From: jim bell <jimbell@pacifier.com>
Date: Sun, 29 Dec 1996 03:56:36 -0800 (PST)
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: Access fees idea dropped for ISPs?
Message-ID: <199612281857.KAA13027@mail.pacifier.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


>Date: Sat, 28 Dec 1996 02:35:29 -0500 (EST)
>From: "James M. Cobb" <jcobb@ahcbsd1.ovnet.com>
>To: jcobb@ahcbsd1.ovnet.com
>Subject: DAVID AWAKES!  12 28 96  
>
>    Friend, 
> 
>    12 27 96 San Francisco Examiner distributes a newsstory 
>    headlined: 
> 
>            INTERNET SERVICE COMPANIES WIN VICTORY 
>                  WHEN FEDS DROP ACCESS FEES 
> 
> 
>    The story reports: 
> 
>       The FCC is in the process of making sweeping changes 
>       to connection, or access, fees that could result in 
>       a huge drop in phone rates for residential and busi- 
>       ness customers. 
> 
> 
>    The FCC's counsel for new technology, Kevin Werbach, says 
>    that as part of that process: 
> 
>       "The commission raised the specific question of wheth- 
>       er [ISPs] should pay access charges....  [The FCC] ten- 
>       tatively concluded that the answer is 'no'." 
> 
> 
>    That tentative conclusion tallies with FCC past practice: 
> 
>       In 1983, the FCC exempted Internet providers from pay- 
>       ing the same kind of per-minute access charges that 
>       long-distance companies pay to connect to local cus- 
>       tomers. 
> 
> 
>    The story reports the Internet Access Coalition has: 
> 
>       ...assiduously pressed the FCC for weeks to ensure 
>       that Internet users have access to a low, flat month- 
>       ly rate. 
> 
> 
>    Who are some of these IAC good guys? 
> 
>       ...Intel, Apple Computer, Netscape Communications, A- 
>       merica Online, IBM, AT&T, Digital Equipment and Compaq 
>       Computer.... 
> 
> 
>    The story reports that the FCC connection-fees process: 
> 
>       ...to trim the $23.4 billion in annual fees that long- 
>       distance carriers pay local phone companies...is expec- 
>       ted to be formally approved in the spring following 
>       public hearings. 
> 
> 
>    We'll see what happens when the tentatives roll around! 
> 
>    The tentatives? 
> 
>    This latest FCC decision and the PROMISE of "a low, flat 
>    monthly rate" --maybe even for end-users. 
> 
> 
> 
>    Cordially, 
> 
>    Jim 
> 
> 
> 
>    NOTE. The newsstory's URL: 
> 
>          http://www.nando.net/newsroom/ntn/info/122796 
>                      /info3_20620.html 
> 
> 
>          Wire services contributed to the Examiner's story. 
> 
>          This critical essay was composed 12 27 96. 
> 

Jim Bell
jimbell@pacifier.com