Subject: Phone Company Internet Service Charge

From: Shoeless in San Jose <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 6 Feb 1997 13:06:59 -0800 (PST)

I got this forwared to me yesterday.  Thought I'd pass it along so 
everyone can write and tell them we don't want per-minute Internet 
charges from the phone company, as that would kill much of the activity 
that makes the Internet so great.

----------------Forwarded message follows------------------------

 I am writing you this to inform you of a very important matter
 currently under review by the FCC.  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 has created
 an email box for your comments, responses must be received by February
 13, 1997.  Send your comments to [email-masked] and 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 litiagation.  Let everyone you know
 here this one.  Get the e-mail address to everyone you can think of.

Internet and Interstate Information Services

In its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on interstate access charge reform,
released on December 24, 1996, the Commission sought comment on how FCC
rules can provide incentives for investment and innovation in the
underlying networks that support the Internet and other information
services. The Commission made no specific proposals, but tentatively
concluded that providers of information services (including Internet
service providers) should not be subject to the interstate access
charges that local telephone companies currently assess on long-distance
carriers.  Comments in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking are
due on January 27, 1997 and reply comments are due on February 13, 1997.

At the same time, the Commission initiated a Notice of Inquiry contained
in Section X of the same document to examine the more fundamental issues
about the implications of emerging data services for the public switched
telephone network. In the Notice of Inquiry, the Commission sought
comment on the effects of increasing Internet usage on the network,
alternative technologies to alleviate network congestion and provide
higher bandwidth, and how FCC actions could facilitate efficient
deployment of such technologies.  Comments in response to the Notice of
Inquiry are due on February 21, 1997, and reply comments are due on
March 24, 1997.

Parties that wish to file formal comments in these proceedings should
follow the procedures set forth in the Access Reform Notice. General
information on filing comments with the FCC is also available.
Individuals or organizations that wish to submit informal comments
electronically in response to the Access Reform Notice may use the
Commission's e-mail box, [email-masked].  The docket number for this
proceeding is CC Docket Number 96-262. The Commission has also
established an e-mail box, [email-masked], for informal public comments on
issues related to the Internet and information services. The docket
number to reference for this proceeding is CC Docket Number 96-263.

A little background....

Way back in 1983, the FCC exempted "enhanced service providers" from
telephone per-minute access charges.  This was to encourage the
development of data (as opposed to voice) services.  Internet Service
Providers such as EasyStreet are considered "enhanced service providers"
so we do not pay per-minute access charges for our phone lines (the
lines you call in to).

This is now....

The RBOCs (Regional Bell Operating Companies - USWest, etc) have now
asked the FCC to charge "enhanced service providers" for per-minute
access charges.  They claim that there's no longer any need to encourage
data services and that the huge increase in Internet usage is causing
them be build new, unplanned for, infrastructure.  These charges could
be as much as $1.00/hour of connect time.  Most likely, these charges
would be passed on to users (you).

Thankfully, the FCC is asking for informal user comments.  They even
have an e-mail address for your comments.  We encourage you to make your
opinions known.

FCC website
http://www.fcc.gov

FCC website on this proposed rule making
http://www.fcc.gov/isp.html

FCC e-mail address for comments
[email-masked]
------------------ End of forwarded message ------------------------