W8SDZ@SIMTEL20.ARPA (Keith Petersen) (08/22/87)
ACTION ALERT
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THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
IS CONSIDERING THE IMPOSITION OF
COSTLY NEW "ACCESS CHARGES"
ON YOUR USE OF GENIE SERVICES
=====================================
For 2 years, you and other GEnie subscribers have used your telephone to
reach our service. Until now, your calls to us have been treated just like
any other residential or business calls. Now, however, the Federal
Communications Commission in Washington, D.C. is proposing to change all this.
The FCC is considering a plan to make extremely expensive new "access
charges" applicable to GEnie services provided to you over local telephone
lines.
The FCC's "access charge" scheme would drastically increase telephone
company charges which we pay. In fact, our initial estimates suggest that
GEnie Service costs would jump up by as much as $4.50 per hour of use for
every one of our customers. Although
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we have not yet considered the extent to which these cost increases would
necessitate a price increase for GEnie Service, a cost increase of this
enormous magnitude could require up to a doubling of our GEnie Service prices.
THE "ACCESS CHARGE" PROPOSAL
CAN BE PRVENTED IF WE ALL ACT
TOGETHER TO COMMUNICATE OUR
CONCERNS TO FEDERAL AUTHORITIES
===============================
Right now the FCC plan is simply a proposal. It is not too late to
prevent this mistake from occurring. Nonetheless, we all need to work
together to head off this disastrous possibility. The FCC commissioners and
their staff responsible for making the final decision seem convinced that such
access charges are necessary and proper. We need your help in explaining why
such increased charges would severely disserve the public interest.
In evaluating its "access charge" proposal, the FCC will have to listen to
your concerns if they are explained in terms of the proposal's practical
effects on you or your business. Your views count. In addition, your elected
congressmen will want to hear your concerns. Legislative representatives play
a very helpful role in highlighting your interests for the FCC to consider.
YOU NEED TO ACT NOW AND TO STAY
INVOLVED UNTIL THE "ACCESS
CHARGE" PROPOSAL IS REJECTED
BY THE FCC
===============================
The FCC requires that comments on its proposal be filed by September 24,
1987. Responses to these comments may be filed through October 26, 1987. The
FCC may act on the matter as early as sometime in December.
It is important for you to get busy now preparing your comments for
submission to the FCC not later than September 24, 1987 -- whether in the form
of a letter or a more formalized "pleading." Several significant facts ought
to be included in expressing your views. Actually, they are pretty basic and
easy to understand and communicate: (1) who you are; (2) how you use GEnie
Service; and (3) how you or your business would be hurt if GEnie Service
prices doubled due to access charges. These comments should be addressed to
the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. The address of the FCC
is 1919 M Street, N.W.; Washington, D.C. 20554. Similar letters or comments
should be sent to your state's U.S. Senators and the U.S. House of
Representatives' members from your district.