>Return-Path: <ILFRANKL-L-request@rootsweb.com> >Delivered-To: crgreen@risecom.net >Resent-Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1998 14:44:31 -0800 (PST) >From: " johcleav"@swbell.net >Date: Sat, 07 Nov 1998 16:44:37 -0600 >Reply-To: johcleav@swbell.net >Old-To: ILFRANKL-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: Internet Charge >Resent-Message-ID: <"53n7P.A.6oD.O1MR2"@bl-30.rootsweb.com> >To: ILFRANKL-L@rootsweb.com >Resent-From: ILFRANKL-L@rootsweb.com >X-Mailing-List: <ILFRANKL-L@rootsweb.com> archive/latest/4107 >X-Loop: ILFRANKL-L@rootsweb.com >Resent-Sender: ILFRANKL-L-request@rootsweb.com > >After doing a search on CNN, this is all I found. I don't think this old >dog will ever hunt, too many people doing business on the Internet. : > >CNN Today > > Internet Users may Soon Face Interstate Charges > > Aired November 6, 1998 - 4:21 p.m. ET > > THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS > FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. > > NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: If you spend a lot of time on the > Internet, you'll want to keep an eye out for an upcoming decision >by federal > regulators. The Federal Communications Commission will determine if > Internet dial-up should be treated as local or interstate calls. >That decision > could affect the cost of surfing the net. > > CNN's Rick Lockridge explains what's happening. > > (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) > > RICK LOCKRIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Paul Elia > builds websites, works out of the basement of his home. He >says his > business will not grow unless the Internet does, too. > > PAUL ELIA, WEBSITE BUILDER: So if the Internet access >becomes > more expensive, Internet traffic will go down, and that will >definitely affect > us. > > LOCKRIDGE: Right now, most Internet calls are billed as >local, even when > they connect to faraway computers. Long-distance carriers >have been > squabbling for years over who should pay for those >connections. If the FCC > decides to define Internet phone calls as interstate instead >of local, the > long-distance carriers could charge for them accordingly. >That could mean > higher Internet access rates for many of us. > > CARY HOWELL, CEO, COMSTAR: I believe there would be a great > outcry of the public. > > LOCKRIDGE: Cary Howell is CEO of an Internet service >provider. > > HOWELL: What we have to do at that time is we have to >reevaluate > whether or not we just increase the base per-month charge or >if we increase > to an hourly or per-minute connect rate. > LOCKRIDGE: The new charges might not happen. The FCC has a >history > of protecting Internet users from higher telephone fees. But >even if the > agency rules otherwise this time, the threat of competition >from cable > modems and other technologies might persuade telephone >companies to > keep their prices down. Still, in the short term, >by-the-minute phone fees > could take a toll, particularly on schools and small >businesses, like Paul > Elia's. > > ELIA: Unfortunately, I'm going to have to absorb the >increased cost. What > we're going to do is get smarter about the time we spend on >line. > > LOCKRIDGE (on camera): Congress just passed a moratorium on >new > Internet taxes, feeling that such taxes could have a >chilling effect on the > Internet. Now the FCC will have to decide whether by-the- >minute phone > charges could have a similarly harmful effect. > > Rick Lockridge, CNN, Atlanta. > > (END VIDEOTAPE) > > TO PURCHASE A VIDEOTAPE OF THIS PIECE, PLEASE CALL > 800-CNN-NEWS > > >