The local phone companies competing with the Bells would pass on the extra costs to the ISPs that use their networks. The survey indicated most ISPs would have to either switch to Pacific Bell's network or pass on the costs directly to consumers. However, the FCC may leave it up to the states to decide whether to eliminate or keep reciprocal compensation. Over 100 ISPs were surveyed from all areas of the state and asked how these changes would affect their businesses and their customers. Professor Yale Braunstein of UC Berkeley's School of Information Management and Systems wrote the study.
Some communities face the complete loss of local access to the Internet.
At this writing, the California Public Utilities Commission is visiting this issue. InternetNews Radio Copyright 2001 INT Media Group, Incorporated All Rights Reserved.