judy@moray.UUCP (Judy Scheltema) (10/27/88)
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For release at 10:00am October 26, 1988
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 26, 1988
From:COSUARD(Coalition of Sysops and Users Against Rate Discrimination)
Contacts: Susan E. King, Sysop, Kingdom Productions BBS Voice 526-2331
BBS 630-0553
Reginald Hirsch, Attorney, Voice 961-7800
RE: Southwestern Bell and Re-interpretaion of Existing Tariff
An informal letter was received by FAX yesterday at the office of
Reginald Hirsch from Southwestern Bell. The letter from Spokesman
Ken Brasel indicated a reversal of Southwestern Bell's
re-classification policy of Houston area BBS's (Bulletin Board
Systems).
Mr. Brasel stated "Southwestern Bell as of this date has stopped
converting customers who operate computer bulletin boards from
the residential to the business rate. Further, any non-commercial
bulletin board operators who have been converted to the business
rate will be contacted by Southwestern Bell and changed back to
the residential rate at no charge. We will make a contact with
the Public Utility Commission staff in Austin to inform it of
this change."
As of 4:30 p.m. yesterday afternoon in a phone conversation with
the PUC, no written comfirmation had yet been received.
Notwithstanding, COSUARD through its legal representative,
Reginald Hirsch, has filed a formal written complaint with the PUC.
The Thursday meeting, October 27, 1988 at 12:00 Noon at the
Grand Hotel,2525 W. Loop South will take place. Although
Southwestern Bell has indicated a policy reversal at this time
they do intend to apply business rates to certain BBS's.
A formalized resolution must be submitted to the PUC and
definitions such as "non-commercial" will need clarification.
COSUARD will make a formal statement and policy direction
at this meeting.
At the request of Southwestern Bell a meeting has been set
for Friday,October 29, 1988 at 3:00 p.m.
The pressure that has been exerted on Southwestern Bell over
the last several weeks on its "re-interpretation" of the current
tariff has drawn widespread attention of the Sysop and User
community throughout the country. This is only indicative of the
interest for preservation of a hobby that has a profound
network not only throughout this country but throughout the world.
Other contacts for information:
Merrilyn Vaughn - OPUS/FIDO Net 106 Coordinator 686-2730
Justin Marquez - OPUS/FIDO Region 19 Coordinator 987-3500
Ed Hopper - PCBOARD Sysop 968-5267
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Judy Scheltema | uunet!nuchat!moray!judy
Houston, Texas | bellcore!texbell!moray!judy