Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site allegra.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!eagle!allegra!lai
From: lai@allegra.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.followup
Subject: Re: Modem Users Beware: BELL $$$
Message-ID: <1883@allegra.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 12-Oct-83 17:27:09 EDT
Article-I.D.: allegra.1883
Posted: Wed Oct 12 17:27:09 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 13-Oct-83 23:00:57 EDT
References: <350@ihuxq.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 11

The key question is whether it costs the phone company more to provide
service to people who have installed modems.  I have been using a modem from
home for many years and I know the answer is yes - I often use my modem for
hours on end, locking up a line in the central office, and yet I pay the
same low flat rate as a residential customer who probably uses the phone
only 10% as much I do.  It is an unfair subsidy as far as non-modem phone
users are concerned.  I heard that some phone companies are starting to
address this situation by timing local calls and charge customers for
total connection time above a certain limit per month.  This is probably a
fairer solution than to charge all modem users the flat business rate since
not all modem users use their lines with the same frequency.