YTSEJAM Digest 2272
Today's Topics:
1) more update on tribute album
by Jazzmin Belle Sommers <jazzmin@ou.edu>
2) "Lifting Shadows off a Dream"
by jefffalk@bu.edu (Jeffrey Falk)
3) Re: Tribute
by Stephen Daedalus <Mathew.J.Birskovich@williams.edu>
4) sick of it all?
by Pat Daugherty <pdaugher@bdmserver.mcl.bdm.com>
5) QR PL/SG
by Pat Daugherty <pdaugher@bdmserver.mcl.bdm.com>
6) Re: Tribute
by "Vincent G. LuPone" <vgl@u.arizona.edu>
7) The petition
by The Digital Man <cmerlo@cs.uvm.edu>
8) Promised Land doesn't suck, but it does give good "head" :)
by Jon Parmet <jonp@mailstorm.dot.gov>
9) I want some parts!
by Kramer <CK78729@ltu.edu>
10) Tribute
by rwarren@memphisonline.com
11) DT Tribute
by Chris DiGiuseppe <hed@northnet.org>
12) Song names on tribute albums
by Fernando Ma <fernandm@U.Arizona.EDU>
13) Tribute update.
by "Vincent G. LuPone" <vgl@u.arizona.edu>
14) Re: FCC and phone charges for Internet usuage, please read,
by Kevin Price <price@cldx.com>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 97 12:43:15 -0600
From: Jazzmin Belle Sommers <jazzmin@ou.edu>
To: ytsejam@ax.com
Subject: more update on tribute album
Message-ID: <330360294bca002@cliff.ou.edu>
Okay. Here's some more volunteers!
Aaron Bell: guitar (TTT, Voices, SDV); vocals SDV
Marcelo Vanzin: guitar (Erotomania)
Jose Kalil: vocals (Silent Man)
The following will have to bash it out:
Vocals on Ytsejam -- Philip Kish, Dale Newberry
vocals on Erotomania -- Derek Collins, Maynard D Crebs
So far I'm not seeing any overlap as long as people who say "I can play all
this" or "I can sing all that" will step aside for all but one song (where
necessary).
We still need keys on a lot of songs (KorgX3, you got the songbooks?) and
drums. A fellow jammer has expressed interest but is remaining noncommittal
due to the complexity of the Awake drum lines.
Also we'll need to seriously consider dates. Meeting in Arizona is going to
be harsh for those of you who live on the east coast and not necessarily
easy for those of us in central america. Jose has asked if people must be
american to play? No, but the studio's here, that goes a long way in
determining the venue... If you can make it, come out and play!
I had suggested Spring Break, not realizing that it starts in just a couple
of weeks. Raise your hand if you're in school or bound to a school
schedule! That will probably make mid-May the earliest we can start. Of
course, everyone needs to PRACTISE hir parts (am I the only ytsechick
participating?) before you get there, try to get things right the first time
around because we probably won't have weeks for rehearsal like the band does.
Someone asked about mixing. If we took advance orders (paid) for the discs,
it may be possible to get the bux for mixing from this (unless someone knows
someone who'll do it for free). Covering the costs of the discs, postage,
and liner credits will probably be the big chunk of expenses. This is a
labor of love and respect!
Jazzmin
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1997 14:12:51 -0500
From: jefffalk@bu.edu (Jeffrey Falk)
To: ytsejam@ax.com
Subject: "Lifting Shadows off a Dream"
Message-ID: <v01540b00af291624c518@[168.122.10.51]>
Since no one has mentioned it yet, I'd like to "Lifting Shadows off
a Dream" for the tribute. I'm a guitar player, and I also used to play
keyboards, so I might be able to do the keyboards also. If I had access to
a bass, I could do the bass part as well. I can do it on my four-track.
Since I don't work well with others, maybe I can do it all myself. I can
think of another song I might like to do that no one else would: "Status
Seeker."
By the way: _Promised Land_ is probably one of the top five albums
that have been released in the nineties. And if it weren't for Dream
Theater and Rush, "One More Time" might be the best song released in this
dismal decade. This is all in my (entirely non-humble) opinion (which
usually flies in the face of the whole world but is accurate nonetheless).
Jeff Falk
Box 3208
700 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02215
(617) 352-8639
jefffalk@bu.edu
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1997 14:09:59 -0500 (EST)
From: Stephen Daedalus <Mathew.J.Birskovich@williams.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list <ytsejam@ax.com>
Subject: Re: Tribute
Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.95.970213140855.4684A-100000@colrain.williams.edu>
I'd be perfectly content with either guitar part on Silent Man. Also,
maybe our tribute could be a double CD! First CD our music, second our
game!! Will show 'em how to make CD's!! Fuck yeah!!! Be well.
Matt B
====================
"You are all weirdos. Hmph." (Sam the Eagle, The
Great Muppet Movie)
"Now all we need is a little enerjon, and a lot of luck." (Optimus Prime,
Transformers the Movie)
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1997 14:14:05 -0500 (EST)
From: Pat Daugherty <pdaugher@bdmserver.mcl.bdm.com>
To: Dream Theater Mailing List <ytsejam@ax.com>
Subject: sick of it all?
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.970213141014.19859C-100000@bdmserver>
Are you sick of seeing me bash Al Balkiewicz for ripping me off?
I asked him point blank whether he will ever compensate me for the videos
that I sent him. He refuses to answer the question.
Since he no longer even owns 1 VCR and obviously can't tape the 3 videos
he owes me I proposed that he do one of the following:
1: Send me $20 (very fair for 3 videos
2. SEnd me 3 VCR 120 new and unopened tapes
Once again he refuses to answer. Is this not a fair and easy offer?
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Pat Daugherty pdaugher@bdmserver.mcl.bdm.com |
|=======================================================================|
| "Every breath leaves me one less to my last" --Dream Theater |
| "That is not an option, Mr. Mulder" --X-Files |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1997 14:17:59 -0500 (EST)
From: Pat Daugherty <pdaugher@bdmserver.mcl.bdm.com>
To: Dream Theater Mailing List <ytsejam@ax.com>
Subject: QR PL/SG
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.970213141408.19859D-100000@bdmserver>
WEll I dont think that PL is QR's best effort by far. It is a lot better
than most other music out there. It does have a lot of great moments but
just can't compete with QR's earlier stuff.
When giving an opinion on a cd I think "I didn't like it" or "it sucks"
is more called for than "shit and piss" or whatever that jammer wrote.
I love the first SG cd. I think it might be better than their second
effort. Maybe it is just because I have played Carved in Stone so often
that the first cd just sounds fresh.
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Pat Daugherty pdaugher@bdmserver.mcl.bdm.com |
|=======================================================================|
| "Every breath leaves me one less to my last" --Dream Theater |
| "That is not an option, Mr. Mulder" --X-Files |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1997 12:12:44 -0700
From: "Vincent G. LuPone" <vgl@u.arizona.edu>
To: ytsejam@ax.com
Subject: Re: Tribute
Message-ID: <199702131912.MAA33732@jamaica.u.arizona.edu>
At 08:37 AM 2/13/97 -0800, you wrote:
>Uh--guys--don't you think you should give some other guitarists a chance?
>I think guitars on one song is definitely more than enough and probably
>half a song to include more Jammers. Problem is, how we gettin' to
>Arizona? Be well.
On this note I want to say that I signed myself up for so many songs
just in case no one else wanted the roles. The only songs I definitely want
to play are PMU and Mirror/Lie. Any others that I'm on the list for are
totally up for grabs.
Later,
Peace be with you and God bless, ~Vince
(http://www.u.arizona.edu/~vgl)
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1997 14:16:35 -0500 (EST)
From: The Digital Man <cmerlo@cs.uvm.edu>
To: "Ytse Fuckin' Jam" <ytsejam@ax.com>
Subject: The petition
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9702131407.Q2474-0100000@griffin.emba.uvm.edu>
> From: El Vaquero <VAQUERO@CONCENTRIC.NET>
> Subject: Re: Petition
>
> The petition sounds like a good idea, but doesn't it seem
> to be a little far fetched. I don't know...maybe I'm just
> a skeptic, but it's not like we'd be petitioning a
> government agency, or something to that effect. We're
> petitioning a record company....which DT has BEEN signed
> with and is contractually obligated to. Now, we don't know
> the ins and outs of their contract and that's what the
> record company will use to respond to the petition, if they
> choose to respond at all. My point is that they could tell
> us to go shit in our collective hats...they're not looking
> for re-election....Show me where to sign, though. I 'm as
> hopeful as you are....
Well, the way I look at it is this:
EastWest and/or Elektra are slacking hardcore as respects getting DT into
the studio to record. We can only speculate why, but the fact that
they're not as big a draw as other, more MTV-friendly (in their eyes)
acts has to come into play. Basically, they probably think that no one
cares whether DT ever releases anything again.
Remember, Atco signed them in the late 80s/early 90s, when the big thing
in music (and on MTV) was poodleheads like Reb Beach and CC Deville.
Well, DT kind of fit that mold. And, what happened? That whole scene
died out rather soon after that.
OK, so Atco becomes EastWest, and then EastWest is shuffled off to
another company. Elektra has pretty much "inherited" DT, whether they
wanted to or not. DT isn't gangster rap (do they still play that stuff
on MTV?), they're not grunge, they're not ska, they don't have
nice-looking breasts, they won't go down on you in a theater, they know
more than three chords, and they're basically what today's MTV
generation's older brothers listened to when they were in high school. I
don't blame Elektra much at all for thinking that this stuff would never
sell, and that Atco should have known as much 8 years ago.
That's where we, and the petition, come in. We have to show them that
not only does DT have a nicely-sized fan base, but a totally die-hard
crazed, maniacal, vocal, loyal, and wealthy (well, maybe not, but that
would look good :) one. We have to show Elektra that we're here, we will
buy the albums, we will go to the shows, we will buy the t-shirts and the
posters and the singles with the b-sides on them and the keychains and
the underwear, we will buy the products of people that run ads on MTV
right before and after DT videos, and we will not give up or go away
quietly.
We have to remind them that we got ACoS released, because we're that
loyal and that strong. We have to make them see that it would be in
their best financial interest (the only language they understand) to get
a new DT product into our hands as soon as possible.
So, get over to http://www.prognosis.com/petition when you can, and take
this opportunity to stand up to a big corporation and say "I have a
voice! I'm a consumer, and this is what I want to buy!" Something tells
me we'll be happily surprised at the results.
-d
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Digital Man \|/ ____ \|/ Secretary & Webmaster
cmerlo@cs.uvm.edu "@'/ ,. \`@" UVM Comp Sci Student Assn
d-man@dreamt.org /_| \__/ |_\ "He won't need a bed
http://www.emba.uvm.edu/~cmerlo \__U_/ He's a digital man" - Peart
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maintainer of the Official Dream Theater Frequently Asked Questions List
http://www.emba.uvm.edu/~cmerlo/dtfaq.html
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1997 19:25:20 +0000
From: Jon Parmet <jonp@mailstorm.dot.gov>
To: ytsejam@ax.com
Subject: Promised Land doesn't suck, but it does give good "head" :)
Message-ID: <33036AA0.1EF6@mailstorm.dot.gov>
Promised Land: 'Out of Mind' is a great tune!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> From: zack@lsil.com (Zack Gemmill)
> Actually, Mike told me once jokingly that the new album would
> be "industrial bluegrass".
Careful!! I had some of that back in the 60's. It'll knock you on your
ass if you take too much!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> From: "Jeremy C. Hallum" <jhallum@bu-ast.bu.edu>
> The set list was:
> Instrumental,
Wasn't Carry On was in here?
> Love Lies Bleeding
or here? :)
> Panama
> Satriani song
> Just for kicks, the next Ytselunch will be a Ytse-breakfast, held
> on a certain Saturday morning after a certain party in early March.
Ytse-breakfast: It's not just for lunch anymore ;) Any good diner
suggestions? I know a few.
> Now I leave it to Jon to break those people's kneecaps who
> WEREN'T at the show.
Gotta give 'em a chance to get to the next one...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Local jammers: Just got back from the Strawberries on Memorial Drive.
One each of ACoS and I&W left. Picked up a Steve Howe cassette for $3.99
and they had a few things in the bargain bin that might be of interest.
The clerk and I were a little puzzled as to why the Marky Mark tapes
weren't moving :)
Regards,
Jon
*------------*------------------------*--------------*
| Jon Parmet | jonp@mailstorm.dot.gov | 617-494-2851 |
*------------*------------------------*--------------*
If I'd started from the top,
And worked my way down
There'd be no reason,
To live forever
To live forever - DT
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1997 14:27:41 -0500 (EST)
From: Kramer <CK78729@ltu.edu>
To: ytsejam@ax.com
Subject: I want some parts!
Message-ID: <01IFDCL9NRZ694E7GZ@ltu.edu>
I'll take bass on Ytse Jam and Under A Glass Moon. Might as well take what
I know! Dis iz gunna rok!
-Kramer
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1997 13:25:42 -0600
From: rwarren@memphisonline.com
To: ytsejam@ax.com
Subject: Tribute
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970213132539.006b9ad0@memphisonline.com>
I know the tribute has been discussed before and never came about. I would
love to see it happen. I want the guitar parts on Learning to Live!! The
use of Hector's studio is great but causes a travel problem. I mean, I
know I want my Ibanez and my Boogie so driving is probably the only option.
Phoenix is a long trip for people in the north and south east parts of the
country (it is worse for people that are outside the USA!!!) It would seem
the best thing would be to have several locations to record. Try to make
it so the recording site is no more than a days drive to any participant.
I would love to offer a studio in Memphis, TN but all I have is a modest
four track (with not much outboard gear). I kinda like the .wav file idea
presented by Vince I believe. I have four track recording capabilities on
my computer so this would work great. Anybody interested in doing the
drums, bass, keys to Learning to Live on a .wav file!!! I will handle the
guitars and I have a couple of people that can handle the vocals!!!!!!
Later,
Richard Warren
rwarren@memphisonline.com
____________________________________________________________________________
____
Richard Warren
rwarren@memphisonline
____________________________________________________________________________
____
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1997 14:46:15 -0800
From: Chris DiGiuseppe <hed@northnet.org>
To: ytsejam@ax.com
Subject: DT Tribute
Message-ID: <330399B7.482F@northnet.org>
Hello.
I just got wind of this DT Tribute thingy. I think its great, and
we all could make it a reality if we try hard enough. Is a songlist
picked out yet? I'd really REALLY R E A L L Y like to do the guitar work
on 'Afterlife' or 'Vital Star' (If the old Majesty songs are even being
considered). But, Ill play any of the songs if I have to!
-Chris DiGiuseppe
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1997 12:44:59 -0700 (MST)
From: Fernando Ma <fernandm@U.Arizona.EDU>
To: ytsejam list <ytsejam@ax.com>
Subject: Song names on tribute albums
Message-ID: <Pine.A41.3.95q.970213124258.35248A-100000@f1n7.U.Arizona.EDU>
Should we change the song names to those porno-names that were mentioned
on the IRC a few days ago? In case of copyright infringements and all of
that crap...
Fernando Ma
Materials science & engineering
University of Arizona
http://bigdog.engr.arizona.edu/~ma
"I would like for this record to come out...and a blonde" - Derek Sherinian
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1997 12:45:50 -0700
From: "Vincent G. LuPone" <vgl@u.arizona.edu>
To: ytsejam@ax.com
Subject: Tribute update.
Message-ID: <199702131945.MAA41250@jamaica.u.arizona.edu>
Hello,
I've been getting a lot of requests for additional songs, so I want
to take the time to bring it to the forefront. I tried to pick the songs
that everybody likes the most. I figured I'd start with the classics and go
from there, ya know? We have 10 songs here, and I think they're songs that
everybody likes and would love to see on a Dream Theater tribute CD. Of
course, if enough people really want to do a Space Dye Vest, Scarred,
Afterlife, To Live Forever, or Another Day, like some people have asked, I
will in no way stand in the way of making this a double CD. I just don't
know if I'll have the time. If someone else wants to step up...
I'm already hoping to get this started on spring break and finished
during the summer so we can get this sucker out on or before the DT release
of the new album. I need to contact Hector about this and see what works
for him. I love the idea of a 24 track studio. As far as a Ytsecon IV, I
dunno. Not much of a convention if we're all cramped up in a studio. I do
like the idea of getting a bunch of jammers down here to record early this
summer, though. It should be a ton of fun.
Does anyone with 'connections' know if this is okay with the band
members? I don't want to do anything on this if they don't feel it's in
their best interest. It is THEIR material. I'd hope they'd see it as
imitation being the sincerest form of flattery.
Here's the list (I took out the vocals for Ytsejam, & Erotomania
:p) as it stands this afternoon. Still waiting for some more additions,
especially on Ytsejam and LtL. If no one wants to do it, I may pull it. I
don't want to, though. If we can get everybody but a guitarist for it, I'd
be more than happy to cover the guitar parts.
Pull Me Under
Bass: Matthew Schnoor <schnoor@SpiritOne.com>
Guitars: Vince LuPone
Vocals: "Bruce D. Duesterhoeft" <bduesterhoeft@enter.net>
Keys:
Drums: Anthony LaSorsa <dtgnr@nh.ultranet.com>
The Ytsejam
Bass: Fernando Ma
Guitars:
Keys:
Drums:
The Mirror/Lie
Bass: Jim Carey (fish 69@juno.com) <ArchAngel>
Guitars: Vince LuPone
Vocals: Syrinx <syrinx@astro.ocis.temple.edu>
Keys:
Drums:
Voice-overs: D-Man (Chris Merlo)
A Mind Beside Itself
(Erotomania)
Bass: Fernando Ma
Guitars: Jake Holodynski
Keys:
Drums:
(Voices)
Bass: Fernando Ma
Guitars: Chris DiGiuseppe <hed@northnet.org>
Vocals: Steve Zebrowski <szebro1@gl.umbc.edu>
Keys:
Drums:
(The Silent Man)
Bass: Dale R. Newberry
Guitars: Stephen Daedalus and/or Vince LuPone
Vocals: Jose L. Perroni Kalil <gzr@geocities.com>
Percussion (sounds great live):
Take The Time
Bass:
Guitars: "A.R. Bell" <salyavin@ames.net>
Vocals:
Keys:
Drums: Anthony LaSorsa <dtgnr@nh.ultranet.com>
Metropolis
Bass: Jim Carey <fish69@juno.com>
Guitars:
Vocals: Steve Zebrowski <szebro1@gl.umbc.edu>
Keys:
Drums:
Under a Glass Moon
Bass:
Guitars: "Rip, Cow Virtuoso" <ripzero@dreamt.org>
Vocals: Steve Zebrowski <szebro1@gl.umbc.edu>
Keys:
Drums: Drummnstan@aol.com
Learning to Live
Bass: Matthew Schnoor <schnoor@SpiritOne.com>
Guitars:
Vocals: Steve Zebrowski <szebro1@gl.umbc.edu>
Keys:
Drums:
--------------------
enough wasted bandwidth, you don't need a sig file!
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1997 11:46:47 -0500
From: Kevin Price <price@cldx.com>
To: "PLEASE HELP...I need an idea!" <bolanddt@bigvax.alfred.edu>
Cc: larzxl@aol.com, 6982iren@roberts.edu, k840303k@vax.edinboro.edu,
Subject: Re: FCC and phone charges for Internet usuage, please read,
Message-ID: <1.5.4.32.19970213164647.0063f5e0@cldx.com>
(Um, hi Dave, I guess this answers your "are you alive?" question, eh?)
I'd heard wind of this FCC thing before and had ignored it cuz it sounded
too much like several other instances of internet folklore I've
encountered. I started to check it out and found some useful clarifications
via DejaNews, but then got the following (better) update by email:
Subject: FEAR AND LOATHING AT THE FCC
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 97 10:49:29 -0500
-- Yesterday Xxxx Xxxx published an interesting Internet message that was circulating about FCC soliciting public opinion on Internet phone access charges that the telephone companies have been petitioning for. Urgent action was advocated to let the FCC know how upset people are about this possible change in telephone charges for access.Although Xxxx said she couldn't vouch for the accuracy of the story, it seemed resonable to forward this, and even reply the FCC. I had heard about the story too through other channels and was sure there was some truth to it.
Today, I found out that someone else did the research to get the "real story" on this controversy. Some misconceptions existed in yesterday's posting. Actually, the deadline is tomorrow, not today to email the FCC, and the previous message gives an impression that the FCC was sort of covering up the issue.
A reliable online list called "TourBus" did a story on this, and I'm forwarding their information here to correct this misconception. An email to the FCC may still be warranted, but the issue is far less precarious and sinister as it sounded from the public messages being circulated on the net.
Read below for the real scoop on the FCC and internet telephone charages.
- ------- Forwarded Message
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 1997 16:47:37 -0800 Sender: The Internet TourBus - A virtual tour of cyberspace <TOURBUS@LISTSERV.AOL.COM> From: Patrick Douglas Crispen <crispen@CAMPUS.MCI.NET>
~~~/~~~\~~/~~~\~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~/~~~\~~~~~ \___/ \___/ T h e I n t e r n e t T o u r B u s \___/
TODAY'S STOP: EDUPAGE / FEAR AND LOATHING AT THE FCC TODAY'S ADDRESSES: http://www.worldvillage.com/wv/hotel/tourbus/archives.htm http://www.educom.edu/web/edupage.html http://www.eff.org/papers/eegtti/eeg_83.html#SEC84 http://www.fcc.gov/isp.html
FEAR AND LOATHING AT THE FCC - - ----------------------------
Over the past couple of weeks, you may have received e-mail letters telling you that
Many local telephone companies have filed a proposal with the FCC [The United States' Federal Communications Commission] to impose per minute charges for Internet service. They contend that use of Internet has or will hinder the operation of the telephone network.
At first, I thought that this was simply a new version of the old "modem tax" hoax (http://www.eff.org/papers/eegtti/eeg_83.html#SEC84) that has been floating around the Net since *1987*. After all, the current FCC story has all of the markings of a classic urban legend:
1. It uses official-looking language;
2. It mentions a government agency or an organization with which everyone is familiar;
3. It contains a plea for you to take some sort of immediate action; and
4. It requests that you forward the warning letter to as many people as possible.
Besides, according to an article that appeared in this morning's Edupage,
ONLINE COMPANIES ASK TELCOS, "WHERE'S THE BEEF?" Tired of telephone companies' complaints that Internet usage is overwhelming their network capacity, the Internet Access Coalition has released findings contending that Net usage is, in reality, a bonanza for the Bells. The study found that local carriers received a total of $1.4 billion in 1995 in revenues resulting from the installation of second lines in homes, while spending only $245 million to beef up their networks for the additional usage. A Bell Atlantic spokesman says the real problem is that the telcos have no idea when a line will be used for data rather than voice, and thus tied up longer. Both sides agree that the ultimate solution is higher capacity networks. (Business Week 17 Feb 97)
Well, out of curiosity -- and out of a deep-felt desire to avoid studying for the two major economics tests that I have next week -- your fearless bus driver decided to call the FCC in Washington to see if anyone there was willing to talk about this rather explosive issue. Unfortunately, I soon discovered that the FCC only has one employee, she is a secretary, and her job is to transfer all incoming telephone calls into voice mail hell. :)
Actually, I talked to some nice people at the FCC who faxed me a 10 page explanation of what's *really* going on. Unfortunately, the 10 page explanation was written in "FCC-ese," so I am going to have to translate their explanation into English for you (and I can assure you that, since I know *NOTHING* about telephony, my translation will probably contain a few inaccuracies; if it does, please let me know).
First, some local telephone companies have indeed asked the FCC to allow them to assess a per minute access charge on the telephone lines used by Internet Service Providers. Local telephone companies currently charge long-distance carriers (like AT&T and MCI) an interstate access charge for the long-distance traffic that travels over their local lines, and the local telephone companies would like to see this charge extended to include the high-speed lines that your local Internet Service Provider uses to access the Internet.
In December, the FCC rejected the telephone companies' request and tentatively concluded "that the existing pricing structure for information services should remain in place." In other words, the FCC has tentatively concluded that Internet service providers should *NOT* be subject to the interstate access charges that local telephone companies currently assess on long-distance carriers.
The FCC now seeks the public's comments on this conclusion.
Unfortunately, the "warning" letter that is currently circulating around the Internet gives the impression that some sort of sinister operation is afoot here, that the FCC and the telephone companies are trying to sneak this proposal through without anyone noticing, and that it is up to each and every one of us to stop the evil FCC.
What garbage. In fact, the FCC has, at least tentatively, REJECTED the telephone companies' proposal. The FCC is now simply asking you if you agree or disagree with their decision.
The most disappointing aspect of this whole situation is that because of the misinformation that has been distributed across the Internet over the past couple of weeks, the FCC has received 100,000+ e-mail letters, most of which flame them for making a decision that EVERYONE AGREES WITH! Hands down, the flaming of the FCC is one of the Internet's most shameful acts ever.
I also discovered another thing about the FCC that increased my respect for their organization one-hundred-fold. Part of the 10 page explanation that the FCC sent me states that their "existing rules have been designed for traditional circuit-switched voice networks, and thus may hinder the development of emerging packet-switched data networks." Because of this, the FCC is also seeking the public's comments on the implications of the Internet and its usage through the public switched telephone network.
Folks, *ANY* government agency that stops and says 'hey, we can ALWAYS use some more information so that we are better prepared for whatever happens in the future' has earned my respect and admiration.
By the way, most of the information that I have shared with you today can be found on the FCC's "ISP" homepage at
If you would like to send your comments to the folks at the FCC (the deadline for comments about their decision not to impose interstate access changes on Internet service providers is Friday, February 14th), make sure that you check the FCC's ISP Web page first. At the bottom of this page are some pretty specific instructions on what you need to put in the subject line of you e-mail letter before you submit it to the FCC.
Personally, I'm going to leave the poor folks at the FCC alone for a while. They seem to be doing a great job in the face of unnecessary (and misinformed) opposition.
TODAY'S ADDRESSES - - ----------------- http://www.worldvillage.com/wv/hotel/tourbus/archives.htm http://www.educom.edu/web/edupage.html http://www.eff.org/papers/eegtti/eeg_83.html#SEC84 http://www.fcc.gov/isp.html
TOURBUS - (c) Copyright 1997, Patrick Crispen and Bob Rankin All rights reserved. Redistribution is allowed only with permission. Send this copy to 3 friends and tell them to get on the Bus!
(\__/) .~ ~. )) /O O ./ .' Patrick Douglas Crispen {O__, \ { The University of Alabama / . . ) \ crispen@campus.mci.net |-| '-' \ } http://ua1vm.ua.edu/~crispen/ .( _( )_.' '---.~_ _ _& Warning: squirrels.
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--------------------------------------------------------------------- Kevin Price (price@cldx.com) What? Me speak for J&J? Ha! "All the death that ever was, Set next to life, Could scarcely fill a cup." -- from _Godric_ by F. Buechner
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End of YTSEJAM Digest 2272 **************************
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