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Netizens-Digest Volume 1 Number 279
Netizens-Digest Monday, March 1 1999 Volume 01 : Number 279
Netizens Association Discussion List Digest
In this issue:
[netz] Write Your Representatives Easy Form
Re: [netz] Flat-rate Net access still alive, for now
Re: [netz] Flat-rate Net access still alive, for now
[netz] Cable being eaten by telcos
[netz] Bells/Telcos/FCC win-win; ISPs/Consumers lose-lose
[netz] State: NM Vote Sunday 2/28/99 ???Telco Deregulation???
Re: [netz] Bells/Telcos/FCC win-win; ISPs/Consumers lose-lose
Re: [netz] Bells/Telcos/FCC win-win; ISPs/Consumers lose-lose
[netz] Digital Divide (fwd)
Re: [netz] Bells/Telcos/FCC win-win; ISPs/Consumers lose-lose
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sat, 27 Feb 1999 15:47:19 -0500
From: "P.A. Gantt" <pgantt@icx.net>
Subject: [netz] Write Your Representatives Easy Form
http://congress.org/search.html
Find Your Representatives
Quickly and easily contact your
Congressional Representatives
compliments of congress.org
Zip Code Member Search
Members Listed Alphabetically
Congressional Delegations - By State
Member Name Search
OPTIONAL: Refine Your Name Search
Any
Republican
Democrat
Independent
Any
House
Senate
- --
P.A. Gantt, Computer Science Technology Instructor
Electronic Media Design and Support Homepage
http://user.icx.net/~pgantt/
mailto:pagantt@technologist.com?Subject=etech
http://horizon.unc.edu/TS/vision/1998-11.asp
Common sense is not common, and conventional wisdom is not
wisdom. But at least you can have conventional sense. ~~ Daily Whale
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 27 Feb 1999 16:20:04
From: John Walker <jwalker@networx.on.ca>
Subject: Re: [netz] Flat-rate Net access still alive, for now
No matter what spin the US Government and the telcos try to put
on this it boils down to some very simple facts.
Both the US Government and the telcos stand to make a huge amount
of money from per minute charges for access to the Internet.
They have attempted this before and will keep trying.
We must do everything we can to stop it.
That means in the US contacting your government representatives
and
in other parts of the world contacting the US Consulates to let
them know one simple fact...
This will NOT be tolerated.
Can the on-line members of our Global Village be a positive force
change?
There are 153 million Netizens...and growing daily.
On-line Learning Series of Courses
http://www.bestnet.org/~jwalker/course.htm
Member: Association for International Business
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
_/ _/
_/ John S. Walker _/
_/ Publisher, CSS Internet News (tm) _/
_/ (Internet Training and Research) _/
_/ PO Box 57247, Jackson Stn., _/
_/ Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8P 4X1 _/
_/ Email jwalker@hwcn.org _/
_/ http://www.bestnet.org/~jwalker _/
_/ _/
_/ "To Teach is to touch a life forever" _/
_/ On the Web one touch can reach so far! _/
_/ _/
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 27 Feb 1999 16:55:53 -0500
From: "P.A. Gantt" <pgantt@icx.net>
Subject: Re: [netz] Flat-rate Net access still alive, for now
Here, here John!
As I just pointed out on UPFORGRABs...
========================================
I think you both need to rethink this one.
Read the articles I cited.
> >Well, the day US West starts charging my ISP operation on a per minute
> >basis for each of our dial-in modem lines, is the day we cancel ALL our
> >business telephone-modem lines, and go totally to wireless to the
> >consumer's computers, bypassing the telco completely - and keeping our
> >flat rate services. We already totally bypass them from our premises to
> >our upstream ISP, Quest, wirelessly, and Quest uses MCI for its long
> >distance carrier to Denver.
The Bells are getting money hence forth for their contracts
w/ the above.
Forget cable modems it seems... telcos are busy
buying them up as I type.
Funny thing is the above and the politikans they
have in their pockets are going to kill this
economic recovery... based almost solely by
the technology -> Internet stocks.
"It's the economy stupid."
I add. "It's the Internet stupid."
========================================
> No matter what spin the US Government and the telcos try to put
> on this it boils down to some very simple facts.
>
> Both the US Government and the telcos stand to make a huge amount
> of money from per minute charges for access to the Internet.
Yes but see above. They will kill their golden goose.
> They have attempted this before and will keep trying.
>
> We must do everything we can to stop it.
Agreed. I wrote my Representative and two Senators.
> That means in the US contacting your government representatives
>
> and
>
> in other parts of the world contacting the US Consulates to let
> them know one simple fact...
Yes, please do!
> This will NOT be tolerated.
P.A. Gantt ferreting the truth.
Feel free to join in gang.
> Can the on-line members of our Global Village be a positive force
> change?
>
> There are 153 million Netizens...and growing daily.
Soon to be shrinking soon. ;^{
- --
P.A. Gantt, Computer Science Technology Instructor
Electronic Media Design and Support Homepage
http://user.icx.net/~pgantt/
mailto:pagantt@technologist.com?Subject=etech
http://horizon.unc.edu/TS/vision/1998-11.asp
Common sense is not common, and conventional wisdom is not
wisdom. But at least you can have conventional sense. ~~ Daily Whale
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 27 Feb 1999 17:56:06 -0500
From: "P.A. Gantt" <pgantt@icx.net>
Subject: [netz] Cable being eaten by telcos
Forwarded to the UPFORGRABS list
================================
>SPECIAL REPORT: THE NEXT 'BIG DEAL'
>Issue: Merger
>In this issue, Broadcasting & Cable devotes a special section to articles on
>mergers and their ramifications, including a listing of TV and radio's top
>deals in 1998. While consolidation continues unabated in the traditional
>broadcast markets, more old media firms are trying to hook their fortunes to
>new media firms. "The new media side of the market has said loudly that 'We
>don't want our growth or our multiple diluted by real businesses,'" said
>Alan Mnuchin, head of Bear Stearns' media and entertainment banking. Mergers
>are coming across sectors and media industries, including radio, TV,
>satellite, cable, billboards, telephones and various Internet enterprises.
>Last year saw more than $100 billion worth of industry mergers and takeovers
>in 1998. Wall Street and media executives say the tendency to merge shows no
>signs of letting up in 1999. Overall, the rapid pace of cable takeovers is
>expected to continue, particularly since new entrants AT&T and Paul Allen
>have openly acknowledged that they want to buy more. Investment bankers also
>expect a good number of TV station groups to come on the market. Because
>medium-sized groups in radio already have been swallowed up by bigger
>companies like Chancellor Media Corp. (which itself has been placed on the
>block), observers do not see the radio business as being as hot this year as
>it has for the past several years. Media specialists recognize the "deal of
>the year" was AT&T's proposal to acquire TCI because it promises to
>transform both companies and the telephone industry. DBS takeovers are
>unlikely since the market is shrinking to two players. Broadcast television
>is in a holding pattern with only a few sizable deals likely.
>[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable (p.30), AUTHOR: John M. Higgins]
><http://www.broadcastingcable.com/>
- --
P.A. Gantt, Computer Science Technology Instructor
Electronic Media Design and Support Homepage
http://user.icx.net/~pgantt/
mailto:pagantt@technologist.com?Subject=etech
http://horizon.unc.edu/TS/vision/1998-11.asp
Common sense is not common, and conventional wisdom is not
wisdom. But at least you can have conventional sense. ~~ Daily Whale
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 28 Feb 1999 10:22:06 -0500
From: "P.A. Gantt" <pgantt@icx.net>
Subject: [netz] Bells/Telcos/FCC win-win; ISPs/Consumers lose-lose
Comments:
=========
o Say good-bye to $12.95-$19.95 ISP unlimited connection &
server space. For that matter say good-bye to ISPs!
[Note: AT&T WorldNet being dumped by AT&T]
o Say hello to AT&T and Telcos/Cable Monopoly. Telcos are
busy buying up cable cos.
Re: Cable <modems & boxes> -- trying to figure out how
the ubiquitous they will charge us per minute -- probably
something like pay-per-view w/ required service monitoring
box.
o Say hello to wireless service that will cost us:
at *least* $89,99 a month - limited service connection.
o Say good-bye to the Economic Recovery -> stockmarket
Internet driven recovery-> Short-term greed will
drive the market down.
o No longer is it *just*, "It's the economy stupid."
Now "It's the Internet stupid, you're killing the
economy... stupid... by killing technology stocks."
~~ IMHO
=================================================================
Source:
InternetWeek Newsletter
Thursday, February 18, 1999
By Salvatore Salamone
Editor-at-large Salvatore Salamone covers remote access and
VPNs. He can be reached at
ssalamon@cmp.com
*************************
"Perspective: Ushering In A New Era For The Local Services Market
"...Also this month, AT&T announced it will partner with Time
Warner, the nation's No. 1 cable service provider, to deliver
local phone service over Time Warner's cable lines.
The AT&T announcement follows on the heels of AT&T's bid
last fall to acquire Tele-Communications Inc., the No. 2 cable
service provider. At that time, AT&T made it clear it intended
to use the TCI cables to deliver local phone service..."
<snip>
Despite the Bells' claims, they have not been open. If the
combined efforts of providers that use leasing, cable delivery
and PCS service to offer local voice services grabs a big share
of the market, that might be enough to give the Bells the go-
ahead on the long distance services front.
"...Will fixed-location, high-bandwidth wireless services that
bypass the local loop infrastructure be needed to get to some
homes and businesses?
Only time will tell.
But there is definitely a lot happening in the local loop that bears
watching..."
*************************
Source:
COMMUNICATIONS-RELATED HEADLINES for FEBRUARY 18, 1999
Benton's Web site at <www.benton.org>
Thu, 18 Feb 1999 10:41:33 -0500
MERGERS
FCC BACKS AT&T PLAN TO BUY TCI
Issue: Merger
The Federal Communications Commission unanimously approved the
AT&T/Tele-Communications Inc.
deal yesterday, requiring only that TCI sell its interest in a wireless
phone venture with Sprint Corp. That requirement had already been placed
on the AT&T acquisition by the Justice
Department and had been agreed to by TCI. State regulators in California
and local authorities in three jurisdictions also must give their
approval.
Five municipalities have rejected transferring local cable TV
franchising
rights to AT&T, setting up possible court battles. If the deal goes
through, as
most everyone now believes it will, AT&T Chairman C. Michael Armstrong
will be making a mammoth bet on what is essentially an unproven premise:
that
cable TV systems can be economically upgraded to carry telephone and
Internet traffic -- and that millions of Americans will abandon the
highly reliable phone service that Bell telephone companies have
offered. AT&T
enters the field of local telephone service with an advantage. While the
Bells must share access to their copper phone lines with other Internet
and phone providers, AT&T will have its cable link into homes completely
to
itself, a condition opposed by America Online during the FCC inquiry.
AT&T says it will have market trials for phone service over TCI's cables
beginning by year's end in 10 cities, with most TCI markets served by
2000.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (E1), AUTHOR: Mike Mills]
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/business/feed/biztop919339293043.htm>
COMMISSION APPROVES AT&T-TCI MERGER
Issue: Mergers
>From the News Release: The Commission has adopted an Order approving the
transfer application of Tele-Communications, Inc. ("TCI") and AT&T Corp.
("AT&T") subject to the following conditions: (1) the transfer of TCI's
ownership of Sprint PCS tracking stock prior to consummation of the
merger to a trust pursuant to a trust agreement that has been approved
by the
Commission; and (2) AT&T's adoption of its proposed policy statement
regarding its policy for distribution to Liberty Media Group
shareholders of the economic benefits of its ownership of the Sprint
stock. The
Commission reviewed the four services affected by the proposed merger:
multichannel
video programming distribution ("MVPD"), local exchange and exchange
access, Internet access, and mobile telephony. The Commission concludes
that the
merger, as conditioned, is likely to result in benefits for consumers,
including a local telephony alternative for many residential customers
now served only by incumbent local exchange companies, without creating
competitive harm with respect to other services.
[SOURCE: FCC]
<http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Cable/News_Releases/1999/nrcb9002.html>
*************************
http://www.attws.com/personal/onerate/main.html
Source:
AT&T Wireless Services for personal use
AT&T Sun. Feb. 28, 1999
"...Do you make a lot of calls outside your home coverage area? With
AT&T Digital OneRateSM, roaming and long distance charges are a
thing of the past. Every call is like a local call. It's so simple and
affordable, your wireless phone may become your only phone.
Choose from three convenient calling plans:
600 minutes
$89.99 a month
1000 minutes
$119.99 a month
1400 minutes
$149.99 a month
Additional airtime in excess of plan .25/min. AT&T Digital One Rate not
available for purchase in all areas and requires a Digital multi-network
phone from AT&T. Credit card calls excluded. Other conditions apply.
AT&T Digital One Rate now available with AT&T Canada Calling..."
=================================================================
- --
P.A. Gantt, Computer Science Technology Instructor
Electronic Media Design and Support Homepage
http://user.icx.net/~pgantt/
mailto:pagantt@technologist.com?Subject=etech
http://horizon.unc.edu/TS/vision/1998-11.asp
Common sense is not common, and conventional wisdom is not
wisdom. But at least you can have conventional sense. ~~ Daily Whale
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 28 Feb 1999 11:35:02 -0500
From: "P.A. Gantt" <pgantt@icx.net>
Subject: [netz] State: NM Vote Sunday 2/28/99 ???Telco Deregulation???
SB 408 will remove state oversight over telecommunications data services
'forever'
Dateline Santa Fe, NM:
Full Senate will vote on SB 408 to deregulate U S West Sunday, 2/28/99.
Session scheduled for 1:30 pm to debate/vote on two telecom bills.
========================================================================
Or is it Truth or Consequences, NM? ;^P
- --
P.A. Gantt, Computer Science Technology Instructor
Electronic Media Design and Support Homepage
http://user.icx.net/~pgantt/
mailto:pagantt@technologist.com?Subject=etech
http://horizon.unc.edu/TS/vision/1998-11.asp
Common sense is not common, and conventional wisdom is not
wisdom. But at least you can have conventional sense. ~~ Daily Whale
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 28 Feb 1999 08:59:47 -0004
From: kerryo@ns.sympatico.ca (Kerry Miller)
Subject: Re: [netz] Bells/Telcos/FCC win-win; ISPs/Consumers lose-lose
> Say hello to wireless service that will cost us:
> at *least* $89,99 a month - limited service connection.
>
> o Say good-bye to the Economic Recovery -> stockmarket
> Internet driven recovery-> Short-term greed will
> drive the market down.
Say hello to Fidonet -- and insist the FCC maintain POTS.
Say thank you to your Postal Service, for providing an alternative
means of communication.
Get acquainted with your online friends, so you know where to find
them when the walls go up.
kerry
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 28 Feb 1999 23:43:05 -0500 (EST)
From: Jay Hauben <jay@dorsai.org>
Subject: Re: [netz] Bells/Telcos/FCC win-win; ISPs/Consumers lose-lose
For a long time places like those in the US where local calls are not
charged according to length of time of the call have been the
inspiration and the hope of people through out the world that they too
could have such service and the enhanced chance to communicate. Such
enhanced chance to communicate fuels the exchange of ideas, opinions,
requests and offers of help, pointers to sought after information, etc.
Time charges are a substantial disincentive to communicate. Democratic
societies treasure communication. So time charges are a decidedly anti-
democratic attack on communication and an indictment, if they come to the
Internet, of the government and the corportations that would be bringing
this attack.
Since the corporations that own the telephone lines in this country are
already substantially profitable, time charges are unnesssary for profit
making and so are as much if not more a political attack on both the
standard of living and the democratic aspirations of the American people.
It is good that participants on this list have brought this situation to
all of our attention. The particulars should be studied carefully and
time charges for local calls to an ISP should be opposed especially by using
our means of communication to spread an analysis of the implication of what
is happening to US society with first the break up of the original publically
controlled telephone utility that AT&T provded until 1986 and now the attack
on untimed local phone calls.
in the current time.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 28 Feb 1999 23:46:39 -0500 (EST)
From: Jay Hauben <jay@dorsai.org>
Subject: [netz] Digital Divide (fwd)
I am forwarding this post from the Universal Access -Canada mailing list.
It I think fills in a piece of the current scene.
>From CCEN.UCCB.NS.CA
- ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Thu, 4 Feb 1999 16:41:34 -0500
>From: Stephen Bajjaly <bajjaly@sc.edu>
>To: COMMUNET@LIST.UVM.EDU
>Subject: Digital Divide
FYI From Edupage:
DIGITAL DIVIDE
Reviewing changes in phone and cable markets since Congress passed the
Telecommunications Act of 1996, a report by the Consumers Union and the
Consumer Federation of America says that discounts are going only to the
high-end customers, and not to the masses. "Instead of rapid deployment of
advanced technologies from increased private sector investment, we have a
growing 'Digital Divide' between those who make intensive use of the
telecommunications network and those who do not." (San Jose Mercury News 4
Feb 99)
The full report is available online at
http://www.consunion.org/other/telecom4-0299.htm. An Executive Summary is
also available.
Stephen T. Bajjaly
College of Library & Information Science
University of South Carolina
http://www.libsci.sc.edu/Stephen/bajjaly.htm
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 02:18:58 -0004
From: kerryo@ns.sympatico.ca (Kerry Miller)
Subject: Re: [netz] Bells/Telcos/FCC win-win; ISPs/Consumers lose-lose
Jay wrote,
> Time charges are a substantial disincentive to communicate. Democratic
> societies treasure communication. So time charges are a decidedly anti-
> democratic attack on communication
One might say that time charges begin the conflation of container
and content -- of the carrier's capacity to determine what is said by
constraining the time one can afford to say it in.
Say hello to 'bye' in place of God be with you.
kerry
------------------------------
End of Netizens-Digest V1 #279
******************************
