(COPY) (COPY) (COPY) Modem-user Tax ??? (fwd) BMACLENN@UVMVM.BITNET 04 Jun 1991 02:19 UTC
----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Please forgive the cross-posting to other lists, but this message is of importance to anyone who uses a modem. Esther Grassian UCLA College Library ECZ5ESG@UCLAMVS -------------------------TEXT-OF-FORWARDED-MAIL-------------------------------- 91.04.18 Dear Friends, I received the following message at a recent conference organized by the Southern California Regional HP Users' Group (SCRUG). Everyone at the conference agreed to pass on the information verbatim. FROM: MATT DOMSCH SUBJECT: MODEM TAX 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 networks which carry their data. In addition, computer network services such as Compuserve, Tymnet, & Telenet would also be charged as much as $6.00 per hour 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. What you should do: First, take the time to download this message and the letter which follows. Next, find three or more other BBS systems which are not carrying this message and upload this text. Finally, print three copies of the letter which follows (or write your own) and send a signed copy to the three addresses. It is important that you act now. The bureaucrats already have it in their mind that modem users should subsidize the phone company and are now listening for public comment. Please stand up and make it clear that we will not stand for government restriction on the free exchange of information. The three addresses to write to: (a letter to send follows) Chairman Federal Communications Commission 1919 M Street NW Washington, DC 20554 Chairman Senate Communication Subcommittee SH-227 Hart Building Washington, DC 20510 Chairman House Telecommunication Subcommittee B-331 Rayburn Building Washington, DC 20515 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 public telephone network. This regulation is nothing less than an attempt to restrict the free exchange of information among the growing number of computer users. Calls placed using modems require no special telephone company 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. Yours truly, ... <end of message>