Xref: utzoo comp.misc:3925 alt.bbs:152
Path: utzoo!hoptoad!amdcad!apple!rutgers!att!whuts!homxb!homxc!marty
From: marty@homxc.UUCP (M.B.BRILLIANT)
Newsgroups: comp.misc,alt.bbs
Subject: Re: Houston bbs's vs SW Bell - more
Summary: User should pay more, not the BBS
Message-ID: <3945@homxc.UUCP>
Date: 26 Oct 88 16:39:56 GMT
References: <4252@moray.UUCP> <1933@uokmax.UUCP> <3940@homxc.UUCP>
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Holmdel
Lines: 37

In article <3940@homxc.UUCP>, halle@homxc.UUCP (J.HALLE) writes:
> < -> ....
> > ->     Recently, Southwestern Bell began raising the telephone rates 
> < ->of computer bulletin board systems (BBSs)....
> ...
> ..... those lines cost more to provide than
> residential lines.  The cost of providing a line is significantly affected by
> the amount of use the line gets, both incoming and outgoing...

I disagree.  The usage cost of a BBS line is borne by the callers, and
the operator should not be charged for it.

The cost of the line itself is the cost of materials, installation, and
repairs.  That cost is not affected by usage.  All the cost of usage
has traditionally been paid by the caller.  On local calls, the local
telephone company incurs all the costs and receives all the revenue. 
In part, commercial users are charged more because they are presumed to
make more local calls within the local no-charge calling area.  On
interexchange calls, the long-distance carrier pays the local telephone
companies at each end for access.

BBS's probably receive a lot of local no-charge calls, but they should
not pay commercial rates for that.  The new wave of usage-sensitive
pricing will ultimately make the callers pay even for those local
calls, so if the BBS is charged for them the local company will be paid
twice.  And BBS's don't make a lot of local calls.

Other than that, commercial lines might be charged more than
residential lines based on presumed ability to pay.  That might be
arguable but should not be argued in this newsgroup.  At any rate, no
such presumption applies to a BBS run for fun.

						Marty
M. B. Brilliant		houdi!marty1, homxc!marty

Disclaimer: Opinions stated herein are mine unless and until my employer
	    explicitly claims them; then I lose all rights to them.