roundtable: Baby Bells On-Line

roundtable: Baby Bells On-Line

Baby Bells On-Line

Jeff Richards (richards@bell.com)
Wed, 2 Mar 1994 16:53:58 -0500 (EST) 

Date: Wed, 2 Mar 1994 16:53:58 -0500 (EST)
From: Jeff Richards <richards@bell.com>
Subject: Baby Bells On-Line
To: com-priv@psi.org, communet@uvmvm.uvm, roundtable@cni.org,
Message-Id: <Pine.3.85.9403021658.A21329-0100000@bell.com>


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE        CONTACT: Jeff Richards
MARCH 2,1994                          (202) 973-5307
                                      <richards@bell.com>

*********************************************************
*         THE MFJ TASK FORCE LOGS ONTO INTERNET         *
*********************************************************



Washington -- The MFJ Task Force, an ad hoc committee of
the seven regional Bell companies, joined millions of
other users on the Internet "network of networks" through
the launch of its own Internet server this week. 
Internet users will now be able to use the MFJ Task Force
server <bell.com>, to access information on regulatory
and social policy issues affecting the Bell companies'
involvement in developing the information superhighway.

     The MFJ Task Force was formed to coordinate
legislative strategy for removing the restrictions on the
Bell companies contained in the 1982 AT&T Consent Decree
and the Cable Act of 1984.  The regional Bell companies
seek the freedom to enter the long-distance and
manufacturing businesses to compete on an equal basis
with competitors and with each other in providing their
customers with advanced products and services.  The
companies also want to lift the Cable Act of 1984 ban on
telephone companies providing cable television in their
service territories.

     Materials available on the MFJ Task Force server
include information on issues such as consumer benefits
resulting from Bell company relief from outdated
restrictions.  Texts on distance-learning, telemedicine,
general telecommunications advances, jobs and other
issues key to America's entry into the Information Age
are in the system.  The server will have three services
immediately available:


     * Internet gopher --  This gopher, which is an
     information library on MFJ Task Force issues that
     can be read online, can be reached by "gophering" to 
     "bell.com". The MFJ Task Force gopher is also listed
     in the Internet gopher list, "All The Gophers In The
     World."

     * FTP site -- For use in downloading files, the FTP
     site is reachable by typing "FTP bell-com" and
     logging in as "anonymous".

     *E-mail -- Users who need more information or have
     questions about pending legislation or other policy
     and future technology issues can send  e-mail to the
     MFJ Task Force at <info@bell.com>.


      "Joining the Internet community represents another
expression of the Bell companies' commitment to building
and using the information superhighway." said Jeff
Richards, MFJ Task Force director of national affairs. 
"The debate over lifting the MFJ restrictions is of
exceptional importance to the national and public
interest.  The Bell company Internet presence is designed
to help provide accurate, helpful information about these
issues and to provide a service to those interested in
these issues." 

     Reports or printed copies of materials on the
Internet are available by sending a request to
"info@bell.com".  A directory of information resources is
attached.

                         ###



*********************************************************
*             DIRECTORY OF MATERIALS ON                 *
*               MFJ TASK FORCE SERVER                   *
*********************************************************

     These directories contain studies and other policy
materials on telecommunications issues. New documents
will be added as they become available at the anonymous
ftp and gopher site at <bell.com>.

Consumer Issues

*     GAO, "Communications Privacy: Federal Policy and           
      Actions," November 1993 (Communications Privacy)

*     MFJ Task Force, "The Future of Universal Service is
      in Jeopardy," January 25,1994 (Universal Service)

Distance Learning

*     James Rhodes, "Distance Learning: A Strategy to         
      Create Opportunities," March 1993 (Distance           
      Learning)

*     MFJ Task Force, "Telecommunications and Education:
      The Backbone of America's Future," January 25,1994
      (Telecommunications Education)

General Telecommunications

*     MFJ Task Force, "The Evolution of the Regulatory         
    Framework," January 25,1994 (Regulatory Framework)


Jobs 

*     MFJ Task Force, "The Cost of the MFJ Manufacturing
      Restriction on America's Economy," January 25,1994
      (Manufacturing Cost)

*     MFJ Task Force, "Unrestricted Competition in            
      Telecommunications =  Millions of New Jobs for      
      Americans," January 25, 1994                      
      (Telecommunications Competition)

*     Economic Policy Institute, "Good jobs at Good         
      Wages," November 1993 (Economic Policy Institute         
      Report)

*     The WEFA Group, "Economic Impact of Lifting The     
      Line-of-Business Restrictions on the Bell             
      Companies," July 1993 (The WEFA Group Report)

Telemedicine

*     Arthur D. Little, "Health Care Cost Reductions: The
      InterLATA Component," 1993 (Cost Reductions)

*     MFJ Task Force, "Telecommunications and American           
      Health Care: Controlling Costs While Increasing   
      Access and Quality" (Controlling Costs)

Legislation

*     H.R. 3626

*     H.R. 3636

*     MFJ Task Force Summary H.R. 3626



Jeff Richards
MFJ Task Force			|   Internet:	richards@bell.com
+1 202 973-5307

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