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From: frank@dvm.UUCP (Frank Wortner)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.misc
Subject: Re: Re: Pending FCC ruling threat to modem users
Message-ID: <126@dvm.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 17-Dec-86 15:05:54 EST
Article-I.D.: dvm.126
Posted: Wed Dec 17 15:05:54 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 18-Dec-86 21:48:10 EST
References: <1575@brl-adm.ARPA>
Reply-To: frank@dvm.UUCP (Frank Wortner)
Organization: Philon, Inc. (NY, NY)
Lines: 40

In article <1575@brl-adm.ARPA> OCONNORDM@ge-crd.arpa (OCONNOR DENNIS MICHAEL) writes:
>
>
>First: MODEM calls DO NOT cost the phone company the same amount as
>other calls. They tend to be longer, and don't tolerate noise as well.
>... If the phone company always
>charged for local service BY THE MINUTE, well, no problem, but
>phone companies usually charge BY THE CALL or BY THE MONTH. So heavy
>modem users are currently being SUBSIDIZED by the rest of the users.
>                              		Dennis O'Connor
>


Correct me if I'm wrong, but some phone companies (I'm thinking of New
York Telephone in this case) charge their customers by the MESSAGE UNIT.
This method of billing takes both TIME and DISTANCE into account.  I don't
notice New York Tel giving me a discount if I keep my calls short, sweet,
and voice-only.  In fact, their advertising seems to encourage me to make
numerous and lengthy calls to my family, friends, and business associates.
New York Tel gets its due from me for my voice-based calls, and I don't
see the company failing to obtain fair payment for my modem-based calls.

I also don't see (hear?) the company striving to make sure that my modem
calls receive a better connection than my voice calls.  If telephone
noise were significantly lower, there would be little need for error-
correcting modems.

Phone companies would be much better off if they upgraded their billing
systems than if they imposed unfair charges against only one class of
users (-- modem users).  This is only logical.  Afterall, doesn't a
company which charges users by the month lose just as much money on a
lenthy call to Grandma as on a lengthy call to a BBS?  In fact, I would
wager that more people have grandmothers than have computers.

OK, enough ranting -- off the soapbox I go!


-- 
				Frank
				...!inhp4!allegra!phri!orville!dvm!frank