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Non-Tech : Proposed $.10 per Minute Internet Charge
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To: John Grandy who wrote (85)2/11/1997 3:13:00 PM
From: tuck   of 112
 
John,

Almost any analogy is too simple. I agree with you there.

I am not sure about where I stand on the issue of taxing/subsidizing heavy net users. I think the .10/min number is simply the opening salvo in a long negotiation, and that the final number will be a fraction of a penny/minute, and thus not that onerous even to heavy users. The RBOCs can make the money they need to upgrade their switches very quickly, even at such small rates.

Further, my research into WAN technology coming down the pike indicates that software solutions to the bandwidth/switching capacity problems are a couple of quarters away from shipping. In other words, the problem may well be mostly solved before the FCC can even sneeze at it. I will supply references to white papers if you care.

I definitely do not agree with you on the social rationales for the charge. Who are you or anyone else to judge what is appropriate content? And porn users taking up 50% of the bandwidth? 70% of our state taxes on highways? I will believe those figures when I see you publish a reliable source for them, which I have yet to see you do.

My guess is that the worst-case scenario will be a temporary and small hike in the cost of internet access. Someone will find a way around it sooner or later, whether it is cable companies or someone else.

Regards,

Tuck
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