Modem Tax - Urban Legend Come True?

Phluck writes "It seems that the modem tax myth might come true, the FCC is trying to decide whether ISPs should pay a fee for using the telephone network. Naturally this tax would probably be passed on to customers. Check out the whole story here on ZDNet. " Scary - I can remember when these chain mails went around.

Comments

Per Minute? NO - Flat Rate? OH, OK ...

[WillAffleck]

Seriously, the problem is the FCC method. If it's a per minute rate, that's insane - we're not making long distance calls in the "true" sense.

But, a flat rate charge? Well, since it's for access for rural areas, kids in school, and seniors on low incomes - Yes. Why should we be exempt?

Face it, we're turning into a three-tier society.

Tier 1: Internet Elite - the rich and technologically enabled, with SDSL, T1/T3, and equivalent - we don't care about these charges.

Tier 2: Internet Enabled - the urban upper and middle class and the suburban upper class, with low-grade DSL or Cable Modems, or at least 56K. They know they get a pretty good deal and that it can't continue much longer.

Tier 3: Internet Handicapped - the urban poor and the suburban/rural middle and lower classes. They have to go to the library to get decent modem access, or pay large chunks of their disposable incomes to do so. They continue in their downward spiral in this uberelite society.

So, yes, put farmers and homeless kids on the Net. Although I think we should require old folks get a NetNanny filter on their ISP access, so they can't send spam to the rest of us or access any voters sites - make them truck down to the library for that, to keep them out of our hair ...