Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!coherent!dplatt
From: dplatt@coherent.com (Dave Platt)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: Re: FCC Authorization on Modem Surcharge
Message-ID: <44474@improper.coherent.com>
Date: 12 Jan 90 03:35:19 GMT
References: <4800@hydra.gatech.EDU>
Reply-To: dplatt@coherent.com (Dave Platt)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Coherent Thought Inc., Palo Alto CA
Lines: 55

In article <4800@hydra.gatech.EDU> gt1246c@prism.gatech.EDU (Warren Furlow) writes:
> The following message was taken from a local BBS:
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Date:  01-03-90  00:32
> From:  Matt Matthews
> To:    All
> Subj:  New! FCC Regulations on Modemizing   (may cost you $$$)
> 
> Two years ago the FCC tried and (with your help and letters of protest)
> failed to institute regulations that would impose additional costs on
> modem users for data communications.
> Now, they are at it again.  A new regulation that the FCC is quietly
> working on will directly affect you as the user of a computer and modem.
> The FCC proposes that users of modems should pay extra charges for use
> of the public telephone network which carry their data.  In addition,
> computer network services such as CompuServ, Tymnet, & Telenet would also
> be charged as much as $6.00 per hour per user for use of the public
> telephone network.  These charges would very likely be passed on to
> the subscribers.  The money is to be collected and given to the
> telephone company in an effort to raise funds lost to deregulation.
> Jim Eason of KGO newstalk radio (San Francisco, Ca) commented on the
> proposal during his afternoon radio program during which, he said
> he learned of the new regulation in an article in the New York Times.
> Jim took the time to gather the addresses which are given below.

AARGH!  The chain-letter strikes again.  It's a false alarm, folks.

Folks, Jim Eason did speak of this issue on his show... TWO YEARS AGO,
and not since!  That's when the "enhanced service provider" surcharge
was being considered.  The FCC proposal was defeated, soundly, and has
NOT been reintroduced.

Someone apparently downloaded the MOBILIZE.ZIP file from a bulletin-board
somewhere, read it, ignored the dates (or, perhaps, downloaded an undated
article), assumed that the issue was current, and started uploading the
file all over the place.  It has been travelling around FidoNet and USENET
for almost a month now.

When this issue came up two years ago, the resulting letter-writing campaign
got the message through to the FCC and to Congress.  It was very effective,
folks... it worked.  The FCC has not reintroduced the proposal, they're
on notice from Congress that it would not be acceptable to do so, and
right now they are very puzzled and bemused as to why they are receiving
blizzards of mail about a dead issue.

Please, do NOT pass this article on, unless and until you have some solid
information that the FCC has actually reintroduced the proposal...
a docket number, House or Senate bill number, etc.


-- 
Dave Platt                                             VOICE: (415) 493-8805
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