W8SDZ@SIMTEL20.ARPA (Keith Petersen) (08/22/87)
HOW TO COMMUNICATE YOUR
OPPOSITION TO ACCESS CHARGES
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WHAT THE FCC PROPOSES AND HOW IT WILL AFFECT YOU:
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On July 17, 1987, the Federal Communications Commission announced its
intent to apply its carrier access charges to all enhanced service providers
-- the FCC's technical name for services like GEnie. What this means is that
all providers of such services, including GEnie, which use local telephone
lines to reach services provided by means of interstate telecommunications
facilities will be subject to significantly increased telecommunications
costs. Currently, long-distance common carriers, such as AT&T and MCI, pay
interstate access charges. No decision has been made yet to raise our prices
if the FCC were to impose access charges on enhanced service providers.
However, if this proposal is adopted, the prices of GEnie Service might have
to be raised as much as 100%.
GE, other enhanced service providers, their customers, and some of their
respective trade associations will be opposing the FCC's proposal by lobbying
and filing comments with the Commission. The Commission has asked for
comments from the public on its proposal which are due on or before September
24, 1987. Responses to these comments are due by October 26, 1987. If both
users and providers of services make clear to the FCC the adverse consequences
that will follow if its proposal is implemented, there is a good chance that
the proposal will be rejected.
HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN DO:
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The Commission will be interested in knowing how its proposal will affect
you, the user of GEnie services, whether you are a residential user or whether
information services are an essential aid to carrying out your business.
Generally, the Commission's stated policy is to make information, services
like GEnie, available to all users, both large and small. The Commission
apparently does not appreciate that these enormous cost increases would
seriously hurt you -- the very persons the FCC wants to help.
The best way to communicate your concerns to the FCC is to explain what
implementation of its proposal would mean to you or your business. You can do
this by writing a letter to the FCC Commissioners and important staff members.
The discussion in item #4, "Writing Your Letters and Comments " explains a
very effective technique for writing this type of letter to the Commission.
You may also wish to file formal comments with the Commission for
consideration by the FCC's Common Carrier Bureau Staff when considering this
matter. This may sound like more work, but it is really just a more formal
way to say exactly what you would say in your letter. The discussion in item
#4 tells you how to do this.
Additionally, Congress would be anxious to learn that the proposed FCC
action might have such adverse effects on its constituents. Because the FCC
is attuned to Congress' viewpoints, letters to your Senators and
Representatives would also be effective in preventing the FCC proposal from
taking effect.
Finally, we ask that you send GE Information Services a copy of any
letters or comments that you write in connection with this matter.