Xref: utzoo comp.misc:3942 alt.bbs:164
Path: utzoo!hoptoad!amdcad!ames!mailrus!cornell!uw-beaver!blake!ogccse!littlei!percival!gary
From: gary@percival.UUCP (Gary Wells)
Newsgroups: comp.misc,alt.bbs
Subject: Re: Houston bbs's vs SW Bell - more
Message-ID: <1410@percival.UUCP>
Date: 28 Oct 88 00:59:29 GMT
References: <4252@moray.UUCP> <1514@ssc.UUCP>
Reply-To: gary@percival.UUCP (Gary Wells)
Followup-To: comp.misc
Distribution: usa
Organization: Percy's UNIX, Portland, OR.
Lines: 30

just to set the record straight, there are several types of costs associated
with telephone service, some of which are fixed and some of which do vary with
useage.

for instance: the cable from the co to your house is there whether the phone is
on or off hook; a fixed cost.  on the other hand, the internal connections in 
the switching machine are prbably in use by someone else if you aren't on-line.
these connections do have an associasted cost: both in terms of initial cost to
acquire and install, and in on-going maintenance.  and they do wear out and need
to be replaced.  these are the variable costs.  another variable cost is the 
number of these connections.  as has been mentioned, _no_ exchage is built to 
provide simultanious access to all of its subscribers.  the telco's are playing
the odd's everytime someone picks up a phone.  long duration calls, such as to
bbs's, change the odds.  and that means that the telcos have to install more 
internal connetions, which raises costs.  this in itself is adequate justificat-
ion to charge commerical rates to bbs's.

don't get me wrong.  i'm a firm supporter of bbs's, i have run a couple, and 
used a lot.  but the telco's do have a solid position, which ranting and raving
about can't change.  

there is an answer: _support_ the boards you use.  i don't know anyone who 
couldn't afford $25.00 a year, and i don't know a sysop who would turn it down.
to corrupte an old phrase, put your money where your hobby is, not your mouth.

-- 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Still working on _natural_ intelligence.

gary@percival   (...!tektronix!percival!gary)