Date: Wed, 12 Feb 92 11:10:29 PDT From: lorbit!walter_s@UCBVAX.BERKELEY.EDU(Walter Scott) Subject: Update Of Info. In 2/5/92 Newsbytes Article On BBS Phone Rates If you do not recall, or are otherwise unaware, there is a complaint (docket #UC-205) filed before the Oregon Public Utility Commission intended to prevent US West from reclassifying BBS phone lines to business rates. SysOp Tony Wagner filed the complaint back in October. On 2/5/92, Dana Blankenhorn of Newsbytes Magazine released a story, subsequently published in Newsbytes, that covered the Wagner complaint. What follows is my own efforts to update Blankenhorn's information. Herein, find corrections of some items reported by Blankenhorn or simply left out of his article. Over the weekend of 2/8/92, I managed to conduct a short interview with Tony Wagner of Portland, Oregon and First Choice Communications BBS. I learned that Wagner's BBS is still online. This is contrary to my understanding of the 2/5/92 Newsbytes story by Dana Blankenhorn. Wagner's BBS is available at: 503-297-0278 503-297-0279 503-297-0343 [RESTRICTED ACCESS] Wagner mentions his dispute with US West in bulletin #1 on his system. Here is full text of that bulletin. ======================= TEXT BEGINS =============================== Well The U.S. West phone company has decided that ALL Phone lines that have modems on them Should be classed As Business Lines.. I have run a FREE Bulletin Board System for years out of my own pocket with out ever asking users to help pay the Cost of running the system.. This will have to change if U.S. West has their way So please leave me mail as to how you feel about this better yet Call the Phone Company and tell them how you feel.. If this happens I will do something like a Pay system that will cost around $1.00-3.00 Per hour depending on what parts of the BBS you want to use The Advantage to you will be unlimited Time on NO Time Limits If it get to busy I will add more lines Wildcat can handle 250 Lines :-) I may then even add a bunch of Doors with Games Etc. ========================== TEXT ENDS ============================== Wagner's legal expenses were not dealt with in the manner implied by Newsbytes on 2/5/92. Although an investigation of Wagner's "Pacific Northwest Phone's" conference (the location on Wagner's system of the FidoNet PNWBELL echo) would indicate that the subject of others chipping in to pay for legal services was broached, Wagner informed me that no group of SysOps or users ever paid for, or attempted to pay Richard Samuels (Wagner's original attorney). Richard Samuels withdrew from Wagner's complaint filing at the Oregon Public Utility Commission shortly before a December 10 hearing date. Wagner represented himself at that hearing. The "Pacific Northwest Phone's" conference on First Choice Communications additionally reveals an important item of interest. It is apparent that US West and SouthWestern Bell are sharing information about disputes with BBS operators in their respective operating jurisdictions. Such is illustrated in the following message pulled from the "Pacific Northwest Phone's" conference on First Choice Communications. =========================== TEXT BEGINS ============================== From : SCOTT LENT Number : 223 of 241 To : ALL Date : 01/10/92 11:56am Subject : a note Reference : NONE Read : [N/A] Private : NO Conf : 505 - Pacific Northwest Phone's That may or may not be of interest to those of you serviced by US West: A group of sysops in Missouri met with representatives from Southwestern Bell on 01/07/92 in St. Louis for the second in a series of negotiations. At the meeting, William Bailey, District Manager-Rate Administration, divulged that he had been in contact with "someone from US West," and that their conversation included discussion of their respective telephone tariffs. Specifically, he made reference to your (Oregon's) tariff wording that refers to "domestic use." This information is two-fold. First, you now know that your RBOC people are in contact with others about tariff wording. Secondly, your RBOC people are aware that other RBOCs are negotiating with their consumers over regulations that affect the modeming community. Scott --- DB B1056/004017 * Origin: GKCSA-the ultimate bal...er...Bell buster (1:280/310) =========================== TEXT ENDS ================================= Wagner has retained attorney Kevin Myles to represent him in his complaint case at the Oregon Public Utility Commission. Myles has until March 3, 1992 to file a brief. A round of reply briefs, from the opposing parties in the complaint, is also possible. Walter Scott -- "Lightfinger" Rayek's Friendly Casino: 206/528-0948, Seattle, Washington. Downloaded From P-80 International Information Systems 304-744-2253