Modem Use Fees (fwd)

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Date: Mon, 31 May 1993 11:32:11 -0400 (EDT) From: Stan Bernstein Subject: Modem Use Fees Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

The following, originating from Mr. Tom Justice (CGFS69A [Prodigy]) and authorized for resubmission to other networks, deals with proposed modem use fees. It was originally posted on Prodigy a couple of days ago. I would be interested in anyone's take on the accuracy of this. I apologize for its length but did not want to distort it too much through truncation.

"...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 communication. "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 the use of the publc telephone network which carry their data. In addition computer network services would also be charged as much as $6.00 per hour per user for the use of the publc telephone network. Obviously these charges would be passed on to the consumer. 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 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...."

In a second post on Prodigy, Mr. Justice suggests writing to various regulatory officials to convey the following suggested text:

"Dear Sir: "Please allow me to express my displeasure with the FCC proposal which would authorize a surcharge for the use of modems on the telephone network. This regulation is nothing less than an attempt to restrict free exchange of information among the growing number of comptuer users. Calls placed using modems require no special telephone equipment, and users of modems pay the phone company for use of the network in the form of a monthly bill. "In short, a modem call is the same as a voice call and therefore should not be subject to any additional regulation...."

Mr. Justice ends his second post with the following:

"It is important that you act now. The bureaucrats already have it in their heads that modem users should subsidize the phone company and are now listening to public comment. Please stand up and make it clear that we will not stand for any government restriction on the free exchange of information. "Pleae deal with this in a TIMELY manner. We can't wait and watch, or we will be walked over by government regulations that are trying to strangle us." # # # Stanley Bernstein (sbernst@panix.com)