====================================================
Source: Special Report from IDG.net
"...From 240+ Web sites, quality computing
intelligence you need every day.
The FCC's ruling today on calls to local ISPs has resulted in a
record amount of traffic to IDG.net. To help you understand the
issues behind this complicated story, the editors at IDG.net
created this special newsletter.
FCC rules ISP calls are long-distance in nature
(Source: Network World Fusion) In a long-anticipated vote, the
U.S. Federal Communications Commission decided that dial-up
Internet calls are interstate in nature and not local.
o http://www.idg.net/go.cgi?id=58646
Other Articles and Links
--------------------------------------------------------------
The FCC: No friend of local government
o http://www.idg.net/go.cgi?id=58648
Commission tiptoed around calls for new broadband-service
regulations in a report on the status of advanced
telecommunications services in the country.
o http://www.idg.net/go.cgi?id=58650
The challenge of governing the Net has given Congress a full plate.
On the agenda: privacy, encryption, gambling and the FCC.
o http://www.idg.net/go.cgi?id=58652
Internet bills are being passed at accelerating rates by various
legislatures -- on taxation, censorship, privacy, etc. It's not going to
work to
simply oppose them all. We do need law and order on the Internet
o http://www.idg.net/go.cgi?id=58654
Computerworld's collection of FCC resources
o http://www.idg.net/go.cgi?id=58656
--------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Bells/Telcos/FCC win-win; ISPs/Consumers lose-lose
Date: Sun, 28 Feb 1999 08:45:14 -0500
From: "P.A. Gantt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Organization: Electronic Media Design and Support
To: The Up for Grabs Discussion List <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Comments:
=========
o Say good-bye to $12.95-$19.95 ISP unlimited connection &
server space. For that matter say good-bye to ISPs!
[Note: AT&T WorldNet being dumped by AT&T]
o Say hello to AT&T and Telcos/Cable Monopoly. Telcos are
busy buying up cable cos.
Re: Cable <modems & boxes> -- trying to figure out how
the ubiquitous they will charge us per minute -- probably
something like pay-per-view w/ required service monitoring
box.
o Say hello to wireless service that will cost us:
at *least* $89,99 a month - limited service connection.
o Say good-bye to the Economic Recovery -> stockmarket
Internet driven recovery-> Short-term greed will
drive the market down.
o No longer is it *just*, "It's the economy stupid."
Now "It's the Internet stupid, you're killing the
economy... stupid... by killing technology stocks."
~~ IMHO
=================================================================
Source:
InternetWeek Newsletter
Thursday, February 18, 1999
By Salvatore Salamone
Editor-at-large Salvatore Salamone covers remote access and
VPNs. He can be reached at
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
*************************
"Perspective: Ushering In A New Era For The Local Services Market
"...Also this month, AT&T announced it will partner with Time
Warner, the nation's No. 1 cable service provider, to deliver
local phone service over Time Warner's cable lines.
The AT&T announcement follows on the heels of AT&T's bid
last fall to acquire Tele-Communications Inc., the No. 2 cable
service provider. At that time, AT&T made it clear it intended
to use the TCI cables to deliver local phone service..."
<snip>
Despite the Bells' claims, they have not been open. If the
combined efforts of providers that use leasing, cable delivery
and PCS service to offer local voice services grabs a big share
of the market, that might be enough to give the Bells the go-
ahead on the long distance services front.
"...Will fixed-location, high-bandwidth wireless services that
bypass the local loop infrastructure be needed to get to some
homes and businesses?
Only time will tell.
But there is definitely a lot happening in the local loop that bears
watching..."
*************************
Source:
COMMUNICATIONS-RELATED HEADLINES for FEBRUARY 18, 1999
Benton's Web site at <www.benton.org>
Thu, 18 Feb 1999 10:41:33 -0500
MERGERS
FCC BACKS AT&T PLAN TO BUY TCI
Issue: Merger
The Federal Communications Commission unanimously approved the
AT&T/Tele-Communications Inc.
deal yesterday, requiring only that TCI sell its interest in a wireless
phone venture with Sprint Corp. That requirement had already been placed
on the AT&T acquisition by the Justice
Department and had been agreed to by TCI. State regulators in California
and local authorities in three jurisdictions also must give their
approval.
Five municipalities have rejected transferring local cable TV
franchising
rights to AT&T, setting up possible court battles. If the deal goes
through, as
most everyone now believes it will, AT&T Chairman C. Michael Armstrong
will be making a mammoth bet on what is essentially an unproven premise:
that
cable TV systems can be economically upgraded to carry telephone and
Internet traffic -- and that millions of Americans will abandon the
highly reliable phone service that Bell telephone companies have
offered. AT&T
enters the field of local telephone service with an advantage. While the
Bells must share access to their copper phone lines with other Internet
and phone providers, AT&T will have its cable link into homes completely
to
itself, a condition opposed by America Online during the FCC inquiry.
AT&T says it will have market trials for phone service over TCI's cables
beginning by year's end in 10 cities, with most TCI markets served by
2000.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (E1), AUTHOR: Mike Mills]
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/business/feed/biztop919339293043.htm>
COMMISSION APPROVES AT&T-TCI MERGER
Issue: Mergers
>From the News Release: The Commission has adopted an Order approving the
transfer application of Tele-Communications, Inc. ("TCI") and AT&T Corp.
("AT&T") subject to the following conditions: (1) the transfer of TCI's
ownership of Sprint PCS tracking stock prior to consummation of the
merger to a trust pursuant to a trust agreement that has been approved
by the
Commission; and (2) AT&T's adoption of its proposed policy statement
regarding its policy for distribution to Liberty Media Group
shareholders of the economic benefits of its ownership of the Sprint
stock. The
Commission reviewed the four services affected by the proposed merger:
multichannel
video programming distribution ("MVPD"), local exchange and exchange
access, Internet access, and mobile telephony. The Commission concludes
that the
merger, as conditioned, is likely to result in benefits for consumers,
including a local telephony alternative for many residential customers
now served only by incumbent local exchange companies, without creating
competitive harm with respect to other services.
[SOURCE: FCC]
<http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Cable/News_Releases/1999/nrcb9002.html>
*************************
http://www.attws.com/personal/onerate/main.html
Source:
AT&T Wireless Services for personal use
AT&T Sun. Feb. 28, 1999
"...Do you make a lot of calls outside your home coverage area? With
AT&T Digital OneRateSM, roaming and long distance charges are a
thing of the past. Every call is like a local call. It's so simple and
affordable, your wireless phone may become your only phone.
Choose from three convenient calling plans:
600 minutes
$89.99 a month
1000 minutes
$119.99 a month
1400 minutes
$149.99 a month
Additional airtime in excess of plan .25/min. AT&T Digital One Rate not
available for purchase in all areas and requires a Digital multi-network
phone from AT&T. Credit card calls excluded. Other conditions apply.
AT&T Digital One Rate now available with AT&T Canada Calling..."
=================================================================
--
P.A. Gantt, Computer Science Technology Instructor
Electronic Media Design and Support Homepage
http://user.icx.net/~pgantt/
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Subject=etech
http://horizon.unc.edu/TS/vision/1998-11.asp
Common sense is not common, and conventional wisdom is not
wisdom. But at least you can have conventional sense. ~~ Daily Whale
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