Soap Box

The views and opinions expressed on White Plains Soapbox are solely those written by the correspondents, and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the White Plains CitizeNetReporter, its management or principals.

By Panama Jack from Miami

Panama Jack monitoring the scaliwags from Key West warns of 5 cent surcharge on E-mail quietly working through congress.

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 email. 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 email 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 per day - or over $180.00 a year - above and beyond his/her regular Internet cost.

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 inefficiency.

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, Toney Shcnekll (r) has even suggested a $20.00 - $40.00 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!

	White Plains Soapbox
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	The views and opinions expressed on White Plains Soapbox are solely those written by the correspondents, and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the White Plains CitizeNetReporter, its management or principals.
	Panama Jack on The End of E-Mail as We Know It By Panama Jack from Miami Panama Jack monitoring the scaliwags from Key West warns of 5 cent surcharge on E-mail quietly working through congress. 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 email. 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 email 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 per day - or over $180.00 a year - above and beyond his/her regular Internet cost. 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 inefficiency. 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, Toney Shcnekll (r) has even suggested a $20.00 - $40.00 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!

White Plains Soapbox

Panama Jack on The End of E-Mail as We Know It

By Panama Jack from Miami