs.psu.edu (Usenet)
>Distribution: usa
>Organization: corporate climbers anonymous
>Lines: 72
>Nntp-Posting-Host: newton.math.psu.edu
>
>
>
>Dear Friends,
>
>I received the following message at a recent conference organized by
>the Southern California Regional HP Users' Group (SCRUG).  Everyone at
>the conference agreed to pass on the information verbatim.
>
>FROM:     MATT DOMSCH
>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 networks which carry their data.  In addition, computer
>network services such as Compuserve, Tymnet, & Telenet would also be
>charged as much as $6.00 per hour for use of the public telephone

My God, why is SO MUCH old news being recirculated lately?  We need to
come up with a new term to cover this; urban legand or urban myth just
doesn't do justice to the situation.

One of my favorite quotes of late is " The beginning of evil is goodness
in excess." and it certainly applies here.  Enough well meaning people
are circulating this proposal that died about 5 years ago that it certainly
should qualify as EVIL by now.

I will send mail to the author here but it is important enough to repeat
on the net over and over again.  THIS INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE QUOTED
MESSAGE IS JUST NOT TRUE.  This proposal died in the FCC YEARS ago and
anyone who now circulates it as though it was current is acting 
irresponsibly, in my opinion.

Please, if you really want to do a good deed, stamp out this message
wherever you find it.  If you are in doubt as to what I am saying,
please feel free to call the FCC to verify.  Be advised, however, that
they might be a little steamed since they are very tired of getting
letters and phone calls about this.

-- 
========================================================
Ken Abrams                     uunet!pallas!kabra437
Illinois Bell                  kabra437@athenanet.com
Springfield                    (voice) 217-753-7965