Xref: utzoo comp.misc:3986 alt.bbs:198
Path: utzoo!hoptoad!pacbell!ames!killer!texbell!flatline!erict
From: erict@flatline.UUCP (j eric townsend)
Newsgroups: comp.misc,alt.bbs
Subject: Re: Houston bbs's vs SW Bell - more
Summary: One reason for the rate hike...
Message-ID: <412@flatline.UUCP>
Date: 2 Nov 88 22:31:41 GMT
References: <2393@turnkey.TCC.COM> <2642@nuchat.UUCP>
Distribution: usa
Organization: one bitchin' 3b1 in Tx.Houston.the-Montrose
Lines: 32

In article <2642@nuchat.UUCP>, steve@nuchat.UUCP (Steve Nuchia) writes:
> By the way, much has been made about the relative cost of BBS and other
> hobbiest lines versus "normal" residential lines in these discussions.
> It is interesting to note that cost is *not* the justification being
> offered by SWB -- their position seems to be based more on consistency.
> In other words, they are trying to apply business rates so that businesses
> won't have a selective enforcement case.

Keep in mind, also, one reason they're doing this.  One multi-line cb sim
(known as RoundTable) operator, Jim Penny (and his son, Bruce Scott) was
paying business rates for 16+ lines (32 at one point).  Several "D-Dial"s
sprung up, with monthly rates 1/2  - 1/5 that of RoundTable.  Soon,
RT was pressed to stay in businesss.  After some scouting around,
the Pennys found out that the other cb sim operators were being charged
residential rates for their for-profit systems.  The Pennys sued
SWB for unfair rate structuring.  ie:  We're (the for profit cb-sim
system operators) all businesses, therefore we should all be charged
the same rate.

SWB proved their stupidity once again, confusing "business" with "bbs"
-- an easy enough error, no? -- and decided to charge everybody too
much money.




-- 
"I'm doing a survey on this kind of mindless violence and its affect on
the mindless..."  -- Max Headroom (who else but?)
J. Eric Townsend                  smail: 511 Parker #2, Houston, Tx, 77007
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