-----Original Message----- From: Parker, Evan <Evan.Parker@mail.house.gov> Date: Thursday, March 11, 1999 7:39 AM Subject: FW: email from Congressman Sanders, re: Internet Access Charges chain email > >> ---------- >> From: Bernie@mail.house.gov >> To: Parker, Evan >> Sent: Friday, February 26, 1999 12:36 PM >> Subject: email from Congressman Sanders, re: Internet Access Charges >> chain email >> >> >> Thank you for contacting me about Internet access charges. >> >> I am pleased to inform you that, according to the Federal >> Communications Commission, there are no such plans to allow local phone >> companies to charge you a long distance toll for accessing your Internet >> service provider (ISP). Let me also say that there is no bill before >> Congress which would impose a tax on internet usage. >> >> The confusion stems from a recent ruling by the FCC which said that a >> substantial portion of Internet traffic is interstate and therefore >> subject to federal jurisdiction. However, according to the FCC, this >> decision will not affect your phone bills. In fact, now that the FCC has >> full jurisdiction over ISP fees, your phone bill can not be affected as >> the FCC has exempted ISPs from long distance charges. This is FCC policy, >> as established in 1996, and will not be modified in the foreseeable >> future. Rest assured that were this policy to change, my fellow Members >> of Congress and I will do all we can to prevent its implementation. >> >> If you would like more information on the FCC's decision please >> visit: >> >> http://www.house.gov/bernie/mail_central/nominute.html >> >> Also, the Department of Computer Incident Advisory Capability, a >> branch of the US Department of Energy that monitors the Internet, has >> added this Internet Access Charge chain email to its site of Internet >> hoaxes. This site, which is continually updated, can be accessed at: >> >> http://www.house.gov/bernie/mail_central/CIACHoaxes.html >> >> I will continue to monitor the situation and, if a long-distance >> charge is ever seriously proposed for ISP calls, I will be one of its >> leading opponents. Thank you again for contacting me about this issue, >> and please do not hesitate to contact me again in the future with any >> questions or comments. >> >> >> Sincerely, >> >> Rep. Bernie Sanders >> Independent -- Vermont >> >> >> >> >