FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 1999
Contact: Tom Pfeifer, 202-225-1946 

Congressman Gallegly Responds to Email on Internet Fees 

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Elton Gallegly (R-Ventura County) has posted a 
Web page letter to his constituents in response to concerns about rumored 
fees for telephone access to the Internet.

"Be assured that I will not support unnecessary fees for accessing the 
Internet," Gallegly wrote. "The Internet has become a major thoroughfare of 
communication and should not be hindered by attaching extra fees for its use."

Gallegly began to hear from concerned constituents after an email began 
circulating in December 1998. The email states that Congress is considering 
legislation that would allow telephone companies to add an Internet access 
fee to long-distance telephone bills. The email is false. There is no such 
legislation before Congress.

Nor has the Federal Communications Commission approved such fees.

"The Federal Communications Commission says it has no plans to permit 
long-distance telephone companies to charge an Internet access fee," Gallegly 
stated. "To clarify the FCC�s intentions, the leadership of the House of 
Representatives has sent a letter to the FCC requesting them to work with 
Congress to prepare legislation to make it clear that the FCC will not 
regulate the Internet or impose access charges on Internet service. I look 
forward to receiving the FCC�s response."

Gallegly�s Web site can be accessed at http://www.house.gov/gallegly