Their page said Comment Date: January 29, 1997 new! Reply Comment Date: February 14, 1997 new! when I checked just now. Where did you get the dates you mentioned? -S.
The detailed background info on this issue can be found on Page 1 of WebWeek, Jan 20, 1997. "ISPs Could Owe New Fees To Telcos if FCC Gives its OK". FCC has an email box at isp@fcc.gov for ISPs and consumers to send informal comments. The deadline is Feb 21, and March 24 is the dead for replies to comments.
FCC will post the comments at
www.fcc.gov/isp.html Hong Chen 408-567-3800 (tel) hchen@aimnet.net 408-567-0990 (fax)
On Sun, 9 Feb 1997, James R. Fisher wrote:
What appears below is an unsubstantiated rumor, but some rumors are true... -jrf ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Return-Path: bbb@acm.org Date: Sat, 8 Feb 97 16:41:22 EST To: fnc@web1.hpc.org, lsn@hpcc.gov From: "Bruce B. Bottomley" <bbb@acm.org> Subject: Fw: Telephone charges for Internet
Does anybody know if there's truth in this one? The concept doesn't sound extraordinarily unlikely given the info we received from the FCC rep at FNC a few months back about central office loading, allocation of costs and revenues, etc., but the lack of publicity associated with this--if true--is a bit surprising.
Subject: Fwd: Telephone charges for Internet
I am writing you this to inform you of a very important matter currently under review by the FCC. Your local telephone company has filed a proposal with the FCC to impose per minute charges for your internet service. They contend that your usage has or will hinder the operation of the telephone network. It is my belief that internet usage will diminish if users were required to pay additional per minute charges. The FCC has created an email box for your comments, responses must be received by February 13, 1997. Send your comments to isp@fcc.gov and tell them what you think. Every phone company is in on this one, and they are trying to sneak it in just under the wire for litigation. Let everyone you know hear this one. Get the e-mail address to everyone you can think of.
isp@fcc.gov