XN000022-1989-12-13 — Page 23

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1989

RANGE

THESE MESSAGES WOULD

FROM WEATHER FORECASTS. AIRLINE INFORMATION. SPORTS RESULTS ΤΟ FOREIGN CURRENCIES. STOCK MARKET. MEDICAL SERVICES AND TOURIST INFORMATION.

"TELCO WILL BE ABLE TO CHARGE A MAXIMUM OF $2.880 PER ANNUM FOR A LINE CONNECTING A MESSAGE PROVIDER'S MESSAGE DELIVERY EQUIPMENT то THE PUBLIC TELEPHONE NETWORK. $600 FOR CONNECTION OF BACH LINE AND FOR REMOVAL TO A DIFFERENT BUILDING. AND $275 FOR REMOVAL INSIDE THE SAME BUILDING.

AS EXISTING

"ALL THESE NEW CHARGES ARE THE SAME

CHARGES FOR COMPARABLE SERVICES AND AS SUCH ARE CONSIDERED JUSTIFIED. THE COMPANY WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO LEVY A $1 A MINUTE LINE USAGE CHARGE. THE ADMINISTRATION 18 SATISFIED THAT THIS 19 FULLY JUSTIFIED BY THE ADDITIONAL COSTS FOR THE COMPANY IN PROVIDING THE INFOLINE SERVICE.** MRS CHAN SAID.

MRS CHAN SAID FOR TECHNICAL REASONS THE TELEPHONE LINES TO BE USED IN THE INFOLINE SERVICE ΤΟ CONNECT THE EQUIPMENT OF MESSAGE PROVIDERS TO THE PUBLIC TELEPHONE NETWORK NEEDED TO BE OF AN EXISTING TYPE KNOWN AS DIRECT DIALLING IN.

"THE CURRENT APPROVED CHARGE FOR SUCH LINES IS $2,880 PER ANNUM. TELCO PROPOSES THAT THE SAME CHARGE SHOULD BE LEVIED FOR THESE LINES UNDER THE INFOLINE SERVICE.

"FOR CONNECTION AND REMOVAL OF SUCH LINES. TELCO SIMILARLY PROPOSES TO LEVY THE SAME CHARGES AS CURRENTLY PROVIDED FOR IN THE CASE OF OTHER TYPES OF TELEPHONE LINE. THAT IS: $600 FOR CONNECTION AND REMOVAL TO A DIFFERENT BUILDING AND $275 FOR REMOVAL INSIDE THE SAME BUILDING. MRS CHAN ADDED.

H

SHE SAID THAT TELCO ALSO PROPOSED ΤΟ CHARGE THE MESSAGE PROVIDERS A $1 PER MINUTE CHARGE FOR USAGE OF EACH LINE.

THIS CHARGE WAS REQUIRED то DEFRAY THE COSTS INVOLVED IN MEASURING THE DURATION OF CALLS MADE TO THE MESSAGE PROVIDERS SERVICES. THE PREPARATION OF ITEMISED BILLS AND OTHER ASSOCIATED WORK.

"1 SHOULD EMPHASISE THAT ALL OF THESE CHARGES ARE TO BE LEVIED BY TELCO ON THE MESSAGE SERVICE PROVIDERS AND NOT ON CALLERS ΤΟ THE MESSAGE SERVICES.

"THE RATES AT WHICH CALLERS ARE CHARGED WILL BE SET BY THE SERVICE PROVIDERS THEMSELVES. AS THE SERVICE PROVIDERS WILL BE IN COMPETITION WITH EACH OTHER, THEIR CHARGES WILL BE SUBJECT ΤΟ NORMAL MARKET FORCES.

"IN ORDER TO ENSURE MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS OF TECHNICAL QUALITY, MESSAGE CONTENT AND ADVERTISING PRACTICE, TELCO WILL REQUIRE MESSAGE PROVIDERS TO ABIDE BY A CODE OF PRACTICE AS A CONDITION OF PROVISION OF THE INFOLINE SERVICE." MRS CHAN SAID.

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