Short: off-peak usage of telco facilities is not costing the telco any real money, (this is especially true for LD companies!) as the capacity planning (and purchase) is governed by peak usage, any screams by them in that general direction should be ignored, their monopolistic actions fought with a vengeance: EdTel of Edmonton,Alberta started making noises as described no sooner than they were beginning to plan their own internet service. I hear they have a special tariff discount for fax lines (business or residential) too, or at least used to. Are they talking with two tounges ?

bye,Kai

Bell Atlantic has recently been running an ad campaign here in the Washington, DC, area offering a $30 discount on the installation of second residential lines. The ads suggest that they are great for modem users and families with teenagers. I don't think they would do this if they didn't think they would make money on it. However, at the same time they are trying to introduce a residential ISDN tariff in Maryland that has all calls, both voice and data, charged by the minute, even during off peak times.