FCC PLAN MAY MAKE INTERNET MORE EXPENSIVE from "Business Digest," San Francisco Chronicle, 25 Feb 1999 Consumers could wind up paying more for Internet service under a plan expected to be voted on today by the Federal Communications Commission. Bloomberg News reported that the FCC will issue a draft proposal that would reclassify most calls to Internet service providers as long-distance calls, even if the consumer calls a local phone number. ISPs would have to pay local phone companies, including the Baby Bells, a fee to carry Internet traffic. Although the proposal, if approved, would not immediately raise the cost of Internet service, the ISPs could pass along their higher costs to consumers.
