Subject: IMPORTANT!!! PLEASE READ!!!!!! Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1999 10:52:30 -0600

Hi Everyone, I received the following this morning and contacted Ashcroft/Bond and Danner's offices for info. Of course, I was promised they would get back to me asap. If this info is correct and the decision is to be made in two weeks it would not be legislation but a decision by a regulatory agency, in this case the FCC. Just wanted everyone to know about this and it wouldn't hurt for you to call your senators and/or reps and ask for information and voice you disapproval. I'll pass along anything I get as soon as I receive it. Later, k ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- This brief partial quote from the writing to let you see the tenor of the missive here. If they get away with this, the cost of doing e-mail will go through the roof. Also, this would possibly be a way for the gov't to curtail half or more of the e-mail traffic. ====================================================================

"the Government would in two weeks time decide to allow or not allow a Charge to your phone bill equal to a long distance call each time you access the internet." ==================================================================== Date: Tuesday, January 05, 1999 7:50 PM Subject: INPORTANT!!! PLEASE READ!!!!!!

THIS IS NO JOKE !!!

CNN stated that the Government would in two weeks time decide to allow or not allow a Charge to your phone bill equal to a long distance call each time you access the internet.

The address is http://www.house.gov/writerep/

Please visit the address above and fill out the necessary form! This is not a joke....but REAL. We all were aware that the Government has been pressured by the telephone companies to consider such a charge and now it's reality.....

If EACH one of us, forward this message on to others in a hurry, we may be able to prevent this injustice from happening!

Evidently, this is for real.... Please take the time and visit the url address and follow the instructions... Your vote may make a BIG difference..... None of us should be charged a long distance call each time we access the Internet....

In addition, please forward this to all your friends and relatives that also access the Internet..

end

---------------End of Original Message-----------------

=================================================================== Constitution Society, 1731 Howe Av #370, Sacramento, CA 95825 916/568-1022, 916/450-7941VM Date: 01/08/99 Time: 09:20:21 http://www.constitution.org/ mailto:jon.roland@constitution.org ===================================================================

-- Critt Jarvis (Wilmington, NC) (critt@critt.com), January 08, 1999

Answers

I suspect the is just a variation on the "modem tax" hoax that's been floating around the net for years. Unless it can be substanciated with links to official sources (and I doubt it can) it should be disregarded...

Yeah, yeah don't remind me - I know -- I said the same thing about FDIC's "Know Your Customer" program. Well I was wrong about that. It was real and I freely admit that I was wrong.

-- Arnie Rimmer (arnie_rimmer@usa.net), January 08, 1999.

The URL will take you to a site for you to mail your representative a message concerning this charge. It is not an article concerning this issue. STill, it is important to let out represenarives know how we feel (as if they really cared.)

-- Linda A. (adahi@muhlon.com), January 08, 1999.

First read about this a month ago in USA Today. Motivated by the telephone companies who are waking up to the fact that their long distance cash cow is dead if the internet continues to grow. This was birthed by the telecommunications lobbyists to try to save AT&T, MCI and Sprint from becoming obsolete.

-- David (David@Bankpacman.com), January 08, 1999.

In about 9 months, most long distance companies will be offering a techno breakthrough enabling a single phone line to provide simultaneous live connections for all usage (ie computer, fax, telephone etc.) They know they are going to have to innovate and diversify. Thats the name of the game. HOWEVER, it would not hurt in the least to send your congressman a note about your feelings on this. It's call vigilence and if you expect to keep any semblance of control, that's how you do it with government. NO EXCUSES.

-- Bumble Bee (bumble@icanect.net), January 08, 1999.

A cousin of mine sent me similar mail last March '98. You can visit the following URL for all the info...

http://www.fcc.gov/isp.html

BUT, this piece of regulation IS DEAD! It never made it into practice, so I wouldn't worry about it...

--Russell

-- --Russell (Oh Boy@y2k.com), January 08, 1999.

# # # 19990108

[ SET GENTLE REMINDER ON ]

Yo', Critt:

If you've been politically active for any time at all, you ought to know that you include a legislative bill reference ( i.e., H.R. ####, H.B.#### S.B.#### ) in any cummunication. At least folks could then call their respective pol and/or Search THOMAS for the details. This facilitates intelligent communications as opposed to blindly flaming passions.

Regards, Bob Mangus # # #

-- Robert Mangus (rmangus@mail.netquest.com), January 08, 1999.

Bob,

Politically, I'm naive. That being said, here's what happened.

Email came in from a list server. After reading it, I decided that if the information is accurate the public might want to participate in the process. So, I copied the body of the email into the text window, and submitted it.

What I've learned on this forum in the last week (my first week of political activism?) is that mistakes get handled fast as greased weasel skat.

Next time, I'll include a preface.

Thanks

-- Critt Jarvis (critt@critt.com), January 08, 1999.

Wouldn't it be a quick, knife-life way for Clinton to silence us Y2K whistle blowers? ;-)

I mean, would you rather spend your money on beans for your kids or on long-distance bills trying to warn people and knock some sense into the DGI's? ;-)

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), January 08, 1999.

So why is it being discussed on CNN if the bill is dead?

-- Bumble Bee (bumble@icanect.net), January 09, 1999.