[10434] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
bill to insure flat rate Internet email pricing (fwd)
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (James Love)
Wed Feb 23 01:43:36 1994
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 1994 01:48:41 -0500 (EST)
From: James Love <love@essential.org>
To: com-priv@psi.com
Distributed to TAP-INFO, a free Internet Distribution List
(subscription requests to listserver@essential.org). This may be freely
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TAXPAYER ASSETS PROJECT - INFORMATION POLICY NOTE
PROPOSAL TO PRESERVE FLAT RATE PRICING FOR ELECTRONIC
MAIL SENT TO AND FROM NON-COMMERCIAL INTERNET
DISCUSSION GROUPS AND LISTS
Feb. 23, 1994
The following is proposed language which would require telephone
companies to provide a tariffed Internet access service. An
important feature of this is the requirement that the Internet
service include a FLAT RATE service for electronic mail sent to
and from non-commercial Internet discussion groups and lists. We
have reason to believe that this or something similar may be
offered as an amendment when the House Subcommittee on
Telecommunications and Finance meets to mark-up HR 3636.
The rationale for this proposal is to insure that the Internet
will continue to provide opportunities for citizen to participate
in democratic discourse on a wide range of topics (since flat rate email
pricing is considered extremely important for Internet discussion
groups).
Please copy (cc:) comments to James Love of the Taxpayer Assets
Project. v. 202/387-8030; f. 202/234-5176; internet:
love@essential.org.
jamie
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INTERNET CONNECTIONS FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF
DEMOCRATIC DISCOURSE
Proposed amendment to HR 3636.
In a FINDINGS section, add
The Congress finds that --
(1) The growth of non-commercial electronic mail discussion
groups through the use of the Internet has greatly expanded
democratic discourse on a wide range of matters.
(2) The expansion of the availability of electronic mail
discussion groups promises to enhance the ability of citizens to
debate and analyze matters of civic, cultural, education and
scientific interest.
(3) Access to non-commercial Internet electronic mail
discussion groups will be enhanced by broader access to the
Internet, and by flat rate pricing policies concerning electronic
mail sent to and from non-commercial Internet discussion groups.
In SEC. 101. POLICY; DEFINITIONS
add a new subsection
"(nn) `Non-commercial Internet Discussion Group' includes
Internet discussion groups or lists which are not used for
commercial purposes, and for which there is no charge to
participate.
On page 25, add a new section
SEC. 106.INTERNET ACCESS AND FLAT RATE PRICING OF EMAIL SERVICES
(a) APPLICATION -- All telephone service providers are
required to offer a reasonably priced tariffed service which
provides Internet access.
(b) RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMMISSION -- The Commission
shall determine a minimum level of service for Internet access.
The minimum level shall include the ability to send and receive
electronic mail to and from the Internet.
(c) AVAILABILITY OF FLAT RATE EMAIL SERVICE -- The
carrier shall offer a tariff for flat rate Internet email
service, which must offer the ability to send and receive
electronic mail to and from non-commercial Internet discussion
groups and lists. Nothing in this section shall preclude a
carrier from offering tariffs which are not based upon flat
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