From: toma@sail.LABS.TEK.COM (Tom Almy)
Newsgroups: alt.cosuard
Subject: Business rates for BBSes in Portland Oregon
Date: 12 Nov 92 16:19:57 GMT
Reply-To: toma@sail.labs.tek.com
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton,  OR.

OK, I'm posting the original local Fidonet article here.  We are looking
for any and all hints and helps. Suprisingly, the reaction here has been
mainly "it can't happen to me", although from a saved alt.cosuard post last
year it happens virtually overnight.

Also, it turns out that the Tony Wagner vs. US West case is still not settled
even though US West told the sysop (Maynard, who writes the messages below)
that it was dropped.

***************************************************************


Message #4675 - PDX.SYSOP: local sysops' ECHO 
   Date: 11-06-92 06:17
   From: Maynard Erikson
     To: All
Subject:: Important information for all Portland area sysops
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@PID: RA 1.11 21534
@MSGID: 1:105/290 5098ab68
@REPLY: 1:105/290 5098885e
@
------IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL SYSOPS AND USERS INCLUDED BELOW!-------

     U.S. West now has a policy of charging ANY AND ALL BBS'es *business
phone rates*, and they are trying to set a precedent with me!  I have filed
a formal complaint with the Oregon Public Utility Commission.  It is
important that you read the information below and act accordingly!  Contact
information for all three parties involved (U.S. West telco, the P.U.C., and
the BBS I run) are given toward the end of this message.


----------



Message #2915 - -Announcements-
   Date: 10-13-92 12:48
   From: Maynard
     To: All
Subject:: The phone company, Banished CPU subscription access
levels, etc.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Since the phone company is forcing me to pay business rates on my two
existing lines and also on the third line (which I am installing anyway --
maybe the PUC can get me a refund on the difference between the measured
business rate and the measured residential rate, if/when my formal complaint
is successful) and they explicitly told me that it doesn't matter if I charge
or make money or not, but that it ONLY matters that I am running a BBS, I
have re-instated the subscription options.  It seems like the rational thing
to do.  Users still have the same amount of free access as they have had for
the last several weeks (35 minutes per day, access to the files, and access
to the message bases.)

     Paying business rates will cost me about $70 more per month for three
lines.  Since all the other BBSes are supposedly going to have to pay
business rates as well, I can only hope that they will find some way to
afford it, or that we can get this decision negated somehow.

                                   Maynard



Message #2576 - Computer/Tech. Discussions
   Date: 10-09-92 21:39
   From: Maynard
     To: All
Subject:: The phone company...




-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

     A "manager" with the "complaints" department in charge of the "business
side of things" at US West called me earlier today (or at least, that's who
they said they were.)  Apparently they have a policy of charging ANY AND ALL
BBS's business rates now.  How funny.  Since they know about the Bit Bucket
BBS list, I think the other Sysops should be notified of this.  Maybe we can
cooperate and beat this stupid policy into the ground where it belongs.

     At any rate, I guess I'm "taking up the flag" where Tony Wagner left
off. The PUC and US West both told me that he (who has more lines than I do)
had filed a formal complaint with the PUC (Public Utilities Commission) but
withdrew it before a decision could be reached.

     The PUC indicates to me that this will set a precedent/policy in the
state of Oregon regarding BBS's and phone billing rates.

     I find myself wondering, "why Banished CPU?"  But it is not surprising.

                                  Maynard


__________



     I mailed in my formal complaint to the P.U.C. yesterday, and I am now
awaiting a formal hearing date.  The last word from the phone company (U.S.
West) was that they now officially consider ***ALL BBS'es*** to be "business"
operations, and that they are going to charge them ALL business rates.  They
want to set a precedent with me and my system, which could occur if the
P.U.C.
lets them charge me business rates, which they are doing, as they said, for
the sole reason that I run a BBS.  At the time, I was not charging any money,
had only 2 incoming lines, etc.  The higher rates have forced me to put in a
subscription system, and I have also finally managed to add a third line.

     If you want to contact me, you can call my BBS (Banished CPU) at (503)
232-5783 (9600/V.32) or (503) 232-6566 (14.4k/V.32bis) and leave a message
to Maynard.  You can also send mail to me at the account that I am posting
this from, though I might not receive it as soon.

     If you want to contact the P.U.C. (Public Utility Commission)
representative that I have been dealing with, call Judie Olson toll free at
1-800-522-2404 or 1-800-553-9600 (TDD).  She is a "Consumer Analyst" with
the "Consumer Services" department there.  The local number (if you don't
need the toll-free numbers) is (503) 378-6600.  There is a "vv/422" two lines
after that last phone number on the letter she sent me; maybe that's her
voice box number.

     If you want to contact Sue Leslie, the person at U.S. West who insisted
in the first place that I needed to pay business rates because I run a
BBS, call (503) 242-3384 and ask for Sue Leslie.

     Note that they knew I was running a BBS before then, but waited until
I tried to get a third line installed to jump down my throat.  I suspect a
third party coaxed them into it (they probably didn't need much coaxing
anyway) because I support Freedom of Speech on my BBS, even for people with
unpopular or controversial things to say.

     Please spread the word to the other sysops, and/or call one or more of
the numbers above to ask questions and/or express your thoughts and
feelings.  This is an urgent matter and will set a state-wide precedent,
according to the P.U.C., and will also likely have an impact nation-wide.
Don't let them sneak this by you!!!  They are trying to set a precedent
with me so they can go after you!!!  I don't want to say "I told you so."

                                Maynard

---
 * Origin: Bitter Butter Better BBS, Tigard OR, 503-620-0307 (1:105/290)

-- 
Tom Almy
toma@sail.labs.tek.com
Standard Disclaimers Apply