It may be nothing to worry about yet but I highly recommend that we all =
send a note of disapproval to the FCC. If the FCC isn't swamped with =
email against the proposal, they may think its OK to relent to the idea.

A point of clarification
-------------------------------
There is a big difference between "connect time" and actually using the =
internet. "Connecting" to the internet via dial-up uses a line and a =
modem but those are the only significant resources used as part of the =
connection. Except for the increased number of phone lines at people's =
homes and at the internet service providers, this is not a problem for =
the phone companies. So the phone companies are not really worried =
about people that just stay connected to their ISP for a long time - =
this is just a problem for the ISP and their other customers. It's when =
you actually transfer data (e.g. download an web page or email) that =
becomes a problem for the phone companies. Data traffic uses a lot more =
of their system's bandwidth than voice. The recent increase in internet =
traffic (data) has stressed the capacity of their systems. So don't be =
too concerned about how long people are "connected". The phone =
companies are worried about the increase in real usage (data transfer) =
on the internet.

Charging for connect time is inequitable because connect time is not =
proportional to actual usage of the telephone company resources. =
Connect time charging is much easier for the phone companies to =
implement.

Steve


----------
From: Jon. Anderson and Marty Chaney[SMTP:festuca at olywa.net]
Sent: Sunday, February 09, 1997 1:11 PM
To: 'tweeters at u.washington.edu'
Subject: Re: Possible Threat to Internet Users

Hi folks,

I sent a copy of the message to my internet provider, and got the =
following answer:

----------
From: Jay Stewart[SMTP:cosmo at mail.olywa.net]

I wouldn't worry about it yet. The phone company is just playing=20
politics. I don't think the FCC has any plans to let them start=20
bilking us any further. We already pay over $10,000 a month to=20
USWest for our phone lines, so I think we can make a case that in=20
fact ISPs ARE paying for their fair share.

Jay Stewart
Vice President
Olympia Networking Services - "Olympia's Premier Internet Access"
Phone (360) 753.3636 Fax (360) 357.6160 http://www.olywa.net/