[buckeyemomma]

> > Please read, for this is most important to us who really use
> > > > email to keep
> > > > in contact with each other.
> > > > > 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 Internet Service Providers at
> > > > source. The
> > > > consumerwould 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 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 or over $180.00 a year - above
> > > > and beyond
> > > > their
> > > > >
> > > > > 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 because of
> > > > bureaucratic
> > > > (in)efficiency and price for snail mail
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > 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 (R) 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).
> > > > >
> > > > > Do not sit by and watch your freedom erode away!
> > > > >
> > > > > Send this email to EVERYONE on your list, and tell all your
> > > > friends and
> > > > relatives to write their congressional representative
> > > > > and say "NO" to bill 602P. It will only instrumental in
> > > > killing a bill we
> > > > do not want.
> > > > >
> > > > > Please forward this email.