WALTER.SCOTT@p6.f889.n106.z1.fidonet.org (WALTER SCOTT) (01/13/90)
Dan:
I know many elderly, invalid, and indigent people have only one
reasonable link with the outside world. To be able to interact with
someone over the phone is essential to their "sanity". The elderly, invalid,
and indigent person is also forced to transact business over the phone that
many of us could just run out and take care of. The elderly and the
indigent are never people of means. With this in mind, would you build
in an option for subsidy to such people?
Walter
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PETER.MARSHALL@p6.f889.n106.z1.fidonet.org (PETER MARSHALL) (01/14/90)
Walter:
Re: "an option for subsidy," what are you talking about? LMS? So-called
"lifeline" service? No visible thread, so hard to tell....
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WALTER.SCOTT@p6.f889.n106.z1.fidonet.org (WALTER SCOTT) (01/14/90)
Peter:
This relates to Local Measured Service (LMS) and Dan's position
that LMS is a viable means toward the end of providing phone service
equitably. I was curious to know if he would be in favor of a subsidy
to those who are elderly, invalid, and indigent. I would tie those 3
qualifiers to each other, by the way, in asking if people possessing
all 3 qualifiers should expect some form of subsidy for customers on
LMS.
Walter
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PETER.MARSHALL@p6.f889.n106.z1.fidonet.org (PETER MARSHALL) (01/14/90)
Thanks for the reply, but this still seems rather vague and speculative.
It's also pretty old ground--old too, in that so-called "lifeline
service," which we have here, and which the FCC provides incentives for,
is generally the "subsidy" you seem to refer to, and can be done re:
both flat-rated and measured service. On the other hand, Dan's position,
as you describe it, to effect that LMS connotes equity, is only one
taken by the uninformed and, interestingly enough, by the telcos.
PCRelay:POVERTY -> INTELEC-NET * NorthWestern Region
4.10.9 Poverty Rock +Seattle WA+ 206-232-1763 HST38k
DAN.ARSENAULT@p6.f889.n106.z1.fidonet.org (DAN ARSENAULT) (01/14/90)
I see no reason why LMS couldn't be rigged up any number of ways. My
experience with elderly is sadly, that they are not big phone users even
when lonely. Perhaps when the current crop of phone happy teens gets
older it'll be more of a problem.
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DAN.ARSENAULT@p6.f889.n106.z1.fidonet.org (DAN ARSENAULT) (01/16/90)
I don't think I've ever said that LMS in any way approaches equity, only
that it is less barbaric than the way we currently pay.
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WALTER.SCOTT@p6.f889.n106.z1.fidonet.org (WALTER SCOTT) (01/16/90)
Dan:
Ok... Thanks for expressing this viewpoint.
Walter
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