Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!brl-adm!adm!OCONNORDM@ge-crd.arpa From: OCONNORDM@ge-crd.arpa (OCONNOR DENNIS MICHAEL) Newsgroups: comp.sys.misc Subject: Re: Re: Pending FCC ruling threat to modem users Message-ID: <1575@brl-adm.ARPA> Date: Tue, 16-Dec-86 14:13:23 EST Article-I.D.: brl-adm.1575 Posted: Tue Dec 16 14:13:23 1986 Date-Received: Wed, 17-Dec-86 19:03:13 EST Sender: news@brl-adm.ARPA Lines: 47 Date: 16-DEC-1986 13:30 Sender: OCONNORDM Subject: Re: Re: Pending FCC ruling threat to modem users To: Info-Micro@BRL.ARPA@SMTP, Unix-Sources@BRL.ARPA@SMTP, To: Info-XMODEM@simtel20.arpa@SMTP, Info-Cpm@amsaa.arpa@SMTP -------- People have written lots on this new FCC rule change ( threat? threat?? ). Lots of stirring propaganda about regulators who beleive in fairy tales, monopolies that will screw you to the wall given the chance, and legislated monopolies. Lots of misconceptions. 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. Anyone who knows ANYTHING about the phone system knows it can only handle some fraction of the possible calls that might be happening at any one time, and the longer the average phone call is, the more equipment will be needed to meet this fraction. 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. Sounds like it MIGHT be UNFAIR. Second: the goverment does not "mandate" a "pernicous" monopoly, it simply allows it. You or I can go out, get right-of-way on the utility poles like the cable companies, and start our very own telephone system. The problem is you and I would lose big money trying to compete with the phone system. And our users would be annoyed at people next door using BELL being a long-distance call. But you can do it, in fact, General Electric HAS done it, for both its local and long-distance telephone needs ( known as DIALCOM ). If ANYBODY needs something explained to him, it is probably NOT Mark Fowler. Before people rush to pester him, why don't you all invite someone from the Phone Companies to give THEIR SIDE. This rush to get half-informed people to rise up and make trouble is simply electronic rabble-rousing, NOT what democracy thrives on : informed opinion from people who have been exposed to ALL SIDES of an issue. ( DISCLAIMER : I'm not neccesarily disagreeing with anyone, nor do these opinions represent anybody elses. I could even be wrong. But then again, so could you. 'Cause remember ... No matter where you go, There you are. ) Dennis O'Connor -------- --------