RHEA-L Archives

From: <>
Subject: [RHEA-L] Sham e-mail
Date: Wed, 9 Jun 1999 19:04:26 EDT

Hi,

I have received several pieces of mail recently warning me of all
kinds of legislation about our e-mail. I never felt it was true. For
anyone who might be interested, I copied the following editoral
from the Arlington Star-Telegram (a well respected newspaper)
in Arlington, Texas:

E-MAIL CHARGES?

"CONGRESS INTENDS to charge YOU for e-mail."
Except that it doesn't.
The latest myth coursing its way along the information
superhighway warns that "Bill 602P will permit the Federal
government to charge a 5-cent surcharge on every e-mail
delivered, by billing Internet Providers at source. The
consumer would then be billed in turn by the ISP".
The first hint of counterfeit comes with the numbering of the
bill. There's no such creature in the U.S. House or the Senate.
House Resolution 602 pertains to long-term care insurance for
federal civil service workers, and Senate 602, called the Stealth Tax
Prevention Act, would require congressional review of any
Internal Revenue Service rule change that would increase federal
revenue.
One bill this session does deal with Internet access charges, but
it would do the exact opposite of what the hoax e-mail portends.
House Majority Leader Dick Armey and Rep. Sam Johnson of Texas
are among the co-sponsors of HR 1291, legislation that would
extend permantly a three-year moratorium on access charges to
Internet service providers that was originally passed by the 105th
Congress.
The sham e-mail looks legit; it even includes the name and
address of a Vienna, Va., lawyer who is working tirelessly--and
pro bono--to cease this outrage. It quotes a Republican
congressman who's in favor of a $20 to $40 a month charge above
the 5 cents. It accuses major newspapers of ignoring the story,
except for the Washingtonian, which editorialized in its March 6
edition in favor of the bill.
Fact-checking proves no such law firm, no such lawyer, no such
elected representative. There is a Washingtonian magazine, but
no such edition, no such editorial.
The moral to this story can be summed up in an old journalism
axiom: "If your mother says she loves you, check it out."

Again, this is for anyone who might be interested. This editorial
appeared in the Editorial Section of the Arlington Star-Telegram
newspaper dated June 9, 1999.

Bob Rhea

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