dcw@sun-bear.lcs.mit.edu (03/28/90)
Do you all remember the hullaballoo some time ago about the FCC putting a tax of some sort on modem users? Well I wrote to the addresses supplied in that note and just got this reply: Thank you for contacting my office concerning an alleged FCC proposal to eliminate the exemption from telephone access charges for computer-based services and information retrieval systems. I appreciate the opportunity to clarify this issue for you. In 1987, the FCC did, in fact, consider a proposal to implement access charges for computer-based services and information retrieval systems (docket 87-215). However, this issue is not under consideration by the current Federal Comminications Commission. The Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance, which I chair, held a hearing on this issue on October 2, 1987 in Boston. During the hearing, the Subcommittee heard testimony from then-chairman of the Federal Commumincations Commission, Dennis Patrick,as well as the providers and consumers who would have had to bear the burden of this charge. I believe that this fee would not only increase costs for current users, thus curtailing the amount of of time they spend on-line, but also, the cost would deter new customers from using information services. This is an industry whose potential has been increasing exponentially over the last six years. Hopefully, it will continue to increase, unimpeded by inappropriate regulatory burdens. Again, thank you for your letter. For your information, I have enclosed a recent letter from the current Chairman of the FCC, Alfred C. Sikes, in which he specifically states the Commission has no intention of addressing this issue. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future about this or any other matter of concern to you. (signed) Edward J. Markey -- The enclosed letter goes on to say that it's a rumor, and they're tracking down the source. -- Dave Whitney dcw@sun-bear.lcs.mit.edu ...!mit-eddie!sun-bear!dcw dcw@athena.mit.edu My employer pays me well. This, however, does not mean he agrees with me. I wrote Z-Link & BinSCII. Send me bug reports. I use a //GS. Send me Tech Info.