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Proposed Internet Access Charges to Users

Hi all:
I checked with my internet provider about the proposal to charge 
access charges to individual internet users.  My ISP responded as 
follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date:          Wed, 14 Jan 1998 15:00:42 -0800 (PST)
From:          Pacifier Technical Support <support@pacifier.com>

It's a proposal that comes and goes.  The phone companies know they
can kill the Internet (or make it thier own) by imposing per minute
rates.

You'll probaly find out if it's still up for consideration by going to
the FCC home page.    http://www.fcc.gov  
The actual final date for comments was in Feb 97.
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I then checkedout  the FCC's homepage ((http://www.fcc.gov/).
and tracked down the following information at 
 http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/Factsheets/ispfact.html  
And I quote:...........

"In December 1996, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
requested public comment on issues relating to the charges that
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and similar companies pay to local
telephone companies. On May 7, 1997, the FCC decided to leave the
existing rate structure in place. In other words, the FCC decided not
to allow local telephone companies to impose per-minute access charged
on ISPs. 

Please Note: There is no open comment period in this proceeding. If
you have recently seen a message on the Internet stating that in
response to a request from local telephone companies, the FCC is
requesting comments to <isp@fcc.gov> by February 1998, be aware that
this information is inaccurate. 

The FCC issued an unrelated public notice, DA 98-2, on January 5, 1998
in connection with a report to Congress on universal service. Pursuant
to the FCC's 1998 appropriations legislation, the Commission must
submit a report by April 10, 1998 on several issues including the
legal status of Internet services under the Telecommunications Act of
1996. Comments in response to the public notice are due January 20,
1998, and reply comments are due February 2, 1998. Informal comments
may be sent by email to <usreport@fcc.gov>."

There is more information if you want to check it out.  

Patt Opdyke
StreamWorks Coordinator
Community Conservation Education & Outreach
East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District
Tele: (503) 978-1108   Fax: (503) 978-0918
popdyke@pacifier.com
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