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I received this from another list & it helped me understand the situation better. You might want to check this out too. Linda cg Ben 69/5 [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Ron English <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> Date: Thursday, March 18, 1999 6:55 AM Subject: Internet phone charges. >YOU SHOULD SLEEP BETTER AFTER READING THIS LETTER I GOT FROMA FRIEND. > >> >>Thank you for your e-mail regarding per-minute fees or taxes that are >>reported to apply to local telephone calls to Internet Serivce Providers >>(ISP's). I have received thousands of e-mails and letters on this topic, >>and I am grateful for the opportunity to respond. >> >>On Thursday, February 25 the Federal Communications Commission ruled on the >>very complicated issue of reciprocal compensation that, in their words, >>"resolves a dispute among phone companies over how to compensate each other >>for Internet connections and to clarify the role of state and federal >>regulators." The ruling as it stands has has no effect on the rates that >>consumers pay to connect to their ISP's. >> >>I was initially as concerned as you when I heard reports of this tax/fee, >>and when I contacted the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on this >>issue they referred me to their web page >>http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/Factsheets/nominute.html >>which explains the issue of reciprocal compensation, and clarifies that >>there are no plans to impose per-minute taxes or fees on calls to ISP's. >>Chairman Kennard also denied that there were any such plans to tax the >>Internet in his 11/11/98 speech to the National Association of Regulatory >>Utility Commissioners which can be read at >>http://www.fcc.gov/Speeches/Kennard/spwek833.html (about halfway down). >>Also, Chairman Kennard stated last week that "I want to say this as clearly >>as I can. . . . As long as I'm chairman of the Federal Communications >>Commission this agency will not regulate the Internet". Please see the >>Washington Post article >>http://search.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1999-03/12/180l-031299-idx. ht >>ml >>which gives more information and background about that pledge. George >>Vradenburg, a senior vice president at America Online, agreed that the >>FCC decision will have "no effect on Internet charges." >> >>Other research has led me to believe that the issue of per-minute taxes or >>fees to access to the Internet is little more than "netlore", a form of >>urban legend. The web pages >>http://ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/CIACHoaxes.html#internetcharge >>http://snopes.simplenet.com/spoons/faxlore/congress.htm and >>http://urbanlegends.miningco.com/library/weekly/aa012099.htm >>explain that over the years this story has taken on a life of its own, as >>did the stories of kidneys being snatched from unsuspecting tourists, the >>"good times" computer virus hoax, the "Clinton Body Count", the $250 >>Nieman-Marcus cookie recipie, Craig Shergold collecting business/get-well >>cards, etc. >> >>It is interesting to note that the typical e-mail I receive on this issue >> >>>>CNN reported that in the next two weeks, Congress is going to vote on >>>>allowing telephone companies to charge for Internet access. That means, >>>>every time we make a long distance e-mail we will receive a long distance >>>>charge. This will get costly. >>>>Please visit the following web site AND complain. Complain to your >>>>Congressman. Don't allow this to pass. http://www.house.gov/writerep >>>>All of us have an interest in this one. PLEASE FORWARD TO EVERYONE YOU >>KNOW >>>>TODAY BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!! >> >>meets few of the 20 guidelines suggested by UCLA's Graduate School of >>Education and Information Studies for effective action alerts, which >can be >>read at >>http://dlis.gseis.ucla.edu/people/pagre/alerts.html >> >>In any event, there is no bill before either the House or the Senate that >>would impose per-minute fees on local calls to Internet Service Providers. >>Rest assured that in the future I will oppose any bill before Congress that >>would threaten the free flow of information on the Internet. >> >>Once again, thank you for taking the time to write, and please do not >>hesitate to contact me with questions or comments in the future. >> >>Best regards, >> >>Tom Campbell >>Member of Congress >>http://www.house.gov/campbell >