I checked the FCC web site after recieving John's message. This is what I
found.
www.fcc.gov
In December 1996, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requested public
comment on issues relating to the charges that Internet Service Providers
(ISPs) and similar companies pay to local telephone companies. On May 7, 1997,
the FCC decided to leave the existing rate structure in place. In other words,
the FCC decided not to allow local telephone companies to impose per-minute
access charged on ISPs.
Please Note: There is no open comment period in this proceeding. If you have
recently seen a message on the Internet stating that in response to a request
from local telephone companies, the FCC is requesting comments to
<isp@xxxxxxx> by February 1998, be aware that this information is inaccurate.
The FCC issued an unrelated public notice, DA 98-2, on January 5, 1998 in
connection with a report to Congress on universal service. Pursuant to the
FCC's 1998 appropriations legislation, the Commission must submit a report by
April 10, 1998 on several issues including the legal status of Internet
services under the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Comments in response to the
public notice are due January 20, 1998, and reply comments are due February 2,
1998. Informal comments may be sent by email to <usreport@xxxxxxx>.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
In a message dated 98-02-04 17:04:20 EST, you write:
<< Subj: [OM] [Fwd: ]FCC proposal
Date: 98-02-04 17:04:20 EST
From: omtech@xxxxxxxxx (John Hermanson)
Sender: owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Reply-to: olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Maybe some of you have seen this, if you have not, please send an email
>as directed below. The FCC is considering a request by the phone
>companies to impose an extra per minute
charge for internet access. See below.
John
Camtech
--------------------
IMPORTANT INFORMATION -- JUST RECEIVED THIS MESSAGE AND IT NEEDS TO
BE ACTED UPON ASAP!
Your local telephone company has filed a proposal with the FCC to
impose per minute charges for your internet service. They contend
that your usage has or will hinder the operation of the telephone
network. E-Mail, in my opinion, will diminish if users were required
to pay additional per minute charges. The FCC has created an email
box for your comments, responses must be received by February 13,98.
Send your comments to isp@xxxxxxx tell them what you think.
Every phone company is in on this one, and they are trying to sneak
it in just under the wire for litigation. Let everyone you know
hear about this one. Get e-mail address to everyone you can think
of.
FCC e-nail address <isp@xxxxxxx>
This is really important. If we have to pay for e-mail , the cost
is going to skyrocket. It's about the only thing now that is
cost-effective. Please make your opinions known to the FCC.
##################################################################
# This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List
# To receive the Olympus Digest send mail to: listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
# with subscribe olympus-digest in the message body.
#
# To unsubscribe from the current list send a message to
# listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx with unsubscribe olympus in the message body.
#
# For questions email: owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
##################################################################
|