Re: FCC & Internet -- comment period

>>
>>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. It is my belief
>that internet usage will diminish if users were required to pay additional
>per minute charges.
>>

The FCC turned this down on 5/17/97 in their order 97-158, paragraph 348. (Available at http://www.fcc.gov/ccb/access/fcc97158.html if you really want to see it.) *PLEASE DON'T MAILBOMB THEM!*

However, the FCC is allowing additional charges for a second phone line. While not, technically, a network access charge, it will work very much the same way, as well as potentially making the lives of people in shared housing more expensive. If you'd like to get in on *that* discussion, go to their access charge home page at:

  http://www.fcc.gov/isp.html

And read "In the Matter of Defining Primary Lines." Comments can be made via the Net.

R. Received on 01/25/98