Times calls -- ??? -- problem solved ???

[Stewart Fist]

Now that the recommendations of the Senate Inquiry have been released, and
it appears that mandated timed calls will be banned (they'll now be an
option), everyone seems to be celebrating.

However, I still don't see anything in the legislation stopping Telstra
from implementing a receive-only tariff on ISP's incoming lines.

My reading of this stuff (and I'm not a lawyer) is that the ban on
compulsory timed calls will only apply to normal business and residential
lines, for what has long been known as "Basic Services".

I don't see that the politicians have blocked the implementation of a timed
tariff on a special line (as distinct from a call).

Maybe I am just being over sensitive.  As Senator Kay Patterson said
yesterday in the Senate, maybe I am responsible for "a deliberate program
of misinformation" about all this.  But when Richard Alston can redefine
"Triennial Funding" of the ABC to mean three months, then we need to watch
carefully the letter of the law, and not take 'well-meaning' politicians on
trust.

I find it noteworthy, that despite every public statement, and every direct
fax that I've sent -- spelling out the problem specifically -- there has
never yet been a direct and unambiguous denial that this would be
permitted.

If the Liberals want to stop this "deliberate program of disinformation"
they only need issue a one-paragraph press release saying "Telstra will not
be permitted to charge any special tariff for the receipt of calls".  If
they do that, I will be the first to publicise it.

But until they do that, I remain suspicious.  In fact their silence makes
me even more suspicious.



Stewart Fist
Technical writer and journalist.
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