Julie, thanks for exposing this hoax for what it is . I was going to send a message about it also, but had not gotten around to it yet. I would like to ask that we try to avoid forwarding such messages as this to the list. There have been quite a few such internet hoaxes circulated through the internet. The problem is when everyone starts forwarding them to everyone they know, especially within all the Rootsweb lists, it can multiply into a huge load on the servers. We've done a great job staying focused on Genealogy and History on this list, lets keep it that way. Don't be embarrassed Dennis, They are pretty convincing. Thanks Randy Godfrey Union Co. N.C. GenWeb Coordinator djdlw wrote: > Thanks Julie. I spent an hour late, late, last night because of the rumor > on my e-mail writing to my Congressman. Now I"m embarrassed. I'll try to > stay better informed. Dennis Wallace of Salina, Kansas.-----Original > Message----- > From: Julie Young <youngj2@hotmail.com> > To: NCUNION-L@rootsweb.com <NCUNION-L@rootsweb.com> > Date: Thursday, February 04, 1999 8:14 AM > Subject: [NCUNION-L] Internet Access- HOAX > > >Please do not forward that message. It is a hoax that some people find > >funny. Unfortunately, many folks believe stories like this as well as > >the Microsoft e-mail offers for $1,000 & the kidney harvesting stories > >of Lousianna. This flood of warnings jam internet servers, slows your > >access time, and is just a nuisance. Please check out > >http://urbanlegends.miningco.com the next time you feel like something > >may be important before passing it along, particularly if it involves > >writing to the government. The whole story if interested is: > > > >Internet Access Rumor Won't Go Away > > > >Dateline: 01/20/99 > > > >Even though it's been debunked by just about everybody, the rumor rages > >on via forwarded email alerts: the U.S. government, we are told, is on > >the verge of enacting legislation that will raise our Internet access > >costs by allowing calls to ISPs to be charged at long-distance (i.e., > >per-minute) rates. > > > >The rumor is false, as was thoroughly explained in an FCC Fact Sheet > >released in December. > > > >It is nonetheless popular, exemplifying a genre of Internet folklore > >dating back to the "modem tax" legend of the early '90s. The rumor then > >was that the FCC was about to approve a surcharge on all phone lines > >connected to computer modems. A grassroots email campaign resulted in a > >flood of protests to the FCC, in spite of the fact that it had no such > >ruling under consideration. > > > >In similar fashion, the latest rumor has generated hundreds of thousands > >of email complaints from "well-meaning but misinformed people" over the > >past two years, says the FCC. > > > >Much like the issue of computer security, which has given rise to a body > >of lore including virus hoaxes, hacker alerts, and rumors of privacy > >invasion, low-cost access is and will likely always be a "hot button" > >topic among Internet users, hence fertile ground for rumormongers. False > >rumors often paint a true picture of a community's deep-seated fears and > >concerns. > > > >Here's a typical email rendering of the current one: > > > >Date: Tuesday, January 05, 1999 7:50 PM > >Subject: INPORTANT!!! PLEASE READ!!!!!! > >