(FWD) Telstra timed data calls (EFA Alert)

[Irene Graham]

The following was posted to various mail lists and newsgroups today - apols
to those who've read this elsewhere.

>From: kheitman@it.com.au (Kimberley Heitman)
>Date: Thu, 8 Aug 1996 10:10:38 +0800 (WST)

>This morning's newspaper reported Telstra management as saying that timed
>local calls for data will be introduced next year.

>While it is unproven that Telstra has lost money from the Net ... indeed 
>profits have been on the up and up ... it is undoubtedly the case that 
>the social costs of this decision will be enormous. The costs to the 
>community of discouraging online usage , and depriving pensioners and 
>the unemployed from Net access are virtually incalculable.

>Fight , protest and resist this flagrant disregard of Telstra's Universal 
>Service Obligation , and the betrayal of Telstra's customers by this 
>decision. Never before has Telstra's near-monopoly been so abused.

>Persons wishing to help in a campaign against this proposal, or who merely
>wish to register their protest , are invited to email me on 
>kheitman@it.com.au. EFA will not stand by and watch low-income Net users
>lose their ability to participate in the Internet. 


>Kimberley Heitman,
>Chairperson , EFA
>kheitman@it.com.au


>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>                        Kimberley James Heitman
>                  http://www.multiline.com.au/~kheit/
>Internet   kheitman@it.com.au                 Fidonet    3:690/254.14       
>Telephone  +619 458 2790                      Facsimile  +619 356 1247 
>----------------------------------------------------------------------