It seems that several folks misunderstood my post.

The process going on at the Federal Communications Commission at this moment involves all national and local telephone companies in the US and how they will resolve certain loopholes in relation to ISP hookups.

"The commission had planned to decide the issue Friday. FCC officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a decision isn’t expected for two weeks.

Telephone companies fighting among themselves over fees they now pay each other to connect calls to the Internet drew the FCC into the issue.

The FCC is expected to propose phasing out these fees—which total hundreds of millions of dollars—once current contracts expire over the next two years. The commission also plans to ask for public and industry comment on how carriers should compensate each other in the future." (A.P. Washington, Nov. 5)

The bottom line is that you could end up paying long distance charges for a local call.

A strong voice from the public to the FCC will hopefully keep this from coming to pass.

While some think this doesn't affect them, because they access the net through an employeer's line, the day could come that they want personal connection to the net and it will be too late then to cry.

Patrick