E-mail fee

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread

Received this e-mail and wondered does anyone know if there is any truth to this or is this another internet story? It certainly wouldn't surprise me that the government wants a piece of the internet action.

I guess the warnings were true. Federal Bill 602P...5-cents per email sent. It figures! No more free e-mail! We knew this was coming. Bill 602P will permit the Federal Government to charge a 5-cent charge on every delivered e-mail. Please read the following carefully if you intend to stay online, and continue using email. The last few months have revealed an alarming trend in the government of the United States attempting to quietly push through legislation that will affect our use of the Internet. Under proposed legislation, the US Postal Service will be attempting to bill e-mail users out of alternative postage fees. Bill 602P will permit the Federal Government to charge a 5-cent surcharge on every email delivered, by billing Internet Service Providers at source. The consumer would then be billed in turn by the ISP. Washington DC lawyer Richard Stepp is working without pay to prevent this legislation from becoming law. The US Postal Service is claiming lost revenue, due to the proliferation of email is costing nearly $230,000,000 in revenue per year. You may have noticed their recent ad campaign. There is nothing like a letter. Since the average person received about 10 pieces of e-mail per day in 1998, the cost of the typical individual would be an additional .50 cents per day, or over $180.00 a year, above and beyond their regular Internet cost.

Note that this would be money paid directly to the US Postal Service for a service they do not even provide. The whole point of the Internet is democracy and noninterference. You are already paying an exorbitant price for snail mail because of bureaucratic efficiency. It currently takes up to 6 days for a letter to be delivered from coast to coast. If the US Postal Service is allowed to tinker with e-mail, it will mark the end of the free Internet in the United States.

Our congressional representative, Toney Shcnekll ® has even suggested a $20.00-$40.00 per month surcharge on all Internet service above and beyond the governments proposed e-mail charges. Note that most of the major newspapers have ignored the story, the only exception being the Washingtonian which called the idea of e-mail surcharge a useful concept who's time has come (March 6th, 1999 editorial).

-- Betsy K (betsyk@pathwaynet.com), March 06, 2001

Answers

Please, please won't this urban myth ever die. It is absolutely no true!!!

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), March 06, 2001.

Check out urbanlegends.com. This is NOT true.

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), March 06, 2001.

Arrgh!

I remember getting this stupid email (in one version or another) as far back as six years ago!

You're right, Ken, when will it die?!

-- Jim Morris (prism@bevcomm.net), March 06, 2001.


Another one that drives me bonkers is the one where someone (usually Microsoft) has an e-mail tracking device they want to test and you are supposed to get money for everyone you forward to, and everyone they forward to, ad infinitum. Usually had subject line of "Pleeeeeease forward" and content of "what can it hurt", and how somebody got a check for over $4000. Got that one again just last week!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), March 06, 2001.

Whoever decided to create this note and forward it on should receive some type of humanitarian award. It says it all! (Betsy, this isn't directed at you ~ you thought for a second that that e-mail might be hokey, so you asked before sending it on. Good for you!)

"1. Big companies don't do business via chain letters and there are no computer programs that track how many times an e-mail is forwarded, let alone by whom. Bill Gates is not giving you $1000, and Disney is not giving you a free vacation. There is no baby food company issuing class action checks.

2. Proctor and Gamble is not part of a satanic cult or scheme, and its logo is not satanic.

3. MTV will not give you backstage passes if you forward something to the most people.

4. The Gap is not giving away free clothes. You can relax; there is no need to pass it on "just in case it's true."

5. There is no kidney theft ring in New Orleans. No one is waking up in a bathtub full of ice, even if a friend of a friend swears it happened to their cousin. If you are hell bent on believing the kidney theft ring stories, see: http://urbanlegends.tqn.com/library/weekly/aa062997.htm And I quote: "The National Kidney Foundation has repeatedly issued requests for actual victims of organ thieves to come forward and tell their stories." None have. That's "none" as in "zero." Not even your friend's cousin. 6. Neiman Marcus doesn't really sell a $200 cookie recipe. And even if they do, we all have it. And even if you don't, you can get a copy at: Then, if you make the recipe, decide the cookies are that awesome, feel free to pass the recipe on.

7. If the latest NASA rocket disaster(s) DID contain plutonium that went to particulate over the eastern seaboard, do you REALLY think this information would reach the public via an AOL chain letter?

8. There is no "Good Times" virus. In fact, you should never, ever, ever forward any email containing any virus warning unless you first confirm that an actual site of an actual company that actually deals with viruses. Try: http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/index.html And even then, don't forward it. We don't care. And you cannot get a virus from a flashing IM or email, you have to download it....ya know, like, a FILE!

9. There is no gang initiation plot to murder any motorist who flashes headlights at another car driving at night without lights.

10. If you still absolutely MUST forward that 10th-generation message from a friend, at least have the decency to trim the eight miles of headers showing everyone else who's received it over the last 6 months. (Think Cut and Paste) It sure wouldn't hurt to get rid of all the ">>>.." That begin each line either. Besides, if it has gone around that many times we've probably already seen it.

11. Craig Shergold (or Sherwood, or Sherman, etc.) in England is not dying of cancer or anything else at this time and would like everyone to stop sending him their business cards. He apparently is no longer a "little boy" either.

12. The "Make a Wish" foundation is a real organization doing fine work, but they have had to establish a special toll free hot line in response to the large number of Internet hoaxes using their good name and reputation. It is distracting them from the important work they do. Also, the American Cancer Society does not give 3 cents for each person you forward e-mail to. They ask for you to donate money, money, they don't give it, as if they could know how many e-mails you sent out...sheesh.

13. If you are one of those insufferable idiots who forwards anything that "promises" something bad will happen if you "don't," then something bad will happen to you if I ever meet you in a dark alley.

14. Women really are suffering in Afghanistan, but forwarding an e- mail won't help their cause in the least. If you want to help, contact your local legislative representative, or get in touch with Amnesty International or the Red Cross.

15. As a general rule, e-mail "signatures" are easily faked and mean nothing to anyone with any power to do anything about whatever the competition is complaining about.

16. KFC really does use real Chickens with feathers and beaks and feet. No, they really do. Why did they change their name? In this health conscious world, what was KFC's name? Kentucky FRIED Chicken. FRIED is not healthy. So with the help of a focus group, they changed the name to KFC. It's short, doesn't offend dieters and it's easy to remember.

17. Another thing, just because someone said in a message, four generations back, that "we checked it out and it's legit," does not actually make it true.

PS: There is no bill pending before Congress that will allow long distance companies to charge you for using the Internet. Bottom Line... composing e-mail or posting something on the Net is as easy as writing on the walls of a public rest room. Don't automatically believe it until it's proven false...ASSUME it's false, unless there is proof that it's true.

Now copy, paste, and send this to everyone you know or the program I just put on your hard drive while you read this E-mail will open up your CD-ROM and reach out and slap you upside the head!!

FROM SNOWY BUFFALO NY Rick Eberhardt"

-- Wingnut (wingnut@moment.net), March 06, 2001.



Thanks folks, I kinda had a feeling it was one of those internet rumors! Appreciate your response.

-- Betsy K (betsyk@pathwaynet.com), March 06, 2001.

wingnutsss way to go hurra. Bob se.ks.

-- Bobco (bobco@hit.net), March 06, 2001.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ