FCC, bare minimum audi content

[quk@sievers.com (Phil Payne)]

In message <Pine.A32.3.91.970216082318.105552A-100000@gnu.uvm.edu> "Louis A. Mulieri" writes:

> What garbage.  In fact, the FCC has, at least tentatively, REJECTED the
> telephone companies' proposal.  The FCC is now simply asking you if you
> agree or disagree with their decision.



US West Wants Online Users to Pay More
By Thomas W. Haines, The Seattle Times

Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News

OLYMPIA, Wash.--Feb. 14--US West Communications wants Internet users to begin 
paying phone companies extra money to stay online.

Companies providing Internet access say that's just a ploy by the company to 
make money rather than fix a clogged phone network.

US West wants the state Legislature to settle the dispute.

A Senate committee hearing Thursday was the latest phase in an increasingly 
prominent debate over just how much Internet use is bogging down the local phone
 network.

During recent weeks, some people placing phone calls in and around Seattle, 
especially those connected through a downtown Seattle switching station, have 
heard ``all circuits busy'' recordings when trying to place calls.

       [snippage]

Some phone companies have made a request that the Federal Communications 
Commission consider setting rates for users who stay online for long periods of 
time.

Yesterday was the first time US West publicly made its case to state lawmakers.

       [snippage]

Glenn Blackmon, a staff analyst with the state utilities commission, which 
regulates US West, says he's studied the length of calls during hours when the 
``all circuits busy'' problem seems worst.

He says that the calls appear to be shorter in length, roughly two to four 
minutes -- a finding that he says, so far, contradicts US West's claim that 
extended calls by Internet users are causing the problem.



--
 Phil Payne
 phil@sievers.com
 Committee Member, UK Audi [ur-]quattro Owners Club