John Higdon <john@bovine.ati.com> (09/29/90)
AT&T NEWS BRIEFS
Friday, September 28, 1990
900 SERVICES -- Sleaze merchants and con artists threaten to turn 900
number dial-in services into the Times Square of the phone industry
unless tough national standards are adopted, Congress was told
Thursday. ... The hearing before the House Energy and Commerce
subcommittee on telecommunications and finance was held to consider a
bill by Rep. Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., that would impose federal
restrictions on the phone audiotext industry. Among other things, the
bill would require free blocking of 900 numbers; free introductory
messages describing the service; clearly stated charges and billing
procedures; and a one-time opportunity to stop charges incurred
through misunderstandings or unauthorized use. The FCC would be given
oversight of the audiotext industry. Industry representatives opposed
the bill. ... San Jose Mercury News, 19E.
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So the federal agency that has declared that nothing not suitable for
an eight-year-old child may EVER be aired on broadcast television will
now police information providing services? This ought to be good. But
then if IPs put programming on that is attractive to (and suitable
for) children, then the screams will rise about how IPs are conning
kids.
I have no argument with the proposed safeguards described above, but
then the FCC seems to go overboard in its enforcement sometimes (just
ask any broadcaster). To bad it can't be so aggressive towards COCOTs.
John Higdon | P. O. Box 7648 | +1 408 723 1395
john@bovine.ati.com | San Jose, CA 95150 | M o o !