[12709] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: Internet Access Could Become Long Distance Call
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Public-Access Computer Systems For)
Wed Feb 3 20:03:47 1999
Date: Wed, 03 Feb 1999 13:57:50 -0600
From: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <LIBPACS@UHUPVM1.UH.EDU>
To: PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU>
6 Messages; 189 Lines
*-----
From: "jurigsby@oru.edu" <jurigsby@oru.edu>
Subject: Re: Internet Access Charges ... HOAX
Michael S. Hart wrote:
> > >Subject: Internet Access Could Become Long Distance Call
> > >
> > > Subject: [Fwd: Fwd: IMPORTANT LEGISLATION]
> > >>
> > >> Forward the information below to those who may want to respond.
> > >>
> > >> Congress will be voting in less than two weeks. CNN stated that the
> > >> Government would in two weeks time decide to allow or not allow
> > >> A CHARGE TO YOUR PHONE BILL EQUAL TO A LONG DISTANCE
> > >> CALL *EACH TIME* YOU ACCESS THE INTERNET
> > >>
> > >> The address is: http://www.house.gov/writerep/
> > >> If you choose, visit the address above and fill out the necessary form!
> > >>
> > >> If EACH one of us forwards this message on to others in a hurry, we
> > >> may be able to prevent this injustice from happening!
> > >>
> >
Oh, please.... Check out hoaxes at the CIAC site before forwarding to a list.
http://ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/CIACHoaxes.html
Here is what CIAC has to say about this particular hoax.
*******************************
Internet Access Charges
January 1999
This is a variant of the historic modem tax hoax of bygone years. This latest
version started making its rounds on Nov 06, 1998, based apparently on a CNN
story. Early versions pointed the finger at the FCC as the villian in this
story. Then it was 'the government', then it was 'the Congress'.
************************************
--
Judith Rigsby, Internet Librarian
Oral Roberts University Library
Tulsa, OK 74171
jurigsby@oru.edu
"Opinions expressed are my own and
do not reflect those of my institution."
*-----
From: Dan Lester <dan@84.com>
This is the most disappointing post on PACS-L in a good long time. It is
right up there with Vigdor and a few others....
I would HOPE that PACS-L could be kept free of this kind of net legend....
cheers
dan
At 02:41 PM 2/2/99 -0600, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>> >Subject: Internet Access Could Become Long Distance Call
>> >
>> > Subject: [Fwd: Fwd: IMPORTANT LEGISLATION]
>> >>
--
Dan Lester, 3577 East Pecan, Boise, ID 83716-7115 USA 208-383-0165
dan@84.com http://www.84.com/ http://www.idaholibraries.org/
http://library.boisestate.edu/ http://cyclops.boisestate.edu/
http://www.lili.org/ http://www.postcard.org/ Sent me a postcard of a
library yet?
*-----
From: morganj@iupui.edu
We would need to have more information about the proposed legislation
(like the bill number). I didn't see anything about this legislation on
the CNN web site.
Jim Morgan
morganj@iupui.edu
*-----
From: "Sloan, Bernie" <bernies@uillinois.edu>
You might want to check out the following announcement from
the Department of Energy's CIAC Internet Hoax Web site before
following up on this:
http://ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/CIACHoaxes.html#internetcharge
Among other things, the report says: "This is a variant of the historic
modem tax hoax of bygone years."
Bernie Sloan
Senior Library Information Systems Consultant
University of Illinois Office for Planning & Budgeting
338 Henry Administration Building
506 S. Wright Street
Urbana, IL 61801
Phone: (217) 333-4895
Fax: (217) 333-6355
Email: bernies@uillinois.edu
*-----
From: Judy Myers <jm@UH.EDU>
Can anyone provide the bill number of this proposal? Writing is much more
effective if we say what we're writing about ---
Judy E. Myers jm@uh.edu
Assistant to the Dean of Libraries 713/743-9805 (voice)
University of Houston Libraries 713/743-9811 (fax)
Houston, TX 77204-2091
*-----
From: "Byron C. Mayes" <bcmayes@hunter.cuny.edu>
Hmmm, let's see...
At 02:41 PM 2/2/99 -0600, Michael S. Hart wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>> >Subject: Internet Access Could Become Long Distance Call
>> >
>> > Subject: [Fwd: Fwd: IMPORTANT LEGISLATION]
>> >>
>> >> Forward the information below to those who may want to respond.
1) Suggestion to forward to others
2) Name and address of original sender missing (along with explanation of
why we should believe him/her).
3) Lots of little "quotation" arrows.
>> >> Congress will be voting in less than two weeks. CNN stated that the
>> >> Government would in two weeks time decide to allow or not allow
>> >> A CHARGE TO YOUR PHONE BILL EQUAL TO A LONG DISTANCE
>> >> CALL *EACH TIME* YOU ACCESS THE INTERNET
4) Incindiary call to action regarding an outrageous "bill" to be voted on
by Congress
- No number or sponsors for the bill
- No projected vote date, just "less than two weeks" (meaning this can go
around for months)
- No indication of which house Congress (Senate or House of Reps) is voting
5) Outcome is neither feasible nor practical at this time. There is
currently no way to tell whether a phone is being used to "access the
internet" or just call mom. All technologies that *could* theoretically be
put to this use would be too costly to put into effect: imagine tracking
every phone call in New York City to see not just who's being called but
who or what is calling, who or what picks up, and if a modem whether or not
that modem offers the possibility of Internet interaction. Now apply that
to the 50 states.
6) No reliable attribution for the information: Claims "CNN stated" but
doesn't say when or in what program.
>> >> The address is: http://www.house.gov/writerep/
>> >> If you choose, visit the address above and fill out the necessary form!
7) The URL is nothing more than the generic write your Representative form
at the House or Reps website. A good thing to have, but offers no more
information on the above "call to action."
>> >>
>> >> If EACH one of us forwards this message on to others in a hurry, we
>> >> may be able to prevent this injustice from happening!
8) Second request to forward indiscriminately.
Sounds like a HOAX to me. Please don't forward this any further without
reliable verification.
Byron
Prof. Byron C. Mayes
Systems Librarian/Asst. Professor, Hunter College, City Univ. of New York
695 Park Avenue * New York, New York 10021
bcmayes@hunter.cuny.edu * 212-772-4168 * Fax: 212-772-5113
Listowner, BLACK-IP, Black Information Professionals' Network
