**************************************************************************** >C O M P U T E R U N D E R G R O U N D< >D I G E S T< *** Volume 1, Issue #1.08 (May 9, 1990) ** **************************************************************************** MODERATORS: Jim Thomas / Gordon Meyer REPLY TO: TK0JUT2@NIU.bitnet COMPUTER UNDERGROUND DIGEST is an open forum dedicated to sharing information among computerists and to the presentation and debate of diverse views. -------------------------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER: The views represented herein do not necessarily represent the views of the moderators. Contributors assume all responsibility for assuring that articles submitted do not violate copyright protections. -------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************** *** Computer Underground Digest Issue #1.08 / File 4 of 5 *** *************************************************************** Copyright (C) 1990, by BBS PRESS SERVICE, INC. Copyright hereby waved by Alan R. Bechtold -- pass this article around at will, including posting it on any BBS and online service! ================== THE EDITOR SPEAKS: ================== by Alan R. Bechtold "Attack From Above..." ---------------------- It's happening all over. Telephone companies in Texas and Michigan and Indiana are exerting their power over bulletin board operators, trying to extort business rates out of anyone who runs a BBS -- whether the bulletin boards are businesses or not. It could happen in YOUR state next. A couple of weeks back I wrote about Variety 'N' Spice BBS in Michigan. Michigan Bell decided that Variety 'N' Spice should pay business rates for its phone lines and I agreed. They ran their system on a multitude of lines, switched in rotary fashion, and in every sense of the word operated the BBS as if it WERE a business. It was even listed as a "subdivision" of a publishing company responsible for a regional computer magazine in the area. I know the sysop of that board and like him a lot. This wasn't an easy stand for me to take. Now I have a copy of the actual regulations covering classification of telephone customers as business users and a letter from a Michigan Regulation Officer at the Michigan Department of Commerce, explaining those regulations in English (thanks, Dennis -- and to everyone who sent me info on this). It appears I was right. Variety 'N' Spice, operating as a "subsidiary" of an actual company that published a for-profit magazine, SHOULD have to pay business rates for the telephone lines it used. BUT, according to the letter I have, from Deborah Phipps, a Regulation Officer in the Customer Complaint Section of the Michigan Department of Commerce, "If bulletin boards or access to bulletin boards is provided to calling parties at no charge other than that which may be associated with the telephone call, and are not provided in conjunction with a business, a profession, an institution or other occupation, then it would appear the service should not be classified as a business." The letter goes on. "If, however, there is a charge associated with any level of access to the bulletin board, whether the charge is rendered to cover costs or produce a profit, then the service would be considered a business and classified as such." This means that if you run an open, free bulletin board in Michigan and it's strictly a hobby and not associated with a business or organization of any kind, you have a legitimate complaint if Michigan Bell tries to charge you business rates for the phone lines you use. To register specific complaints regarding such classifications, call the Consumer Services Division of the Michigan Public Service Commission at 800/292-9555 or 517/334-6424. Which brings me to Indiana. Last week, Charles Bowen's A NETWORKER'S JOURNAL (right here in INFO-MAT) reported that Indiana BBS sysops were being hit by GTE with a required business rate charge for phone lines, regardless of whether the boards are run as businesses or not. This is hitting many BBSes with a nearly 200 percent increase in phone bills. It's an increase most can't afford or justify. In specific, Bowen mentioned Indiana sysop Randy Wilson, who was among the first to receive notice of the new increased rates. This week, Bowen quotes CompuServe's Online Today, which quoted Wilson as saying he has discontinued using Sprint (a GTE long-distance company) and "strongly urges" his BBS users to discontinue their Sprint service and "go with one of the other long-distance carriers." Wilson operates a hobby BBS for which he makes NO charge for access. He told Online Today that GTE refused to discuss the forced increase in business rates so he no longer has any interest in their long-distance services. I think Wilson's reaction is perfectly rational. We as bulletin board operators and users must NOT back down on our resistance to paying business rates for telephone lines just because a bulletin board is on them. They must be BONA-FIDE BUSINESSES first, and not all BBSes are BUSINESSES! The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission is telling sysops that "business rates for home computer lines were approved in January." Read that line again -- CAREFULLY. It sounds to me like the telephone companies, if allowed to continue, don't intend to stop with just charging business rates to bulletin boards. They eventually plan to charge business rates to EVERYONE with a computer attached to their phone lines. That means you won't be able to set up a separate phone line for your computer without paying business rates for the line. That stinks. So. I back Wilson's idea to boycott GTE (remember -- this is ME talking here, not INFO-MAT or BBS PRESS SERVICE or any of our affiliate BBSes that carry INFO-MAT). I personally support his idea and recommend that you follow it. If you disagree with GTE's stand against BBS operators in Indiana, Cancel your SPRINT and GTE long-distance service and switch to other companies not currently engaged in attempts to gouge computer users for use of their lines. It will certainly make a strong statement of your feelings, in no uncertain terms. Also, if your local phone company is trying to charge bulletin board operators (especially FREE hobby boards) business rates for the use of their lines, let your local utility regulatory commission know you are outraged. Lodge a formal protest if possible. And -- I think it's time for us to put our money where our mouths are. I have long advocated the need for a true national Modem Users Association. We modem users -- sysops and BBS users alike -- are scattered far and wide, linked by a variety of electronic mail systems and local and regional associations, but not truly linked into a single, unified voice. I've called for the formation of an organization that not only would link with existing local and regional groups but also would stretch far beyond their capabilities, and I've been waiting too long for it to happen. I'm saying let's DO IT. NOW. I'm willing to coordinate it, but it takes money to put something like this together and all of you must be willing to come up with some money to get this off the ground. The organization I propose would act as a central clearing house for information of interest to BBS users and operators, act as an umbrella linking local and regional modem user groups into a nationwide network, and unify all modem users and the services and systems they use. It would also establish a lobbying effort in Washington to push for legislation favorable to modem users and would fight, state-by-state, against outrages rate increases and demands from telephone companies and other entities. Membership in such an organization would be open to individual modem users, bulletin board sysops, publishers of telecommunications software, manufacturers of modems and providers of commercial online systems. The organization I envision would require an attorney for the group, a Washington D.C. lobbyist and a Coordinator for each state. We would publish a monthly or weekly electronic newsletter that would be posted on each and every bulletin board and online service that is a member, and a quarterly newsletter that would be mailed to each member by U.S. Mail. The organization would establish criteria for operation of online services and for conduct by online service users, and would consider ways to network nationwide, tracking down sources of known viruses and "Trojan Horse"-type software so action can be taken against the perpetrators. Other activities could include discount buying power for software and hardware, low-cost group health and accident insurance, low-cost insurance for computers, and, really, all the benefits of any large group. Initial yearly membership in such an organization would be: Individual -- $15 Hobby BBS Operator -- $25 Commercial BBS Operator -- $50 Software Publisher (Shareware) -- $100 Software Publisher (Commercial) -- $250 Hardware Manufacturer -- $500 Now let's put this to a vote. I said I would be willing to take on the formation of such an organization and I meant it. If you would be willing to support such an organization, considering the fact that it would be formerly incorporated as a non-profit organization, and would dedicate itself to the goals and objectives I have listed above (in addition to others as it goes), send a check to the address below. Yes, I said SEND A CHECK. Make it payable to MODEM USER'S ASSOCIATION of AMERICA, for the appropriate amount from the above list. I will collect the checks and report here every week how much has come in. I figure it will take a minimum of $10,000 to start this organization and WILL NOT CASH ANY CHECKS until at least that amount has been received. If the amount necessary to start this organization isn't raised, I will mail a postcard to everyone who sends a check, letting you know the organization didn't fly and the check has been destroyed. Now $10,000 sounds like a lot of money but it's only the bare-bones minimum needed to get an attorney, to incorporate the group as a non-profit organization, retain a lobbyist in Washington and start things rolling. It's a LOT of money but that's reality. So, if you REALLY want it to happen, mark your check with the level of participation you're signing up for, and mail it, along with your name, address and telephone number, to: MODEM USER'S ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA Alan R. Bechtold, Coordinator 8125 S.W. 21st Street Topeka, KS 66615 I hate to sound pessimistic, but this is a challenge I'm betting we won't be able to meet. I don't think enough of you REALLY WANT THIS to make it happen. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I DO believe that what I've proposed is the way to get things done and protect modem users in the future. If you agree, then you now have your way to let me know. If you don't, just sit there and watch it all go away. This is drastic stuff -- and I stand willing and ready to take on the challenge of putting this organization together and getting things done if you're willing to stand behind me with the dollars it will take to do it right. Also, feel free to pass this article around. Copyright is hereby waved and you are encouraged to upload this to any and all bulletin boards and other online services you wish. I WANT you to prove me wrong! =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ + END THIS FILE + +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+===+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=  Downloaded From P-80 International Information Systems 304-744-2253 12yrs+