http://www.infoworld.com/cgi-bin/displayStory.pl?990225.enfccisp.htm FCC rules ISP calls are long-distance in nature By Nancy Weil InfoWorld Electric Posted at 10:58 AM PT, Feb 25, 1999 In a long-anticipated vote, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday decided that dial-up Internet calls are interstate in nature and not local. The ruling overturns state decisions holding that dial-up calls to the Internet are local. The decision also could mean that local phone companies will be able to assess usage-sensitive access charges on ISPs, the FCC suggested in a statement Thursday regarding its vote. Without the so-called "Enhanced Service Provider Exemption," consumers might have to pay per-minute fees for dialing into the Internet on local lines, however not all Internet access calls necessarily will be charged at long distance rates. --------------------- 8< snip - James D. Wilson "non sunt multiplicanda entia praeter necessitatem" William of Ockham (1285-1347/49)