Xref: utzoo comp.misc:3931 alt.bbs:155
Path: utzoo!hoptoad!uunet!pilchuck!ssc!markz
From: markz@ssc.UUCP (Mark Zenier)
Newsgroups: comp.misc,alt.bbs
Subject: Re: Houston bbs's vs SW Bell - more
Message-ID: <1514@ssc.UUCP>
Date: 26 Oct 88 18:49:14 GMT
References: <4252@moray.UUCP>
Distribution: usa
Organization: SSC, Inc., Seattle, WA
Lines: 43

In article <4252@moray.UUCP>, judy@moray.UUCP (Judy Scheltema) writes:
| The following is the text of an article that appeared in the Houston Post
| editorial pages on October 22, 1988. 
| ...
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 
| 
|        CAN SOUTHWESTERN BELL TRULY JUSTIFY THIS RATE HIKE?
|                                 by
|                     Thomas J.L. Bronsberg-Adas
| 
|      Recently, Southwestern Bell began raising the telephone rates 
| of computer bulletin board systems (BBSs).  The rates are being 
| raised from $13.35 (the residential rate) to $32.85 (the 
| commercial/business rate).  This increase is an increase of over 
| 240%!  I feel (as do most computer users) that this increase in 
| not warranted, nor justified. 
| 
| ...

The phone system isn't designed so everyone can use the phone all the
time.  If someone uses 240% of the expected usage of a limited resource, 
they should pay 240% of the normal rate.

|      The cost of setting up one of these BBSs is not a small one.
| The average cost of computer, hard disk drives, software programs 
| and modem can run into the thousands of dollars.  To a student, 
| that may mean not getting a car, or even a stereo.  To a working
| sysop, it may mean that the family will not be taking a vacation 
| for a while. 

Thats their choice.  But don't expect the rest of the rate payers to be
happy that someone has decided that their hobby will be tieing up the phone 
lines and that they should be subsidized by everyone else.

BBS owners should remember that just because they want to do it, it
doesn't mean its fair to the rest of the population. 

To be cynical about The Phone Company, the next step will be measured billing.

Mark Zenier	uunet!pilchuck!ssc!markz		
"He did decide, though, that with more time and a great deal of mental effort,
he could probably turn the activity into an acceptable perversion"-Mick Farren