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Date: Wed, 15-Jul-87 12:12:48 EDT
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Date:         Mon 13 Jul 87 19:35:37 PDT
Reply-To: Info-Atari16@Score.Stanford.edu
Sender: "Atari ST users forum (INFO-ATARI16)" 
Original-From: Info-Atari16 Digest 
Subject:      Info-Atari16 Digest V87 #275
To: , 
Original-To: ,

Info-Atari16 Digest   Monday, July 13, 1987   Volume 87 : Issue 275

This weeks Editor: Bill Westfield

Today's Topics:

                      How to get ALN from Atari
          Re: Computer Aided Voicing (Product Announcement)
                   Lattice-C and I/O to full disks
     Re: What's the latest version of the Sac? (plus other stuff)
                 C development on Amiga and Atari ST
                               Purchase
                               Purchase
                   Re: Aegis Animator and GDOS.PRG
                         Accessible Archives
      Re: SCSI drives--how do you connect them to the DMA port?
                   Re: "FCC Information Tax" Flap.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 8 Jul 87 21:26:32 GMT
From: imagen!atari!apratt@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU  (Allan Pratt)
Subject: How to get ALN from Atari
To: info-atari16@score.stanford.edu

I talked with Cindy Claveran and found out that she will send the linker,
along with laser-printed documentation (same content as the .DOC file,
but nicer-looking), to registered developers who send her $1.50 and
a disk.

The version she has is slightly newer than the one originally put on
Compuserve.  I am having John Feagans put the new one up there, too.
The only difference is that the linker waits for the Return key when
it's done, if you started it with no arguments (e.g. as a .TOS file
from the desktop).  This feature is half-done in version 1.00, but
now is completely done (in version 1.01).  If you already got
aln, and you use it from a command shell or batch file, don't bother
re-downloading it.

Cindy's address is:

    Cindy Claveran
    Atari (U.S.) Corporation
    1196 Borregas Avenue
    Sunnyvale, CA 94086
        USA

/----------------------------------------------\
| Opinions expressed above do not necessarily  |  -- Allan Pratt, Atari Corp.
| reflect those of Atari Corp. or anyone else. |     ...lll-lcc!atari!apratt
\----------------------------------------------/    (APRATT on GEnie)

------------------------------


Date:           Thu, 09 Jul 87 14:47:43 gmt
To:             info-atari16@score.stanford.edu
From:           
Organisation:   Institut Laue Langevin
Postal-address: BP156x 38042 GRENOBLE, France
Phone:          (33)7648-7111 [switchboard]
Subject:        autogem??


In theJune number of Personal Computer World is a small notice that says
that there exists a program called AUTOGEM which allows to boot and run
a GEM application directly from the auto folder. It seems to be on the
XANTH bulletin board (0101) 206 682 8039. Since I'm in France it is nearly
impossible for me to get it directly, so if anybody out there would be so
nice to send me a copy I would be very grateful. Many thanks in advance...

Please send it arced and uuencoded.

My address is FRANK@FRILL51 on earn/bitnet.

------------------------------

Date: 8 Jul 87 09:09:41 GMT
From: mnetor!utzoo!utgpu!water!ljdickey@seismo.css.gov
Subject: Re: Computer Aided Voicing (Product Announcement)
To: info-atari16@score.stanford.edu

In article <3511@well.UUCP> csz@well.UUCP (Carter Scholz) writes:
 ...
>>    Product Announcement                                 July 2, 1987
...
>I thought Usenet policy forbade for-profit commercial announcements here.

I am delighted to see such announcements.  This one was clearly marked
as such.  If you don't want to read it, skip it.

I hope it appears only once.

--
 L. J. Dickey, Faculty of Mathematics, University of Waterloo.
 ljdickey@water.UUCP    ljdickey%water@waterloo.CSNET
 ljdickey%water%waterloo.csnet@csnet-relay.ARPA
 ljdickey@watdcs.BITNET        UUCP: ...!watmath!water!ljdickey

------------------------------

Date: 9 JUL 87 17:40-N
From: U00170%HASARA5.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu
To: INFO-ATARI16 @ SCORE.STANFORD.EDU
Subject: Lattice-C and I/O to full disks

Hello all of you,

How can I, using Lattice-C and the (I think) level 2 i/o
functions like fopen, fprintf etc, find out wether the disk
I am writing to is full. Somehow I don't get an error calling
ferror when I know I am writing to a full disk.

Greetings,
Berend F. de Vries.
U00170@HASARA5 on Bitnet.

------------------------------

Date: 9 Jul 87 12:46:59 GMT
From: rocksanne!xrxns!toml@cs.rochester.edu  (Tom Love)
Subject: Re: What's the latest version of the Sac? (plus other stuff)
To: info-atari16@score.stanford.edu

In article <2045@trwrb.UUCP>, sansom@trwrb.UUCP (Richard Sansom) writes:
> About 2 weeks ago I ordered the Magic Sac from Computer Games + in Orange,
> CA.
>
> Can anyone out there tell me what the latest version should be?  Also, does
> anyone know of a place in the L.A.  area where I can get some Mac ROMs?
>
>    /////////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
>   /// Richard E. Sansom                   TRW Electronics & Defense Sector \\
>   \\\ {decvax,ucbvax,ihnp4}!trwrb!sansom  Redondo Beach, CA                //
>    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\/////////////////////////////////////

funny, i just had a nearly similar experience with Full Spectrum Computers
in Dumfries, VA. (though to be fair the part about promising roms and not
including them doesn't apply).

i can't help you with your search for roms in the LA area, though as indicated
by the mail-order ads in the magazines i read they shouldn't be hard
to acquire.  going price is $40;  i've seen them for as low as $30, but
not lately.

as for current version -- allow me to refer you to the july/august '87
issue of "current notes" magazine, pg 38.  the column, which i highly
recommend, is jeff greenblatt's "adventures in the magic sacdom".
i admit it's not the greatest title, but it is a very informative column
which he's been writing since around last march or so.  it's also the
only monthly column i've seen anyone writing on the magic sac, in any
publication.

anyway, according to his column, the latest version is 4.34, which he says
was uploaded to compuserve and genie.  you can save yourself the 10 dollar
software upgrade fee data pacific charges by downloading it yourself.  i
don't know if the mac download disk has changed, or is available on these
services, since i'm not a user of either.

a few other points of interest, sort of free-association style, and gleaned
from jeff's column and my conversations with the guys at data pacific:

the disk translator is awaiting fcc approval.  it supposedly will be ready
to ship within a period of time measured in weeks, or even days, rather
than months.  the price guess at by greenblatt is between $100 and $200,
though i believe this does not include a drive.  quote:  "The
preliminary info on the box is that it will be connected to the midi ports
and the disk drive port of the last drive in the system.  it will work even
if you only have a 1040 STf without an external drive.  It will have its own
Z80 processor to handle I/O and a separate power supply, and does not have
to be disconnected when not in use...  It will also have the ability to
differentiate between Magic and Mac formatted disks automatically."
taken without permission from the above-cited magazine article.

jeff says he plans to have it, and a review ready, for the september issue
of current notes.

other interesting stuff:  after i found myself having problems with my
strangely-acting magic sac, i contacted data pacific.  turns out my
software had been hacked by some perverse sob to display a recent version
number (4.0) but was, in fact, something from the 3.x vintage.  wanting
to get off on the right foot, i order the sw upgrade ($10).  however,
(this is the interesting part) the guy i spoke with on the phone said that
future releases of the sw may/will not support the magic sac, rather will
require the magic sac plus (the one with the clock, which goes for an extra
$30 or so).  i admit i am a bit vague on this, and didn't press him for
details.  anyway, i also went for their hardware upgrade:  for another
$25 they swap your sac for a sac plus, including the transfer cable (which
goes for $35 alone!).  if anyone has more info on this support issue i
would be curious to hear more.

one more comment about current notes magazine:  thru their PD disk service
(about which an article was posted here just a few days ago) you can get
a whole slew of magic-format disks containing mac utilities, fonts, games,
the finder, etc.  $4 per disk, plus $1 per 6 disks postage.  this is a
public service announcement, friends.  proceeds from the sale of those
disks support novatari, the northern virginia atari user's group, and other
d.c. area atari groups.

there hasn't been much discussion of the magic sac here;  personally
i'd like to hear more, and plan to be contributing more as soon as i
get my upgrade back.

tom love
xerox edds
leesburg, va 22075
seismo!rochester!rocksanne!xrxns!toml

------------------------------

Date: 9 Jul 87 18:04:43 GMT
From: cca!jack@husc6.harvard.edu  (Jack Orenstein)
Subject: C development on Amiga and Atari ST
To: info-atari16@score.stanford.edu

I've been working on a C program that is cramped in several ways by my
ancient (has a cassette interface) IBM PC and early-version Lattice C.
In looking at new systems, I've narrowed my choice to the Atari 1040 ST
and Amiga A2000, because of the graphics and because 68000-based
machines avoid the segment-size problems that IBM has decided we can
live with.  My requirements are as follows:

- Hard disk (at least 20 meg)
- At least 1 meg main memory
- Fast C compiler, ideally with a source level debugger, make, etc.
  100% faithful to K & R (my current Lattice C has a number of problems here).
- Emacs

I'd be grateful for opinions on hardware/software configurations that you
have actually used. Given that the A2000 isn't really out yet, I'm interested
in what A1000 users have to say.

- COST: How much can I expect to spend on the system, color monitor, 20 meg
  disk and 1 meg main memory? How much for the C software and editor?
- SPEED: What's the speed of the compiler? Relative measures (e.g. twice the
  speed of an 8088-based PC) and absolute measures (e.g. 500 lines per
  minute) are of interest.
- GRAPHICS: Speed and ease-of-programming.
- OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: What do you particularly like and dislike?

The second biggest lie in recorded history is "I'll post a summary to
the net", but I really will if enough people respond. I can be reached
at jack@cca.cca.com.

Thanks

Jack Orenstein

------------------------------

Date:  Thu, 9 Jul 87 19:26 EDT
From:  "Marc C." 
Subject:  Purchase
To:  info-atari16@SCORE.STANFORD.EDU

Hello,
 I will be purchasing a 1040 relatively soon, and I would appreciate any
information anyone has on prices as far as good deals go.  It would have
to be mail order unless it's someplace around central NY.  Also let me
know of any problems you have had with dealers.  It's funny, I sell
computer software and hardware on the side, and one of my distributors
started carrying STs.  They will sell me a 520, but not a 1040 because
Atari said they can only sell them in certain areas.  Pretty strange.
                     Thanks in advance,
                         Marc C. Poulin

--------------------------------
        Marc C. Poulin
        MicroByte Distributors
        6480 Monument Road
        Rome, NY 13440-7210

  AT&T: (315)336-7564
  ARPA: Poulin@RADC-MULTICS
   CIS:  72737,2703 --------------------------------

------------------------------

Date:  Thu, 9 Jul 87 19:26 EDT
From:  "Marc C." 
Subject:  Purchase
To:  info-atari16@SCORE.STANFORD.EDU

Hello,
 I will be purchasing a 1040 relatively soon, and I would appreciate any
information anyone has on prices as far as good deals go.  It would have
to be mail order unless it's someplace around central NY.  Also let me
know of any problems you have had with dealers.  It's funny, I sell
computer software and hardware on the side, and one of my distributors
started carrying STs.  They will sell me a 520, but not a 1040 because
Atari said they can only sell them in certain areas.  Pretty strange.
                     Thanks in advance,
                         Marc C. Poulin

--------------------------------
        Marc C. Poulin
        MicroByte Distributors
        6480 Monument Road
        Rome, NY 13440-7210

  AT&T: (315)336-7564
  ARPA: Poulin@RADC-MULTICS
   CIS:  72737,2703 --------------------------------

------------------------------

Date: 9 Jul 87 17:25:00 GMT
From: ihnp4!drutx!tlz@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU  (ZrustTL)
Subject: Re: Aegis Animator and GDOS.PRG
To: info-atari16@score.stanford.edu

in article <8707090027.AA00727@sol.PRC.Unisys.COM>, starner@SOL.PRC.UNISYS.COM
(Mark L. Starner) says:
>
> Well, i got a copy of GDOS when I bought DEGAS Elite --- and I thought
> it would be great to put NEOchrome, DEGAS and Aegis Animator all on the
>
> NEOchrome and DEGAS work fine w/GDOS loaded , however the Animator
> leaves splotches and peice of menus and mouse blocks all over the place.

VIP Professional (GEM version) does not work correctly with GDOS
loaded, either.  Little blotches and hosed menu bars all over the place.

Terry Zrust

------------------------------

Date: 9 Jul 87 20:18 EDT
From: Goertzel @ DCA-EMS.arpa
Subject: Accessible Archives
To: Info-Atari16 @ SCORE.STANFORD.EDU

Ashwin-Ram, in his message of 6/27/87, noted his frustration with the
statemaent that something had been posted to comp.*.atari16 since we on
arpanet can't get at it.  Let me add to the frustration when Konrad Hahn feels
he has made GEMBOOT version 1.10 available because he posted it to the Atarinet
archive at Houston, also not available to arpanet.  I believe HDB ver 2.3 is in
 the same situation.
There is supposed to be a program archive at Canada01 called prog-a16.  What I
available via LISTSERV which is not true of either of the other archives.
At least we could cross-post so that the entire net had access to the postings.

It can't be such an overwhelming technical problem (or even a personnel
problem) to have postings to Atarinet and comp.*.atari16 also posted to
prog-a16.

Herb Goertzel

------------------------------

Date: 9 Jul 87 22:50:12 GMT
From: oliveb!dragon@ames.arpa  (Give me a quarter or I'll touch you)
Subject: Re: SCSI drives--how do you connect them to the DMA port?
To: info-atari16@score.stanford.edu

in article <3559@watvlsi.UUCP>, rpfeifle@watvlsi.UUCP says:
>
> What pins have to be connected to what lines, what pins have to be dropped
> etc...
>
> Ron
> --
> Ron Pfeifle                        "What time is it?"
> {decvax,allegra,ihnp4}!watmath!watvlsi!rpfeifle        "It's the dark ages."
> [better get your Oktoberfest tickets now]            --the Frantics


Ah, but it's not that easy.  The only way I know of to hook a standard SCSI
interface board to an ST via the DMA port is to buy the Berkeley Micro
Systems' hard disk interface board.  This is a board which, when hooked to
the ST DMA port, gives subset of the SCSI standard port.  One can hook a
SCSI hard drive to this port, or can go further by then hooking a
SCSI-to-ST506/ST412 interface.  This would allow hookup of IBM-PC style
hard drives.

While we're on the subject of drives, just WHO has gotten a 5.25" drive
working on the ST?  Would anyone like to mail me the pinouts to make a
cable and the modifications required to the mechanism?  I don't want to
hook it up inside an ST drive, I'd like to plug it in to the back of one.


--
Dean Brunette                      {ucbvax,etc.}!hplabs!oliveb!olivej!dragon
Olivetti Advanced Technology Center     _____   _____   __|__   _____
20300 Stevens Creek Blvd.              |     |  _____|    |    |
Cupertino, CA 95014                    |_____| |_____|    |__  |_____

------------------------------

Posted-From: The MITRE Corp., Bedford, MA
To: info-atari16@score.stanford.edu
Subject: Re: "FCC Information Tax" Flap.
Date: Thu, 09 Jul 87 21:16:18 EDT
From: jhs@mitre-bedford.ARPA

From: xanth!kent@MCNC.ORG (Kent Paul Dolan)
*************************** the first posting **************************
>From: bruceb@telesoft.UUCP (Bruce Bergman @spot)
Subject: HOW TO RESPOND TO THE FCC REGARDING THEIR PROPOSAL
Date: 19 Jun 87 21:44:35 GMT
Old-Subject: Re: ATTENTION ALL MICRO USERS!!! FCC INFORMATION TAX AHEAD!!

John D. Hays asked for someone to post a sample letter for addressing
comments to the FCC regarding their future proposal to surcharge
Enhanced Service Providers (such as Tymnet, Telnet, etc.).

First of all, THE FCC HAS NOT RELEASED THE DOCKET!  Sending in
comments before the docket is released would be bad manners.  The FCC
said that the docket should be released in a couple of weeks.  To save
hassle, I'll send out a message when the docket is available for
public consumption, as well as a lead to where you might obtain said
document.  Keep an eye out in these newsgroups.

The FCC General Docket number is 87-215.  The TITLE is "Amendment of
Part 69 of the Commission's rules relating to Enhanced Service
Providers."

An example of how to reply to FCC docket 87-215.

Below you will find such a beast.  This sample is taken from a recent
posting I made to rec.ham-radio to oppose a proposal the FCC was
making to remove certain Amateur Radio frequencies.  It is a tried and
true format that the FCC will consider valid, AS LONG AS YOU FOLLOW
THE GUIDELINES LISTED.

Take this opportunity to respond to the FCC.  They love to let things
slide, and to save something, all it takes is a LOT of people writing
letters like what is provided below.  We've done it before for ham
radio -- it can be done here.

If you have questions or concerns, PLEASE email me.  I'll gladly
answer any questions about writing the FCC that I can.  Just ask.

(The example below mentions a list of possible reasons why you might
want to oppose this proposal.  Since the docket hasn't been released,
I'm not going to include any reasons yet.  As soon as I get a copy of
the docket, I'll post reasons and references.  Stay tuned.)

bruce bergman
(my net address is at the bottom of this message)


 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ---------------------- HOW TO REPLY TO FCC DOCKETS ---------------------------
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The following is a do-it-yourself-kit for responding to FCC docket 87-215
regarding amendment of Part 69 relating to Enhanced Service Providers.

Before I get started with the actual "form letter," let me take this
opportunity to make a few comments regarding responding to the FCC.

EVEN IF YOU DON'T BOTHER WITH THE SAMPLE LETTER STUFF, THE FOLLOWING
INFORMATION IS USEFUL AND IMPORTANT TO THE SUCCESS OF YOUR RESPONSE.

1) If you really want to make an impression on the Commissioners, SEND
   MORE THAN ONE COPY OF YOUR RESPONSE.  Send FIVE copies.  If you want
   to make an even better impression, send ELEVEN copies.  Five copies
   makes sure that your vote counts, as well as provides a copy for each
   of the general groups.  Eleven copies will get your document in the
   'IN' basket of each Commissioner.  If this isn't possible, even ONE letter
   counts as a vote.  Don't send more than 11.  Just 11 will do.

2) DON'T SEND FORM LETTERS!  While I referred to this message as a "form
   letter," it really isn't.  Form letters are usually not worth the effort
   you put into them.  Why, you ask?  Well, while each form letter you
   send gets counted as a vote, it can be rejected later.  If it turns out
   that we win this round, it is entirely probable that OUR OPPONENTS WILL
   ASK TO GO THROUGH EACH AND EVERY RESPONSE.  If they can show that 100
   responses are identical (or closely similar) with the exception of the
   signature, THEY CAN BE REDUCED TO ONLY ONE VOTE!  Make sure your letter
   is sufficiently different enough not to get caught by this.

3) LIMIT YOUR MAIN ARGUMENTS TO ONE PAGE.  If you want to go into more detail,
   augment your document with additional pages expanding on your original
   comments, keying to those original points.  Number your points.

4) Give REASONABLE REASONS why you oppose this docket.  You can't just say
   that you oppose the rule-making without a sound, reasonable response.
   REMEMBER THAT THE OPPOSITION WILL READ EACH AND EVERY RESPONSE YOU SEND,
   if it can benefit them.  We don't have that type of financial backing;
   they *DO*.  Use some of the samples below if you're stuck for ideas.

5) MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU DO.  How important you
   are actually makes a difference.  If you have a certain expertise, or if
   you have a degree of some sort, TELL THEM THAT.  It counts a lot for what
   the commissioners think if they know you are someone who knows what you
   are talking about.  If you run a service, are an administrator, offer
   services to the public, etc., briefly describe what you do and why.

6) DOUBLE SPACE YOUR DOCUMENT.  This can make the difference between your
   response being read or just counted!  If your response is CLEAR, DOUBLE
   SPACED, and CONCISE, it will be read and given a better subjective value.

7) GET YOUR NEIGHBORS INTO THE ACT.  If your friends and/or neighbors are
   familiar with your activities and support you and your activities, ask them
   to write a letter to the FCC expressing their concern over how this docket
   might affect your community.  If you can get local officials to do the
   same, great!  Letterhead and many copies make the BEST response.

8) MAKE SURE THE DATE IS ON THE DOCUMENT.  It is important that the reader be
   made aware that this isn't an old response.  Put the date on your document.
   And, of course, DON'T EVER FORGET TO PUT THE DOCKET NUMBER AT THE TOP!!

9) Lastly, remember that this is going to be a very important point in future
   rule-making efforts.  Any time the FCC wins a battle, whether by apathy or
   some other means, it is a big step for them in the future.  If the FCC
   decides in favor of this docket, it's likely that you will see more of the
   same type later on.  Private agencies will see how easily it went over and
   base future requests on that information.  If we win, it will make it tough
   for anyone to raise the issue again.  If a specific proposal fails to make
   it through a certain number of times (because of the public's efforts), the
   commissioners tend to NOT reconsider it again during their term...

   Even if you don't bother with this proposal, you have a vested interest in
   what happens to it.  Eventually, THIS *WILL* AFFECT YOU!


Okay, enough preaching.  On to the "form letter."  Basically, you will want to
create a letter which has the name of the FCC at the top, AS WELL AS A CLEAR
POINTER TO THE DOCKET NUMBER.  If the people at the FCC have to search for a
docket reference, they'll "loose" your response.

Here's an example first page header:

+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                            Before the                                |
|                  FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION                   |
|                       Washington DC  20554                           |
|                                                                      |
|                                                                      |
| In the Matter of                    \                                |
|                                      \                               |
| Amendment of Part 69 of the           >  GENERAL DOCKET  87 - 215    |
| Commission's Rules relating to       /                               |
| Enhanced Service Providers          /                                |
|                                                                      |
| TO:  The Commission                                                  |
|                                                                      |
|          COMMENTS OF ,      |
|                                                                      |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+

After you have created the header, you can begin your text, DOUBLE-SPACED.

Begin by expressing who you are and any specific titles, duties, or any
responsibilities that might qualify you as someone who has a vested interest
in what's going before their consideration.  Even only as a user of this
network is suitable.  Now is NOT the time to be humble, however.  Just
tactfully explain what makes you significant to this proposal.  YOU'RE OUT
TO MAKE AN IMPRESSION.  DO SO!  (Don't be verbose, however.)

Then, begin listing the reasons (numbered) WHY you oppose this proposal.
The more reasonable the reason, the better.  BE CONCISE and clear.  If you
need to go into detail, refer the reader to attached pages.

Here's an example:

+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                                                                      |
| I am a user of an Enhanced Service Provider.  I frequently make use  |
|                                                                      |
| of such services to obtain information from computer information     |
|                                                                      |
| services that would otherwise be unavailable to me.  The information |
|                                                                      |
| I obtain allows me to .                                |
|                                                                      |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+

After you've explained who you are, and have shown why you have an interest
in this docket, continue with...

+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                                                                      |
| I strongly oppose the Commission's proposal to surcharge Enhanced    |
|                                                                      |
| Service Providers for the following reasons:                         |
|                                                                      |
| 1.                                                       |
|                                                                      |
| 2.                                                       |
|                                                                      |
| 3.         |
|                                                                      |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+

Remember, you don't need to be verbose to get your point across.  You
want to make sure the reader understands why you feel the way you do.
If you need additional material in order to accomplish this, feel free to
include additional pages, however if you are only interested in making
your feelings known and don't want to get really in-depth, the simple
statements like the ones pictured above are sufficient to make your point.

Where you can refer to the text of the original document, DO SO!  This is
great for those who like to know exactly what you are referring to.  It
also shows that you have done your homework and are not just spouting off.

The best mode of attack in instances like this is to first explain WHY you
are against the proposal.  Once you have made it clear that there are good
reasons why this wouldn't be a good thing, SUGGEST ALTERNATE IDEAS.  It can
go a long way for your arguments if you can suggest a viable alternative.

There are lots of reasons you can supply.  I've listed about 10 that come
to mind at the bottom of this message.  Please use them if you like, however
any that are pertinent to your local situation are going to be the better
responses.

Finally, follow up your reasons with a nice suffix like:

+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                                    Respectfully submitted,           |
|                                                   |
|                                     |
|                                                                      |
|                                                                      |
|                                                 |
|                                       |
|                                                            |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+

Black ink is important when you sign your response.  Also, make sure
that you send the original.  Copies for yourself, original to the people
you are writing to.  Please make sure you sign it and date it.

If you have included additional pages, it would be wise to include a
trailer at the bottom of each page, designating what page out of the
total number of pages this is.  Example:

+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Responses to General Docket 87-215                       Page 1 of 3 |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+

Finally, place a return address on your envelope, place the correct postage
on it, and mail it SOON!  If you can spend the extra cash, don't fold your
responses; mail them in a larger manila envelope and keep them flat.  This
is especially useful if you are sending multiple copies.  Chances are that
it will get there in one piece, and will look great sitting on the desk of
some Commissioner (flat).

The key to remember is that you are out to make a feasible point about the
docket.  You don't want to sound like you don't know what you are talking
about, so be sure of your facts.  You can best do this by being concise,
clear, correct, and impressive.  The impressive part comes to bear when you
consider arrangement and looks of your document as well as your status in
the topic under consideration.

If you have any questions, please contact me!  This document was prepared
by Bruce Bergman, N7HAW, Northern San Diego County EC.  To the best of my
knowledge, all the information contained herein is correct.  Comments,
corrections, etc. are welcome and encouraged.




                            *****  Appendix A  *****
                 ***** Possible Responses to Docket 87-215 *****

[To Be Provided]

                               [End of Document]
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                 bang!-
allegra!\              \               (619) 457-2700 x123
gould9!  \      crash!--\
ihnp4!    \              \
           >--sdcsvax!---->--telesoft!bruceb  (Bruce Bergman N7HAW)
noscvax!  /              /
scgvaxd! /     log-hb!--/              TeleSoft, Inc.
ucbvax! /              /               5959 Cornerstone Court
              talaris!-                San Diego, CA.  92121-9891

All opinions are mine.  [ packet: n7haw @ n6atq-1, fido: 103!203 ]

***************************** the second posting ****************************

>From: mayerk@linc.cis.upenn.edu (Kenneth Mayer)
Subject: Re: ATTENTION ALL MICRO USERS!!! FCC INFORMATION TAX AHEAD!!
Summary: Rumor control
Date: 17 Jun 87 21:03:07 GMT

When last we saw our hero, keithd@cadovax.UUCP (Keith Doyle) ...
>In article <2288@husc6.UUCP> hadeishi@husc4.UUCP (mitsuharu hadeishi) writes:
>>    A terrible piece of news I just read about in the New York Times
>>this morning.  The FCC just voted 4-0 to impose a $4.50 - $5.50 an HOUR
>>tax on people who are using the phone system to transmit information
>>across state lines.

After seeing all of the various versions of this, I decided to contact
the FCC myself and get the facts straight:

In 1983, the FCC adopted an access charge plan where every secondary
user of local telephone services would be charged a tariff based on
the costs of the local exchange. Two groups were exempted from this
tariff -- resellers (those who buy telephone service in bulk and
resell it at reduced prices) and enhanced service providers (data
retrieval, manipulation, and transmission). This year, the resellers
were removed from exemption.

In a couple of weeks, the FCC will announce a *notice*of*inquiry*. Not
a tariff, but a request for comments on a proposed rule change. The
proposal is to add enhanced service providers back into the access
charge plan. Although the local rates will vary, the national average
should be about $0.09/minute.

If you would like a copy of the notice of inquiry and instructions on
how to submit comments, contact International Transcription Services,
(202)857-3800. There will probably be a summary in the Federal
Register. If you would like to make a comment, you may also mail a
letter directly to the FCC, but I am unsure whether they will be
received or acknowledged. Send your letters to

    The Hon. Dennis Patrick, Chairman, FCC
    1919 M Street NW
    Washington, D.C. 20554

In your letter, state that this is in reference to docket number 87-215.
Also, send a copy to your elected representatives.

If you have further queries, you may contact the FCC at (202)632-4047.
Tell them that you have a query about docket number 87-215.
Kenneth Mayer                mayerk@eniac.seas.upenn.edu
Teacher: "Two plus two equals..."    Student: "Four, but what's a two?"


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