This isnt related to Techno soap operas ...But quite related to the list.. >> > >>> The federal government is trying to get money for e-mail... >>> Please pass onto anyone interested. >>> >>> VOTE NO ON Bill 602P >>> Guess the warnings were true. >>> Federal Bill 602P 5-cents per E-mail sent. >>> It figures! No more free E-mail! >>> We knew this was coming!! >>> Bill 602P will permit the Federal Government >>> to charge a 5-cent charge on every delivered >>> E-mail. Please read the following carefully >>> if you intend to stay online and continue using E-mail. >>> >>> The last few months have revealed >>> an alarming trend in the Government of the >>> United States attempting >>> to quietly push through legislation that will >>> affect our use of the Internet. >>> Under proposed legislation, the US Postal Service >>> will be attempting to bill >>> E-mail users out of "alternative postage fees" >>> Bill 602P will permit the >>> Federal Government to charge a 5-cent surcharge on >>> every E-Mail delivered, by billing Internet >>> Service Providers at source. The consumer >>> would then be billed in turn by the ISP. >>> >>> Washington DC lawyer Richard >>> Stepp is working without pay to prevent this >>> legislation from becoming law. >>> The US Postal Service is claiming lost >>> revenue, due to the proliferation >>> of E-mail, is costing nearly $230,000,000 >>> in revenue per year. >>> You may have noticed their recent ad campaign: >>> "There is nothing like a letter." >>> Since the average person received about 10 pieces >>> of E-mail per day in 1998, >>> the cost of the typical individual would be an >>> additional 50 cents a day >>> - or over $180 per year - above and beyond their >>> regular Internet costs. >>> Note that this would be money paid directly to the >>> US Postal Service for a service >>> they do not even provide. >>> >>> The whole point of the Internet >>> is democracy and non-interference. >>> You are already paying an >>> exorbitant price for snail mail because of >>> bureaucratic efficiency. >>> It currently takes up to 6 days for a letter to be >>> delivered from coast to coast. >>> If the US Postal Service is allowed to tinker >>> with E-mail, it will mark >>> the end of the "free" Internet in the United >>> States. >>> >>> Our congressional representative, >>> Tony Schnell (R) has even suggested a >>> "$20-$40 per month surcharge >>> on all Internet service" above and beyond the >>> governments proposed E-mail >>> charges. Note that most of the major newspapers >>> have ignored the story the >>> only exception being the Washingtonian which >>> called the idea of E-mail >>> surcharge " a useful concept who's time has come" >>> (March 6th, 1999 Editorial). >>> Do not sit by and watch your freedom erode away! >>> >>> Send this E-mail to EVERYONE >>> on your list, and tell all your friends >>> and relatives to write their >>> congressional representative and say "NO" to >>> Bill 602P. It will only take > >> a few moments of your time and could very well >>> be instrumental in killing >>> a bill we do not want. >>> >>> PLEASE FORWARD! >> >
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