On Tue, 11 Feb 1997 03:13:10 -0800, you wrote:

I found this in USENET and I think it is important.
I apologize if it is inappropriate for the mailling list.
But I would hate to see the FCC approve these charges.

--Cloudshape / Larry Meyer
[my protest letter is attached to the end of this message.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
A very important matter currently under review by the FCC. 

 Local telephone companies have 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.

This is alarmist drivel.  You're confusing this with the FCC modem tax
that has been going around ad infinitum since I was BBS'ing 6 or 7
years ago, and probably before then.  What is described in the above
letter is debating if, and where fcc regulations should head in
deregulating phone service charges (much as has already been done in
New York and Chicago).  Hundreds of companies, many of them Fortune
500,  have already commented in an official capacity, and I doubt very
much that individual letters will be given a second look, since the
mailbox is already flooded thanks to uninformed messages like the one
above.  No bill has been proposed, no legislation has been passed at
this point.  Generally, ISPs are opposing any deregulation, and local
phone companies, which are losing millions of dollars due to fixed
government rates, are supporting it.  Long distance companies, like
AT&T, which have very limited access to the local phone market support
fcc revisions because they believe they can undercut current
government mandated rates, and gain substantial market share.  What
does this mean for us, the at home end-users?  In the end, very
little.  ISPS or phone companies might end up charging one or two
extra dollars a month, but it's very doubtful that anyone will
attribute it to this as the cause.