MOBILIZE! =========

Two years ago the FCC tried and (with your help and letters of protest) failed to institute regulations that would impose additional costs on modem users for data communications.

Now, they are at it again. A new regulation that the FCC is quietly working on will directly affect you as the user of a computer and modem. The FCC proposes that users of modems should pay extra charges for use of the public telephone network which carry their data. In addition, computer network services such as CompuServ, Tymnet, & Telenet would also be charged as much as $6.00 per hour per user for use of the public telephone network. These charges would very likely be passed on to the subscribers. The money is to be collected and given to the telephone company in an effort to raise funds lost to deregulation.

Jim Eason of KGO newstalk radio (San Francisco, Ca) commented on the proposal during his afternoon radio program during which, he said he learned of the new regulation in an article in the New York Times. Jim took the time to gather the addresses which are given below.

Here's what you should do (NOW!):

1- Pass this information on. Download MOBILIZE.ZIP which contains the text you are reading now. Find other BBS's that are not carrying this information. Upload the ASCII text into a public message on the BBS, and also upload the file itself so others can easily get a copy to pass along.

2- Print out three copies of the letter which follows (or write your own) and send a signed copy to each of the following:

Chairman of the FCC 1919 M Street N.W. Washington, D.C. 20554

Chairman, Senate Communication Subcommittee SH-227 Hart Building Washington, D.C. 20510

Chairman, House Telecommunication Subcommittee B-331 Rayburn Building Washington, D.C. 20515

Here's the suggested text of the letter to send:

Dear Sir,

Please allow me to express my displeasure with the FCC proposal which would authorize a surcharge for the use of modems on the telephone network. This regulation is nothing less than an attempt to restrict the free exchange of information among the growing number of computer users. Calls placed using modems require no special telephone company equipment, and users of modems pay the phone company for use of the network in the form of a monthly bill. In short, a modem call is the same as a voice call and therefore should not be subject to any additional regulation.

Sincerely, [your name, address and signature]

It is important that you act now. The bureaucrats already have it in their heads that modem users should subsidize the phone company and are now listening to public comment. Please stand up and make it clear that we will not stand for any government restriction on the free exchange of information. Thanks for your help. Note: Most of the text for this Bulletin was copied from a message posted on the Fidonet Telecomm Echo network.