Last significant update: 12 March, 1999
This information can be freely reproduced in any medium, as long as the information is unmodified.
Thanks to Mike Ploegstra for first bringing this to our attention on 10 December, 1998.
This has been floating around on the 'Net for some time, but only recently reared its ugly head at the University of Michigan. As I recall, there was actually a proposal to do something similar a few years ago, but nothing came of it. The current incarnation is definitely false, though perhaps the originator may be forgiven a bit for misunderstanding the issues.
The truth can be found at the FCC's web site (leaving our site), or you can view the text of that page cached locally here at U-M, current as of 12 March, 1999, by clicking here.
In summary, this document cited above states: "The bottom line is that the FCC has no intention of assessing per-minute charges on Internet traffic or changing the way consumers obtain and pay for access to the Internet."
We also have independent confirmation of this from a Congressman from the 7th District in Michigan -- but I'm not reproducing it here, because my attempts to email him for permission have bounced.
Finally, you may want to have a look at comments made by the FCC's Chairman, William Kennard, on 11 November 1998, in which he states: ""For reasons that escape me, there are those who regularly suggest that the FCC is considering the imposition of per minute charges on Internet providers. The forces behind these rumors are doing a disservice to the American consumer, because in fact nothing could be further from the truth." For the full text of his speech, click here (leaving our site)
Here is a typical text of the hoax:
> THIS IS NO JOKE !!! > > CNN stated that the Government would in two weeks > time decide to allow or not allow a Charge to your > phone bill equal to a long distance call each time > you access the internet. > > The address is [URL snipped to protect the gullible -BPB] > > Please visit the address above and fill out the > necessary form! This is not a joke....but REAL. > We all were aware that the Government has been > pressured by the telephone companies to consider > such a charge and now it's reality.....
Please do not forward this -- or any other hoax -- to all your friends.
Instead, you should reply to the sender -- and as far back up the email
chain as you have energy -- informing the originators that this is a hoax.
For this particular hoax, I suggest that you provide a pointer to this URL
(http://www.umich.edu/~virus-busters/hoaxes/fcc.html)
For virus or hoax info, please see our main page
(http://www.umich.edu/~virus-busters/) or go to another reputable
site, like DataFellows (leaving our site).
-BPB
visits to this page since 12 March, 1999 13:24 EST